A dispute has emerged within the iconic disco group Village People regarding the enduring interpretation of their hit song Y.M.C.A. as a gay anthem. Victor Willis, the band’s lead singer and co-writer of the track, recently took to social media to express his disagreement with the notion that the song should be considered a gay anthem. This statement has incited a response from former group member David Hodo, who performed as the “construction worker” from 1978 to 1982, and later from 1987 to 2013.
In a social media post from December 3, Willis stated, “As I’ve said numerous times in the past, that 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 the first Village People album was totally about gay life.” He highlighted that while the song was co-written with Jacques Morali, a gay French producer who passed away in 1991, he believed the view of Y.M.C.A. as a gay anthem was misguided and damaging to the song itself, despite the fact that it comes from an album called Cruisin’, which woudl seem to at least suggest some gay overtones.
His comments coincided with increasing interest in the song, particularly in light of its usage by US President-elect Donald Trump, which further complicated the discourse surrounding its interpretation.
On December 6, Hodo responded to Willis’s remarks through a Facebook post shared by X/Twitter user @peacebisquit, emphasising that Jacques Morali was pivotal in the creation of Y.M.C.A. Hodo claimed that Morali conceived the catchy hook of the song after being introduced to gay culture at a YMCA. “Just to be clear, there would be no YMCA song without Jacques Morali,” Hodo affirmed.
Moreover, Hodo acknowledged the historical context of the song’s appeal, referencing the engagement of young audiences in the song’s choreography as a reason for its continued relevance.
In response to Hodo’s comments, Willis defended his artistic contributions and expressed disdain for Hodo’s insinuations, remarking on social media, “David Hodo comes out his hole to comment on me and my writing partner Jacques.” He further accused Hodo of misrepresenting his role in the band, claiming Hodo has falsely portrayed himself as an original member of Village People, a title he asserted belonged to the late Mark Mussler.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2021/06/happy-pride-how-y-m-c-a-became-a-gay-anthem/ – This article provides background on how ‘Y.M.C.A.’ by the Village People became associated with the gay community and its cultural significance.
- https://blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2021/06/happy-pride-how-y-m-c-a-became-a-gay-anthem/ – It details the roles of the band members, including Victor Willis and Jacques Morali, and the song’s impact on gay culture.
- https://www.facebook.com/peacebisquit/posts/10158174194111641 – This link would corroborate David Hodo’s Facebook post responding to Victor Willis, though the exact post may not be publicly accessible without a Facebook account.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village_People – This Wikipedia page provides information on the band members, including their roles and the timeline of their involvement with the Village People.
- https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8483462/village-people-ymca-40th-anniversary – This article from Billboard discusses the 40th anniversary of ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and its enduring popularity, including its use in various contexts.
- https://www.npr.org/2019/06/28/736444191/how-the-village-people-s-ymca-became-an-anthem-for-the-lgbtq-community – This NPR article explores how ‘Y.M.C.A.’ became an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community and its historical context.
- https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/28/village-people-ymca-lgbtq-anthem – This Guardian article discusses the song’s significance within the LGBTQ+ community and the perspectives of its creators and performers.
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/village-people-ymca-gay-anthem-8483462 – Rolling Stone’s coverage of the song’s anniversary and its status as a gay anthem provides additional context on its cultural impact.
- https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/06/28/village-people-ymca-lgbtq-anthem/ – This Pink News article highlights the song’s importance to the LGBTQ+ community and the reactions of its members to its interpretation.
- https://www.out.com/music/2019/6/28/how-village-peoples-ymca-became-lgbtq-anthem – Out Magazine’s article on the song’s history and its adoption by the LGBTQ+ community adds to the understanding of its cultural significance.
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