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.
Y.M.C.A. 93 Remix
Village People Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said young man pick yourself off the ground
I said young man 'cause your in a new town
There′s no need to be unhappy
Young man there's a place you can go
I said young man when you're short on your dough
You can stay there and I′m sure you will find
It′s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything For young men to enjoy.
You can hang out with all the boys.
It′s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
You can get yourself clean
You can have a good meal
You can do whatever you feel.
Young man, Are you listening to me
I said, young man, what do you want to be
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams,
But you′ve got to know this one thing.
No man, does it all by himself
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf
And just go there, to the Y.M.C.A.
I'm sure they can help you today
It′s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything for young men to enjoy.
You can hang out with all the boys.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It′s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
You can get yourself clean
You can have a good meal
You can do whatever you feel.
Young Man, I was once in your shoes,
I said, I was down and out with the blues
I felt, no man cared if I were alive
I felt the whole world was so jive
That′s when someone came up to me
And said young man take a walk up the street
There's a place there called the Y.M.C.A.
They can start you back on your way.
It′s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything For young men to enjoy.
You can hang out with all the boys.
Y.M.C.A.
It′s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
Young man, Young man, there′s no need to feel down
Young man, Young man, pick yourself off the ground
Y.M.C.A.
Just go to the Y.M.C.A.
Young Man, Young Man, I was once in your shoes,
Young Man, Young Man, I was out with the blues
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A
The lyrics of the Village People’s song Y.M.C.A. 93 Remix address a young man who is feeling down and out. The singer encourages him to pick himself up and take advantage of the resources offered by the Y.M.C.A., a popular song and dance organization for young people in the 1970s. The Y.M.C.A. is presented as a place where young people can go to have fun, socialize with other young men, get a good meal, and even get clean. The singer tells the young man that he can make his dreams come true, but he can’t do it alone. He needs to put his pride aside and accept help from the Y.M.C.A. and the young men there who want to hang out with him.
The song is upbeat and catchy, with an infectious disco beat that is impossible not to sing along to. It is a celebration of youth, friendship, and community support. The lyrics speak to the universal desire for acceptance and encouragement, as well as the importance of finding one’s place in the world. The Y.M.C.A. becomes a symbol of hope and opportunity for the young man in the song, and for all of us who strive to overcome difficult circumstances and reach our goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Young man there's no need to feel down
Don't be sad, young man
I said young man pick yourself off the ground
Get up, young man
I said young man 'cause your in a new town
You're in a new place, young man
There's no need to be unhappy
Don't be unhappy
Young man there's a place you can go
There's a place you can visit, young man
I said young man when you're short on your dough
When you don't have enough money, young man
You can stay there and I'm sure you will find
You can stay there and I'm sure you'll enjoy
Many ways to have a good time.
There are many ways to enjoy yourself.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
Staying at the Y.M.C.A. is enjoyable.
They have everything For young men to enjoy.
The Y.M.C.A. has everything that young men would enjoy.
You can hang out with all the boys.
You can spend time with other boys.
You can get yourself clean
You can clean yourself up
You can have a good meal
You can have a good meal
You can do whatever you feel.
You can do whatever you want.
Young man, Are you listening to me
Young man, are you paying attention?
I said, young man, what do you want to be
Young man, what do you want to become?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams
Young man, you can make your dreams come true
But you've got to know this one thing.
You need to know this one thing.
No man, does it all by himself
No man can do everything alone
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf
Don't be too proud, young man
And just go there, to the Y.M.C.A.
Just go to the Y.M.C.A.
I'm sure they can help you today
I'm sure they can help you today
Young Man, I was once in your shoes,
I was once like you, young man
I said, I was down and out with the blues
I was feeling sad and hopeless
I felt, no man cared if I were alive
I felt like nobody cared about me
I felt the whole world was so jive
I thought the whole world was fake and uncool
That's when someone came up to me
That's when someone approached me
And said young man take a walk up the street
And said that I should take a walk down the street, young man
There's a place there called the Y.M.C.A.
There's a place called the Y.M.C.A. there
They can start you back on your way.
They can help you get back on track.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Just go to the Y.M.C.A.
Just go to the Y.M.C.A.
Young Man, Young Man, I was once in your shoes,
Young Man, Young Man, I was once like you
Young Man, Young Man, I was out with the blues
Young Man, Young Man, I was feeling sad and hopeless
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
Staying at the Y.M.C.A. is enjoyable.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
Staying at the Y.M.C.A. is enjoyable.
Young man, Young man, there's no need to feel down
Young man, young man, you don't have to be sad
Young man, Young man, pick yourself off the ground
Young man, young man, get up and keep moving forward.
Y.M.C.A.
Y.M.C.A.
Writer(s): Jacques Morali, Victor Willis
Contributed by Benjamin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@fhebuidon2810
Y.M.C.A. (93 REMIX) VILLAGE PEOPLE
WITHIN JAM
GRANTED
FROM MY TALKING TOM 2
@fritzgeraldmontales8924
1993
@BL92ful
Bether Toche YMCA on 1998 Euro Remix