 "The ‘Trump Effect’: Why the 1987 hit song ‘YMCA’ is topping charts again")
The 1970s disco anthem “YMCA” has experienced an unexpected resurgence, thanks to Donald Trump.
The classic hit saw a huge revival in the lead-up to and after the election, becoming a campaign favourite for US President-elect Donald Trump.
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A staple at Trump’s rallies, the song served as a lively anthem for his campaign, resonating with his supporters at anti-lockdown protests and “Make America Great Again” events alike.
‘The Trump effect’
The 1978 Village People hit “YMCA” has witnessed an extraordinary resurgence decades later, driven by what many are calling the “Trump effect.”
According to NBC News, the song saw a sharp rise in popularity, with Google searches skyrocketing, listenership on last.fm tripling, and, for the first time, topping a Billboard sales chart.
🚨🇺🇸ICONIC TRUMP DANCE TO Y.M.C.A
— Naomi Seibt (@SeibtNaomi) October 19, 2024
The GOAT is on FIRE in the cold of the Pennsylvania night 😂✊ pic.twitter.com/6MHzc8XaGx
Google Trends data revealed an unprecedented surge in interest, with searches for the song reaching their highest levels in two decades. NBC reported that more searches for “YMCA” were recorded this month than during any previous month in Google’s published history.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTrump made the disco anthem a rally staple in 2020, famously dancing to it with fist-pumping moves.
“You know what gets ’em rockin’? ‘Y.M.C.A.,’” Trump remarked during a 2022 podcast. “It gets people up and it gets them moving.”
The song re-entered the Billboard dance/electronic sales chart, reaching the Top 15 in late October and claiming the Number 1 spot by the week of November 17.
Trump’s dance moves have also gained attention, with NFL, NBA, and MLS athletes mimicking them in celebrations following his election victory.
YMCA and its legacy
The Village People’s iconic hit “YMCA” is often linked to the Young Men’s Christian Association and its community centres across the United States.
While the lyrics include several double entendres about gay male life, contributing to its popularity in the LGBTQ+ community, band member Felipe Rose clarified in 2014 that the track was not intentionally written with a gay theme.
“…Well first of all, the song was never written about anything to do with gay,” he told HuffPost.
“It was just a filler song, based on the ex-producer seeing the YMCA sign during lunch and asking us what it meant. Sure, there was ambiguity and they were using a double entendre, but it was really just supposed to be one more song to fill out the album,” he said.
Despite its associations, the song’s recent resurgence has pleased the band. Lead singer and co-writer Victor Willis reportedly celebrated its return to the charts with a high-five to his wife.
Notably, the Village People’s relationship with Donald Trump’s use of the song has been complicated. In February 2020, the band approved its use at Trump rallies, but by June, Willis requested Trump stop playing it. Trump’s campaign continued to use the song, citing a political entities license.
Initially, Willis found Trump’s use of the track to be a “nuisance.” However, as he told NBC News, he later decided not to cancel the license when asked by the music industry group managing the song’s rights.
“At one point I thought he’d tire of the song. But that never happened,” he said.
When the label that manages the song’s license asked Willis and his wife (the band’s manager) if they wanted to cancel the license, he said, “I told my wife to tell them no because by that time I started noticing some very good things started happening as [Trump] continued to use the song.”
“YMCA,” with its upbeat tempo and infectious chorus, has long exceeded its LGBT roots to become a mainstream disco classic. In 2020, the Library of Congress recognised its cultural and historical importance by adding it to the National Recording Registry, calling it an “American phenomenon.”
Why Trump chose this song for campaigns
Donald Trump began using the Village People’s “YMCA” at his rallies after recovering from Covid-19, bringing an energetic and upbeat tone to his events. The song gained attention among Trump supporters during anti-lockdown protests in Michigan, where it played over loudspeakers at the State Capitol as militia members protested against restrictions.
🚨 NOW: President Trump & Melania, Elon Musk, and Barron Trump are all rocking out to YMCA tonight at Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving 🔥
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 29, 2024
EPIC! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/yUHWvPt4M5
However, Trump’s choice of “YMCA” has also raised eyebrows due to its associations with gay culture and the LGBTQ+ community - a sharp contrast to the anti-LGBT stance of many conservative groups that support him. Evangelicals, a key part of Trump’s base, have historically opposed same-sex marriage and backed practices like conversion therapy, The Times of India reported.
For Trump’s supporters, the song seems to evoke a sense of nostalgia and a carefree spirit, resonating beyond its original meaning. Its energetic beat and catchy chorus have made it a crowd-pleaser at rallies, despite the ideological contradictions it represents.
With inputs from agencies
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