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Wiz Imp

(3,439 posts)
20. You apparently missed where the gay members of the group said 'YMCA' certainly has a gay origin."
Tue Dec 3, 2024, 04:46 PM
Dec 3

and “Was the song written to celebrate gay men at the YMCA? Yes. Absolutely.”

Add in song titles from their first several albums: “Fire Island” (the East Coast’s gay summer retreat); “San Francisco (You’ve Got Me)” (the West coast’s premier gay destination); “Village People” (a look at the inhabitants of New York City’s largely gay Greenwich Village); “Key West” (a gay resort destination), “Just a Gigolo,” “I Am What I Am” (a gay declaration), and “Sodom and Gomorrah”. Also Nineteen year-old Felipe Rose, who was Lakota Sioux/Puerto Rican, presented as the “Indian,” a bespangled, war bonnet and loin cloth-wearing Native American, Only Willis and Rose participated on the “Village People” LP–with Rose indecorously credited as “Felipe ‘Indian From the Anvil’“ (the Anvil was a gay NYC sex club).

In the gay culture from which the image and music of the Village People came, the song was implicitly understood as celebrating YMCA's reputation as a popular cruising and hookup spot, particularly for the younger men to whom it was addressed. The initial goal of Village People producers Morali and Belolo was to attract disco's gay audience by featuring popular gay fantasy in their music. Conversely, Willis had said that he wrote the song in Vancouver, British Columbia and, through his publicist, that he did not write "Y.M.C.A." as a gay anthem, but rather as a reflection of the fun activities that young urban black youth experienced at YMCA, such as basketball and swimming. However, Willis has often acknowledged his fondness for double entendre.

Even Willis didn't try to claim that it was about "a way for a young man to get back on track" as you claim. And notice that thing about his fondness for double entendre? He made the gay subtext more subtle in order to appeal to a wider mainstream audience. But make no mistake, he put that gay subtext in there purposely when he wrote the song because the group was targeting their music at a gay audience.

Deny it all you like, but the song was a gay anthem and celebrated by the gay community from day one.

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Village People Songwriter Threatens to Sue Anyone That Calls "Y.M.C.A." a Gay Anthem DesertRain Dec 3 #1
At most the lyrics hint at it... lame54 Dec 3 #2
Are you serious? JCMach1 Dec 3 #6
That may be but... lame54 Dec 3 #8
The band's frontman claimed the hit dance song isn't gay, but his gay bandmates remember things differently. Wiz Imp Dec 3 #10
I always thought it was a gay anthem... lame54 Dec 3 #17
You apparently missed where the gay members of the group said 'YMCA' certainly has a gay origin." Wiz Imp Dec 3 #20
Obviously, it's a gay anthem... lame54 Dec 3 #21
"you can do whatever you feel" JCMach1 Dec 3 #34
A gay bar would be a better cruising spot! LeftInTX Dec 3 #18
To be honest he sounds homophobic. eShirl Dec 3 #9
THAT comment caught my attention. electric_blue68 Dec 3 #24
I noticed that too MustLoveBeagles Dec 3 #25
He makes money every time it's played Ex Lurker Dec 3 #16
I what? I stand to get millions of dollars. Well hell No y m c a is not a gay anthem Fullduplexxx Dec 3 #3
Most annoying song ever GusBob Dec 3 #4
Gay man here, if you need me to explain the gay part of YMCA, just ask. Duncan Grant Dec 3 #5
Breaking: "It's Raining Men" songwriter TheProle Dec 3 #7
It's a religious song, too. Duncan Grant Dec 3 #12
Here's hoping Victor Willis suffers the same fate as other trump suck-ups. Paladin Dec 3 #11
Not a gay anthem, but they shot part of the video outside of the Ramrod club, a gay leather bar in the West Village. LudwigPastorius Dec 3 #13
From "The Library of Congress" blog: HAPPY PRIDE! How "Y.M.C.A." Became a Gay Anthem! Wiz Imp Dec 3 #14
This is hilarious! Oneironaut Dec 3 #15
he stands to make "several million dollars" skypilot Dec 3 #19
I guess "It's Raining Men" isn't either tishaLA Dec 3 #22
I loved when the Pointer sisters did that... stillcool Dec 3 #30
It was actually the Weather Girls tishaLA Dec 3 #31
the Pointer sisters did the song... stillcool Dec 3 #35
That's "I'm So Excited," not tishaLA Dec 3 #36
oops...okay stillcool Dec 3 #38
So they did a cover of it then tishaLA Dec 3 #39
Yes...I thought I was clearer... stillcool Dec 3 #40
Lessee ... Emrys Dec 3 #23
Just because some gays have been using it doesn't make it a gay anthem Dem4life1234 Dec 3 #26
With all that makeup and hairspray, Donny tRump is looking FABULOUS!!! Blue Owl Dec 3 #27
It's a gay anthem. Think. Again. Dec 3 #28
And in breaking news: jls4561 Dec 3 #29
Sure, Jan... Mike Nelson Dec 3 #32
Are the Village people gay or faux gay? keithbvadu2 Dec 3 #33
Artists fall in line kwolf68 Dec 3 #37
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Village People Singer Den...»Reply #20