The brainchild of French/Moroccan music producers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo–who’d previously made a name for themselves with two top twenty hits for the Ritchie Family–1975’s “Brazil” and 1976’s “The Best Disco in Town”–Village People, it was decided, was going to do what the Ritchie Family had not managed to: ascend to the number one spot on the all-important “Billboard” pop charts. They kept the lights on elsewhere as well. As Casablanca Records President Neil Bogart once unequivocally observed, “It’s just Donna (Summer) and the boys (Village People): they’re the ones who keep the lights on around here.” If that doesn’t happen you might watch as someone throws their arms into the air and contorts them into the shape of the letters Y, M, C, and A.ĭuring the late 1970s and early ’80s, Village People sold more than 100 million records, had three top ten pop hits, four top twenty dance/club hits, toured the world (selling out New York City’s 20,789-seat Madison Square Garden twice), and made a major motion picture–1980’s “Can’t Stop the Music.” They were award winners, television staples and pop culture icons whose music played everywhere: from discotheques to doctor’s offices, from underground sex clubs to bar mitzvahs, from sporting events to the local mall. Mention the Village People and you’ll probably hear a snicker or two, or get a pointed pursed lip and side-eye. Still, their outsize fantasy, one that they’d work tirelessly to achieve, would prove to be enough. Learn more about how that came to be below.Īside from their shared dream of becoming rich and famous, Village People–all six band members–really didn’t have much in common. Today, on the final day of Pride, the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, with the help of author Josiah Howard, looks back at one of its most recent and best-known additions–the Village People’s “YMCA.” Though, today, you’ll hear the track at everything from a school dance to a 50th anniversary party, it has also been adopted by the gay community as one of its unofficial anthems.