Village People

Village People
The original Village People lineup in 1978. Left to right: Randy Jones, David Hodo, Felipe Rose, Victor Willis, Glenn Hughes and Alex Briley.
Background information
Origin	New York City, NY, U.S.
Genre(s)	Disco Dance-pop Funk R&B
Years active	1977–present
Label(s)	Casablanca Records Black Scorpio RCA Polygram
Website	http://www.officialvillagepeople.com
Members
G. Jeff Olson Eric Anzalone Ray Simpson Felipe Rose Alex Briley David "Scar" Hodo
Former members
Randy Jones Glenn Hughes Victor Willis Ray Stephens Mark Lee Miles Jaye Davis Py Douglas Bill Whitefield Alex Timmerman

Village People is a concept disco group formed in the late 1970s. The group is as well known for its on-stage costumes as for its catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics. The members each dress as a police officer, an American Indian chief, a construction worker, a member of the military, a leatherman (biker), and a cowboy; after the release of "In the Navy", both Victor Willis and Alex Briley appeared temporarily as sailors.

Village People scored a number of disco and dance hits, including their trademark "Macho Man", "Go West", the classic club medley of "San Francisco (You've got me) / In Hollywood (Everybody is a star)", "In the Navy", "Can't Stop the Music", "Sex Over The Phone" and their biggest hit, "Y.M.C.A.".

Collectively, the Village People have sold 85 million albums and singles. The group also recorded new materials under the name "The Amazing Veepers".

History

1977-1979

The band was assembled in 1977 by Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo, specifically to showcase and perform their disco music creations. The original ad for recruiting the group was "Macho Types Wanted: Must Have Moustache" and was placed by Jacques Morali in 1976. Much like Frank Farian's Boney M or The Spice Girls, the group was manufactured. Despite the French songwriters, the songs were all in English.

The band's name references New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood, at the time known for having a substantial gay population.^{[citation needed]} Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo got the inspiration for creating an assembly of American man archetypes based on the gay men of The Village who frequently dressed in various fantasy ways.^{[citation needed]}

Their 1978 song "Y.M.C.A." made them one of the most successful disco groups.

In 1979, the United States Navy considered using "In the Navy," another Village People hit, in a recruiting advertising campaign on television and radio. They contacted Belolo, who decided to give the rights for free on the condition that the Navy help them shoot the music video. Less than a month later, Village People arrived at the San Diego Naval base. The Navy provided them with a warship, several aircraft, and hundreds of Navy men. When the video started showing and the Navy started the planned ad campaign, some newspapers protested using taxpayers' money to fund music videos (especially for a group considered by some to be "morally dubious" ^{[citation needed]}). The Navy quickly cancelled the campaign. The scandal tremendously boosted the popularity of the song.

Their fame reached its peak in 1979. The Village People were featured on the cover of Rolling Stone, Vol. 289, April 19, 1979.

Victor Willis left the group at the end of 1979, and the group's downfall began. It is debated why he left the group and his drug use at that time was well known. However, in a recent interview with the author of Victor's forthcoming book, Henri Belolo (Jacques Morali's business partner) insists that Victor was not fired. Rather, that he, Belolo, and Morali, had big plans for Victor to go solo and that Victor did not care to participate in the movie, Can't Stop the Music. They convinced Victor to at least write a few songs for the movie, which he did before officially leaving the group. Moreover, Victor's website concurs with Henri Belolo's recollection.

1980-1985

The group also appeared in its 1980 feature film Can't Stop the Music, directed by Nancy Walker, written by Allan Carr and Bronte Woodard, music and lyrics by Jacques Morali and starring Steve Guttenberg, Valerie Perrine, Jean-Claude Billmaer, Bruce Jenner, and the Village People. The movie "won" the Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay prizes at the 1980 Golden Raspberry Awards in March 1981 and was nominated in almost all the other categories. Despite that, the song, "Can't Stop The Music" became a Club Play chart hit and moderate radio hit. The soundtrack also featured the talents of "David London," who under his real name Dennis "Fergie" Frederiksen went on to become the future lead singer of Toto and one of the main contributors to the Village People's next album.

In 1981, with the popularity of disco waning and New Wave music on the rise, Village People replaced its on-stage costumes with a new look inspired by the New Romantic movement, and released the New Wave album Renaissance; it was a minor success.

Victor Willis returned to the group in late 1981 for the albums Fox On The Box and In the Street.

Although their last album containing new material, the 1985 dance/Hi-NRG release Sex Over The Phone, was not a huge commercial success, it fared better in sales and club play than their "Renaissance" album. The "Sex Over The Phone" music video, due to the rise of video on the Internet, has become a viral video phenomenon.

1985 to present

The Village People took a leave of absence in 1986. They reunited the following year with the line-up of Randy Jones, David Hodo, Felipe Rose, Glenn Hughes, Alex Briley, and Ray Simpson.

• A now rare remix album of their 1970s & early 1980s hits was released in 1989.
• The Village People had a comeback and toured in 1993.
• In 1994, Village People joined the German national football team to sing its official World Cup '94 theme Far Away In America.
• From July 18 to July 20 2004, Village People performed in Berlin for three shows as an opening act for the German punk band Die Ärzte.
• In 1994, the indie punk rock label Go Kart Records wanted the Village People to release an all Sex Pistols cover album. The group declined. Instead, The Cowboy (Randy Jones) from the group sang Greg Brady's part on a punk cover of The Brady Bunch classic 'Time To Change'.
• Starting in 2004, Village People performed as the opening act for Cher on her Farewell Tour until it ended in April 2005. It was a highly successful tour for both artists.
• On June 6 2006 Village People were scheduled to be the headline act at Asbury Park's famous Gay Pride parade and festival.
• On June 20 2006, Victor Willis, original lead singer, made his first direct statement to the media in over 25 years indicating that the "nightmare of drug abuse" is being lifted from his life and that he looked forward to being released into a residential drug treatment program. Moreover, he apologized to Village People fans for refusing to perform live concerts since leaving Village People. In that same press statement, Victor Willis revealed that a book based on his life as lead singer of Village People is due for release in 2007 and that he plans to return to the stage in mid-2007. On September 5 2006, Victor Willis was ordered released from custody and into the Betty Ford Center. He was given 3 years probation and ordered to abstain from further use of drugs.
• On July 4 2006 Village People opened for Los Lonely Boys at the Chevy Freedom Over Texas Fourth of July extravaganza.
• On September 4, 2006, Village People performed at The 2006 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.
• On September 30, 2006, Village People performed at Hard Rock Cafe in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
• On July 1, 2007, Victor Willis announced his first live concert in 28 years, in Las Vegas.
• On October 8, 2007, Village People performed at Toyota in Torrance, CA.

Cultural references

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• In a Mad TV skit featuring Nicole Sullivan as the Vancome Lady, she says to two homosexual parents raising their own children: "It takes a village to raise a child, yes. Not the Village People."

• Anal Cunt has made many references to the Village People in their music, most notably in the song "If You Don't Like The Village People, You're Fucking Gay."

• After being chased into a gay nightclub, the cast of Waynes World 2 get up on stage and perform the song YMCA whilst wearing the costumes.

• U2 pays an ironic homage to Village People by dressing up in similar costumes in the video for "Discothèque".

• In the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in Club Malibu, five men dressed in similar costumes to the Village People are dancing on stage.

• In the early 1990s, British pop group Pet Shop Boys released a successful cover of Village People's Go West and the song has now become a popular anthem at English football games.

• A parody of Village People (the "Small Town Binomes") made an appearance in the animated series ReBoot, performing a YMCA-style song called BS&P.

• In the television show "8 Simple Rules"(For Dating My Teenage Daughter), the episode 'Halloween' (Season 3), C.J. has a recurring bad memory of a Halloween party where he was dressed as a cowboy, and seen standing with other kids dressed up in costumes such as a police officer, etc. and is made fun of (quote: "Look! It's the Village People!"). Also, C.J. (now in the present) was hired as a security guard at Bridget, Kerry, and Rory Hennessy's Halloween dance. He was tricked into going on-stage (dressed as a police man) along with four other men who were dressed in the Village People costumes. Rory then loudly announces "Look! It's the Village People!".

• In the Mel Brooks musical movie "The Producers," residents of Roger Debris' home, dressed as the Village People join in the dancing during the song "Keep It Gay"

• In the musical "Spamalot" the lyrics and gay culture association of the song "YMCA" are parodied in the song "His Name is Lancelot" "You can all find him/pumping at the gym/ at the Camelot YMCA!" and "He can finally/come out and say/ that he is G-A-Y...M-C-A!"

• In a "You Can Learn a Lot from a Dummy" PSA from the 1990s, Vince and Larry are driving at night and run into a cardboard cutouts of things like a deer, but also the Village People.

• In the movie "Down Periscope" starring Kelsey Grammar and Lauren Holly as part of a misfit submarine crew, the Village People appear singing "In The Navy" during the closing credits.

• In "Never Been Kissed", several students are seen dressed as the Village People at the prom.

• In the movie, Elvira's Haunted Hills, a character tells Elvira that "The village people say this castle is evil.", to which Elvira responds "Eh, who listens to the Village People anymore?".

• In Episode 16 of Season 3 of House, M.D., Wilson accuses House of "longing for a new relationship with one of the Village People," and then inadvertently reveals his own in-depth knowledge of the group, saying of the army guy "he's only in the Navy when they sing 'In The Navy.' The rest of the time he's just in generic fatigues."

• Radio shock jock The Greaseman used to joke that he was a member of the group (the construction worker, to be specific) as one of his sketches. The sketch was so believable that the Village People had to post a notice on their Web site, which still remains today:
  • "And for the record- NO, The Greaseman was never a member! End of discussion."

• In a Season 2 episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Wayne Brady and Chip Esten sing a song to one of the audience members in the style of the Village People.

• WMS Gaming produces a Village People themed slot machine called "Village People Party."

• In The Simpsons episode Simpson Tide, the Village People are depicted dancing on the deck of a submarine as it heads out to sea, while "In The Navy" plays. When the submarine submerges, several of the members' costumes float to the surface.

• When Nacho Novo of Rangers FC scores at Ibrox the chorus Macho, Macho Man is played over the PA system.

• In Destroy All Humans, when you read one of the townspeople's minds they say they want to start a band with an Indian, a biker, a police officer, a construction worker, and a soldier. Then he goes on by thinking of calling them either the Village Men or the Town People.

• In 2001: A Space Travesty, during the Opera, Michel Perron playing the role of Luciano Pavarotti sings a rendition of "In the Navy" along with two other singers.

• In the end of Queer Duck: The Movie, the main characters sing a song in tune with "YMCA", but instead sing "I'm glad I'm gay." At one point, the characters are dressed as the Village People.

• In the music video for the George Michael song Shoot The Dog, George's cartoon character transforms into cartoon representations of himself in the form of the different Village People towards the end of the song.

Discography

Main albums

Compilations & Other

• (1984)
• Greatest Hits (1988)
• Greatest Hits '89 Remixes (1989)
• The Best Of Village People (1994)
• The Very Best Of (1998)
• 20th Century Masters, The Millennium Collection...The Best Of Village People (2001)

Lineup

The Village People have had a number of lineup changes over the years. Those listed with an * below are in the current lineup.

Original 'People'

• Alex Briley - the G.I./Sailor
• David Hodo - the Construction Worker
• Felipe Rose - the Indian
• Glenn Hughes - the Leatherman/Biker. Hughes died of lung cancer on March 4, 2001. (Not to be confused with Glenn Hughes, the former Deep Purple bassist and vocalist.)
• Randy Jones - The cowboy, from 1987 until 1991.
• Victor Willis- the Policeman original lead singer/writer- until late 1979). He returned to the group again however in late 1981 for the 1982 album, Fox On The Box. He wrote the lyrics to all
  

  

  Felipe Rose
  of the group's major hits, including "In the Navy", "YMCA", "Macho Man", and "Go West". In addition, he wrote the lyrics for the songs "Milk Shake" and "Magic Night." from the Can't Stop the Music movie soundtrack. Also of interest is that he was briefly married to actress Phylicia Rashad - better known as Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show.

Replacement 'People'

• Eric Anzalone - the Leatherman/Biker, replacement, since 1995
• G. Jeff Olson - the Cowboy, replacement, 1981-1985, 1991- present.
• Ray Simpson - the Policeman, replacement, 1979-1982; 1987-present. He was the lead vocalist for Can't Stop the Music and its soundtrack, Renaissance, and select tracks on Live and Sleazy and Fox On The Box / In the Street.
• Miles Jaye - the Policeman, replacement, 1983-1984. He was the lead vocalist on the In the Street bonus track "America" and .
• Ray Stephens- the Policeman, replacement, 1985. He was the lead vocalist on Sex Over The Phone. He died in 1990.
• Py Douglas - The Policeman. Briefly replaced Ray Stephens in some TV appearances during their ' 85 European tour promoting album Sex Over The Phone...
• Mark Lee - the Construction Worker, 1982-1985. On the albums Fox On The Box, In the Street, , and Sex Over The Phone
• Bill Whitefield- the Construction Worker. Made some concert appearances in 2002 and 2003.

Set List

• We're an American Band
• Macho Man
• Iko Iko
• San Francisco/In Hollywood
• Trash Disco
• Take My Breath Away
• Mighty Real
• In The Navy
• Obsession
• Don't Leave Me This Way
• YMCA

When performing in other parts of the world the band will open with "Go West" instead of "We're an American Band". In Australia and parts of Asia, "Milkshake" and "Can't Stop The Music" are frequently performed. In Italy the band is asked to perform " 5 O'Clock in The Morning." and "Sex Over The Phone" due to the success over there. Other selections include "Fire Island", "Hot Cop", "Key West", "Rock n Roll is Back", "Ready For The 80's", "Save Me" (done as a ballad with Alexander Briley (G.I.) doing a solo), "Magic Night" and a cover of "Gimmie Some Lovin".

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• List of artists who reached number one in Ireland

References

• Village People at Quasimodobell.com Full discography with covers & UK chart information.

External links

• Village People Home Page
• Official Randy Jones Website
• Interview with Henri Belolo
• Official Miles Jaye Website
• Official Victor Willis Website
• Official Felipe Rose Website
• Village People at Rolling Stone

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