Village People’s Victor Willis Defends Donald Trump’s Use of ‘YMCA’

Village People founding member Victor Willis is determined to set the record straight on the song “YMCA.”

In a lengthy Facebook post on Monday, the 73-year-old singer-songwriter not only disputed the song’s status as a “gay anthem” but also reiterated his decision to have the song played at campaign rallies leading up to Donald Trump’s victory in November . After claiming that Trump had obtained the necessary BMI license to use the song, Willis stated that he decided not to revoke the permissions, noting that Trump seemed to “really like” the song and ” “a lot of fun” with it.

Willis wrote that he “didn’t have the heart” to block Trump’s use of the track, especially because it came at a time when “numerous artists were revoking the president-elect’s use of their material.”

In fact, the twice-impeached former president has faced backlash for his musical choices in each of his presidential runs, from artists such as Rihanna, Pharrell, Adele, Aerosmith, Neil Young, Ozzy Osbourne, Nickelback, the Rolling Stones, Queen and others. In 2020, the Village People themselves were among the opposing musicians.

The group initially reluctantly gave Trump their permission, writing in a February Facebook post, “He remained respectful in his use of our songs and did not cross the line.” But just four months later, they revoked their consent and called on Trump to to stop using their music after his government responded militantly to the peaceful Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020. “I ask you to stop using my music at your rallies,” especially “YMCA” and “Macho Man.” “I’m sorry, but I can’t look away any longer,” Willis wrote at the time.

But now the Village People frontman notes that allowing “YMCA” to be used at Trump’s events has resulted in significant financial gains.

“YMCA has benefited greatly from the President-elect’s use,” Willis wrote. “For example, before being used by the president-elect, YMCA was stuck at No. 2 on the Billboard charts. However, after over 45 years, the song finally made it to No. 1 on the Billboard charts (and stayed at No. 1 for two weeks). ) due to the efforts of the elected president.”

He added that the track has “grossed an estimated several million dollars” since Trump started it. “That’s why I’m glad I allowed the president-elect to continue using YMCA and I thank him for choosing to use my song.”

Willis then addressed the song’s general characterization as a “gay anthem” and vehemently denied that it was his intention to achieve such status when he wrote the lyrics.

“There has been a lot of talk, especially lately, about the YMCA being somehow a gay anthem,” Willis wrote. “As I have said many times in the past, this is a false assumption based on the fact that my writing partner was gay and some (not all) of Village People were gay, and that on the first Village People album it was exclusively that’s what gay life was all about.

He continued: “This assumption is also based on the fact that the YMCA was apparently used as some kind of gay meeting place and since one of the writers was gay and some of the villagers are gay, the song must be a message to gay people.” To that I say again, get your thoughts out of the gutter. That is not the case.

Willis wrote that he “didn’t know about the Y being a gay meeting place” and explained that he wrote “YMCA” based on his knowledge of San Francisco locations as a meeting place.

“When I say ‘Hang out with all the boys,’ that’s just 1970s black slang for black people spending time together playing sports, gambling or whatever,” he said of one of the song’s most notable lyrics. “There’s nothing gay about that.”

The musician then declared his intention to get his wife, attorney Karen Willis, to “sue every single news organization that falsely labels YMCA as a gay anthem,” adding, “However, I don’t mind gay people labeling the song as a gay anthem.” consider an anthem for gays.” their anthem.

Willis concluded: “The real anthem is the YMCA’s appeal to people of all stripes, including President-elect Trump. But the song isn’t really a gay anthem, except that some people falsely claim it is. And that has to stop because it’s damaging to society.” Song.”