NYC New Music: 1980-1986
LL Cool J, Talking Heads, Blondie, The Ramones+
Enter New York City in the early 1980s — musical causation rose from the streets, stemming from the interiors of bars, clubs, apartment buildings, and the spaces allocated for the creation of art for the sake of art. Now on view at the Museum of the City of New York, New York, New Music: 1980-1986 dissects this pivotal period of time and provides an overarching perspective on the sounds and figures that defined it.
On view since the summer of 2021, the opening date of New York, New Music coincided with the 40th anniversary of MTV’s launch on August 1st, 1981. The exhibition hones in on critical moments in the early ‘80s that unequivocally molded musical history. During these formative years, Black representation on TV grew increasingly common, Madonna made her ascension to fame, and hip-hop embarked on its revolutionary take over of the contemporary music scene. Names such as Run DMC, LL Cool J, the Talking Heads, Miles Davis, and John Zorn ruled the spotlight and music evolved in rushed, harmonious bounds.
“The early 1980s were a time of significant transition in New York, with the city facing crime, urban decay, and homelessness,” notes Whitney Donhauser, the Ronay Menschel Director and President of Museum of the City of New York. “And yet, despite those challenges, it was also a particularly fertile time for music and other creativity in New York City. The musical innovations of this time period are a great example of the resilience of the city and the importance of art and creativity as forces of transformation.”
A culture towed by community and group connectedness, music exuded from vibrant collaborations and a strengthening environment of diversity. The fluidity of musical genres abounded as creatives broke down the barriers between traditional groupings and created space for novel themes and sounds. Hip-hop, jazz, salsa, and others intersected and flourished as the city simultaneously careened in a coming-of-age fashion. Groundbreaking and subversive, artists stepped outside of the all-too-well-known confines of traditional dichotomies and instead grasped at the blurred lines between various styles, bringing about new and revolutionary sounds.
The exhibition is on view until summer 2022. To learn more, visit here
