TAIPEI (Kyodo) — A memorial service marking the 30th anniversary of the death of Teresa Teng, the legendary Taiwanese pop singer, was held in Taiwan on Thursday. Fans from across Asia gathered to honor her memory.
The event took place at Chin Pao San cemetery in New Taipei, where Teng is buried. Her famous ballads, including “The Moon Represents My Heart,” played as fans held up old albums and photos. Many sang along to her songs in a heartfelt tribute.
Teng rose to stardom with her clear and emotional voice. She became one of the most influential pop stars in the Chinese-speaking world and Japan. She died of a respiratory attack in Thailand on May 8, 1995, at the age of 42.
Minoru Funaki, a key figure in introducing Teng to Japan’s music scene, also attended the service. He spoke about how she brought Japanese pop songs to Chinese audiences by covering them in Mandarin.
“Music knows no borders, and Teresa Teng proved that. Her legacy will never fade,” Funaki said.
Born in Taiwan to a military family, Teng faced censorship in mainland China, where her music was once banned as “decadent.” Today, her songs are widely accepted and loved across the region.
According to Teng Chang-fu, her older brother and head of the Teresa Teng Foundation, memorial concerts have already taken place or are planned in over 10 cities. These include events in mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand.
However, he noted that many fans from mainland China were unable to attend the Taiwan ceremony due to current political tensions between the two sides.
“I hope both sides of the strait will understand the people’s wish for closer ties and more mutual visits,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Japan, an unreleased song by Teng has recently been discovered. The track is a light pop song, believed to have been recorded in the mid-1980s. It was found on a tape stored in a Tokyo warehouse.
The song, titled “Love Song wa Yogiri ga Osuki”, or “Love Songs Like Fog at Night,” will be released in June.
Related Topics
