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.
In Hollywood
Village People Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go there and then change your name
You dye your hair out there, it's part of the game
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Tell the bank that you need a loan
Go sell your house and every little thing that you own
You'll make your dream, forget what you've ever known
Now you're set, so follow the rules
Don't need a house unless it comes with the pool
Buy some new clothes and then you've got to be cool
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Find a beach if you need a tan
You got to act as though you're in great demand
Be first class, don't ever think second-hand
You're gonna be a star, a big star
In style, L.A. Style
(Get in style)
Say hi as you cruise by
(Saying hi)
(Listen here)
'Cause everybody is a star in Hollywood
(Well)
Everybody is a star in Hollywood
(Alright)
Let's go to Hollywood so good
(Holly, Hollywood, Holly, Hollywood)
(Holly, Hollywood, Holly, Hollywood)
Come on
Now it's time to get a new car
You know the kind that has a phone and a bar
You'll soon forget the person you really are
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Party where the stars have their fun
The Candy Store or Pips or Studio One
Act like a king and soon New-Yorkers look up
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Never run to answer the phone,
Just let it ring, pretend you're just getting home,
Play a good game, you see you'll never go wrong
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Tell your friends you walked off the stage
Then slip outside and call and have yourself paged
Get on the phone and scream as though in a rage
You're gonna be a star, a big star
(In sty-y-y-yle) be in style (L.A. Sty-y-y-yle) L.A. Sty-y-y-yle
(Say hi-i-i-i) say hi (as you cruise by-y-y-y) as you cruise by
Listen here ('cause everybody is a star in Hollywood) well
(Everybody is a star in Hollywood) alright
Let's go to (Holly-Hollywood) Hollywood (Holly-Hollywood) so good
(Holly-hollywood) well (Holly-Hollywood) alright
(Everybody is a star in Hollywood), Hollywood
(Everybody is a star in Hollywood), so good
Studio! (what?), lights (lights), music (music), action (action)
Dance (dance), dance (dance), dance (dance), dance (dance)
In these lyrics, Village People describe how to make it as a star in Hollywood. It starts with taking any means necessary to get to Hollywood, even if it means changing your name and dying your hair. Then, the lyrics suggest sacrificing everything you own to make your dream come true. The song lists off various “rules” to follow: live by the beach, act like you’re in high demand, and always be in style. The lyrics emphasize the importance of status symbols like cars with phones and bars, and attending exclusive parties where “the stars” have fun. The final lines of the song put an emphasis on being in style, and dancing your way to stardom.
Overall, this song paints a picture of Hollywood as a place that requires a lot of sacrifice, status symbols, and social climbing in order to achieve success. It highlights the culture of Hollywood as being fixated on appearances and fame, rather than substance or individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a bus, a train or a plane to Hollywood
Travelling to Hollywood could be made through any commuting means available.
Go there and then change your name
In order to make a new identity, changing of one's name might be necessary.
You dye your hair out there, it's part of the game
Dyeing of hair was a significant aspect towards building a successful acting career in L.A.
You're gonna be a star, a big star
The objective of relocating to Hollywood is to become a successful movie star.
Tell the bank that you need a loan
To achieve the dream of stardom, seeking financial assistance from banks could be necessary.
Go sell your house and every little thing that you own
Selling one's properties or possessions might be a necessary measure to fund one's dream of Hollywood fame.
You'll make your dream, forget what you've ever known
For the accomplishment of one's Hollywood ambitions, overlooking one's past would be essential.
Now you're set, so follow the rules
Following the guidelines is crucial to develop a career in Hollywood.
Don't need a house unless it comes with the pool
Lacking a home would be acceptable unless it eventually comes with a pool, which is a status symbol of early Hollywood elites.
Buy some new clothes and then you've got to be cool
In L.A. appearance is essential which necessitates the purchase of fashionable clothing.
Find a beach if you need a tan
Being sun-burnt is a popularity symbol in Hollywood.
You got to act as though you're in great demand
Implying that you're a highly demanded actor and acting like one is vital to success in Hollywood.
Be first class, don't ever think second-hand
Presenting oneself as a high-class personality would be essential for successful stardom.
In style, L.A. Style
Stylizing oneself as per the L.A. fashion standard is crucial.
Say hi as you cruise by
Small gestures like greeting fellow actors while driving by would create a lasting impression in Hollywood.
(Listen here) 'Cause everybody is a star in Hollywood (well)
Hollywood is a place where everyone is capable of becoming a movie star.
Let's go to Hollywood so good
It's so tempting to live in Hollywood as it's an ultimate destination for many.
Now it's time to get a new car
After becoming successful in stardom, getting a new fancy car is a significant move.
You know the kind that has a phone and a bar
The perfect car for a successful celebrity would include a phone and a bar in it.
You'll soon forget the person you really are
After succeeding in Hollywood, actors have the tendency of forgetting their original self.
Party where the stars have their fun
Movies stars go to particular places to have a great time, and being there regularly can lead to stardom.
The Candy Store or Pips or Studio One
Popular party spots in Hollywood known to attract famous actors.
Act like a king and soon New-Yorkers look up
After gaining popularity in Hollywood, people would treat the actors like Kings, and they would look up to them in other parts of the country.
Never run to answer the phone
One should never hurry to answer a call; this shows that they have other more significant engagements and are busy.
Just let it ring, pretend you're just getting home
Pretending to be at home is necessary when one wants to ignore a call quietly.
Play a good game, you see you'll never go wrong
Developing a strategy and playing accordingly in Hollywood could lead to the right opportunity and ultimate success.
Tell your friends you walked off the stage
Telling people you left the stage after giving a great performance is acceptable in Hollywood showbiz.
Then slip outside and call and have yourself paged
This is related to a trick to make everyone turn their heads to look at you in Hollywood to make a lasting impact.
Get on the phone and scream as though in a rage
Acting angrily or throwing a tantrum while on a phone call is a good way to develop one's reputation as a diva in Hollywood.
Dance (dance), dance (dance), dance (dance), dance (dance)
The essence of being in Hollywood is to learn to dance and be excepted in Showbiz.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HENRI BELOLO, JACQUES MORALI, PHILLIP L HURTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jesus Enrique Rivas
Take a bus, a train or a plane to Hollywood
Go there and then change your name
You dye your hair out there, it's part of the game
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Tell the bank that you need a loan
Go sell your house and every little thing that you own
You'll make your dream, forget what you've ever known
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Now you're set, so follow the rules
Don't need a house unless it comes with the pool
Buy some new clothes and then you've got to be cool
You're gonna be a star, big star, listen here
Find a beach if you need a tan
You got to act as though you're in great demand
Be first class, don't ever think second hand
You're gonna be a star, a big star
(In sty-y-y-yle) get in style (L.A. sty-y-y-yle)
(Say hi-i-i-i) saying hi-i-i (as you cruise by-y-y-y)
Listen here ('cause everybody is a star in Hollywood) well
(Everybody is a star in Hollywood) alright
Let's go to (Holly-Hollywood) Hollywood (Holly-Hollywood) so good
(Holly-Hollywood, Holly-Hollywood) come on
Now it's time to get a new car
You know the kind that has a phone and a bar
You'll soon forget the per-son you really are
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Party where the stars have their fun
The Candy Store or Pips or Studio One
Act like a king and soon New-Yorkers look up
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Never run to answer the phone
Just let it ring, pretend you're just getting home
Play a good game, you see you'll never go wrong
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Tell your friends you walked off the stage
Then slip outside and call and have yourself paged
Get on the phone and scream as though in a rage
You're gonna be a star, a big star
(In sty-y-y-yle) be in style (L.A. sty-y-y-yle) L.A. sty-y-y-yle
(Say hi-i-i-i) say hi (as you cruise by-y-y-y) as you cruise by
Listen here ('cause everybody is a star in Hollywood) well
(Everybody is a star in Hollywood) alright
Let's go to (Holly-Hollywood) Hollywood (Holly-Hollywood) so good
(Holly-Hollywood) well (Holly-Hollywood) alright
Jesus Enrique Rivas
Take a bus, a train or a plane to Hollywood
Go there and then change your name
You dye your hair out there, it's part of the game
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Tell the bank that you need a loan
Go sell your house and every little thing that you own
You'll make your dream, forget what you've ever known
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Now you're set, so follow the rules
Don't need a house unless it comes with the pool
Buy some new clothes and then you've got to be cool
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Find a beach if you need a tan
You got to act as though you're in great demand
Be first class, don't ever think second-hand
You're gonna be a star, a big star
In style, L.A. Style
(Get in style)
Say hi as you cruise by
(Saying hi)
'Cause everybody is a star in Hollywood
(Well)
Everybody is a star in Hollywood
(Alright)
Let's go to Hollywood so good
(Holly, Hollywood, Holly, Hollywood)
(Holly, Hollywood, Holly, Hollywood)
Come on
Now it's time to get a new car
You know the kind that has a phone and a bar
You'll soon forget the person you really are
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Party where the stars have their fun
The Candy Store or Pips or Studio One
Act like a king and soon New-Yorkers look up
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Never run to answer the phone,
Just let it ring, pretend you're just getting home,
Play a good game, you see you'll never go wrong
You're gonna be a star, a big star
Tell your friends you walked off the stage
Then slip outside and call and have yourself paged
Get on the phone and scream as though in a rage
You're gonna be a star, a big star
L.A. Sty-y-y-yle
(Say hi-i-i-i) say hi (as you cruise by-y-y-y) as you cruise by
Listen here ('cause everybody is a star in Hollywood) well
(Everybody is a star in Hollywood) alright
Let's go to (Holly-Hollywood) Hollywood (Holly-Hollywood) so good
(Holly-hollywood) well (Holly-Hollywood) alright
, Hollywood
(Everybody is a star in Hollywood), so good
Studio! (what?), lights (lights), music (music), action (action)
Dance (dance), dance (dance), dance (dance), dance (dance)
cegc2001mx
I am from mexico and I have been a Village People fan since I was 8 years old (1977), They are the originals. RIP Glenn H.
Loud lorne robe di kappa king
Me too
jennifersenn
They were SOOOO much more talented than they ever got credit for.
patricio morales
victor willis was the one.
John Blutarski
😂😂
David Smith
Nah. Everybody recognised their talent. They were super famous/popular at the time.
Joann Johnson
Yes Yes
Stephanie Taylor
The backup vocals --the robust rich bass or baritones sound awesome I love Victors fierce confidence.
WhatAboutThemApples
I actually think this song is better then most of their more popular songs
Woody Pride
Its a double single, the full version includes San Francisco, which is also really good