Y.M.C.A. (song)

In the US, the YMCA began building single room occupancy (SRO) facilities in the 1880s to house men from rural areas who moved into cities to look for work.{{cite web |url=https://www.forestparkreview.com/News/Articles/10-26-2005/New-YMCA-would-drop-low_income-housing/ |title=New YMCA would drop low-income housing |last=Stern |first=Seth |date=October 26, 2005 |website=Forestparkreview.com |publisher=Forest Park Review |access-date=December 22, 2018 }} By the 1970s, the typical YMCA tenants were more likely to be homeless people and youth facing life issues, rather than people migrating from rural areas.

Victor Willis, lead singer and lyricist, recalls that while in the studio, producer Jacques Morali asked him, "What exactly is the YMCA?" After Willis explained it to him, he saw the expression on Morali's face and said, "Don't tell me, Jacques, you want to write a song about it?" and they quickly wrote the track for the album Cruisin'.Victor Willis Interview, SiriusXM Radio, Studio 54 Channel, Marc and Myra Show, September 24, 2013 Upon the song's release, the YMCA threatened to sue the band over trademark infringement, but ultimately settled with the composers out of court, later expressing pride regarding the song's purpose as a tribute to the organization.{{cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/61754/how-did-real-ymca-react-disco-song-about-it|title=How Did the Real YMCA React to the Disco Song About It?|date=February 20, 2015|website=Mentalfloss.com|access-date=August 13, 2017}}

In 2015, Willis won a legal case against Can't Stop Productions, successfully claiming that he and Morali had written this and other Village People songs together, without any involvement from executive producer Henri Belolo, who was credited on the song's original release. The production company claimed that Belolo had written French lyrics that were then adapted by Willis, but this claim was rejected by the court which ruled that Belolo's name as co-writer should be removed.[https://completemusicupdate.com/article/victor-willis-wins-a-50-stake-in-ymca/ Chris Cooke, "Victor Willis wins a 50% stake in YMCA", CMU.com, 6 March 2015]. Retrieved August 6, 2019

Taken at face value, the song's lyrics extol the virtues of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). However, according to some in the gay culture, the song was implicitly understood as celebrating YMCA's reputation as a popular cruising and hookup spot, particularly for the younger men to whom it was addressed.Neumann, Caryn E. glbtq: An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture [http://www.glbtqarchive.com/ssh/ymca_S.pdf YMCA] The initial goal of Village People producers Morali and Belolo was to attract disco's gay audience by featuring popular gay fantasy in their music.{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3492500086.html|title=The Village People – FREE The Village People information {{!}} Encyclopedia.com: Find The Village People research|website=Encyclopedia.com|access-date=May 5, 2016}} Although co-creator Morali was gay and the group was initially intended to target gay men, the group became more popular and more mainstream over time.{{cite web|url=http://gawker.com/village-person-says-y-m-c-a-isnt-about-gays-is-pro-1493380284|title=Village Person Says "Y.M.C.A." Isn't About Gays, Is Probably Lying|last=Juzwiak|first=Rich|website=Gawker.com|date=January 2, 2014 |language=en-US|access-date=May 5, 2016}}

Willis had said that he wrote the song in Vancouver, British Columbia{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/macho-man-y-m-c-a-about-straight-fun-publicist-1.251160 |title='Macho Man,' 'Y.M.C.A.' about straight fun: publicist |publisher=CTV News |date=August 2, 2007 |access-date=August 19, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220183557/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070802/village_people_070802?s_name=&no_ads= |archive-date=February 20, 2009 }} and, through his publicist, that he did not write "Y.M.C.A." as a gay anthem,{{cite web |url=http://www.towleroad.com/2007/08/village-people-.html |title=Village People Cop: Y.M.C.A. Not about Gay Cruising |date=August 3, 2007 |access-date=June 13, 2013}} but rather as a reflection of the fun activities that urban black youth experienced at YMCA, such as basketball and swimming. However, Willis has often acknowledged his fondness for double entendre.{{cite news|title = Gay Village People Co-Founder Says 'YMCA' Not A Gay Song|newspaper = HuffPost Canada|first = Benjamin|last = Boles|date = February 7, 2014|access-date = November 28, 2021|url = https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/the-village-people-ymca_n_5543849}}{{cite news|title = Victor Willis on life & music, post-Village People|first = George|last = Varga|date = August 2, 2015|url = https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sdut-victor-willis-interview-2015aug02-story.html|access-date = December 19, 2016|newspaper = The San Diego Union-Tribune}}

In 2024, Willis reiterated his denial that "Y.M.C.A." was written as a gay anthem and that people needed to "get their minds out of the gutter". While he doesn't mind the song's use as a gay anthem, the "false assumptions were damaging to the song" and further said, "since I wrote the lyrics and ought to know what the lyrics I wrote is really about, come January 2025, 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 [sic] activity for which it does not."{{cite web |last1=Schwanemann |first1=Kaitlyn |title=Village People singer defends Trump's use of 'Y.M.C.A.,' says song isn't a 'gay anthem' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-pop-culture/village-people-singer-defends-trumps-use-ymc-says-song-isnt-gay-anthem-rcna182538 |website=NBC News |date=December 2, 2024 |access-date=3 December 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Padgett |first1=Donald |title=Village People founder bizarrely defends use of 'Y.M.C.A.' by Trump |url=https://www.out.com/gay-music/ymca-village-people-trump |website=Out |access-date=6 December 2024 |ref=Out |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241206213630/https://www.out.com/gay-music/ymca-village-people-trump |archive-date=6 December 2024}} Willis claimed instead that the passage in the song about "hang[ing] out with all the boys" was "simply 1970s Black slang for Black guys hanging out together for sports, gambling or whatever". Willis also added that "I don't mind that gays think of YMCA as their anthem."{{cite news |title=YMCA has never been gay, says the song's lyricist and singer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/05/ymca-has-never-been-gay-says-the-songs-lyricist-and-singer |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=5 December 2024}}

U.S. president Donald Trump has described "Y.M.C.A." as the "gay national anthem".{{cite news |last1=Hartmann |first1=Margaret |title=Trump Explains His Love of 'Y.M.C.A.,' Which He Claims Is the 'Gay National Anthem' |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/03/donald-trump-loves-ymca-gay-national-anthem.html |access-date=November 24, 2024 |work=New York |date=March 11, 2022}}

In an article for Gothamist, writer Abbey White states the atmosphere of YMCA was "more complicated than the lyrics portray, with gay culture and working-class workouts coexisting in a single communal space", creating "a mix of white-collar and blue-collar residents, along with retired seniors and veterans", with about half of the residents being gay.{{cite web |url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/the-real-story-of-the-ymca-that-inspired-the-village-peoples-gay-anthem |title=The Real Story Of The YMCA That Inspired The Village People's Gay Anthem= |last=White |first=Abbey |date=December 20, 2018 |publisher=Gothamist |access-date=November 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220142205/http://gothamist.com/2018/12/20/real_ymca_village_people.php |archive-date=December 20, 2018 }} While the song gives the impression that YMCA SROs in the 1970s had a party atmosphere, Paul Groth states that YMCA SRO units actually had "more supervision of your social life — a kind of management as to how you behaved ... [than] in a commercial rooming house, which mostly wanted to make sure the rooms were rented", without monitoring who you brought to your room.

The song, played in the key of G♭ major, begins with 6 bars of a D♭ suspended chord over a bare disco drum beat. This is followed by a brass riff, backed by the constant pulse that typified disco. Many different instruments are used throughout for an overall orchestral feel, another disco convention, but it is brass that stands out.

As with other Village People hits, the lead vocals are handled by Willis and the background vocals are supplied by Willis and professional background singers. The distinctive vocal line features the repeated "Young man!" ecphonesis, followed by Willis singing the verse lines. The background vocals join in throughout the song.

Willis' version of the song is used in the Village People film Can't Stop the Music, though by that time Ray Simpson had replaced him as the policeman.

Billboard stated that "Y.M.C.A." is "another example of [the Village People's] droll humor, playing off its gayness with hard hat themes."{{cite news|title=Top Single Picks|newspaper=Billboard|date=October 14, 1978|page=78|access-date=June 30, 2020|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1978/Billboard%201978-10-14.pdf}} Billboard also called "Y.M.C.A." (and its B-side, "The Women") one of the best cuts on the Cruisin{{'}} album.{{cite news|title=Top Album Picks|page=82|date=October 7, 1978|access-date=June 30, 2020|newspaper=Billboard|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1978/Billboard%201978-10-07.pdf}} Cash Box said that "Y.M.C.A." has "layered horn work and strings and a bright, soaring chorus" and that "Willis' lead vocals are commanding."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=October 21, 1978|page=28|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1978/CB-1978-10-21.pdf}} Record World said that it "has the same foot-stomping bass line and tongue-in-cheek lyrics" as previous Village People hit "Macho Man" and that "the vocals are strong and the production thunderous".{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=October 21, 1978|accessdate=2023-02-13|title=Hits of the Week|page=3|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/78/RW-1978-10-21.pdf}}

Despite not reaching No. 1 in the United States, it became a No. 1 hit throughout the world and has since remained popular at parties, sporting events, weddings and other functions.

The accompanying music video for "Y.M.C.A.", filmed in New York City in July 1978, features the band singing the song and dancing all over the city. The location shown the most is the original site of YMCA, McBurney, 213 West 23rd Street.{{cite web |title=Discover Flatiron: NYC's First Y.M.C.A Building |url=https://www.flatirondistrict.nyc/discover-flatiron/flatiron-history/2/discover-flatiron-nycs-first-ymca-building }} Other filming locations included 395 West Street – site of the Ramrod gay club – the West Side Piers and Hudson River Park. It ends with the camera zooming in on the Empire State Building.

Image:YMCA dance.jpg. In this rendition, the M (second from left) is done in a popular variant.]]

Image:Ymca dance.jpg pause to do the YMCA dance.]]

YMCA is also the name of a group dance with cheerleader Y-M-C-A choreography invented to fit the song. One of the phases involves moving arms to form the letters Y-M-C-A as they are sung in the chorus:

:Y {{emdash}} arms outstretched and raised upwards

:M {{emdash}} made by bending the elbows from the 'Y' pose so the fingertips meet in front of the chest{{cite web |url=http://www.officialvillagepeople.com/VP%20Live%20page/pages/020_20.htm |title=Official Village People website, July 4, 2004 |publisher=Officialvillagepeople.com |access-date=August 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214163935/http://www.officialvillagepeople.com/VP%20Live%20page/pages/020_20.htm |archive-date=February 14, 2012 }}

:C {{emdash}} arms extended to the left

:A {{emdash}} hands held together above head

The dance originated during the group's performance of the song on the January 6, 1979 episode of American Bandstand. Host Dick Clark then said to Willis that he would like to show him something, playing the song again with the audience doing YMCA hand gestures.American Bandstand 1978{{cite episode |title= Rick Springfield, Jill Zarin, Terry Fator and the Village People |series=Oprah: Where Are They Now? |date=February 7, 2014|access-date= November 6, 2020|url=http://www.oprah.com/own-where-are-they-now/who-inspired-the-ymca-dance-moves-video |network=OWN |season=3|number=306|last=Winfrey|first=Oprah (host)}} Willis immediately picked up on the dance and mimicked the hand movements back at the audience as other Village People members stared at him with puzzled looks. Clark then turned to Willis and said, "Victor, think you can work this dance into your routine?" Willis responded, "I think we're gonna have to." In a 2008 retrospective article for Spin, Randy Jones explained that the dance originated as a misunderstanding: the group's original choreographed dance had the group clapping above their heads during the chorus and the audience, believing them to be making the letter "Y", began following suit.{{cite web|last1=Pearlman|first1=Jeff|title=Y.M.C.A (An Oral History)|website=Spin.com|date=May 27, 2008|url=http://www.spin.com/2008/05/ymca-oral-history/|access-date=July 21, 2015}}

Following the sixth inning of New York Yankees baseball games at Yankee Stadium, the grounds crew traditionally grooms the infield while leading the crowd in the dance.{{cite web|url=http://theweblicist.com/wordpress/2007/08/05/ny-yankee-stadium-7th-inning-stretch/|title=NY- Yankee Stadium- 7th Inning Stretch|work=I Photo New York|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407085452/http://theweblicist.com/wordpress/2007/08/05/ny-yankee-stadium-7th-inning-stretch/|archive-date=April 7, 2014|url-status=dead}} The Bleacher Creatures used to sing "why are you gay?" to the tune when it was played but agreed in 2010 to stop doing it.{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/15542 | title=Yankee Stadium's Bleacher Creatures agree to put a halt to homophobic chant | date=October 17, 2010 }}

VH1 placed "Y.M.C.A." at #7 on their list of "100 Greatest Dance Songs" in 2000,{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2000/vh1dance.htm|title=Rock On The Net: VH1: 100 Greatest Dance Songs|website=Rockonthenet.com}} while Paste Magazine ranked the song #1 on their list of "The 60 Best Dancefloor Classics" in February 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/dance/the-60-best-dance-floor-classics/|title=The 60 Best Dancefloor Classics|date=February 28, 2017|publisher=Paste Magazine|access-date=November 28, 2021|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918130740/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/dance/the-60-best-dance-floor-classics//|url-status=dead}} In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked it #139 in their list of "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|first1=Jon|last1=Dolan|first2=Julyssa|last2=Lopez|first3=Michaelangelo|last3=Matos|first4=Claire|last4=Shaffer|title=200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 22, 2022|accessdate=October 30, 2022}} In 2024, Billboard placed "Y.M.C.A." at #61 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time".{{cite magazine|author=Billboard Staff|title=The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-jock-jams-sports-songs-all-time|magazine=Billboard|date=February 8, 2024|access-date=May 25, 2024}}

The Village People recorded a version of the song for Pepsi in 1997 for a commercial featuring a group of dancing bears, changing the lyrics to match the drink and spelling out P-E-P-S-I.[https://www.youtube.com/vlEZnIH_tyA]{{dead link|date=June 2022}} A few months afterwards, Pepsi used the song again as part of its new blue-themed imaging for the Pepsi Globe.[https://www.youtube.com/4pvOkk-E_zY]{{dead link|date=June 2022}} In September 2000 "Y.M.C.A." was used as the Space Shuttle wake-up call on day 11 of STS-106.{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/audio/shuttle/sts-106/html/ndexpage.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001017173545/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/audio/shuttle/sts-106/html/ndexpage.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 17, 2000 |title=Audio Wakeup Call Index |publisher=Spaceflight.nasa.gov |access-date=August 19, 2011}} On December 31, 2008, "Y.M.C.A." set a Guinness World Record when 40,148 people danced to Village People's live performance of the song at the 2008 Sun Bowl game in El Paso, Texas.{{cite web |title=Largest "YMCA" dance |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-ymca-dance |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=January 21, 2025}}{{cite web archived|last=Peterson |first=Jan |url=https://tv.yahoo.com/news/dancing-without-stars-ymca-other-record-breaking-dance-20110202-225100-660.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220154400/https://tv.yahoo.com/news/dancing-without-stars-ymca-other-record-breaking-dance-20110202-225100-660.html |title=Dancing Without the Stars: "YMCA" and Other Record-Breaking Dance Events |publisher=Yahoo TV |date=February 2, 2012|archive-date=February 20, 2014}}

In 2001 it was part of the "Swamp Karaoke Dance Party" in Shrek (2001) performed by Monsieur Hood and the Merry Men.

In 2012, in a landmark ruling in accordance with the Copyright Act of 1976, Willis terminated his copyrights granted to the publishers Can't Stop Productions and Scorpio Music.{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/village-people-ymca-lawsuit-victor-willis-321576 |title=Village People Songwriter Victor Willis Wins Case Over Termination of 'Y.M.C.A.' Rights |publisher=Hollywood Reporter |date= May 8, 2012|access-date=March 28, 2014 |first=Eriq |last=Gardner}}

In March 2015, it was determined that the sole writers of the song were Morali and Willis.{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/jury-decides-village-people-ymca-779420|title=Jury Decides Village People 'Y.M.C.A.' Songwriter Has 100 Percent Song Share|author=Eriq Gardner|date=March 5, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}

In March 2020, the US Library of Congress added the song to its National Recording Registry, which preserves for posterity audio that is "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52033153|work=BBC News|title=The Village People's YMCA is preserved for posterity|date=March 25, 2020}} In December 2020, "Y.M.C.A." was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

U.S. president Donald Trump began using the song (as well as another Village People song, "Macho Man") to close out his rallies during his 2020 re-election campaign. Willis initially approved its use but after several incidents involving the Black Lives Matter protests, he demanded Trump stop, although he later relaxed his stance.{{Cite magazine|last1=Blistein|first1=Jon|date=June 8, 2020|title=Village People Singer Victor Willis Tells Trump to Stop Using Their Music at Rallies|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/village-people-singer-victor-willis-trump-ymca-macho-man-rally-1011613/|access-date=October 25, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{cite web | url=https://www.tmz.com/2024/10/15/village-people-singer-says-trumps-use-of-ymca-is-good-for-business/ | title=Village People Singer Says Trump's Use of 'YMCA' is Good for Business | date=October 15, 2024 }} Saturday Night Live parodied the song and the group's reaction with a "cease and desist" on the October 24, 2020 segment of Weekend Update.{{cite news|last=Keveney|first=Bill|title='SNL' Weekend Update: Village People rewrite lyrics to order Trump to stop playing 'Y.M.C.A.'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/10/25/snl-village-people-trump-ymca/6031261002/|access-date=October 25, 2020|website=USA Today}} As a result of the renewed attention, the song was back in the Top 20 on iTunes in November 2020{{cite web |title=Village People's "Y.M.C.A"" Is Top 20 On US iTunes |author=Mike Wass |website=idolator |date=3 November 2020 |url= https://www.idolator.com/7915833/village-peoples-y-m-c-a-is-top-20-on-us-itunes}} and hit the #2 spot on the Billboard Dance Digital Song Sales chart.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-electronic-digital-song-sales/2020-11-14|title = Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales Chart|magazine = Billboard|date = January 24, 2013}} On November 6, following the media's declaration that Joe Biden had taken the lead in Pennsylvania over Trump in the 2020 presidential election, Biden supporters celebrated by dancing in the streets and singing the song across the city of Philadelphia.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/video-philadelphia-residents-celebrate-joe-bidens-victory-in-the-state-2020-11|title = Philadelphians are dancing in the streets to celebrate Joe Biden's lead in Pennsylvania|website = Business Insider}} The song was played over loudspeakers as Trump boarded Air Force One on January 20, 2021, en route to Florida before Biden's inauguration.{{Cite news|last=Amatulli|first=Jenna|date=January 20, 2021|title=Trump Ends Presidency Blasting 'YMCA' As He Boards Air Force One, Twitter Takes Off|work=Huffpost|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-village-people-ymca_n_60083bd4c5b62c0057c20812|access-date=January 20, 2021}}

In his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump once again used the song at his rallies, usually performing his signature dance while it played. Willis lamented his use of the song since 2020 and even considered a lawsuit to block Trump from using it. Ultimately, Willis decided there was "not much he can do about it" and decided it was "beneficial" to have the song back on the charts, stating it was "good for business."{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2024|title=Village People Singer Says Trump's Use of 'YMCA' Is Good for Business |url=https://www.tmz.com/2024/10/15/village-people-singer-says-trumps-use-of-ymca-is-good-for-business/ |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=TMZ}}

In January 2025, Village People performed the song at several events for Trump's second inauguration.{{cite news |title=Trump dances to 'YMCA' with Village People at pre-inaugural victory rally |first1=Kelsey|last1=Walsh |first2=Soo Rin|last2=Kim|first3=Lalee|last3=Ibssa|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-dances-ymca-village-people-pre-inaugural-victory/story?id=117870577 |work=ABC News |date=January 20, 2025|accessdate=February 12, 2025}}

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Y.M.C.A.}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|title=YMCA|artist=Village People|nocert=true|relyear=1978|salesamount=300,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-05-12.pdf|title=From The Music Capitals Of The World – Brussels|publisher=Billboard|first=Juul|last=Anthonissen|page=69|date=May 12, 1979 |access-date=July 28, 2019}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|title=YMCA|artist=Village People|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=1979|access-date=March 29, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|title=YMCA|artist=Village People|award=Gold|id=11487|certyear=2022|access-date=July 18, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|title=Y.M.C.A.|artist=Village People|award=Gold|certyear=1979|salesamount=1,400,000|source=infodisc|salesref={{cite book|url=http://www.top-france.fr/html/annuel/1978.htm|title=TOP – 1978|work=40 ans de tubes : 1960–2000 : les meilleures ventes de 45 tours & CD singles|author=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP)|editor=Fabrice Ferment|access-date=March 11, 2022|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111092235/http://www.top-france.fr/html/annuel/1978.htm|archive-date=January 11, 2021|via=Top-France.fr|oclc=469523661}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|title=Y.M.C.A.|artist=Village People|award=Gold|relyear=1978|certyear=1979|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=germany%27s+metronome+label+booming|title=Germany's Metronome Label Booming|magazine=Billboard|first=Wolfgang|last=Spahr|volume=91|issue=30|page=9|date=July 28, 1979|issn=0006-2510|accessdate=March 11, 2022}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|title=YMCA|artist=Village People|award=Gold|relyear=1978|certyear=2019|note=sales since 2009|access-date=November 27, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|title=YMCA|artist=Village People|nocert=true|salesamount=500,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1SQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=JApan+village+people+500,000+billboard&pg=PT124|title='Navy' Cover Conflict Breaks Out In Japan|magazine=Billboard|via=Google Books|volume=91|issue=19|page=65|date=May 12, 1979|issn=0006-2510|accessdate=February 9, 2022}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|title=Y.M.C.A.|type=single|artist=Village People|award=Platinum|relyear=1978|certyear=1979|salesamount=250,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hAkEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22italy%22+%22no+Silver+disk+for+singles%22|title=Gold/Silver Record Chart|publisher=Billboard|date=December 26, 1974|access-date=April 15, 2019}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|title=YMCA|artist=Village People|award=Gold|certyear=2024|access-date=1 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=Y.M.C.A.|artist=Village People|award=Platinum|relyear=1978|certyear=1979|id=8385-1353-1|access-date=March 29, 2012|salesamount=1,500,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/pride-special-celebrating-the-biggest-selling-singles-by-lgbt-artists__15453/|title=Pride special: Celebrating the biggest selling singles by LGBT artists|publisher=The Official Charts Company|date=June 25, 2016}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|title=Y.M.C.A.|artist=Village People|award=Platinum|relyear=1978|certyear=1979|access-date=March 29, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|type=single|title=Y.M.C.A.|artist=Village People|nocert=true|salesamount=12,000,000|salesref={{cite news|title= Glenn Hughes |date=March 16, 2001|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1326570/Glenn-Hughes.html |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph|access-date=November 26, 2020|location= London |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120316005916/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1326570/Glenn-Hughes.html |archive-date=March 16, 2012|url-status= live}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Young Man (Y.M.C.A.)

| cover = YMCASaijo.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Hideki Saijo

| album = Young Man/Hideki Flying Up

| B-side = Hideki Disco Special

| released = February 21, 1979

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Kayokyoku

| length = 4:43

| label = {{hlist|RCA|RVC}}

| writer = {{hlist|Jacques Morali|Victor Willis|Henri Belolo|Ryuji Amagai}}

| producer = Kazuo Ohtani

| prev_title = Harukanaru Koibito e

| prev_year = 1978

| next_title = Hop Step Jump

| next_year = 1979

}}

In 1979, Japanese singer Hideki Saijo covered the song for his compilation album Young Man/Hideki Flying Up as "Young Man (Y.M.C.A.)". In Japan, the cover topped on the Oricon chart for five consecutive weeks and became the seventh best-selling single of 1979 in Japan. For the cover, the lyrics were re-written in Japanese by Saijo's manager, Ryuji Amagai. Most of the lyrics have been changed to encourage young people. This version is also notable for having a call-and-response in the middle where Saijo and a group of child singers chant the letters "Y M C A" back and forth.

"Young Man (Y.M.C.A.)" debuted at number two on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, and in the following week, it reached number one, where it stayed for five consecutive weeks. The song finally became the seventh best-selling single of 1979 in Japan and Saijo's best-selling single to date, with the sales of 808,000 copies.

Following the death of Saijo on 16 May 2018, the song re-entered the chart, peaking at number fifteen on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/chart_insight/detail?kind=h100&date=2018-05-28&main=130071#graph_sort=chartin&rank_or_point=rank&show_week=150|title=YOUNG MAN(Y.M.C.A.)|work=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=January 7, 2021}}

"Young Man (Y.M.C.A.)" won the Grand Prix at the FNS Music Festival '79 and the 10th Japan Music Awards. Despite the hit, the song was disqualified for the 21st Japan Record Awards due to the competition's guideline that requires the songs to be original work. At the award, Saijo instead won the golden award for his single, "Yuki ga Areba" (1979).

"Young Man (Y.M.C.A.)" has been covered by multiple other Asian musicians, including Keisuke Kuwata, Aska, George Lam, Yang Kun, and E-girls.

It was covered by the Minions in the 2013 animated film Despicable Me 2.

7-inch single

1. "Young Man (Y.M.C.A.)" – 4:43
2. "Hideki Disco Special" (Medley)

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{{Infobox song

| name = Y.M.C.A.

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Touché

| album = Kids In America

| B-side =

| released = September 14, 1998

| recorded = 1998

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Eurodance

| length = 3:09 {{small|(single version)}}
3:14 {{small|(album version)}}

| label = BMG, Hansa

| writer = Jacques Morali, Victor Willis

| producer = Dieter Bohlen

| prev_title = I'll Give You My Heart

| prev_year = 1998

| next_title = This Goodbye Is Not Forever

| next_year = 1998

}}

In 1998, Touché covered the hit for their album Kids in America with Krayzee. In this version Touche take over the vocal parts and only the rap contributes to Krayzee. In Belgium, this cover version was a top ten hit, while the success in the German-speaking countries, however, was rather modest.

In the music video Touche and Krayzee perform the song in a city area, accompanied by elaborate effects.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPh19tG7D-Y |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/SPh19tG7D-Y| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Touche – YMCA (ft. Krayzee, prod. Dieter Bohlen)|date=April 2011 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

CD maxi

1. "YMCA" (Rap Version) – 3:09
2. "YMCA" (Vocal Version) – 3:14
3. "Promise To Believe" (Touché) – 3:57
4. "I Want Your Body" (Touché) – 3:19

• 1978 in music

{{reflist}}

{{external media

|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k Original 1978 music video]

}}

{{Village People}}

{{Donald Trump}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Y.M.C.A. (Song)}}

Category:1978 songs

Category:1978 singles

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Category:Village People songs

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