They Want You as a New Recruit! ‘In the Navy’ by Village People
- edgarstreetbooks
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
‘200 Greatest 70s Rock Songs Vol. 2’ Book Excerpt
Frank Mastropolo
It is sad to note that Victor Willis, lead vocalist of 1970s disco group Village People, has died at the age of 74. Willis, who performed as a policeman or naval officer, co-wrote the band’s biggest hits, including “YMCA” and “In the Navy.”
In this excerpt from 200 Greatest 70s Rock Songs Vol. 2, we look back on the story behind “In the Navy.”
Village People’s 1978 hit “YMCA” was a public relations bonanza for the Young Men’s Christian Association. The US Navy hoped to repeat that success when it offered Village People the use of the frigate USS Reasoner and hundreds of its crew for a new music video.
In return, the Navy could use the song in its recruitment ads for free. The result: “In the Navy.” Audiences loved to join in the handclaps that introduced the chorus: “They want you / They want you / They want you as a new recruit!”
On board the ship, Village People were made honorary members of the Navy. “They even gave us this framed official-looking document and then took photos of us holding them,” Randy Jones, the Cowboy, wrote in Macho Man.
“The photo of us on the ship is on my Myspace page, and the framed document hangs over my toilet. Everyone that sees it thinks it’s hilarious and can’t believe it!”
The song was a №3 hit in 1979 for Village People but a flop for the Navy. After complaints about the group’s gay image and the use of taxpayer dollars to film a music video, the Navy dropped its plans to use it for a recruitment campaign.
Frank Mastropolo is the author of 200 Greatest 70s Rock Songs Vol. 2, part of the Greatest Performances series. For more on our latest projects, visit Edgar Street Books.