Village People to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration despite row over hit song

The Village People have confirmed they'll perform at Trump's inauguration (Image: Getty)

In a surprising twist that’s set to make Donald Trump’s inauguration a disco inferno, the Village People have confirmed they'll be belting out their iconic hits YMCA and Macho Man as Trump prepares to take the oath for a second term.

The president-elect’s unexpected dance renditions of these disco classics have not only gone viral but will now feature as the centrepiece of his inauguration week festivities in Washington DC on January 20.

Victor Willis, the unmistakable voice and frontman of the Village People, took to social media to announce their participation, signalling a significant about-face for the group.

Previously, the band had demanded Trump cease using their music during his polarising first term, especially during the height of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Willis had starkly noted back then that he could “no longer look the other way”.

Despite these clashes, Willis noted the unifying power of their music. "Our song 'YMCA' is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost," he stated on Facebook.

The band had once planned to sue Trump for using their music (Image: Getty)

"Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music."

Trump’s penchant for the Village People tunes has been a recurring theme, with his robotic dance moves becoming fodder for both memes and admiration.

The president-elect and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man who also helped fund Trump's campaign, were recently spotted doing the "Trump dance" at a glitzy New Year’s Eve bash at Mar-a-Lago, pumping more life into the 1978 hit YMCA which saw a resurgence in the charts, climbing to number one post-election.

Amidst the celebrations, not everyone has been thrilled about Trump’s musical choices. The use of these disco anthems without explicit permission led to threats of lawsuits from the Village People in 2023 after a cover band performance at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.

Trump will be inaugurated on Monday, January 20, in Washington DC (Image: Getty)

The issue of music rights has been a sore point for other artists too; George Harrison’s estate lashed out after "Here Comes the Sun" was played at a Trump rally, and Axl Rose vocally demanded Trump stop using Guns N'Roses' cover of "Live and Let Die" during the pandemic.

The family of Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti also issued a cease and desist after Trump used a recording of his performance of Nessun Dorma – which concludes with the chant "I will win".

Pavarotti's wife and three daughters argued the president's views on immigration were in direct opposition to the tenor's work as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

Yet, Willis admits that despite the controversies, the band has "benefited greatly" from the exposure. "He seems to genuinely like 'YMCA' and he’s having a lot of fun with it."