The band was assembled in 1977 and managed by two French musicians, Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo, specifically to showcase and perform their disco music creations. Much like Frank Farian's Boney M. or Spice Girls, the group was manufactured. Despite the French song writers, the songs were all in English.
The band's name references a well-known gay area of New York City, Greenwich Village. Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo got the inspiration for creating an assembly of American man archetypes based on the gay men of the Village who frequently dressed in various fantasy ways. The police officer character is said to have been inspired by an actual Sacramento County (California) Sheriff's Deputy - David Orth.
The United States Navy considered using the Village People hit "In the Navy" in a recruiting advertising campaign on television and radio. They contacted Belolo, who decided to give the rights for free on the condition that the Navy help them shoot the music video. Less than a month later, Village People arrived at the San Diego Naval base. The Navy provided them with a war ship, several airplanes, and hundreds of Navy men. When the video started showing and the Navy started the planned ad campaign, some newspapers protested using taxpayer money to fund music videos (especially for a group considered by some to be "morally dubious"). The Navy quickly cancelled the campaign. The scandal tremendously boosted the popularity of the song.
Other hits include their trademark "Macho Man", "Go West", and "YMCA". More than twenty years later, a dance that involves forming the latter four letters with the dancer's arms and legs is still popular at summer camps, office functions, wedding receptions, school dances, sporting events and B'nai Mitzvahs. In the middle of the seventh inning of each baseball game at Yankee Stadium, the grounds crew take an on-field break from grooming the infield to dance as "YMCA" is played, typically to enthusiastic cheers from the fans.
An interesting fact about the Village People recordings is that all of the background vocals for their best known recordings where provided by 2 session musicians who went on to front notable bands; Bill Champlin from Chicago, and Richard Page (musician) from Mr. Mister.
The group also appeared in their 1980 feature film Can't Stop the Music, directed by Nancy Walker, written by Allan Carr and Bronte Woodard, music and lyrics by Jacques Morali and starring Steve Guttenberg, Valerie Perrine, Bruce Jenner, and Village People. The movie "won" the Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay prizes at the 1980 Golden Raspberry Awards in March 1981 and was nominated in almost all the other categories.
In 1981, with the popularity of disco waning and New Wave music on the rise, Village People replaced their on-stage costumes with a new look inspired by the New Romantic movement, and released the New Wave album Renaissance; it was not a commercial success.Victor Willis returned to the group briefly in late 1981 for the album Fox on the Box, which was released in 1982 only in Europe but did have limited release in the United States in 1983 under the title In the Street. Miles Jaye had briefly taken over for Ray Simpson as lead singer by 1983 and contributed an extra track to In the Street. Mark Lee replaced David Hodo in 1982.
Their last album containing new material, the 1985 dance/Hi-NRG release Sex Over the Phone, was not a huge commercial success, but it fared better in sales and club play than their Renaissance album. The title track, when released as a single, was banned by the BBC because of its content - credit card dirty phone calls. The Sex album featured yet another new lead singer, Ray Stephens (of The Great Space Coaster fame). Py Douglas came in to sub for Stephens for some of the group's live appearances in 1985.
In 1985, the group took a hiatus but reunited in 1987 with the line-up of Randy Jones, David Hodo, Felipe Rose, Glenn Hughes, Alex Briley and Ray Simpson.
Since 1988, the group has managed itself under the name Sixuvus Ltd.
In 1994, the Village People joined the German national soccer team to sing its official World Cup '94 theme, "Far Away in America."
Starting in 2004, Village People performed as the opening act for Cher in her Farewell Tour until it ended in April 2005.
From July 18th to July 20th, 2004, Village People performed in Berlin for three shows as an opening act for the German punk band Die Ärzte.
On May 8, 2012, Victor Willis wins a landmark ruling in the first case heard regarding the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows recording artists and writers to reclaim their master recordings and publishing rights initially granted to record companies and publishers after 35 years.
In April 2013, Village People recorded "Let's Go Back To The Dance Floor" -- a song written by Harry Wayne Casey (KC & The Sunshine Band) and produced by DJ Julian Marsh.
Go West
Village People Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Together your hand in my hand, together we will make the plans.
Together we will fly so high, together tell our friends goodbye.
Together we will start life new, together this is what we´ll do.
Go west, life is peaceful there.
Go west, lots of open air.
Go west to begin life new.
Go west, sun in winter time.
Go west, we will do just fine.
Go west where the skies are blue.
Go west, this and more we´ll do.
Together we will love the beach, together we will learn and teach.
Together change our pace of life, together we will work and strive.
I love you, I know you love me; I want you happy and carefree.
So that´s why I have no protest when you say you want to go west.
Go west, life is peaceful there.
Go west, lots of open air.
Go west to begin life new.
Go west, this is what we´ll do.
Go west, sun in winter time.
Go west, we will do just fine.
Go west where the skies are blue.
Go west, this and more we´ll do.
I know that there are many ways to live there in the sun or shade.
Together we will find a place to settle down and live with the space
without the busy pace back east, the hustling, rustling of the feet,
I know I´m ready to leave too, so this is what we´re going to do,
Go west, life is peaceful there.
Go west, lots of open air.
Go west to begin life new.
Go west, this is what we´ll do.
Go west, sun in winter time.
Go west, we will do just fine.
Go west where the skies are blue.
Go west, this and more we´ll do.
Go west...(repeat & fade)
The Village People’s “Go West” is an upbeat and catchy song that describes the journey of two people who decide to leave their busy lives in the east and head towards the peaceful and open life out west. The lyrics of the song emphasize how the two individuals are determined to start anew and live a more relaxed and carefree life together. They both seem to agree that their current lives in the east are too busy and without space, so they decide to leave everything behind and move towards the west where they believe they will find the peace, tranquility, and happiness they seek.
The song seems to encourage the listener to take risks and make changes in their life towards achieving their dreams. The lyrics are not only inspiring and motivational but also touch on the importance of love, learning, teaching, and working together. The song propagates the idea of two people coming together towards a common goal, holding hands, and making plans to achieve their dreams together.
Overall, “Go West” is an uplifting song that not only speaks to anyone who has ever imagined leaving their current life behind and starting afresh but also encourages individuals to embrace love and work hard towards achieving their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Together we will go our way, together we will leave some day.
We will leave together and start a new life in a new place.
Together your hand in my hand, together we will make the plans.
As a team, we are going to make plans and accomplish them together.
Together we will fly so high, together tell our friends goodbye.
We will say goodbye to our old life and start a new life together with optimistic hope.
Together we will start life new, together this is what we´ll do.
We are looking for a new start together.
Go west, life is peaceful there.
The west is a very peaceful place.
Go west, lots of open air.
The west has a lot of room to breathe.
Go west to begin life new.
We are travelling to the west to start a new life together.
Go west, this is what we´ll do.
We are determined to go west.
Go west, sun in winter time.
Even in the winter, there will be a lot of sun in the west.
Go west, we will do just fine.
We are confident that we will do well in the west.
Go west where the skies are blue.
The sky is often blue in the west.
Go west, this and more we´ll do.
We have a lot of goals that we will accomplish in the west.
Together we will love the beach, together we will learn and teach.
We will enjoy the beach together and also learn and teach as a team.
Together change our pace of life, together we will work and strive.
We will change our lifestyle and work hard to achieve our goals together.
I love you, I know you love me; I want you happy and carefree.
We love each other and want each other to be happy and free from trouble.
So that´s why I have no protest when you say you want to go west.
I don't have any objections because I also want to go west.
I know that there are many ways to live there in the sun or shade.
There are a lot of options for living in the west, whether in sunny or shady areas.
Together we will find a place to settle down and live with the space without the busy pace back east, the hustling, rustling of the feet.
We will together find a perfect place to live without the hustle and bustle of the east.
I know I´m ready to leave too, so this is what we´re going to do,
I am also ready to leave, so we have decided to go west and start a new life together.
Go west...(repeat & fade)
We will keep on going west.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sentric Music, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali, Victor Edward Willis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nejdbelieve1393
(Together) we will go our way
(Together) we will leave some day
(Together) your hand in my hand
(Together) we will make our plan
(Together) we will fly so high
(Together) tell all our friends goodbye
(Together) we will start like new
(Together) this is what we'll do
(Go west) life is peaceful there
(Go west) in the open air
(Go west) where the skies are blue
(Go west) this is what we're gonna do
(Together) we will love the beach
(Together) we will learn and teach
(Together) change our pace of life
(Together) we will work and thrive
(I love you) I know you love me
(I want you) how could I disagree?
(And that's why) I make no protest
(And you say) you will do the rest
(Go west) life is peaceful there
(Go west) in the open air
(Go west) baby, you and me
(Go west) this is our destiny
(Go west) Sun and winter time
(Go west) we will do just fine
(Go west) where the skies are blue
(Go west) this is what we're gonna do
There, where the air is free
We'll be (we'll be) what we want to be
Now, if we make a stand
We'll find (we'll find) our promised land!
(I know that) there are many ways
(To live there) in the Sun or shade
(Together) we will find the place
(To settle) where there's so much space
(Don't look back) and the place back east
(Wrestling) wrestling just to feast
(And we'll go) ready to be two
(So that's what) we are gonna do
(Oh, what we're gonna do is)
(Go west) life is peaceful there
(Go west) there, in the open air
(Go west) where the skies are blue
(Go west) this is what we're gonna do
(Life is peaceful there) go west
(In the open air) go west
(Baby, you and me) go west
(This is our destiny) come on, come on, come on, come on
(Go west) Sun and winter time
(Go west) we will feel just fine
(Go west) where the skies are blue
(Go west) this is what we're gonna do
(Come on, come on, come on, come on, go west!)
@tommymarx391
The funny thing about the Village People is that most people that think about them remember them for the gimmick - a cop, a native American, a construction worker, etc. - and the song YMCA, but what a lot of people tend to forget is just how talented they were. Their music is so well-done, well-performed, and gets your heart pounding, and yet at the same time there's a longing and an emotion behind the lyrics - especially in this song - that make their performances unforgettable. They truly were artists.
@888strummer
It helps to have a great singer; he had such an expressive voice
@user-xg4uc1jx3g
Parabéns Tommy sábia mensagem sobre esses artistas 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😊😊😊😊😊😊
@PhilomenaRomagnoli-fv2eg
So well said so well performed omg go west they really put their heart and soul my 23 year old nephew mario .just passed tragically 5 21 21 this makes me happy for him in. Heaven.go west mario straight in heaven. Rip. Hope nobody thinks im .corhy
@PhilomenaRomagnoli-fv2eg
So well said so well performed omg go west they really put their heart and soul my 23 year old nephew mario .just passed tragically 5 21 21 this makes me happy for him in. Heaven.go west mario straight in heaven. Rip. Hope nobody thinks im .corhy
@kenneththompson8933
A lot of people couldn't see beyond the costumes which was seen as a "gay gimmick". However they represented "universal equality". Look deeper the vocal delivery & harmony work is highly impressive.
@jmm1000
Their unified-choruses are absolutely triumphant - such a positive, and proud sound they patented!!!
@PhilomenaRomagnoli-fv2eg
Well said very. Triumphant very cheerful. Their voices omg excellent 1 14 24
@sheilabatey492
I am almost 70 and I still dance around the sitting room to this, Brilliant
@jaimesinclair9585
Lovely!