Village People co-founder Victor Willis has publicly thanked Donald Trump for playing "Y.M.C.A." at his rallies, citing significant financial and chart benefits despite initial resistance.

Willis, who wrote 100% of the song's lyrics, initially received numerous complaints about Trump's use of the track. However, Trump's campaign had legally obtained a BMI political use license, making the usage legitimate. Willis ultimately decided not to prevent Trump from using the song, noting the president-elect's genuine enjoyment of it.

The decision proved financially beneficial, as "Y.M.C.A." reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks, generating several million dollars in revenue due to Trump's campaign usage.

Willis also addressed the song's cultural interpretation, stating he didn't write "Y.M.C.A." as a gay anthem. He emphasized that when writing the lyrics, he was unaware of any connection between YMCA facilities and gay culture, and composer Jacques Morali never influenced the lyrical content.

However, cultural impact often transcends creator intent. Similar to how Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men" have been embraced by gay culture, "Y.M.C.A." has become a significant anthem for the LGBTQ+ community, regardless of its original intended meaning.

Key points:

• Trump obtained proper licensing to use the song
• The song's usage led to significant chart success and revenue
• Willis supports Kamala Harris but doesn't oppose Trump
• The song's status as a gay anthem emerged from cultural adoption rather than original intent

Related Articles

Previous Articles