This year, Taiwan is marking 25 years since the death of one of its most legendary singers, pop icon Teresa Teng. Her voice is still etched deep into the memories of those who grew up with her music.
Teresa Teng was Taiwan’s queen of songs, a larger-than-life figure considered one of the most influential singers in Asia as a whole. She passed away 25 years ago today, on May 8, 1995. She was only 42.
Teng was born in 1953 and embarked on her professional singing career at the age of 12. Over a span of 30 years, Teng’s voice turned countless songs that might soon have been forgotten into runaway hits.
She used to hold small concerts at military bases in Taiwan and became an idol among young soldiers. But her fans could be found across much of Asia, and her songs brought a bit of Taiwan to the world.
Teng’s death in 1995 came after a sudden asthma attack that set in while she was on vacation in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The news of her passing shocked and saddened people from well beyond Taiwan’s borders. But by this time, she had cemented her legacy, and her signature tunes remain classic standards today.