music to heal the heart

A Life Written in Water, Anita Mui (梅艳芳)

In Memory of Anita Mui 梅艳芳 October 10, 1963 – December 30, 2003 What is a life written in water? Meaningful or empty? If it had a melody, would it sound happy or sad, or something else? Anita Mui sang the evocative “A Life Written in Water” in a 1984 Hong Kong movie called “Homecoming.” Anita was a superstar [...]

By Ramona McKean|2021-07-21T21:56:42-07:00January 8th, 2016|Blogs with Music Featured, China & Chinese Culture, Chinese Music, Language of the Heart, Music, People, Poetry, Spirit Matters|45 Comments

Tribute to Teresa Teng, Jan. 29, 1953 – May 8, 1995

Teresa Teng, Deng Lijun, 邓丽君 When I arrived in Harbin, China in 2004 to teach English, I wanted to learn at least a little Mandarin. Since music helps me a lot with other languages, I asked my friend Liyi for help. "Who can I listen to who sings Mandarin clearly and also [...]

By Ramona McKean|2024-07-23T16:04:20-07:00January 30th, 2014|Blogs with Music Featured, China & Chinese Culture, Chinese Music, Language of the Heart, Music, People, Poetry|100 Comments

“Ramona McKean, in Dancing in the Heart of the Dragon, makes a truly great and important statement, not just about China but about the human race. She understands that our grandchildren’s future depends largely on understanding between Chinese and Westerners. Her gripping story powerfully reveals why and how this understanding is possible. The outlook on life, the philosophy is tremendous, shared with simple, direct, honest eloquence, no tricks, no holds barred, no preaching. When all is said and done, at the end of the day it’s about having a good heart. Ramona has a good heart. I am proud to support her story.”

Sidney Rittenberg, author of The Man Who Stayed Behind, journalist, scholar, Chinese linguist, Professor of China Studies at Pacific Lutheran University, and subject of the documentary The Revolutionary