President Donald Trump dance to YMCA at the end of his first rally since contracting COVID-19.
Village People doesn't want him to use any of their compositions.
Tump doesn't care. He respects absolutely nothing.
What is copyright?
Not even close to being the full truth. Back in February Victor Willis (copyright holder since co-writer Jacques Morali died) authorized permissive use of the song by Trump:
"Back in February, Willis
wrote that even though fans had contacted the group to demand they ask Trump to stop using “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man,” Willis refrained from doing so because “our music is not being used for a specific endorsement.” He continued, “[Trump] has remained respectful in his use of our songs and has not crossed the line; if he or any other candidate were to use any of our songs in a manner that would suggest our endorsement, or in a promotional advertisement, that would cross the line. Like millions of Village People fans worldwide, the President and his supporters have shown a genuine like for our music. Our music is all-inclusive and
certainly everyone is entitled to do the YMCA dance, regardless of their political affiliation. Having said that, we certainly don’t endorse his use as we’d prefer our music be kept out of politics.”
Village People singer Victor Willis told President Donald Trump to stop using "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man" at his campaign rallies.
www.rollingstone.com
However, this was a hypocritical fuckup and Victor's about face on the issue is likely too late to stop it for the following reasons:
1. HYPOCRISY AND LEGAL FUCKUP #1
His legal advisors would have told him to immediately issue a C&D letter like Bruce Springsteen did when Reagan used Born in the USA on his campaign in 1984. Victor did not. The reason why he did not is that his financial advisers told him Trump was bringing his music to a new generation of Republicans who otherwise would never be listening to a disco song that was released in 1978 and this was BIG MONEY for free- money for nothing with Trump being an unpaid free advertiser. Simultaneously, Trump's lawyers told him that Victor fucked up by not issuing the C&D letter and as long as you dance to the song, he cannot now claim you violated the permissive use which was to NOT USE THE SONG AS ENDORSEMENT. And you are not using the song for endorsement- you are using it to dance!!!!! And Victor said everyone is entitled to dance to the song!!!!!!!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. HYPOCRISY AND LEGAL FUCKUP#2
Meanwhile Sene, what do you think happened to all the money Victor made with the sales of "YMCA" to the younger generation of Republicans who bought the album because of Trump, and now dance to it in the privacy of their homes while watching Trump do the same? Do you think he donated the money to charity or to Democratic causes? Fuck no!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Straight into Victor's bank account, which was the whole point of the first hypocrisy. It's all about the money and never forget it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not a penny back!!!!!!!
Too late to ask Trump to stop now because he is not violating the permissive use he was given. He is using the song for dance purposes, not endorsement purposes. Victor is stuck. He can't do anything about it now!!!!!!!! And all you can do Sene is dance to the song with Trump! Get out on that floor, now! That's a 27 year old Victor wearing the cop uniform in the video, which was filmed on W.23rd Street in New York City in July 1978: