Village People leader Victor Willis

“Y.M.C.A.,” the 1978 disco anthem he sang and co-wrote, inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry

Young man!

Victor Willis was indeed a young man in 1978 when the then-27-year-old lead singer of the Village People co-wrote and recorded “Y.M.C.A.” at the height of disco music’s popularity. Released as a single, it went on to sell more than 10 million copies and top the charts in 17 countries.

On March 24, “Y.M.C.A.” was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, which honors songs or albums that are deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” Longtime San Diego resident Willis never dreamed “Y.M.C.A.” would endure and thrive for so long. It grew from a disco hit that was a staple at gay nightclubs into an international phenomenon.

The song — whose chorus is simply: “It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.” — has been embraced at myriad social gatherings and sporting events. It has been played at every New York Yankees’ home game since 1996.

The song is also a favorite of President Donald Trump, who regularly used “Y.M.C.A.” at his 2020 campaign rallies despite Willis’ requests that he stop doing so. In the last weeks of his reelection campaign, Trump concluded his rallies by dancing to “Y.M.C.A.” onstage.

“‘Y.M.C.A.’ was written to have universal appeal,” Willis told the Union-tribune on March 25. “Whether you’re gay, straight, Democrat, Republican, it doesn’t matter to me. I tried to write it in an open enough way that anybody could find something in it and relate it to their life.”

U-T FILE