Old Taiwanese songs are evidence of this melting pot. Early Taiwanese music was inspired by Shanghai films, and nurtured by the Japanese-owned Columbia record company; its creators had a deep understanding of the Chinese language. Many composers had formal Japanese musical training. Many songs have aboriginal, Fujianese, and / or Hakka ingredients, and later came under Japanese influence.
台語老歌便是最佳的見證，台語流行歌曲起源於《桃花泣血記》這部上海默片的靈感，受惠於古倫美亞日籍台灣區經理柏野正次郎的大力提倡，早年台語歌曲的作詞者漢文功底深厚，許多作曲家亦曾受過日本嚴謹的音樂教育，台語歌謠一向大量融入山地、福佬、客家歌謠，後來則深受日本演歌影響。