I’ve had this record for longer than I can remember. I do remember the day I got it though. It was a rainy Saturday and there were several Chinese records in a pile at the local thrift store. I bought them all for a few dollars and couldn’t wait to listen to them. Most of them are very traditional or folk music type recordings (pretty neat to hear), but this record was entirely different. I was instantly in love.
I’m not sure what the message is here. SSSSSHHHhhhhhh…Don’t tell anyone I play with dolls! Or is it SSSSSSHHHHHhhhhhh don’t tell anyone I’m a big girl now. I’m guessing it’s the latter because this chick is straight up Rock-n-Roll.
I played this for a friend who grew up in a Mandarin speaking house and he wasn’t sure what she was saying, but he was pretty sure this was not a direct translation of Love Potion Number 9. Whatever she is saying (and I would LOVE to know) it’s fabulous. I presume this is from the 60’s but who knows. The whole record certainly has that somewhat Beat inspired Rock-n-Roll sound to it, which is right up my alley. If you don’t own every record by the incomparable Scottish band The Kaisers, then you need to get on that. But I digress. Here’s another selection. Put on your dancing shoes.
And another…Casper makes an appearance. He actually held out longer than I thought he would. We almost got through 3 songs without him climbing onto my lap. That’s pretty good for him.
So, if you know anything about this woman, please, please please fill us in! I think her name might be Teresa Teng (thanks to the web search) I would love to know her story. And if you’re out there, Ms Teng, thanks for making this record. I don’t speak the language, but I know all of the songs!
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Allee Willis
Pretty much a classic! I’m sick there are no videos accompanying the songs other than the fancy handheld (and insane for moving at all) camera work. KUDOS to the cat!!!
Miss Teng has quite the sprit and vibrato! Love Potion #9 sounds more potion-y in Chinese than ever.
windupkitty
opp..wtf!?! I keep hitting the jealous button by accident when i try to respond!
So I should have looked her up more carefully before posting this. I always forget that I can just do a search and not have to head to the basement of a library and sit in front of a microfiche machine! She is apparently very, very famous and was much revered. The poor little thing died quite young from complications of a severe asthma attack. Really tragic. And I’m so sad to hear it.
This record was from 1968 and was very popular. I have at least one more of her records and a quick search on Ebay shows they are selling in the hundreds…Can’t complain about that..I paid 3 dollars for a whole stack of them! 6 years ago, I sold any and all of my valuable records to pay bills when I first got the cancer-y news so it’s nice to have a little surprise like this. Nothing like a little security for your back pocket when the rent comes up!
Yeah, I’m glad I was able to hold my hone camera steady enough. My hand tremors are starting to resolve, knock on wood that will last! Meanwhile, we all should be shaking and shimmying to these tunes! I will see if I can find any videos of her performing….
Nessa
Oh wow, this music is great, what an awesome thing to have.
Nessa
I found this video of her singing in English:
http://youtu.be/sO7PAjXjTi8
But there are a lot of others on YouTube.
windupkitty
Wow, Nessa, thanks for posting that link! It was pretty incredible! It cracks me up that I”ve had this record for so long and never knew what a huge star she was. Poor little thing passed away so young and she was quite a presence…plenty of fans still out there according the info on the nets…I can see why too…