By C C Pung
Justice of Peace
YEARS ago when KK Host, the Lions Club of which I’m a member, was carrying out some service project with our Seoul-based sister club, our Korean friends proposed the adoption of a theme song – The Moon Represents My Heart – one of the many evergreens by the beautiful Teresa Teng.
This May 5 marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of Teresa, the sweet Taiwanese song bird with looks and a voice so angelic that many of her sings not only captured the adoration of Mandarin speakers globally but also non-Chinese and karaoke everywhere.
Our Korean friends-in-service are among them.
Teresa, born 1953, died of asthmatic complications in Northern Thailand.
While her trademark love songs made hits worldwide, she didn’t seem to have much luck in the romantic department.
She never married, and is reported to have a French boyfriend.
Her funeral in Taipei that lasted two weeks was attended by more than 200,000 people, and has remained a Taiwan record since.
She’s buried in a casket made with some precious materials that his family believed would keep her looking beautiful for as long as 50 years.
Mourners filing past her casket towards end of the fortnight-long funeral swore that she looked as radiant as she had been known throughout her life.
I’m not a Teresa Teng fan.
But growing up Chinese, her songs were ever present around the house all the time.
Her voice seemed to make songs sound good.
Her girlish charm and a smile that seemed to speak are simply captivating.
It’s like being captivated by the Padukone, the Priyanka and the bevy of Bollywood beauties and not understanding a word they are saying.
Teresa’s songs still hog the airwaves today and much requested in the karaoke.
There are probably as many Teresa-wannabes when she was alive and after she died, some came close but the girl is just special.
Rest in peace, The Great One.
