The late 20th century had just enough communication abilities to allow superstar-ness and communality to happen. It was a musical renaissance that rivals the visual one that happened in the 1400s.

Daryl Hall’s quote, "The late 20th century had just enough communication abilities to allow superstar-ness and communality to happen. It was a musical renaissance that rivals the visual one that happened in the 1400s," speaks to the transformative power of communication and technology in the late 20th century. He points out that this period, fueled by advancements in media, television, and radio, allowed musicians to reach global audiences in a way that wasn’t possible before. This new accessibility helped create the superstars of the music industry and fostered a sense of shared cultural experience, or communal connection, among people from different parts of the world.

Hall compares the musical revolution of the late 20th century to the visual renaissance of the 1400s, a period marked by immense cultural and artistic innovation in Europe. Just as the Renaissance transformed the world of art and intellectual thought, the late 20th century saw a cultural shift driven by the explosion of popular music and the ability to share it instantly across borders. This allowed musicians to have a profound impact on society, shaping everything from fashion to social movements.

The origin of this perspective can be traced to Hall’s own experience in the music industry. As a member of Hall & Oates, he witnessed firsthand how music and its distribution transformed during the 1980s and 1990s. The advent of MTV, the rise of cable television, and the increased reach of radio stations made it possible for artists to build massive fanbases and for music to become a shared cultural language in ways it hadn’t been before.

In essence, Hall is recognizing that the late 20th century was a time of innovation and connection in the music world, much like the Renaissance period in art. The technological advancements in communication allowed the music industry to flourish, fostering global stars and creating a sense of unity among listeners, much like the way the visual arts of the Renaissance unified intellectual and artistic movements across Europe.