Village Peoples Trump U-turn, from failed music ban to | Music News

Donald Trump enlisted the Village People to carry out at his second inauguration, despite the group having beforehand requested that he stop utilizing their music.

Famous for their 1978 basic Y. M.C.A., the band took to the stage at the US Capitol alongside Nelly, Carrie Underwood, Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Jason Aldean back in January.

The Village People appeared with Trump just hours before his inauguration, closing out his victory rally in Washington, D.C, reviews the Mirror.

The Make America Great Again Victory Rally passed off on January 20, 2025, with the band performing their signature hit, “Y.M.C.A.,” as Trump danced beside them.

Their 1978 disco anthem has change into carefully related with Trump and has been featured repeatedly at his rallies, sometimes accompanied by his attribute fist-pumping strikes.

For many years, the track was regarded as an LGBTQ+ anthem, and the band was created by two French music producers who drew inspiration from the ambiance at a homosexual nightclub in New York City. Village People lead singer Victor Willis, now the only remaining authentic member, had beforehand objected to Trump’s use of the observe.

The group’s supervisor, Karen Willis, dispatched a cease-and-desist letter to Trump’s legal representatives after footage emerged of him dancing to the band’s hit Macho Man at Mar-a-Lago two years in the past. However, vocalist Victor has since reversed his place amid the ensuing consideration.

He said, “Since 2020, I’ve received over a thousand complaints about President-Elect Trump’s use of Y.M.C.A.

“With that many complaints, I made a decision to ask the President Elect to stop utilizing Y.M.C.A. because his use had change into a nuisance to me.”

He revealed that hearing about “quite a few artists” requesting that Trump cease using their songs prompted him to reconsider. Victor elaborated, “As such, I merely did not have the center to forestall his continued use of my track in the face of so many artists withdrawing his use of their materials. So I told my spouse…to not withdraw the Trump marketing campaign political use license.”

The Village People released a statement following online criticism regarding their decision to perform at Trump’s inauguration. They announced, “We are asserting today that VILLAGE PEOPLE have accepted an invitation from President-Elect Trump’s marketing campaign to take part in inaugural actions, including at least one event with President-Elect Trump. We know this wont make some of you cheerful to hear however we imagine that music is to be carried out without regard to politics.”

The group described Y. M.C. A. as a worldwide anthem that “hopefully helps deliver the nation together after a tumultuous and divided marketing campaign where our most popular candidate misplaced.”

Victor acknowledged recently that Trump has legal permission to play Y.M.C.A. at his events because he secured a political use license previously.

He continued, “Trump’s use of Y.M.C.A. has tremendously benefited the track. For instance, when Trump began utilizing Y.M.C.A the track shot back up to #2 on Billboard’s digital chart.”

Musicians continuously request that Trump chorus from taking part in their tracks at his marketing campaign occasions. Numerous acclaimed artists have declined to enable Trump to use their music, including Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Isaac Hayes’ Family, and Bruce Springsteen.