Village people YMCA | 2024InSongs #13

It’s kind of a bittersweet task to write about one of those songs that everybody listened to at least once. YMCA is one of those songs that always comes on at formal parties and marriage celebrations, and every adult person has listened and maybe even knows the choreography to it that mimics the letters YMCA, so I’m just going to list a couple of curiosities and songs that sampled YMCA in it.

How the choreography for YMCA was created.

Village People was performing on a Dick Clark show this one time in 1979 when there was a cheerleader group in the audience that started to make the choreography organically. The band was clapping their hands above their heads in the YMCA part and the cheerleaders believed it as the Y and kept on doing the MCA. The band from them on started to incorporate choreography into their performances.

What YMCA stands for and why it is a kind of anthem to the gay culture

YMCA ironically stands for  Young Men’s Christian Association. Which was a Christian initiative started in London in 1944 that aimed to help young men that came into London to have a room, food and help to stablish themselves in town while teached them christian values. Th YMCA centers welcomed LGBT people and became a place to LGBT people went for get support, the song was perceived as a celebration to thisbehavior. Added to the band member’s costumes anddisco music rythm the recipe to the success was ready

YMCA sampled

YMCA was one of the various songs sampled into the 1997 mashup hit song ESPN presents the Jock Jams.

YMCA appears 2:25 in the song

And as always the full playlist: