"Y.M.C.A." (An Oral History)

Photo-illlustration by Sean McCabe

Tim Wiles (director of research, Baseball Hall of Fame): The song is not alone in coming way out of left field. [Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop"] is played in a lot of ball parks, and someone said to me once, "If Joey Ramone knew this was being played at games, he'd roll over in his grave."

Brian Johnson (former major-league catcher): I'm not sure you can have a game without playing "Y.M.C.A." The funny thing is, every ballplayer I know has heard the song a thousand times, but how many of them know it has to do with gay men at the Y? One percent, maybe? But that's baseball players -- not the most informed when it comes to music.

Brandon McCarthy (pitcher, Texas Rangers): I have no idea how "Y.M.C.A." got popular or how it has remained so. If I had earplugs, I'd put them in every time that song came on.

J.P. Howell (pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays): I hate "Y.M.C.A." I've been over it since I first heard it.

Jones: We made a mark in pop music but an even deeper impression in pop culture. People remember Donna Summer, Kiss, the Bee Gees, but they didn't have the same impact on pop culture that the Village People did.

Belolo (from disco-disco.com): In life, you discover that an invention is not always one man or two men; it's a combination of people putting their love together. "Y.M.C.A." became a standard that will stay forever.

Hodo: The real genius of "Y.M.C.A." is that it can be taken any way you want. We were once on a television show in England, and the hostess said, "Now, this is a gay song, isn't it?" And I said, "No, actually it's a Christian song -- the Young Men's Christian Association." I mean, honey, isn't it obvious?