The yr was 1977 , and Frenchmusicproducer Jacques Morali was write Sung dynasty for the third record album by the Village People , a stereotype - satirizing disco ensemble he make in New York City .
While walking down the street in the Chelsea neighborhood , Morali encounter something he ’d never seen in Europe : the Young Men ’s Christian Association . He visited theYMCA ’s huge building on Manhattan’s23rd Street , which offer inexpensive room to young man visiting the city . The estimation was to give these impressionable lads a wholesome environment in the thick of the base metropolis . In world , it was known as a situation for hookups . And Morali opine he could deform the concept into a theme birdcall forgay sack .
“ Jacques wrote ‘ Y.M.C.A. ’ in about 20 minutes — the melody , the chorus , the synopsis . Then he collapse it to [ lead singer ] Victor Willis and said , ‘ fulfil in the relaxation , ’ ” David Hodo , the band member known as the Construction Worker , remember . “ I was a bit skeptical about some of our hits , but the minute I heard ‘ Y.M.C.A. , ’ I knew we had something particular . Because it vocalise like a commercial message . And everyone likes commercial . ”
Morali ’s upbeat song spent 26 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart , reach No . 2 in 1979 . It was a mammoth hitting with everyone — except the eponymous organisation .
It was n’t because the Young Men ’s Christian Association took issue with the song ’s spit - in - nerve lyrics or the Village People ’s gay references . YMCA executive director were more concerned withcopyright infringement .
Shortly after the undivided ’s release , the YMCA announced its trademarked name had been used without permit and begin pursue anout - of - court of justice closure . Profit was not the point , though one attorney said , “ in any dialogue , money is a agent . ”
What happened next is unclear , but the YMCA seemed to recognize the popularity ( and free publicity ) associated with the strain , and both parties eventually made serenity [ PDF ] . “ We at the YMCA celebrate the song , ” media relations manager Leah PouwtoldSpinin 2008 . “ It ’s a positive statement about the YMCA and what we offer to people all around the world . ”
A version of this level run in 2015 ; it has been update for 2023 .
