Following the success of Long Live TV! in 2013, we developed the interactive exhibition Long Live Music!, a tribute to more than 200 artists and bands from Belgium and the Netherlands, and the largest music exhibition ever in Flanders.
The exhibition told the story of how Dutch-language popular music conquered hearts and charts. Visitors discovered iconic items from personal collections of over a hundred musical heroes, accompanied by memorable songs, television clips, and the special stories of Belpop expert Jan Delvaux.
A personal audio guide offered 130 stories and carefully selected music excerpts. Montages of archival footage from VRT brought the era to life, keeping some visitors exploring for hours.
The most popular song themes were presented in playful sets. Young and old enjoyed songs about happiness and heartbreak, rebellion, humor, ballads, teen idols, children’s songs, and cult hits. Interactive Jan Delvaux jukeboxes offered fun moments of recognition, such as The Singing Map, Cover or Original, 10 for Language, Create Your Own Hip Hop Track, Turarium, and Each Their Dialect.
The exhibition united multiple generations. Fans of cabaret, schlager, rock, or hip hop could experience the route according to their preferences, while the youngest visitors enjoyed a room with original sets.
A karaoke room, decorated with original show costumes from artists like Herman Van Veen and Kenji Minogue, invited visitors to join in. During Museum Night, it even turned into an impromptu student party.
Long Live Music! was a grand celebration for all ages: an interactive and immersive tribute to 60 years of Dutch-language music culture.
05.10.2018 - 09.06.2019
Production: Blackbirds, Bas Temmermans, Printville, Guide-ID, Ocular
