On January 13, 1979, the Young Men’s Christian Association, or YMCA, filed a lawsuit against the Village People, the costume-clad disco group behind the dance hit, “Y.M.C.A.” Despite the Village People saying in no uncertain terms how it’s fun to stay at the YMCA, the nationwide youth organization had a problem with the band’s (repeated) use and profiting off of their brand name.
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Rumors have clouded the song’s tumultuous history, with some suggesting that the YMCA didn’t like “Y.M.C.A.” because of its association with the LGBTQ+ community. While there seem to be no verified reports of the YMCA taking this stance, the Village People’s lyricist, Victor Willis, would ironically adopt this argument decades after the song’s 1978 release.
Why the YMCA Sued Village People For “Y.M.C.A.”
For all intents and purposes, the Village People’s 1978 disco hit “Y.M.C.A.” seems to be a pretty compelling advertisement to the public about the benefits and wonders of staying at a YMCA branch. The entire song is practically a commercial for young men who need a place they can go when they’re short on their dough. It’s a good time! In fact, there are many ways to have a good time! What problems could the Young Men’s Christian Association possibly have with all this free, positive advertising?
Well, simply put, copyright infringement. The Village People enjoyed massive success with their 1978 single. “Y.M.C.A.” topped the singles chart in the UK, Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland, among others. The song peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Dance Club Songs chart. Selling millions of copies worldwide, it’s far away and the Village People’s most successful song.
The Young Men’s Christian Association argued that the Village People unlawfully used their brand name in their song, which is a hard argument to deny. (You’re probably singing the song in your head right now. Why not count the number of times the band says “YMCA”?) Eventually, the song’s popularity cooled the YMCA’s fight, and the association settled out of court with the Village People. Decades later, the YMCA is far more accepting of the song. “We at the YMCA celebrate the song,” media relations manager Leah Pouw told Spin in 2008. “It’s a positive statement about the YMCA and what we offer to people all around the world.”
Lyricist Victor Willis Has Threatened His Own Lawsuits
Since its 1978 release, “Y.M.C.A.” has been a go-to musical selection for countless dances, weddings, birthday parties, sporting events, and any other situation where group choreography is deemed widely acceptable. “Y.M.C.A.” has also been a favorite of President Donald Trump, who frequently played the Village People disco track at his political events and rallies. In December 2024, the lyricist behind the iconic song, Victor Willis, shared a lengthy Facebook post in support of Trump’s use of his song.
Willis was less enthusiastic about other communities, namely, the LGBTQ+ community, using his song. “There’s been a lot of talk, especially of late, that “Y.M.C.A.” is somehow a gay anthem. As I’ve said numerous times in the past, that is a false assumption,” Willis wrote. “My wife will start suing each and every news organization that falsely refers to “Y.M.C.A.,” either in their headlines or alluded to in the base of the story, that “Y.M.C.A.” is somehow a gay anthem because such notion is based solely on the song’s lyrics alluding to elicit activity for which it does not.”
Ten years earlier, Willis filed and won a lawsuit over termination rights that would allow him to renege copyright grants to publishers and record labels 35 years after the copyright was established. So, next time you go to wave your arms to the “Y.M.C.A.” choreography, just know there have been a lot of battles in court over this seemingly innocuous disco tune.
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