Hundreds of people gathered at the grave of the late Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng (鄧麗君) in Taipei County yesterday to commemorate the 15th anniversary of her death.
The service was held at the Teresa Teng Memorial Park in Taipei County and was followed by a memorial concert. Another concert will be held on Friday in Chengdu City, China. All proceeds from the two events will be donated to reconstruction funds for programs related to Taiwan's Typhoon Morakot and the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, according to the Teresa Teng Foundation, which is chaired by Teng's elder brother.
Masses of flowers and paper butterflies were placed in front of Teng’s grave, with local fans, as well as those from China, Hong Kong, Japan and other countries, gathering to pay their respects.
PHOTO: LU HSIEN-HSIU, TAIPEI TIMES
“She was more than just a singer, she was a healer of all broken hearts,” said media personality Tang Hsiang-long (唐湘龍), who described Teng as “super glue” that could fix any cracks in human relationships.
Teng’s contributions to the arts have earned her the kind of esteem that late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平), who shares the singer’s surname, is accorded in China for his dedication as a revolutionary hero.
“There's a popular saying in [China] that during the daytime, people listened to Old Deng [Xiao-ping], and at night, all ears tuned in to Little [Teresa] Teng,” Tang said.
Yu Dan (于丹), a professor at Beijing Normal University and a renowned media scholar, said at a forum on Friday in honor of Teng that her voice possessed a unique quality that “transcended politics.”
“Her most attractive trait was the complete sincerity that is palpable in her songs. She is the collective memory of love and emotions for all Chinese people,” Yu said.
Teng’s friend Chang Fei (張菲), a variety show host and singer, agreed, saying Teng was able to “take over China” without using a single soldier.
“The audience always acted differently when they listened to Teng because in their eyes, you saw not only admiration but respect, which is something most entertainers do not get from the audience,” Chang said, calling Teng a “kind, compassionate” friend who was always attuned to people's moods and needs.
Teng's eldest brother said his family was very touched because so many people in the world still remember Teng even 15 years after her passing.
More than 10 people from Teng's family attended the memorial service at the grave.
According to Teng's third-eldest brother, a movie and a musical portraying Teng are being planned.
The musical is expected to debut in Hong Kong at the end of this year and will come to Taiwan next year, he said.
Teng died at 42 of an asthma attack in Thailand on May 8, 1995.
In addition to her multi-platinum records and blockbuster movies, Teng also broke many records during her 30-year career. She was the first ethnic Chinese singer to ever perform in New York City's Lincoln Center in 1980.
A poll in China last year found Teng to be the most influential cultural icon of all times.
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