“Y.M.C.A.” singer and co-writer Victor Willis of the band Village Individuals defended President-elect Donald Trump’s use of the tune Monday on Fb. Willis denied that the disco tune was supposed as a “homosexual anthem,” saying he “knew nothing in regards to the Y being a hang around for gays” when he wrote the lyrics.
Willis mentioned he wrote “Y.M.C.A.” based mostly on what he knew in regards to the worldwide youth group on the time, notably the YMCA branches within the city areas of San Francisco.
“Once I say, ‘hang around with all of the boys’ that’s merely Nineteen Seventies black slang for black guys hanging-out collectively for sports activities, playing or no matter. There’s nothing homosexual about that,” he mentioned of one of many tune’s most notable strains.
Willis mentioned he has obtained greater than 1,000 complaints about the usage of “Y.M.C.A” at Trump’s marketing campaign rallies. Trump started dancing to the 1978 hit on the finish of his rallies in 2020 — and nonetheless does. Knowledge suggests the staple marketing campaign second drove the tune up the charts, with search curiosity and listenership hovering on Election Day.
Athletes started mimicking Trump’s dance to the disco basic on the sphere quickly after, elevating questions in regards to the presence of politics in sports activities.
Willis mentioned he requested Trump to cease utilizing the tune as a result of his use turned a “nuisance.” He mentioned Trump had obtained a political use license for the tune from BMI, which enforces music efficiency rights, and due to this fact had each proper to proceed to make use of it — which he did.
As different artists started to oppose Trump’s use of their music in marketing campaign rallies, Willis mentioned he didn’t “have the center” to stop him from utilizing “Y.M.C.A.” He mentioned he informed his spouse, who can be the band’s supervisor, to tell BMI to not withdraw Trump’s licensing to make use of the tune.
In flip, Willis mentioned, he made more cash off it.
“For instance, Y.M.C.A. was caught at #2 on the Billboard chart previous to the President Elect’s use. Nonetheless, the tune lastly made it to #1 on a Billboard chart after over 45 years (and held on to #1 for 2 weeks) as a result of President Elect’s use,” Willis wrote within the publish, including that “the monetary advantages have been nice.”
Willis mentioned the “false assumption” that “Y.M.C.A.” is a homosexual anthem could also be because of a number of elements: His writing associate and a number of other members of the Village Individuals had been homosexual, the band’s first album was “completely about homosexual life,” and “the YMCA was apparently getting used as some kind of homosexual hangout.” Nonetheless, he careworn that the tune shouldn’t be a homosexual anthem and mentioned folks ought to get their “minds out of the gutter.”
Willis mentioned that he doesn’t thoughts that the tune is taken into account a homosexual anthem however that the false assumptions are “damaging to the tune.” Beginning in January, he mentioned, his spouse will sue any information group that refers to “Y.M.C.A.” as a homosexual anthem.
Trump’s crew didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.