July 12th, 2010
03:08 PM ET

Village People: 'Y' did you do that, YMCA?

The YMCA may have decided that the “Y” in the organization’s acronym can fly as a solo act, but the Village People plan on keeping all of the letters in their hit song.

“We are deeply dismayed by today's announcement from the YMCA that they feel a name change and a rebranding are in order after 166 years," the Village People said in a statement. "Some things remain iconic and while we admire the organization for the work they do, we still can’t help but wonder Y.”

The national nonprofit said the name change to just simply "the Y" is a way of being "warmer," essentially referring to themselves in the same way that others do, as the organization’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Kate Coleman, told The New York Times.

So while the lyrics to "YMCA" will now be dated in more ways than one, the six member group will keep singing them as they continue to perform year-round (after an impressive 33 years, as their statement noted).

And thank goodness they'll still kick it old-school; can you imagine forming nothing but the letter "Y" at your next sports event?


Filed under: Music

soundoff (15 Responses)
  1. Sport Memorabilia

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    May 19, 2012 at 7:28 pm | Report abuse |
  2. marcio porfirio lins

    Olá pessoal eu sou o marcio morro em santa maria belford roxo Brasil que saudade, como é que vcs estão já faz tanto tempo, desde do disco infenio e este dias vendo os clips buscando na rede estou enviando este email e gostaria de conhecelos pessoalmente 33 anos ja se passaram e espero que aquela alegria continue a mesma, e como é a fundação que Deus continue abençoando a vcs, e ñ esqueça que Cristo vós ama e por favor se tiverem tempo respondem o email eu sou comvertido ao cristianismo mas me recordo dos tempos antigos

    February 11, 2011 at 9:48 pm | Report abuse |
  3. marcio porfirio lins

    Olá pessoal eu sou o marcio morro em santa maria belford roxo

    February 11, 2011 at 9:35 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Solomon

    Well, so it is no longer the Young Men or Women's Christian Association. All in all considering what the Y has always done it doesn't really make sense for it to be known as such. It is decidedly anachronistic, as may be your own Christianity of powers, principalities and the always surprising sense that the Republican party is the godly one. God Bless the YMCA/YWCA. May they continue to do good works.

    August 16, 2010 at 3:23 am | Report abuse |
  5. Eric Anzalone

    Hey, guys...Eric, the Biker/Leatherman from the Village People. Here's the "original" breakdown of the current group:
    Felipe Rose-ORIGINAL Native American Indian. Alex Briley-ORIGINAL Soldier. David Hodo- ORIGINAL Construction Worker. Ray Simpson- Joined 1979 Cop. Jeff Olson- Joined 1980 Cowboy. Eric Anzalone- Joined 1995 Biker/Leatherman.

    Be well...be cool...be macho...

    July 21, 2010 at 3:36 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Dan

    Christianity takes another hit! The “YMCA”and or the YWCA (Young Men’s or Women’s Christian Association) has officially changed its name to just the “Y”……. WHY?....... I guess this is just another politically correct move……ehh? Slowly but surely we are changing to a Godless nation. Many Christian based organizations are being watered down. Our country is slowly being taken over without a fight! What’s next……….The “Salvation Army”…… Changes to the “S Army” ? Change must be the magic word…….ehh?

    July 17, 2010 at 4:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • Paul

      Dear Dan:
      Yes and no. Has christianity taken another hit? Yes.
      Have you christians lost without a fight? No! There are plenty of militant "christians" out there fighting against women's rights, gay rights, and the poor. Thankfully, you're outnumbered...

      July 26, 2010 at 4:34 pm | Report abuse |
    • carlie

      Dan sweetheart, when you are being persecuted it means you're doing the right thing. Christians are NOT supposed to be masters of this world, Satan is. So when they come after you and have the full backing of the majority, and you withstand this testing time, you, good and faithful servant, will deserve your rich reward.
      Tribulations are good.
      on another note, it is so sad when people who you are only trying to help by giving them the hope that they can turn away from their sinfulness and receive full ownership of their position as children of God cling even more strongly to their sin and claim it as rightful. Our enemy is the great deceiver indeed.

      July 27, 2010 at 4:41 pm | Report abuse |
    • Arglebargle

      Christianity takes another hit? Ha ha ha ha ha!

      It's not what you call it...it's what it accomplishes. "Ye shall know them by their fruits" and I don't mean the singing group.

      August 1, 2010 at 4:49 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Gracie Poo

    I have always called it "The Y". Every summer in my youth, I went swimming at "The Y". And also, when a guy goes down on a girl, its generally called eating at "the Y."

    July 12, 2010 at 7:46 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Jim Bob

    When I was young there was the YMCA and YWCA. When guys went to the YWCA to meet girls, it was called "having a box lunch down at the Y".

    July 12, 2010 at 4:02 pm | Report abuse |
  9. N

    I guess it makes sense, since most people have called "The Y" for as long as I can remember.

    Still, the song won't be as fun when we're trying to dance to "It's fun to stay at the WHYYYYYYYYYYYY."

    July 12, 2010 at 3:30 pm | Report abuse |
  10. heh

    I guess having four letters was too much for the average person these days to handle.

    July 12, 2010 at 3:27 pm | Report abuse |

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