Y.M.C.A. (song)
Released November 13, 1978
Format
7″ 12″ CD reissue
Recorded 1978; Sigma Sound Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre Disco
Length 4:47
Label Casablanca
Songwriter(s)
Jacques Morali Victor Willis
Producer(s) Jacques Morali
“Y.M.C.A.” is a song by the American disco group Village People. It was released in 1978 as the only single from their third studio album Cruisin’ (1978). The song reached Number 2 on the US charts in early 1979 and reached Number 1 in the UK around the same time, becoming the group’s biggest hit. It is one of fewer than 40 singles to have sold 10 million (or more) physical copies worldwide. A medley with “Hot Cop” reached number 2 on Billboard’s Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart.
The song remains popular and is played at many sporting events in the U.S. and Europe, with crowds using the dance in which the arms are used to spell out the four letters of the song’s title. Moreover, the song also remains particularly popular due to its status as a disco classic. “Y.M.C.A.” appeared as Space Shuttle Wakeup call on mission STS-106, on day 11.
In 2009, “Y.M.C.A.” was entered into the Guinness World Book of Records when over 44,000 people danced to the song with Village People singing live at the 2008 Sun Bowl game in El Paso, Texas. “Y.M.C.A.” is number 7 on VH1’s list of The 100 Greatest Dance Songs of the 20th Century.
Victor Willis, lead singer and lyricist, recalls that while in the studio, 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’.
Upon its release, the YMCA threatened to sue the band over trademark infringement. The organization ultimately settled with the composers out of court and later expressed pride regarding the song saluting the organization.
The song became a Number 1 hit throughout the world (although not in the United States where it was kept out of the top spot by Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?”). It has remained popular at parties, sporting events, weddings, and functions ever since.
In 2011, Willis filed a notice of copyright termination to the song as lyricist under the Copyright Act of 1976 which allows recording artists and writers to reclaim their master recordings and publishing. In a landmark ruling in 2012, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California ruled that Willis can terminate his copyrights granted to the publishers Can’t Stop Productions and Scorpio Music because “a joint author who separately transfers his copyright interest may unilaterally terminate the grant.” YMCA and other hits written by Willis (for Village People and other Can’t Stop acts) began to revert to him on September 13, 2013. On March 4, 2015, it was determined that the sole writers of the song are Morali and Willis and the name Belolo has been removed. Willis now owns 50% of the song previously credited to Belolo.
Personnel
Victor Willis – vocals
Russell Dabney – drums
Alfonso Carey – bass
Jimmy Lee – guitar
Rodger Lee – rhythm guitar
Nathanial Wilkie – Fender Rhodes, clavinet
Bitter Sweet – hand claps
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia