Victor Willis, lead singer of Village People and writer of "Y.M.C.A.," has publicly thanked Donald Trump for playing the song at his rallies, citing significant financial and chart benefits despite initial concerns.

Key points about Trump's use of "Y.M.C.A.":

• Trump legally obtained BMI's political use license for the song
• Willis initially received over 1,000 complaints about Trump's use
• The song reached #1 on Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks due to Trump's usage
• Estimated to have generated several million dollars in revenue

Willis's stance on the song:

• Wrote 100% of the lyrics while Jacques Morali composed the music
• Chose not to withdraw Trump's license despite initial concerns
• Prevented French partners from taking legal action against Trump's usage
• Supports Kamala Harris but doesn't dislike Trump

Controversy over "gay anthem" status:

• Willis states he didn't write the lyrics with gay culture in mind
• Was unaware of YMCA's connection to gay culture when writing
• Claims assumptions about the song's gay references are misguided

Cultural impact:

• Despite Willis's intentions, the song has been embraced by gay culture
• Joins other adopted anthems like "I Will Survive" and "It's Raining Men"
• Demonstrates how audience interpretation can transcend original intent
• Cultural significance determined by how communities embrace and use the song

The situation highlights how music's cultural impact often extends beyond creators' original intentions, with communities adopting songs regardless of their intended meaning.

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