Y.M.C.A no gay protest anthem - singer

  • Breaking
  • 19/12/2013

The original lead singer of the Village People doesn't want his 'Y.M.C.A.' hit to be used as Team USA's entrance anthem at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Gay rights activists have suggested the disco track should be blared over the loudspeakers as the Americans are introduced at the start of the Games, to protest against Russia's new anti-gay propaganda legislation, which was introduced earlier this year.

But Victor Willis, who wrote the lyrics to the track, tells WENN the song should not be used against the anti-gay sentiment because, contrary to popular belief, it was never written as a gay anthem.

Willis, who recently recaptured ownership of the copyright to the iconic song, has even been invited to perform it at the Sochi Olympics.

He says, "If they want to use the song that way, go right ahead, but I think it's silly because the lyrics were written by me as an expression of urban youths having fun at the Y.M.C.A. The words were crafted by me to be taken any number of ways but not specific to gays. It's much broader than that. The song is universal.

"I don't mind that gays think the song is about them but I won't perform the song in support of any protest. But I would consider performing the song as part of the opening ceremonies and lead the stadium into the 'Y.M.C.A.' dance as a show of world unity because that's something I believe the world can relate to.

"But I have only been asked to perform as part of a protest. And to that, I say no."

WENN.com

source: newshub archive