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Why is the 1987 hit song ‘YMCA’ at the top of the charts again?

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Why is the 1987 hit song ‘YMCA’ at the top of the charts again?

The 1970s disco anthem “YMCA” has experienced an unexpected revival thanks to Donald Trump.

The classic hit saw a major revival before and after the election, becoming a campaign favorite for US President-elect Donald Trump.

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A staple at Trump’s rallies, the song served as a lively anthem for his campaign and resonated with supporters at both anti-quarantine protests and “Make America Great Again” events.

‘Trump effect’

The 1978 Village People hit “YMCA” has seen a remarkable revival decades later, driven by what many call the “Trump effect.”

Accordingly NBC NewsThe song’s popularity rose sharply, with Google searches soaring, listeners on last.fm tripling, and topping the Billboard sales chart for the first time.

Google Trends data revealed an unprecedented surge in interest, with searches for the song reaching two-decade highs. NBC This month, Google reported that more searches for “YMCA” were recorded in its publishing history than in previous months.

Trump made the disco anthem a rally staple in 2020 and became famous for dancing to it with fist-shaking moves.

“You know what entertains them? ‘YMCA,’ Trump said on his 2022 podcast. “It gets people up and moving.”

The song re-entered the Billboard dance/electronic sales chart, reaching the Top 15 in late October and hitting No. 1 the week of November 17.

Trump’s dance moves also attracted attention; NFL, NBA and MLS athletes were imitating them in celebrations following election victories.

YMCA and its legacy

The Village People’s iconic hit “YMCA” is often associated with the Young Men’s Christian Association and its community centers throughout the United States.

Although the lyrics contain several double meanings regarding gay male life, which contributes to the song’s popularity in the LGBTQ+ community, band member Felipe Rose explained in 2014 that the track was not intentionally written with a gay theme.

“…First of all, the song was never written about homosexuality,” he said. HuffPost.

“It was a filler song based on the old producer seeing the YMCA sign during lunch and asking us what it meant. “Of course there was ambiguity and they were using double meanings, but actually there needed to be one more song to fill out the album,” he said.

Despite its connotations, the song’s recent revival has pleased the band. Lead singer and co-writer Victor Willis reportedly celebrated his return to the charts by giving his wife a high-five.

In particular, the Village People’s relationship with Donald Trump’s use of the song was complicated. In February 2020, the band approved its use at Trump rallies, but by June Willis asked Trump to stop playing it. Trump’s campaign continued to use the song, citing license from political organizations.

Initially, Willis viewed Trump’s use of the track as an “annoyance.” However, according to what he said NBC NewsHe later decided not to revoke the license when asked by the music industry group that manages the rights to the song.

Donald Trump dances to the song “YMCA” at the Robeson County Fairgrounds in Lumberton, North Carolina, USA on October 24, 2020. Reuters/File Photo

“I thought at some point he would get bored of the song. But this never happened,” he said.

When the company that handled the license for the song asked Willis and his wife (the band’s manager) if they wanted to cancel the license, he said: “I told my wife to tell them no because by then I started to realize some very good things were starting to happen while (Trump) was continuing to use the song.”

With its uptempo and infectious chorus, “YMCA” has long transcended its LGBT origins to become a mainstream disco classic. In 2020, the Library of Congress recognized its cultural and historical significance by adding it to the National Recording Registry, calling it an “American phenomenon.”

Why did Trump choose this song for his campaigns?

After recovering from Covid-19, Donald Trump began using the Village People’s “YMCA” in his rallies, adding an energetic and optimistic tone to his events. The song gained traction among Trump supporters during anti-quarantine protests in Michigan and was played on speakers at the State Capitol as militia members protested the restrictions.

However, Trump’s choice of “YMCA” also attracted attention for its associations with gay culture and the LGBTQ+ community; this contrasts sharply with the anti-LGBT stance of many conservative groups that support him. Evangelicals, a key part of Trump’s base, have historically opposed same-sex marriage and supported practices such as conversion therapy. Times of India reported.

For Trump’s supporters, the song seems to resonate beyond its original meaning, evoking a sense of nostalgia and a carefree spirit. Its energetic beat and catchy chorus made it a crowd pleaser at rallies, despite the ideological contradictions it represented.

With input from agencies

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