How YMCA became Donald Trump’s unlikely anthem

Following the announcement that Village People will perform at several upcoming inaugural events, what is it about their songs that will appeal to the president-elect?

The Village People’s YMCA is a high-energy disco hit that encourages young working-class men to meet like-minded people at the Young Men’s Christian Association hostel. the interpreted The song appears on an album titled “Cruisin”’ as an ode to the joy of picking up sexual partners. The song was first performed by a group of chiseled dancers with mustaches and skin-tight costumes. It’s no surprise, then, that the song has been so closely associated with gay culture since its release in 1978. What is perhaps surprising is that the song is now so closely associated with incoming US President Donald Trump.

I can hear the voice of YMCA again and again At “Make America Great Again” rallies and Mar-a-Lago fundraisers, Trump often dances while his supporters sing along. And now this association is to become even closer. This week, the Village People themselves Appeared at several inaugural events: He’s also a fan of their other hit song, Macho Man. In a political career full of ironies and contradictions, this man must be near the top of the list.

YMCA was co-written by French producer Jacques Morari and singer Victor Willis. A perfect blend of punchy brass fanfares, spiraling violins, and funky rhythms, this song is so lively and catchy that you can’t help but join in. The accompanying hand-like arm movements were added for the television performance. At the 1979 “American Bandstand” show, President Trump never tried to resist, but it became even harder to resist. YMCA is a wedding reception song that anyone can sing and an aerobics challenge that anyone can try.

But how did he make the jump from political party to politician? Released a single in March 2020 Certified Rated as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. This is a sure sign that it is no longer seen as subversive or risqué, but as a versatile celebration to be enjoyed with others. It exploded after a month At an anti-lockdown rally During the Covid-19 pandemic. Some demonstrators changed the letters YMCA to MAGA, and the song soon became a Trump staple. While some political gatherings can seem serious and sombre, Trump takes pride in recognizing that his rallies have the mass entertainment of a sports game or rock concert. The Village People’s feel-good hits make sense as a crowd-friendly soundtrack. As the song’s lyrics say, “You don’t have to be down…get up off the ground.”

But the connection between MAGA and the YMCA is about more than just fun, says Dr A Jamie Sallis, associate professor in the anthropology department at Maynooth University. “I don’t think you can separate Trump and his base from nostalgia,” Dr Sallis told the BBC. “They want a do-over. They want to relive a certain moment in their brain, like when America was great. They just don’t want to deal with contradictions. Disco , which was a problem for a lot of kids.”But now people who were once uncomfortable are saying, “My back didn’t hurt in the 1970s!”

Additionally, Dr. Sallis notes that the nostalgia inherent in the MAGA movement leans toward camp. “At Trump’s rallies, you often see veterans, Navy SEALs, and office workers in blue-collar outfits.” Strange as it may seem, their cosplay is often ironic. You know, it’s not that different from the cosplay of the Village People, who dress up as police officers, soldiers, cowboys, Native American chiefs, etc. and worship a wholesome and honest way of life. A construction worker and a leather-clad biker, Dr. Sallis calls “an image of American masculinity that is still admired today.”

Even with this in mind, the connection between this song and politicians isn’t all that bothersome. Campaign anthems are often about patriotism, freedom, and hope for the future, not about playing with the boys when you’re short on dough. But it’s worth noting that President Trump’s musical choices are limited. Here is a list of artists who objected to the use of their work at his rallies or sent cease-and-desist letters to their lawyers: very long oneBeyoncé, Rihanna, Celine Dion, REM, and Aerosmith. When the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” was played at a rally, Jack White tweeted, “Fascists, don’t even think about using my music. My lawyer on this. (in addition to 5,000 others),” the band said. The lawsuit has since been dropped..

Oddly, the list also includes Victor Willis of the Village People. In June 2020, he announced He said he didn’t want Trump to play his songs anymore, and in 2023 he sent: cease and desist letters After a group dressed as the Village People were spotted performing at Mar-a-Lago. Still, Willis is among a number of people who have spoken out against President Trump in recent years have since changed their minds. “The economic benefits have been significant,” he wrote on Facebook in December. “The president-elect’s continued use of this song is estimated to have generated millions of dollars in revenue for the YMCA. Therefore, we are pleased to allow the president-elect’s continued use of the song. I’m grateful to him for choosing to use my song.” Willis, by the way, hinted in the post that he didn’t mean to hint at lyrics like, “I’m sure you’ll find lots of ways to have fun.” It also states that there was no such thing. He said his wife would sue the press. A representation of the YMCA as a gay anthem.

Still confused by the sight of our 78-year-old president-elect boogieing to a disco number punctuated by the word “youth”? Well, maybe this confusion is part of the point. One of the things that amuses Donald Trump’s supporters and frustrates his critics is that he doesn’t fit neatly into one box. Professor James Garratt, author of Music and Politics: A Critical Introduction, told the BBC: “Trump’s musical choices (and they always seem to be his personal choices) tell us a lot about him. He told the BBC. He doesn’t seem to care if his choices seem chaotic, random, or ideologically contradictory. After all, this is a man who has changed political affiliations many times, and his songbook has wandered around as well. Eclectic, I don’t think he’s using songs like YMCA to troll liberals, rather we’re seeing the real Trump in all his various glory. ”