Why Village People are performing at Trump inauguration events
America — there’s no need to feel down.
The Village People are performing their 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A” at one of Donald Trump’s many inauguration celebrations.
Despite sending the president-elect, 78, a cease and desist in 2023 to stop using their music after their “Macho Man” song was played at a Mar-a-Lago event and backing Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, they are reporting for duty — and here’s why.
The disco group addressed the backlash on social media this week after it was revealed they will be one of the several performers at Trump’s “MAGA Victory” rally at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington on Sunday.
“We know this wont (sic) make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics,” Willis wrote in a Facebook post on Feb. 13.
“Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost,” he added in a reference to Harris.
“Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why Village People will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”
The Village People’s issues with Trump using their music goes way back.
During Trump’s election run against President Joe Biden, “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man” became a staple throughout his campaign.
Trump also played “Y.M.C.A” during his last moments of his presidency in January 2021 as he boarded Air Force One.
“We have no ill will towards the president, but we asked him to cease and desist long ago,” the group’s 2021 statement to Billboard read. “However, since he’s a bully, our request was ignored. Thankfully he’s now out of office, so it would seem his abusive use of our music has finally ended. We hope to spearhead a change in copyright law that will give artists and publishers more control over who can and cannot use our music in the public space. Currently there is no limit to blanket licensing.”
In December, the band’s lead singer, Victor Willis, walked back the comments about the former businessman-turned-president and withdrew the cease and desist.
“I decided to allow the president-elect’s continued use of ‘Y.M.C.A.’ because he seems to genuinely, genuinely like the song, and so many other artists were stopping him from using their music,” Willis said during an interview with “Fox & Friends.”
He shared that “if he were to ask the Village People to perform the song live for him, we’d have to seriously consider it.”
That same month, Willis also addressed the longstanding belief that “Y.M.C.A.” is “somehow a gay anthem.”
“As I’ve said numerous times in the past, that is a false assumption based on the fact that my writing partner was gay, and some (not all) of Village People were gay, and that the first Village People album was totally about gay life,” he said via Facebook on Dec. 2.
“This assumption is also based on the fact that the YMCA was apparently being used as some sort of gay hangout and since one of the writers was gay and some of the Village People are gay, the song must be a message to gay people,” Willis explained. “To that I say once again, get your minds out of the gutter. It is not.”
The Village People aren’t the only musicians who’ve copped heat over their decision to perform at Trump’s inauguration events.
Country star Carrie Underwood, 41, was slammed after it was announced she will sing “America the Beautiful” on Jan. 20 at the US Capitol.
The “Before He Cheats” singer addressed the backlash, telling The Post, “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event. I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
On Sunday, Trump will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, with the “MAGA Victory” rally to follow.
Besides Village People and Underwood, other musical performers for the inauguration activities include Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw and Jason Aldean.
Trump officially becomes the 47th president on Monday after a formal swearing-in ceremony.
He previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
