After becoming a campaign mainstay for Donald Trump, the disco classic YMCA saw a sharp increase in popularity in the months before and after the election.
The president-elect performed the well-known homosexual anthem from 1978 at practically every occasion during his successful campaign to retake the White House, regularly performing his distinctive dances.
According to NBC News’ analysis of Last.fm data, YMCA listenership more than tripled, rising by roughly 366 percent between late May and November 5.
According to the same statistics, the song was up 183% from late May despite a decline in interest, presumably as a result of the Trump impact.
Additionally, the song has had a true revival, with interest in it hitting its highest level in twenty years, according to Google Trends.
The song was searched for more times this month than at any other point in the search engine’s history, according to NBC.
When Trump first brought it up at the end of his rallies in 2020, there was also an increase. What gets them going, do you know? “YMCA,” he stated in a 2022 podcast. The YMCA encourages individuals to get up and move.
At the end of October, YMCA also made a comeback to the top 15 songs on the Billboard dance/electronic sales list, eventually taking the top spot the week of November 17.
Professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, and MLS imitated the president-elect’s dancing motions in celebration after his victory, which made them popular.
The song by the Village People is allegedly about the community centers run by the nonprofit Young Men’s Christian Association in numerous American cities.
The song’s appeal within the LGBTQ+ community can be explained by the many double entendres it contains regarding gay male existence.
But in 2014, Village People member Felipe Rose told HuffPost that the song wasn’t purposefully gay.
The band members are happy with their newfound popularity, though. The lead vocalist and co-writer of YMCA, Victor Willis, reportedly gave his wife a high five when he heard that the song had risen back to the top of the charts.
The band gave the Trump campaign permission to use their music in February 2020, but they requested that he refrain from playing it in June. Willis said the campaign turned it down, saying it had a license as a political entity that permitted its usage.
When Trump first used the tune, Willis told NBC News that it was an annoyance. I was concerned that he would grow weary of the tune. However, he said, that never took place.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
ChiefsFocus is a dedicated news writer with extensive experience in covering news across the United States. With a passion for storytelling and a commitment to journalistic integrity, ChiefsFocus delivers accurate and engaging content that informs and resonates with readers, keeping them updated on the latest developments nationwide.