Taipei expo revisits local pop music history

2015/05/22

A Taipei City exhibition on pop music in Taiwan over the last century is set to take visitors on a special journey back to the early days of the industry’s development.

Staged at Nishi Honganji Square by the local government’s Department of Cultural Affairs until July 5, the expo features a rich collection of antique records and players. These vestiges of a bygone era hark back to the golden days of the local Holo music industry.

“Spanning the Qing dynasty [1644-1911], Japanese colonial period [1895-1945], martial law rule [1949-1987] and present day, pop songs represent strong links with the people throughout the modern history of Taiwan,” a DOCA official said.

Early folk tunes like “Skies Are Dark” and “Thinking Back” trace their origins to the island’s agricultural traditions. And “We Love Our Taiwan,” written by Tsai Pei-huo in 1929, marks the rise of local identity under the Japanese rule while ushering in a decade of classic Taiwan songs like “Spring Breeze” and “Flower on a Rainy Night.”

“The melodies and lyrics still resonate with listeners in the 21st century,” the official said. “They are not just reminders of yesterday, but a collective memory of a people.”

Hits from recent years like the ever-popular “Fight to Win” and “Marching Forward” are also highlights of the show, while a section dedicated to traditional nursery rhymes is set to rekindle fond childhood memories.

An open-air concert, scheduled for June 13 as part of the exhibition, features performances of many of the timeless tracks by Golden Melody Award winner Christine Hsu.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=230650&ctNode=413)