atonement -Tsugunai- / Teresa Teng

Song Introduction (Tsugunai)

• Song Title: Tsugunai (Title Meaning: atonement)
• Artist: Teresa Teng
• Lyricist: Toyohisa Araki
• Composer: Takashi Miki
• Label: Polydor/PolyGram, EMI, Taurus Record
• Released Date: January 21, 1984
• Overview:Released on January 21, 1984, as the 14th single, “Tsugunai” was distributed by Taurus Record (which later disbanded and is now part of Universal Music).
  The song gradually gained popularity, becoming a major hit and winning numerous awards, including the Japan Cable Broadcasting Grand Prize.

• Source of Article:
  • Teresa Teng – Wikipedia
  • Tsugunai (Teresa Teng’s song) – Wikipedia

About the Song & Lyrics

Teresa Teng’s “Tsugunai,” a timeless classic of the Showa era, was released in 1984 and garnered numerous awards. It serves as a poignant testament to her resilience, marking her musical comeback following a period of adversity. The song paints a heart-wrenching portrait of a woman bidding farewell to a forbidden love. The image of a room bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, as evoked in the opening line, underscores the bittersweet nature of her departure.

Her gentle, enveloping voice, singing about a woman’s sorrow and kindness as she decides to atone for a forbidden love and leaves her room, moves me to tears.
The song “Tsugunai” remains beloved by many as one of Teresa Teng’s most representative works.

窓に西陽が　あたる部屋は
いつもあなたの　匂いがするわ
ひとり暮らせば　想い出すから
壁の傷も　残したまま　おいてゆくわ

愛をつぐなえば　別れになるけど
こんな女でも　忘れないでね
優しすぎたの　あなた
子供みたいな　あなた
あすは他人同士に　なるけれど

つぐない / テレサ・テンより

Translation (Unformal)
Bathed in the golden hour, this room still bears your trace,
A phantom fragrance haunting every space
Alone, I’ll cherish memories we’ve made,
Leaving behind the marks our love has played

Atonement means farewell, I must confess,
Yet, please remember, even flawed as I may be
Your kindness knew no bounds,
A child at heart, so free
Though we’ll part ways, tomorrow

Tsugunai / Teresa Teng

Song Video

Artist Introduction

• Artist: Teresa Teng (Chinese name: 鄧麗君 / Teng Li-chun)
• Date of Birth: January 29, 1953 (Died January 29, 1995)
• Place of Birth: Taiwan (Taiwan Province, Yunlin County, Baozhong Township, Tianyang Village)
• Active Years: 1967 – 1995
• Official Website: UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN

Artist Trails

Teresa Teng was a Taiwanese singer and actress who, despite being from Taiwan, became one of the most successful artists in Japan and Asia, often referred to as the “Diva of Asia.”
She made her professional debut in Taiwan at the age of 14 and starred in films at 16, gaining popularity across Asia.

In 1973, she signed a contract with Japan’s Polydor (now Universal Music) through Minoru Funaki, who she referred to as her “Japanese father” and later became the president of Taurus Records.She began her music career in Japan at 21 in 1974.

Initially pursuing an idol route, she released her first single “Konya kashira Ashita kashira” in March 1974, but it did not perform well.She shifted to enka and released her second single “Kūkō”(Airport) in July 1974, which became a huge hit.

She won the New Artist Award at the 16th Japan Record Awards, and her music career in Japan began to gain momentum.However, in February 1979, she faced a one-year deportation order due to a passport violation upon entering Japan.

At the time, Japan had normalized relations with China, leading to severed diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan), making entry procedures from Taiwan very complex.She attempted to enter Japan with an Indonesian passport, which led to legal ambiguities.

The incident drew criticism from Taiwan, and her extradition was sought.
However, Minoru Funaki helped her relocate to the United States.
After a year, she returned to Taiwan under the condition of cooperating with the Taiwanese government and began working as an advertising figure for the Republic of China’s military.

In 1984, she was allowed to return to Japan and made a comeback with the release of “Tsugunai” in January of that year.The song became a major hit, winning awards such as the Japan Cable Broadcasting Grand Prize.

Following this, her single “Aijin” also became a big hit, leading to her first appearance at the 36th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

She continued to enjoy success with hits like “Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Yudanase,” winning the Japan Cable Broadcasting Grand Prize and the All Japan Cable Broadcasting Grand Prize in three consecutive years from 1984 to 1986, a historic achievement.

She later moved to Hong Kong and supported the Chinese democracy movement. However, the Tiananmen Square Incident on June 4, 1989, led to the cancellation of her first concert in China, which deeply shocked and pained her.

On May 8, 1995, she passed away at the age of 42 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, due to an asthma attack, a condition she had long suffered from.

For her fans, her passing was truly heartbreaking.Her voice delicately expressed love, separation, joy, and sorrow, resonating deeply and gently with listeners.
As Asia’s diva, she continues to captivate many with her pure and heartfelt voice.

discography

• Single
  • 1st Mar. 1, 1974 Tonight or Tomorrow / Rain Wet Flowers
  • 2nd July 1, 1974 Airport / A stray little dove
  • 3rd Oct 21, 1974 Yukikake / From afar with love
  • 4th Mar. 21, 1975 Woman’s Life Purpose / Night Fog
  • 5th Jul. 1, 1975 Yoru no Passenger / Till Darkness Comes
  • 6th Oct. 21, 1975 Acacia no Yume / Mitsuchitou
  • 7th June 1, 1976 Yoru no Ferry Boat / Akasaka Tasogare
  • 8th Feb. 1, 1977 Where is my hometown?
  • 9th Aug. 1, 1977 Living with You / Hotel by the Sea
  • 10th May 10, 1978 Tokyo Nightscape / Letter
  • 11th July 21, 1980 You / Magokoro
  • 12th Feb. 28, 1981 The Way Gelsomina Walked / From the West Coast
  • 13th Oct 21, 1983 Futatabi no / Traveler
  • 14th Jan. 21, 1984 Tsugunai / Smile and Cheers
  • 15th Feb 21, 1985 Mistress / Wet with Rain
  • 16th Feb 21, 1986 Toki no nagare ni mi wo makase / Twilight
  • Apr 24, 1988 Toki no nagare ni mi wo makase / Farewell
  • August 30, 1989 Give yourself to the flow of time / A woman’s purpose in life
  • Mar 2, 1994 Give yourself to the flow of time / Yukikake
  • 17th Nov. 21, 1986 Scandal / Heartbreak
  • 18th June 21, 1987 Farewell Premonition / 酒醉的探戈
  • 19th Jan. 25, 1988 Lovers’ Myth / Glass Skyscraper
  • 20th Mar. 8, 1989 Hong Kong / Wet with star drops
  • 21st Jul. 26, 1989 Sad Freedom (New Mix Version) / Hong Kong (New Mix Version)
  • 22nd Mar. 28, 1990 Conditions for Tears / Yes, Ai ni Tsutsumare
  • 23rd Feb 27, 1991 Let Me Dance with Sadness / Let Me Listen to a Bedtime Story
  • 24th May 27, 1992 Sunshine of Love ~Amore Mio~ / Yume Tachinu
  • 25th Nov. 18, 1992 Yunagi / Late Autumn
  • 26th Apr. 28, 1993 What day are you coming back – Chinese version / What day are you coming back – Japanese version
  • 27th May 12, 1993 I’ll live with you / Love and be loved
  • 28th Nov. 9, 1994 Yalai Shang – Japanese version / Yalai Shang – Chinese version
  • 29th Jan. 25, 1996 Sad Freedom (remake single) / Winter Sunflower
  • 30th Oct. 25, 1997 Yume Tachinu / 我只在乎你 (Toki no nagare ni mi wo makase / Chinese version)
  • Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
    
• Original Album
  • 1st Oct. 21, 1974 Airport/Snowmaking
  • 2nd Aug. 1, 1975 Yoru no Passenger/Woman’s Purpose in Life
  • 3rd Nov. 21, 1975 Dream of Acacia
  • 4th Feb. 21, 1977 Where is my hometown?
  • 5th Dec. 1, 1977 Living with You
  • 6th June 21, 1978 Nekoso! Teresa Ten Tokyo Night View
  • Apr. 1, 1979 Gorgeous Enthusiastic Singing (Chinese)
  • 7th September 28, 1980 You / Magokoro
  • 8th Feb. 28, 1981 The Way Gelsomina Walked
  • 9th June 1, 1983 Traveler
  • 10th Jan. 21, 1984 Tsugunai
  • December 1, 1984 Redemption
  • 11th March 1, 1985 Mistress
  • 12th July 31, 1986 Toki no nagare ni mi wo makase
  • Dec. 25, 1986 Shaku yizui de chage
  • 13th Jul. 5, 1987 Farewell Premonition
  • 14th Mar. 8, 1989 Romanticism
  • 15th Mar. 27, 1991 ’91 Let Me Dance with Sadness – New Original Songs
    
• Cover Album
  • 1st April 1, 1976 Ai no Sekai
  • 2nd Nov. 21, 1978 Heartfelt night song
  • 3rd July 1, 1980 Enka no messa (Message of Enka)
  • 4th Feb. 10, 1999 Teresa Ten Cover Best Collection
  • 5th December 15, 2006 Berry Best Series: Teresa Ten – Enchanting Cover Collection
  • 6th July 22, 2008 Teresa Ten Cover Best Selection
  • 7th 2009 Teresa Ten Nada no Showa Uta Uta – Funauta, Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyunkei (Winter View of the Tsugaru Straits)
  • 8th 2009 Teresa Ten The Best – Cape Erimo
  • 9th 2009 Teresa Ten The Best – Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyunkei
  • 10th 2010 Teresa Ten Best Selection II Enka Cover Song Collection
  • 11th 2015 Teresa Ten Sings Showa Masterpieces
  • 12th October 21, 2015 Teresa Ten: Ai to sono Jinsei
  • 13th Teresa Ten Ano Hi Ano Machi de
  • 14th Teresa Ten Love & Pops
  • 15th December 21, 2016 Unforgettable People Teresa Ten Cover Best Album
    
• Live Album
  • 1st July 10, 1977: Theresa Teng First Concert
  • 2nd June 25, 1995 Teresa Teng First Concert in Memoriam
  • 3rd December 1, 1999 Teresa Teng Last Concert/The Complete Version
  • 4th January 22, 1986 Teresa Ten Concert Live
  • 5th April 9, 1997 Teresa Teng (Deng Likun) at Louido
  • 6th May 8, 1998 Teresa Ten CONCERT LIVE NHK Hall Concert Live 鄧麗君演唱會現塲録音版
  • 7th 2003 Teresa Teng 50th Birthday Film Concert “Venue Special Edition” – Still…
  • 8th November 7, 2008 Teresa Ten Live Best Selection
  • 9th April 1, 2015 Teresa Ten First Concert Love to You Where is My Hometown?