Y.M.C.A. Co-Writer Victor Willis Defends Trump’s Use of the Song, Claims It’s Not a ‘Gay Anthem’ – One America News Network
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
1:18 PM – Tuesday, December 2, 2024
Victor Willis, the singer and co-writer of the Village People, known for his iconic “policeman” costume, recently expressed his support for President-elect Donald Trump’s use of their hit song “Y.M.C.A.”
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In a Facebook post on Monday, Willis explained that when he originally wrote the lyrics, he was unaware of the YMCA’s association as a gathering place for the LGBTQ+ community, asserting that the lively dance track was not intended as a “gay anthem.”
Y.M.C.A. stands for “Young Men’s Christian Association” (YMCA).
Willis remarked that his understanding of the worldwide youth organization, particularly the YMCA branches in cities like San Francisco, significantly influenced his songwriting for “Y.M.C.A.”
“When I mention, ‘hang out with all the boys,’ that phrase simply reflects 1970s Black slang for guys socializing for sports, gaming, or other activities. There’s nothing gay implied there,” he clarified, referring to a specific line in the song.
Additionally, Willis revealed that Trump’s campaign rallies, during which the song was prominently featured, had led to over 1,000 complaints directed at him. Trump began to dance to the classic track at his rallies in 2020.
Statistics show that the song’s popularity soared due to these campaign moments, with a significant increase in listenership and search trends on election day.
Following this, athletes began to mimic Trump’s disco dance moves during their games, which ignited discussions about the intersection of politics and sports.
Willis later conceded that, at first, he found Trump’s use of the song to be a “nuisance” and asked him to refrain from using it. However, he now believes Trump is entitled to continue using the song, especially after learning that Trump’s team had obtained a political use license from BMI, which protects the rights of artists.
He mentioned that he has chosen to dismiss threats and backlash from fellow musicians and Village People fans who criticize him for allowing Trump to use the song.
Willis added that he couldn’t bring himself to stop Trump from using “Y.M.C.A.” amid rising objections from other artists regarding song usage at campaign events. He instructed his wife, the band’s manager, to inform BMI that they should not retract Trump’s license for using the song.
Moreover, he mentioned profiting significantly from the Trump campaign’s incorporation of the song.
“For instance, Y.M.C.A. was lingering at #2 on the Billboard charts before the President Elect’s use. However, it finally reached #1 on a Billboard chart after 45 years and maintained that position for two weeks as a result of his use of the song,” Willis noted in his post, emphasizing that “the financial gains have been substantial.”
Willis further speculated that several factors contribute to the “misconception” that “Y.M.C.A.” serves as an LGBTQ+ anthem.
Some contributing aspects he identified include the band’s debut album, which centered around gay culture, the sexual orientation of his writing partner and certain Village People members, as well as the YMCA’s reputation as a gathering space for the gay community.
Nonetheless, Willis firmly stated that the track is not intended to be an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community and encouraged listeners to “stop thinking inappropriately.”
While he doesn’t mind the perception of the song as a gay anthem, he believes the misunderstandings are “harmful” to the song’s legacy. He warned that his wife will pursue legal action against any news outlets that label “Y.M.C.A.” as a gay anthem starting in January.
This is not the first time Willis has threatened legal proceedings on this matter, having done so previously in 2020.
In the meantime, social media users have shared their opinions following Willis’ statements making headlines.
“I belong to a YMCA. It is not a place exclusively for gay individuals. It’s families with children, and there are Bible verses displayed throughout the building, along with an actual large Bible available for anyone to read in the hallway,” remarked one user.
“Unlike Dave Grohl [from the Foo Fighters], who confronted Trump after his song was used, this is the outcome when you embrace your song’s uses. You end up making money!!!” commented another user.
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