In recent years, 68-year-old Hong Kong singer Teresa Teng, who has moved to Canada, gained popularity among mainland Chinese audiences for participating in the competitive variety show “Singer 2017” on Hunan TV’s Mango TV. As a vocal coach to many Hong Kong music idols, she unexpectedly faced elimination in the second round, leaving the audience stunned. Recently, in an interview, she revealed some unknown behind-the-scenes stories of her experience.
Teresa Teng, who now resides in Toronto, Canada, spoke about her time participating in “Singer 2017” in China during an interview with the Youtube channel “Orange Elephant.” When asked about the working environment in mainland China, Teresa mentioned that she approached the experience as a foreigner visiting China for the first time, without any prior knowledge or preparation on how to communicate and collaborate with Chinese individuals and organizations. Her mindset at the time was solely focused on singing as a singer.
However, Teresa later realized that it was not as straightforward as she had initially thought. She disclosed that she was initially invited to participate in “Singer” by Wang Zulan, believing it to be a pure singing competition, only to discover that it was a highly commercialized program. Each singer had backing and sponsorships, except for her, which meant that every other participant was making money, except for her.
Despite this, Teresa expressed that she enjoyed the performances because her intention was not driven by monetary gains; rather, she wanted to sing in her mother’s hometown. Her mother, who was from Shanghai, passed away five years ago, always dreaming of Teresa singing in her hometown.
In fact, Hong Kong singer Sandy Lam had previously criticized “Singer” last year, revealing insider information claiming that the winner of the show was predetermined, calling out this practice openly. She also remarked that despite inviting talented singers from around the world, foreigners were treated like props. Her statements caused quite a stir, resonating with many mainland Chinese netizens.
Teresa Teng, with her mixed Chinese and Filipino heritage, possessed extraordinary talent. In the 1960s and 1970s, she was a renowned figure with hit songs like “If” and “I Really Love You.” In the 1990s, she starred in several Hong Kong films, showcasing her versatile talents as an artist.
As a well-known vocal coach in Hong Kong, Teresa Teng has nurtured numerous singers in the industry, including Sandy Lam, Sammi Cheng, Hui Kin-wai, Gigi Leung, Rainie Yang, Fiona Sit, Miriam Yeung, Endy Chow, Raymond Cheng, Cecilia Cheung, and Wang Zulan. Despite losing to her student Sandy Lam on a show, Teresa openly admitted that Sandy Lam is one of her most successful students, although each student has their own strengths, eliminating the notion of a “best student.”