The beginnings and golden age of pop music at the Taipei City Archives
The beginnings and golden age of pop music at the Taipei City Archives
2025-09-12
If you are a music lover, here is a story you might be interested in! A new exhibition in Taipei invites visitors to go back in time to explore Taiwanese pop music history from the 1950s to the 1990s. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us down memory lane!
In the early days of Taiwan’s pop music scene, riverside music venues played a key role in local entertainment. The organizers of the exhibition have recreated a riverside concert to honor the roots of Taipei’s pop music.
Hsiung Ju-hsien
Curator
Back in the 1950s, one of the earliest pop music scenes in Taipei emerged along the Tamsui River. It was the post-war era, and people had very little in the way of entertainment. So, by the riverside, open-air song stages began to appear. Business people would clear the grass near the riverbank, build stages, and invite performers to sing lyrics on stage.
In the 1960s, Western music became increasingly prominent in Taiwan, especially along Zhongshan North Road, due to the presence of American military bases.
Hsiung Ju-hsien
Curator
In the 1960s, due to the Vietnam War, Taiwan became a place for US military to rest. During that time, American soldiers brought Western music to Taiwan. Many Taiwanese people enjoyed these songs and even formed their own bands. On Zhongshan North Road, there was the American Club and the Grand Hotel. The area was full of pubs and clubs, and everyone was listening to Western music.
Then, in the 1980s, cabaret shows and restaurant performances became popular. By the 1990s, underground rock bands began to emerge. This exhibit explores the rich history of pop music in Taiwan, showcasing iconic vinyl records, cassette tapes, and CDs.
Visitor
Because we are music lovers also so basically, it is quite nostalgic because that is the music of our grandparents. Then, when we come here and visit, I think I can find some of the cassettes still in my house. We saw some score over there and then we learned a little bit. We know how to read the music score so we can sing along. It is quite fun for us.
Visitor
It is quite interesting that it shows so many histories about Taiwan’s music.
Hsiung Ju-hsien
Curator
Taiwan is a very important stepping stone in the development of pop music. We hope to showcase how deeply pop music has been rooted in the city of Taipei from the 1950s to the 1990s, from the songs people listened to, to the cityscape that was shaped by pop culture. This exhibition invites everyone into a space of shared memories — a journey through Taiwan’s pop music history. Here, you’ll see iconic albums that represent each era.
The exhibit is also holding a series of performances, documentary screenings, talks, and even a karaoke competition. The exhibit will be held at the Taipei City Archives until Oct. 19.
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#taiwanesepop #popmusic #exhibition #events #nostalgic #vinyl #records #cassette #tape
《台北流行音樂風景特展》臺北市立文獻館樹心會館展出
2025-09-12
一個關於台灣流行音樂歷史的特展「請播A面第2首─台北流行音樂風景」，在臺北市立文獻館「樹心會館」舉辦，聚焦1950至1990年代臺北流行音樂發展的歷史。
在台灣流行音樂的發展早期，淡水河畔的露天歌棚在在當地娛樂活動中扮演重要的角色。這次展覽重現了河畔音樂會，這也是台北流行音樂的根源。
[[策展人 熊儒賢]]
“其實最早的1950年代的時候，台北的淡水河，因為大家那個時候是戰後，所以戰後的大家沒有娛樂生活，淡水河旁邊就有一些露天歌棚，所以商人就是在把那個河旁邊的草割掉，打了棚子，寫歌詞或是唱歌的人就會演出。”
1960年代，由於美軍協防台灣， 西洋音開始在台灣流行，尤其中山北路成為"西洋音樂廊道"。
[[策展人 熊儒賢]]
“1960年代因為越戰關係，台灣是一個美軍的休憩的地方，在這個1960年代美軍來台灣的時候帶很多西洋歌曲來，也有很多台灣人喜歡西洋歌曲所以組了樂團。中山北路有美軍俱樂部，圓山有很多的pub、club大家都在聽西洋歌曲。”
隨後，到了1980年代，歌廳秀和餐廳秀開始流行。到了1990年代，地下搖滾樂團開始湧現。本次展覽將探討台灣流行音樂的悠久歷史，展出黑膠、黑膠唱機、卡帶、CD等珍貴物件。
[[民眾]]
"因為我們本身也是音樂愛好者，所以這些感覺很懷舊，因為那是我們祖父母年代的音樂。當我們來到這裡看到這些時，我覺得我家裡可能還有一些卡帶。我們在那邊看到了一些樂譜，然後學了一點。我們會讀樂譜，所以可以跟著唱，對我們來說真的很有趣。"
[[民眾]]
“從這個展可以了解台灣音樂的許多歷史，真的很有趣。”
[[策展人 熊儒賢]]
“台灣是非常重要流行音樂的發展起源，從1950到1990、我們希望呈現出台北這個城市，我們有多少的流行音樂，不管是從聽的歌，或者是我們城市裡面流行音樂的風景，我們來呈現這個大家一個回憶殺、一個跟流行音樂的展覽。你可以看到重要的專輯代表性。”
除了展覽還有一系列表演、紀錄片放映、講座，甚至還有卡拉OK比賽。「請播A面第2首─台北流行音樂風景」特展，於2025年7月31日至10月19日臺北市立文獻館「樹心會館」舉辦。
更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00
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