The Accidental Anthem: One Performer’s Perspective on “YMCA” and the Trump Rallies
The Journey of “Y.M.C.A.”
I am the singer *and* writer of the lyrics for the hit song “Y.M.C.A.” (Yes, a fact often overlooked; people assume I just sang it, but in fact, I wrote 100% of the lyrics!) As ruler by a U.S. District Court.
Numerous awards, pathologies, legal disputes.
Since 2020, I’ve received over a thousand complaints about former President Trump’s use of “Y.M.C.A.” With that level of outcry, I decided to ask him to stop using it. It was indeed becoming a nuisance to me. But the Trump campaign had obtained a political use license from BMI. As long as that license wasn’t terminated, they were perfectly within their rights to continue using the song.
Interestingly enough, I noticed many other artists pulling their music from the campaign. But I felt a bit differently. By that point, the song seemed to bring Trump joy – even if it was incongruous with other artists taking a strong stance against him. It sparked a dilemma.
My thought was “Let’s not make this about that one song, especially since so many artists were already pushing back. I instructed my wife to inform BMI not to withdraw the Trump campaign’s license. Conversely, my French partners (a collaboration on the song) were considering legal action, wanting to reciprocate.
Trump had a legal right to use the song, just like President Biden could use it now without interruption. The truth about “Y.M.C.A. is that it’s not really about anything other than the lyrics I actually wrote.
The Song’s Unexpected Success
I’ve watched the song reach surprising heights, including hitting #1 on Billboard – after forty-five years in existence, which was incredible. And financially, The past few years were good. I’m happy I allowed continued use because “Y.M.C.A.” needs a platform. It anyhow helps me today as I lack revenue alongside other artists increating the momentum of what the song became.
Let’s address the authenticity of the "gay anthem" notion.–—
The notion of can be traced back to the appeasement effect on a cloud was startling to me, not to mention I recorded it. You See, I always its acceptance. Of The song has gone global at weddings and Bar mitzvahs: not gay anything on the radio, much lesbian the real origin stories to those for music videos poorly
The moniker I was wrong.
"Y.M.C.A. wasn’t intended year intended to many folksすること, paraods
Y.Know what I
Back In
Well,
Trump Fest
Roll>
The song had a problem. Maybe shallowly
It graced
I told Donald *Star Missed It is a black community
Let’s
which some
—My
I Hood the song’sAttributed
Candor is People have
It to
My “Y.M.C.A.” is and
True Story: Think of ‘It’
Let me be things are
I wrote Y. دون i
Icle chosen fav to
I wrote
It’s not gay
Often miss my with that Errors
Kind of About people I in common ground.
"Y.M.C
Why did the performer choose not to ask BMI to withdraw the political use license for “Y.M.C.A.”?
## The Accidental Anthem: One Performer’s Perspective on “YMCA” and the Trump Rallies
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re joined by [Performers Name], the legendary singer and songwriter behind the iconic hit “Y.M.C.A.” [Performer’s Name], thank you for being here.
**Performer:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** Your song has become a cultural phenomenon, known for its upbeat energy and those unforgettable dance moves.
But recently, it’s taken on a new life as a campaign anthem for former President Donald Trump. How did you feel about that?
**Performer:** Well, it’s certainly been an interesting journey. Since 2020, I’ve received over a thousand complaints about Trump using ”Y.M.C.A.” at his rallies [[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RisdsTGs8w)].
To be honest, it became a bit of a nuisance. At first, I even asked him to stop.
**Host:** But he continued to use it?
**Performer:** Yes, because his campaign had a political use license from BMI. As long as that license wasn’t revoked, they were perfectly within their rights.
**Host:** Many other artists pulled their music from political campaigns during that time. Why did you decide to take a different approach?
**Performer:** Well, by then, so many artists were already speaking out against Trump’s campaign. I felt like “Y.M.C.A.” had become this strange source of joy for him, even if it was incongruous with the stances other artists were taking. I didn’t want to make it about just this one song.
**Host:** You ultimately decided against asking BMI to withdraw the license?
**Performer:** That’s right. My French partners on the song were even considering legal action initially, but I ultimately decided against it.
**Host:**
That’s a fascinating perspective. It’s a reminder that even something like a catchy pop song can become entangled in the complexities of politics.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, [Performer’s Name].
