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Epoch Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
The Inspiring Teresa Teng
Commentary After the Soviet Empire expired in the 1989–91 period, commentators worldwide revealed the autopsy results. The patient died of terminal socialism, a disease characterized by backward economies, massive shortages, and the absence of competition in both political and economic life. Powerful internal resistance movements (such as Solidarity in Poland), encouraged by the resolute leadership of Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II, helped pull the plug. The state had indeed 'withered away,' but not in the fashion the false prophet Karl Marx envisioned. The role played by music in ending so many evil regimes, Rock & Roll in particular, is not so well understood. Historian Larry Schweikart Though a tune involves an entire group performing collectively, what struck home to listeners was the distinctiveness of individuals within the group. Band members accompanied Bruce Springsteen, for example, but it was Springsteen who stood out and inspired the imagination of young fans. How refreshing in societies where propaganda had long taught that it was the collective that mattered, not the individual! Individuality is the toxin that music injects into the totalitarian system. Try as it might, the system ultimately cannot resist it. Schweikart 'We could keep out books. We could keep out television. But we could not keep out rock 'n' roll. Rock 'n' roll was fundamental to bringing down communism.' Related Stories 5/15/2025 5/2/2025 A similar story played out in Communist China, though it helped produce regime change , not regime extinction (unfortunately). It involves a pop music icon from Taiwan, Teresa Teng 鄧麗君(1953–1995). Teresa Teng established herself as Asia's premier singer in a career that spanned nearly three decades. She mixed Eastern and Western genres into her own unique popular music. No Asian musician came close to her renown in the decades of the '80s and '90s. She was a superstar by any estimation, recording more than 1,700 songs and selling about 48 million albums. Her songs of love and relationships, combined with a new 'breath singing' method, broke the collectivist mold ordained by authorities in communist countries like China. Young people turned to Teresa Teng to escape the boredom of official tunes meant to glorify state and country. Teng's music began to be pirated into mainland China in the mid-'70s, and would influence listeners in the Communist state just as Rock & Roll helped shred the Iron Curtain in Europe. Check out the music video for ' The PRC hard-liners perceived the threat almost immediately. Not only was Teng from Taiwan, which Beijing considered a breakaway province, but her music also celebrated the individual instead of the state. Her lyrics were not explicitly political, but she occasionally sang of freedom in vague terms. People found the music liberating, so Beijing's paranoids banned her work for years. Meanwhile, Mao Zedong died in 1976, opening the door for a new generation of reformers led by Deng Xiaoping. He became the mainland's leader in 1978, and, like Gorbachev in the Soviet Union, he recognized that sclerotic socialism needed some measure of freedom to reform. Under the slogan 'It doesn't matter what color the cat is as long as it catches mice,' Deng opened the country to limited free enterprise, foreign trade and investment, and a diversity of cultural influences (the 'Open Door Policy'). By the time of Deng's reforms, Teresa Teng's songs had already flooded China's black markets. Deng's government surrendered to the inevitable and lifted the ban on Teng's music in the mid-'80s. Her notoriety then broke all records. It was widely said that while Chinese people listened to 'old Deng' by day, they preferred to hear 'little Teng' by night. Then came the nightmare of the Tiananmen Square massacre in early June 1989. Student protesters by the thousands occupied Beijing's main square for a month, demanding greater freedom and an end to the communist one-party monopoly. Teresa Teng supported the students from afar, even performing before 300,000 in Hong Kong in their defense. But as the world sadly knows, Deng Xiaoping ordered the Army to crush the uprising, killing at least a thousand and jailing many more. She never performed on the mainland. After Tiananmen Square, she publicly declared she would not do so until the two Chinas were united under freedom, not communism. Teng earned millions as Asia's music superstar and became a pioneering philanthropist, raising huge sums for projects ranging from water systems in Thailand to disaster relief and other charitable endeavors in multiple countries. To the communists in Beijing, that was another mark against her because humanitarian assistance should come from the State, not private, 'greedy' capitalists. As the first Chinese-speaking vocalist to gain recognition and international influence, she opened doors for other artists throughout the region. Her notoriety ultimately reached every continent. Countries that issued postage stamps in her honor include: Russia; Sierra Leone, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau in Africa; Grenada in the Caribbean; as well as many in Asia. Her music still sells briskly the world over. Teresa Teng died at the age of 42 from a severe asthma attack while in Thailand. Her premature demise sent shock waves throughout Asia, but the spirit of her unique music resonates to this day. When the captive peoples of Beijing's tyranny are someday liberated, we will look back and likely credit Teng's music for contributing to the revolutionary spirit that finally got the job done. From the Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Billy Joel cancels Paycor Stadium show, all upcoming concerts
Billy Joel cancels Paycor Stadium show, all upcoming concerts Show Caption Hide Caption Billy Joel honored after ending historic Madison Square Garden run The Piano Man played his last concert at Madison Square Garden, where he performed 150 concerts over the years Legendary singer Billy Joel is canceling all upcoming concerts, including his Sept. 20 performance with Rod Stewart at Paycor Stadium, he announced on social media Friday. Joel said the decision to cancel came from a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). The condition has been "exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance," his statement read. According to the post, Joel has been undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during his recovery period. "I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding," the 76-year-old said. Billy Joel cancels show with Rod Stewart at Paycor Stadium: What to do if you bought tickets Joel and Stewart were set to take over Paycor Stadium for one night only Sept. 20. "This concert promises to be an unforgettable night of iconic hits and incredible performances, showcasing Paycor Stadium as a premier destination for world-class entertainment," Elizabeth Blackburn, director of strategy and engagement for the Bengals, said in a previous press release about the concert announcement. Fans who purchased tickets to Joel's Cincinnati concert do not need to take any action to receive a refund, according to Joel's statement. Tickets will automatically be processed back to the original payment used for purchase. Joel, who first performed in Cincinnati at Armory Fieldhouse on May 7, 1974, played a sold-out show at Great American Ball Park in September 2021. This year's concert would have been his first appearance at Paycor Stadium. Stewart, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, last performed in the Queen City in 2022 at Riverbend Music Center, per The Enquirer reached out to Game Day Communications, which handles public relations for Paycor Stadium, and it's unclear whether there are plans to host a new act. (This story was updated to add more information.) This story was updated to add a gallery.
Black America Web
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
50 Cent Jokes About Diddy's Tootsie Roll-Sized Penis Mentioned In New Rape Lawsuit, Social Media Agrees It's TMI
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Diddy's sextrafficking trial is in full swing with witnesses and alleged victims taking the standing and revealing some pretty damning details. But still, more people are coming forward and now a new lawsuit has been filed, where a woman accuses him of raping her in his New York City apartment in 2001. The suit, obtained by TMZ , states that the woman met him in May and hung out with him at least three other times without incident at his studio, restaurants, and nightclubs. But things took a turn in July when they headed back to his apartment after a night of clubbing. Doe claims he took her to his bedroom, locked the door, and pushed her onto the bed while grabbing her throat. 'I'm going to suck the life out of you,' he reportedly told her. In the lawsuit she remembers feeling 'relieved' that the assault wouldn't hurt much, because when he dropped his pants his penis 'appeared to be the length and girth of a large Tootsie Roll,' later referring to it as a 'an itty-bitty Diddy.' Still, s he said she yelled and pleaded with him to stop, but he proceeded to force himself on her. After the terrifying encounter, she and her friend were driven home by her staff. Doe says Diddy called her several times afterwards, even inviting her to his white party, but she refused and says she's had to undergo psychotherapy after suffering from Diddy's 'physical abuse, emotional abuse, trauma, injury, and psychological damage.' The accusations Diddy is facing are extremely serious, but one person who continues to make light of the mogul's downfall is long-term rival 50 Cent. The fellow New York rapper, posted a screenshot of the Tootsie Roll section of the lawsuit to his Instagram, along with a caption that read, 'Toosie Roll, Toosie Roll, to the left to the left to the right to the right to the front to the front to the back to the back now slide. LOL THAT's WHY HE IN THE CORNER Masterbating!' Since the legal proceedings began, 50 Cent has turned the Diddy hate up a notch. He jokes about the freakoffs where Diddy made Cassie get inside an inflatable pool filled with baby oil and even posts an AI image of himself as all of the jurors. See social media's reaction to the latest 50 Cent and Diddy interaction below. 50 Cent Jokes About Diddy's Tootsie Roll-Sized Penis Mentioned In New Rape Lawsuit, Social Media Agrees It's TMI was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
North Wales Live
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
'Come as you are' open invite to Mike Peters' funeral which saw 'outpouring of love' after his tragic death
An open "Come as you are" invite has been extended to the funeral of legendary The Alarrm frontman Mike Peters, following his tragic death, which saw an "outpouring of love" after. Tributes poured in for the North Wales star, who had been undergoing treatment at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, who died last month, following a 30-year battle against lymphoma. Now details of his funeral have been released, which will take place later this month, with an invite for everyone to attend, with no dress code. A statement on The Alarm Facebook page said: "We invite you all to join us for the funeral of Michael Leslie Peters, MBE, to celebrate the life of our incredible musician, advocate, friend, inspiration and much loved husband, father, brother, uncle and son-in-law. "Thursday 29th May 2025 – 3pm. At the Parish Church of St Bridget and St Cwyfan, Waterfall Road, Dyserth, LL18 6DB. All are welcome to join us as we remember Mike. "Whilst the service will begin at 3:00pm, we encourage you to arrive before 2:00pm at the church. Seating inside the church is limited, but there will be ample space around the church grounds for everyone to gather, reflect, and pay tribute. The Service Audio will be relayed outside for all to hear "Following the service, we will continue the celebration of Mike's life with an evening of music at The Red "There is no dress code — please wear whatever you feel most comfortable in, Camo, Alarm, Formal, Rock & Roll or Love Hope Strength attire. Come as you Are! "We are deeply thankful for the beautiful flowers and kind notes received so far. In lieu of further flowers, we kindly ask that donations be made to the Love Hope Strength Foundation, so Mike's mission to support others affected by cancer can continue "It feels profoundly right that Mike's farewell will take place in Dyserth, the village where he was born and he proudly called home, and in sight of The Red, where he found so much happiness. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped make this happen. For further details and updates about the plans for the 29th May, people were urged to visit the website again or the Love Hope Strength websites and social media channels as the date gets closer. The statement added: "Thank you again for the outpouring of love we have received. We very much hope you will join us for Mike's funeral, if not in person then in spirit, as we recognise the life of someone who has touched so many lives through his music and the beloved Foundation we established together almost 20 years ago. "With all our love hope and strength, Jules, Dylan & Evan."
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bread Is Being Recalled Due to Glass Contamination—Here's What to Know
More than 800 cases of bread have been recalled by Crest Hill Bakery. The affected bread was found to have glass pieces in the crust, which could cause injuries if consumed. Consumers are urged to dispose of the bread or return it to the initial place of purchase for a Hill Bakery has voluntarily recalled three varieties of bread. The Maryland-based company initiated the recall after an employee discovered a piece of glass on top of a loaf of seeded bread. The contamination was found to have originated from the facility that provided the seeds. More than 800 cases of bread are impacted by the recall, and they were distributed to six different states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Here's a list of the impacted products: Ancient Grains Hoagie Roll, 4-oz frozen rolls, lot # 90 Multigrain Sourdough, 18-oz frozen loaves, lot #90 Whole Grain Multigrain, 20-oz frozen loaves, lot #92 Consuming the recalled bread could lead to injury, such as damaged teeth, lacerations in the mouth and throat and, in some cases, perforation of the intestine. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries due to the contamination. If you experience any adverse symptoms after consuming any of the impacted bread, you should contact your healthcare provider. If you have purchased any of the listed products, you are advised to dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase. For more information, contact Upper Crust Bakery by phone at 301-937-3450. Related: More Than 2 Million Pressure Cookers Recalled After 106 Reported Burn Injuries Read the original article on EATINGWELL
