Why Did Victor Willis Let Trump Use “Y.M.C.A.”?
In a July 2024 post on Facebook, Willis admitted he wished the Trump campaign would “not use ‘Y.M.C.A.’ in any respect and I have let this be known,” but he clarified the campaign was not violating copyright law because they had the proper license to use it. Willis clarified his position again in December 2024, saying he ultimately decided to let Trump keep using the song because he seemed to genuinely like it and because many other artists had demanded Trump stop using their songs. Willis said he was “glad” he let Trump use the song because it was “estimated to gross several million dollars” since Trump made it a staple at his rallies, noting it had also climbed some Billboard charts decades after its release.
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surprising fact
Willis and the Village People performed “Y.M.C.A.” at a Trump rally before his second presidential inauguration. Ahead of the performance, Willis said on Facebook the gig was not an endorsement of Trump’s policies, clarifying he had supported Harris in the election. Jim Newman, an original member of the Village People, noted Willis was the only founding member of the band who remained active and performed at Trump’s rally, saying the original band would “never, ever perform at a Trump rally” or give him permission to use the band’s songs.
what has trump said about “y.m.c.a.”?
Trump has used “Y.M.C.A.” at his rallies for years and has hailed it as one of his favorite songs. He called it his go-to song to play at Mar-a-Lago parties in 2022, saying it “gets people up and it gets them moving.” The dance Trump typically performed at his rallies to “Y.M.C.A.,” involving him rocking his fists back and forth, became known as the “Trump dance” and went viral during his 2024 campaign. In May, Trump said First Lady Melania Trump “hates when I dance to what’s sometimes referred to as ‘the gay national anthem,’” referring to “Y.M.C.A.,” which has long been considered a gay anthem, a label Willis has rejected.
news peg
Willis died on Tuesday following “a short, but aggressive illness,” his wife Karen posted on his Facebook account Wednesday morning. Willis was 74, and he died one day before his 75th birthday.
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further reading
Village People Perform At Trump Rally—After Once Sending Trump Cease-And-Desist Letter (Forbes)
Village People Founder Would ‘Seriously Consider’ Performing ‘Y.M.C.A.’ For Trump—After Demanding He Stop Playing It (Forbes)
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