Hot Cop
{{Infobox song
| name = Hot Cop
| cover = Village People Hot Cop Label.jpeg
| alt =
| caption = Label to Brazilian release as B-side of "Y.M.C.A." single
| type =Single
| artist = Village People
| album = Cruisin'
| released = September 25, 1978
| format =
| recorded = 1978
| studio = Sigma Sound, New York City
| venue =
| genre = Disco
| length = 6:19
| label = Casablanca
| writer = {{flatlist|
| producer = Jacques Morali
}}
"Hot Cop" is a song by the American disco group Village People recorded for their third studio album Cruisin' (1978). It was written by Jacques Morali and Village People lead singer Victor Willis.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/jury-decides-village-people-ymca-779420|accessdate=2021-01-04|title=Jury Decides Village People 'Y.M.C.A.' Songwriter Has 50 Percent Song Share|date=March 5, 2015|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|author=Gardner, Eriq}} It served as Willis' theme song with the Village People. Although not released as a single, it was a disco hit.{{cite web|title=Greatest Hits [Rhino]|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-rhino-mw0000197111|author=Erlewine, S.T.|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2012-10-31}} A medley with "Y.M.C.A." reached number 2 on Billboard's Hot Disco Singles chart.{{cite web|title=The Village People Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-village-people-mn0000808201/awards|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2012-10-31}}
Composition
"Hot Cop" is a mid-tempo disco song. Its danceability is enhanced by its cyclical beat. Allmusic critic Amy Hanson describes the vocals as having a "funk style" that ranges from "righteous rolling to spoken word come-ons a la Earth, Wind & Fire." The bassline is similar to that which Spandau Ballet would use on their early songs. The lyrics are somewhat self-referential, as Willis dressed as a "Hot Cop" within the Village People concept, wearing a full policeman uniform.{{cite book|title=Macho Man: The Disco Era and Gay America's Coming Out|author1=Bego, M. |author2=Jones, R.|pages=88, 93, 122, 183|year=2008|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780275999629}}
Reception
Although Allmusic critic Amy Hanson found "Hot Cop" to be "dismally boring" she describes it as a "tribute to the triumph of the disco scene, as Victor Willis patrolled the floors, letting all who dared to dance know, 'this is the hot cop talking to you. I want everybody to get on their feet.'"{{cite web|title=Cruisin'|publisher=Allmusic|author=Hanson, Amy|accessdate=2020-07-08|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cruisin-mw0000185467}} "Hot Cop" was a disco hit during the late 1970s disco scene.{{cite book|title=How to Be Inappropriate|author=Nester, D.|page=[https://archive.org/details/howtobeinappropr00nest/page/246 246]|year=2009|publisher=Counterpoint Press|isbn=9781593762537|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/howtobeinappropr00nest/page/246}} A medley with "Y.M.C.A." reached number 2 on Billboard's Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. Allmusic's Hanson praises the song's vocals, both the "powerful vocals" of lead singer Willis and the backing vocals provided by the other Village People members.{{cite web|title=Hot Cop|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/hot-cop-mt0001905603|author=Hanson, A.|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2020-07-08}} Marc Zakem of The Courier-Journal praises the lyrical wit and musical vitality of "Hot Cop" stating that it is "the first disco song I've heard in a long time in which I can actually imagine a roomful of dancing people."{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2021-01-04|newspaper=Courier-Journal|date=January 14, 1979|page=H 9|author=Zakem, Marc|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66902311/the-courier-journal/|title=Is disco a threat to rock 'n' roll?}} and Paul Green of Billboard criticizes the "standard disco cliche" of the refrain, with its "Party, boogie, boogie" lyrics.{{cite news|title=Closeup|author=Green. P.|page=79|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|date=November 17, 1979|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CyUEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22hot+cop%22+%22Village+People%22&pg=PT134|accessdate=2012-10-31}} Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it the Village People's 9th greatest song.{{cite web|title=Top 10 Village People Songs|author=Kachejian, Brian|date=20 July 2021 |accessdate=2023-01-24|publisher=Classic Rock History|url=https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-10-village-people-songs/}}
Other appearances
The Village People performed "Hot Cop" on the first episode of Dance Fever on January 13, 1979.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2021-01-04|title='Buck Rogers' flies to theaters|author=Maksian, George|newspaper=The Daily News|page=38|date=December 23, 1978|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66902934/daily-news/}} They also performed "Hot Cop" on The Midnight Special on January 27, 1979.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2021-01-04|title=TV Today|author=Lewis, Dennis John|date=January 26, 1979|page=12|newspaper=Intelligencer Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66903459/intelligencer-journal/}}
A live version of "Hot Cop" was included on the Village People's 1979 album Live and Sleazy.{{cite web|title=Live and Sleazy|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-and-sleazy-mw0000122911|author=Erlewine, S.T.|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2012-10-31}} Billboard Magazine rated it as one of the "best cuts" from Live and Sleazy.{{cite news|title=Top Album Picks|date=October 6, 1979|accessdate=2020-07-07|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|page=72|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-10-06.pdf}} The Village People performed the song in Jean Yanne's 1978 French musical film Je te tiens, tu me tiens par la barbichette.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0180768/|title=Je te Tiens, tu me Tiens par la Barbichette|publisher=isbn|accessdate=2021-01-04}} It has been included on a number of Village People compilation albums, including Greatest Hits and The Best of Village People.{{cite web|title=The Best of Village People|author=Huey, S.|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-village-people-casablanca-mw0000110767|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2012-10-31}}
Chart performance
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1978) !Peak |
| US Billboard Hot Disco Singles
|align="center"|2 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Village People}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Jacques Morali