The Moon Represents My Heart
Encyclopedia
"The Moon Represents My Heart" is a Chinese song that was written by an anonymous writer and made famous by Teresa Teng
in the 1970s. A "love song with a waltz-like lilt", it has been covered by many performers since Teng's death in 1995 and remains one of her best-known hits.
for several decades. "The Moon Represents My Heart" became one of the first popular foreign songs (called "gangtai
" songs) in the country under the new Open Door Policy
.
Teng's songs over the following decade revolutionized music in China. Her singing, described as "soft, sweet, often whispery and restrained," was considered the "ideal" in gangtai music at that time. She became so popular that "within months the country was literally flooded with [her] songs." "The Moon Represents My Heart," however, is often cited as one of her best-known or most popular pieces.
Before Teng's music arrived, love songs were nonexistent in China. As film director Jia Zhangke
later said, "'The Moon Represents My Heart' [was] something completely new. So people of my generation were suddenly infected with this very personal, individual world. Before that, everything was collective..."
attack in 1995, but "The Moon Represents My Heart" has been performed frequently in Asia into the 21st century, including in places like Malaysia, Singapore
, and Taiwan
—even at political functions. It has been covered by several famous singers, including Faye Wong
, David Tao
, Andy Lau
, and Leslie Cheung
. The song is considered a "classic," and according to one source, "Chinese all around the world are familiar with [it]."
"The Moon Represents My Heart" is also popular in karaoke
, with one chain in Singapore listing it at #42 on their hits list (which made it the highest ranked of all Teng's songs). According to The New York Times
, it is one of the best-known Chinese pop songs of all time.
Teresa Teng
Teresa Teng , was an immensely popular and influential Chinese pop singer from Taiwan. Teresa Teng's voice and songs are instantly recognized throughout East Asia and in areas with large Asian populations...
in the 1970s. A "love song with a waltz-like lilt", it has been covered by many performers since Teng's death in 1995 and remains one of her best-known hits.
Cultural impact
Until the late 1970s, foreign music had not been allowed into mainland ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
for several decades. "The Moon Represents My Heart" became one of the first popular foreign songs (called "gangtai
Gangtai
Gangtai is a term derived from the shortened word of "Kong" and "Tai". It is generally used to describe C-pop songs, artists or music from Hong Kong or Taiwan.-Terminology:The term is synonymous with post-1960 cantopop or post-1970 mandopop...
" songs) in the country under the new Open Door Policy
Open Door Policy
The Open Door Policy is a concept in foreign affairs, which usually refers to the policy in 1899 allowing multiple Imperial powers access to China, with none of them in control of that country. As a theory, the Open Door Policy originates with British commercial practice, as was reflected in...
.
Teng's songs over the following decade revolutionized music in China. Her singing, described as "soft, sweet, often whispery and restrained," was considered the "ideal" in gangtai music at that time. She became so popular that "within months the country was literally flooded with [her] songs." "The Moon Represents My Heart," however, is often cited as one of her best-known or most popular pieces.
Before Teng's music arrived, love songs were nonexistent in China. As film director Jia Zhangke
Jia Zhangke
Jia Zhangke is a Chinese film director. He is generally regarded as a leading figure of the "Sixth Generation" movement of Chinese cinema, a group that also includes such figures as Wang Xiaoshuai and Zhang Yuan....
later said, "'The Moon Represents My Heart' [was] something completely new. So people of my generation were suddenly infected with this very personal, individual world. Before that, everything was collective..."
Legacy
Teng died of an asthmaAsthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
attack in 1995, but "The Moon Represents My Heart" has been performed frequently in Asia into the 21st century, including in places like Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
—even at political functions. It has been covered by several famous singers, including Faye Wong
Faye Wong
Faye Wong is a highly successful and influential Chinese singer-songwriter and actress who is usually referred to as a diva . Early in her career she briefly used the stage name Shirley Wong . Born in Beijing, she moved to Hong Kong in 1987 and rose to stardom in the early 1990s by singing...
, David Tao
David Tao
David Tao , born Tao Xuzhong , was born on 11 July 1969. He is a Taiwanese Golden Melody Award-winning singer-songwriter. He is well-known for creating a crossover genre of R&B and hard rock tunes which has now become his signature style and for having popularized R&B in the Mandopop...
, Andy Lau
Andy Lau
Andy Lau MH, JP is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, actor, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time...
, and Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing , nicknamed elder brother , was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. Cheung was considered as "one of the founding fathers of Cantopop", and "combining a hugely successful film and music career".In 2000, Cheung was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central...
. The song is considered a "classic," and according to one source, "Chinese all around the world are familiar with [it]."
"The Moon Represents My Heart" is also popular in karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
, with one chain in Singapore listing it at #42 on their hits list (which made it the highest ranked of all Teng's songs). According to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, it is one of the best-known Chinese pop songs of all time.