YMCA (song)

"YMCA," (played in the key of G-flat major) is the title of a joyful and deadpan 1978 song by The Village People. The song's lyrics extolling the virtues of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) for the "young man" have a cheeky gay double meaning about the activities that were taking place at many YMCA branches in the 1970s. Many listeners were unaware of these undertones and thought it was simply a musical celebration of the organization:

Related Topics:
Key - G-flat major - 1978 - The Village People - Young Men's Christian Association - Gay - 1970s

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:You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,You can do... what ever you feel!

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Producer Henri Belolo (describing himself as straight) recalls that he saw the YMCA sign while walking down the street with composer Jacques Morali (whom he describes as gay), who seemed to know the institution fairly well: "Henri, let me tell you something. This is a place where a lot of people go when they are in town. And they get good friends and they go out." And Henri got the idea: "Why don't we write a song about it?"

Related Topics:
Henri Belolo - Jacques Morali

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The song became a number one hit in many places (notably not in the USA where it lost to Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"). It has remained popular at parties, events, and functions ever since.

Related Topics:
Rod Stewart - Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?

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In 1999, the band rereleased the single. In 2004, American Idol reject William Hung released a cover version of this song on his first album.

Related Topics:
1999 - 2004 - American Idol - William Hung - Cover version

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The song was featured on the US home version of Dance Dance Revolution Extreme.

Related Topics:
US - Home version - Dance Dance Revolution - Extreme

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"YMCA" is also the name of a group dance with cheerleader Y-M-C-A choreography invented to fit the song.

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One of the phases involves moving arms to form the letters Y-M-C-A as they are sung in the chorus.

Related Topics:
Y - M - C - A

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The song was remade as "Young Man" in Japan, sung by Hideki Saijo.

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