Days after authentic Village Individuals singer and songwriter, Victor Willis, threatened to sue information retailers for describing their 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A.” as a homosexual anthem, the group’s longtime building employee, David Hodo, has hit again, saying that it’s.
On Fb earlier this week, Willis threatened to take authorized motion in opposition to “each information group” that refers back to the tune as a “homosexual anthem” after January 2025, alleging that his lyrics have lengthy been misconstrued and that the affiliation has change into “damaging.” He additionally defended Donald Trump’s utilization of the monitor, claiming that the President Elect “appears to genuinely like ‘Y.M.C.A.’” and that Village Individuals have grossed “a number of million {dollars} because the President Elect’s continued use of the tune.”
However Hodo — who started performing as the development employee in 1977 and sang backing vocals on “Y.M.C.A.” — has made a publish of his personal, clarifying that the tune does certainly make intentional references to homosexual tradition.
“Simply to be clear, there could be no ‘Y.M.C.A.’ tune with out Jacques Morali,” Hodo wrote in a now-deleted Fb publish, referencing the homosexual French producer who created the Village Individuals. “He got here up with the hook, as he did with all of the VP music, after Randy Jones took him to a Y.M.C.A. and launched him to a number of homosexual porn stars who labored on the market.”
Persevering with, Hodo threw some further shade at Willis, suggesting that his songwriting contributions did little for the tune’s continued success. “It’s solely barely nauseating to listen to Willis converse as if he had been a Stephen Sondheim,” he stated. “‘Y.M.C.A.’ would have disappeared from the charts for good had it not been for the truth that the children from American Bandstand got here up with the arm actions. That foolish little dance is why this tune has endured, not the ‘good’ tune writing.”
To Hodo’s credit score, the “homosexual anthem” standing of the tune is simple. Even Willis himself has seemingly acknowledged this up to now, with a 2014 interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune saying that he was “pleased with the double entendres” he wrote for the tune’s lyrics.
Nonetheless, Willis has escalated the feud with Hodo, taking to Fb once more for a scathing publish in opposition to his former bandmate. “Properly, nicely, nicely, what have we right here,” his publish started. “David Hodo comes out of his gap to touch upon me and my writing companion Jacques Morali. To begin with David, Jacques hated you and you recognize it. So I wouldn’t put a lot inventory in no matter it’s important to say about me and Jacques.”
Concluding, Willis wrote, “Due to this fact, again in your gap earlier than I crush you once more, you substitute (non-original) Village Individuals member who has lied for years that you simply’re an authentic.” Rattling!
No matter “earlier than I crush you once more” means (extra double entendres?), this isn’t the primary time Willis and Hodo have butted heads. In 2020, Willis claimed Hodo’s “horrible voice single handedly ended Village Individuals in 1980.” In the meantime, the group continues to be performing with Willis and a brand new lineup, constructed since 2017.
David Hodo (Building employee) simply posted this… 🚧🛠️ pic.twitter.com/wk1OvE13fZ
— Invoice Coleman 🙌🏾🌿🎧🚀✨ (@peacebisquit) December 6, 2024