Former Member of Village People Mentions the Original Group ‘Would Never’ Agree to Perform at a Trump Rally
via Famous In NY Video / YouTube
In a recent public statement, Jim Newman, a former member of the legendary music group Village People, spoke out about the band’s involvement in Donald Trump’s inauguration events. He affirmed that the current performers who played during the festivities bear little resemblance to the original ensemble he was part of. The iconic Village People are renowned for the smash hit “YMCA,” which has attained the status of a gay anthem and has curiously become one of Trump’s preferred tunes.
Assertion of Authenticity and Disappointment
The events surrounding the inauguration witnessed performances by Village People, although of the storied members, only Victor Willis, the original lead singer and tunesmith, was present. Jim Newman took to Instagram to voice his position regarding the matter, claiming that the Village People who performed at the inauguration were not the genuine article.
Newman, who was with Village People proudly for eight years, spoke directly to his fans on social media just before the inauguration. His words were unequivocal: “Our Village People would never, ever perform at a Trump rally. We would never give him the right to use those songs, and we would never slap the face of the strong, especially gay audience, that made us who we are today.” The essence of Newman’s message was that he, along with his former bandmates, had no involvement with Trump’s rallies and considered the current lineup a completely different group from the celebrated Village People he knew and loved.
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The sadness Newman feels is evident when discussing the transformation of the Village People name. The band’s origins go back to the late 1970s, initiated by two French producers — Can’t Stop Productions — with a casting call. Willis was among the key figures back then but left in the early ’80s, only to rejoin over three decades later, in 2017, after a legal settlement granted him rights over the band’s brand and characters.
Contrasting Views and Controversies Surrounding “YMCA” Usage
Newman, recalling the band’s storied days, noted the Village People seemed like they’d be around forever. But things took a turn when Willis regained control and established a new lineup. This incarnation, as Newman points out, is the one that performed at Trump’s inauguration, featuring artists such as James Kwong, Jeffrey James Lippold, James Lee, Nicholas Manelick, and Javier Perez alongside Willis.
The controversial use of “YMCA” by Trump has also been a topic of discussion. Willis, the lyricist behind the hit, has expressed his view that the song is not a gay anthem, counter to popular belief. His relationship with Trump’s use of the track has been complex; initially, he objected to it due to numerous complaints and described the situation as a nuisance. However, over time, Willis softened his stance, observing that Trump “appeared to genuinely like ‘YMCA'” and was having fun with it.
Despite a multitude of artists refusing Trump permission to use their music, Willis decided not to block Trump from using the Village People classic. He justified his decision on social media, candidly admitting that the “financial benefits have been great.” Willis even noted that “YMCA” charted at No. 1 on Billboard after more than four decades, attributing part of this success to the President-elect’s favoritism for the song.
