"Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase" (Japanese: ; meaning "Give Yourself to the Flow of Time") is a song recorded by Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng in both Japanese and Mandarin.Jie Jin Chinese Music - 2011 p126 "The songs of Teresa Teng, including Story of Little Town (Xiao Cheng Gu Shi), Sweetness (Tian Mi Mi) and I only Care about You (Wo Zhi Zai Hu Ni), were widely spread on the mainland. These pop songs from Hong Kong and Taiwan gave a ..." The original version was released as a CD single in Japan on February 21, 1986, for her Japanese studio album of the same name (1986).

The following year, Teng recorded a Mandarin Chinese version of the song, titled "I Only Care About You" (Chinese: 我只在乎你). It served as a single for her Chinese studio album also of the same name, which was released through Polygram Records on April 1, 1987.

The song was a big success in both Japan and the Chinese-speaking world. In Japan, "Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase" won the Grand Prix (most prestigious award) at the 1986 Japan Cable Awards and the All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards, making Teng the only non-Japanese artist to have won either award for three consecutive years. In 1997, it was voted the 16th greatest Japanese song of all time in a nationwide survey conducted by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).

Background and release

The original Japanese version "Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase" served as the lead single for Teng's Japanese studio album of the same name, released on July 31, 1986. The song was composed by Takashi Miki, with lyrics penned by Toyohisa Araki. "Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase" was one of the most popular songs in Japan in 1986, with its parent album selling over 2 million copies."Chinese Pop Music History 20 Years Special - Teresa Teng (Part II)". english.cri.cn. April 5, 2007. Retrieved June 5, 2012.

A Mandarin version of the song was recorded with the title of "I Only Care About You" (), with new lyrics penned by Shen Chih. It was included in her Mandarin album of the same name in April 1987. "I Only Care About You" subsequently achieved widespread popularity in mainland China.Ma Yujia. "Chinese pop music since the 1980s". china.org.cn. December 8, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2012.Jie Jin (2011). Chinese Music. Cambridge University Press. p. 126.

Live performances Teng performed the song live at the 37th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1986, and at the 42nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1991. It has been covered by many artists since its release.

Impact and legacy The song is well known in Asia and has been recorded by musicians into the 21st century in Taipei and Kuala Lumpur.David Chen. "Jazz for the musicians … but for the masses, too". taipeitimes.com. June 5, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2012."Fans of Teresa Teng take nostalgia trip". thestar.com.my. September 6, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2012. In a national survey conducted by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) in 1997, the song was ranked 16th among the 100 greatest Japanese songs of all time, the highest position for a song by a non-Japanese artist. In a 2010 survey conducted by the Teresa Teng Foundation to determine Teng's most popular hits, "I Only Care About You" received the second-most votes."Teresa Teng fans vote for favorite songs". taipeitimes.com. April 10, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2012. In August 2021, "Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase" was ranked as the 9th best Japanese pop song of the 1980s by Music Magazine.

Accolades "Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase" won the Grand Prix (the most prestigious award in Japanese music) at the 19th Japan Cable Awards and the 19th All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards (yearly), making Teng the only artist to have won the Grand Prix for three consecutive years at both events.

+Awards for "Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase" Award Year Category Result All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards 1986 Grand Prix (Yearly) Excellent Star Award (Yearly) Japan Cable Awards Grand Prix Best Hit Song Award Wired Music Award Japan Record Awards1986 Grand Prix Gold Award

Track listing Japanese CD single

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1986) Peakposition Japan Singles (Oricon) 6

Chart (2024) Peakposition South Korea (Circle) 155

Year-end charts Chart (1986) Position Japan Singles (Oricon) 62

Chart (1987) Position Japan Singles (Oricon) 42

Certifications

See also 1986 in Japanese music

References