Disco band The Village People announced they will play at President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural ball and rally.
The Village People to Perform at Donald Trump’s Inaugural Ball
Victor Willis, the band’s lead singer and co-founder, shared the news on his personal Facebook page.
- Willis wrote: “We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear; however, we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics. 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.”
Songs Used During Trump Campaigns
- The band’s popular songs, including “Macho Man” and “Y.M.C.A.”, were featured at Trump’s campaign rallies in both 2020 and 2024.
- Initially, in 2020, Willis had requested that the Trump campaign stop using their music.
Licensing and Changing Views
- Despite his initial objections, Willis later allowed the campaign to obtain a political use license from BMI to legally play the song.
- In a December Facebook post, Willis shared that he had reconsidered his stance.
- He acknowledged the renewed popularity of “Y.M.C.A.” thanks to its association with Trump rallies.
- He emphasized that the song was never meant to make a political or cultural statement, even though it is a well-known anthem in the LGBTQ community.
Conclusion
The Village People’s decision reflects their belief in the unifying power of music, regardless of political affiliations.
Sources:
- Victor Willis’ Facebook posts
- Historical information on the Trump campaigns’ use of the band’s music