大前天晚上,聽完美國總統川普的當選演說,現場即播放出此首《Y.M.C.A.》。其實,川普團隊在2020連任競選時即以此曲作為其競選歌曲之一。
Y.M.C.A.的全名是Young Men's Christian Association ( 基督教青年會 )。歌曲由美國迪斯可合唱團體Village People於1978自專輯《Cruisin'》中另發行之單曲,不僅在英、美排行榜分別拿下第一、二名,此曲可說是紅遍了世界。
此曲被視為同性戀社群的「讚歌(anthem)」,但由全部的歌詞看來,說的只是讓一個年輕人可以在YMCA尋找到快樂或是重新找回自我的地方,一般應很難理解何以會和同性戀扯上關係?首先,由團體的名稱Village People其實指的是曼哈頓地區的格林威治村,該村素來有「同性戀村」的稱譽,而團體中的角色則是為美國男子氣概的象徵,也是大男人主義同性戀性幻想的對象。而團體的組成者、也是此曲作者之一的法籍製作人Jacques Morali,本身即是位同志 ( 1991死於愛滋病,享年44歲。)。至於團體中的成員,主唱 Victor Willis ( 也是組團者和此曲的作者之一 ),就曾澄清自己並非為同志,其他的成員則未能確認。而留著馬蹄形小鬍子、穿著皮衣的摩托車手的角色,也從同性戀文化演變成為流行文化的偶像。另據說,當年紐約的YMCA,是許多同志在周末都喜歡去投宿及從事交流活動的場所,也等於是年輕同志的庇護所。
也是「村民」組團者之一的Henri Belolo ( 左 )
記得台北很早就有YMCA,好像也有國際青年住宿服務,至於當年內部的情況,就不得而知了。以下另貼Villge People另首知名的歌曲《In The Navy》。
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《Y.M.C.A.》
Young man, there's no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy.
Young man, there's a place you can go.
I said, young man, when you're short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,
You can do what about you feel ...
Young man, are you listening to me?
I said, young man, what do you wanna be?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams.
But you got to know this one thing!
No man does it all by himself.
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,
And just go there, to the y.m.c.a.
I'm sure they can help you today.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,
You can do what about you feel ...
Young man, I was once in your shoes.
I said, I was down and out with the blues.
I felt no man cared if I were alive.
I felt the whole world was so jive..
That's when someone came up to me,
And said, young man, take a walk up the street.
There's a place there called the y.m.c.a.
They can start you back on your way.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...
Y-m-c-a ... It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down.
Young man, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
Y-m-c-a ... It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
Young man, young man, are you listening to me?
Young man, young man, what do you want to be?
Y-m-c-a ...you'll find it at the y-m-c-a.
No man, no man, does it all by himseif
Young man, young man, put your pride on the shelf
Y-m-c-a...then just go to the y.m.c.a
Young man, young man, I was once in your shoes
Young man, young man, I was down and out with the blues.
Y-m-c-a ... It's fun to stay at the......
《In The Navy》
Where can you find pleasure?
Search the world for treasure
Learn science technology
Where can you begin to make your dreams all come true?
On the land or on the sea
Where can you learn to fly?
Play in sports and skin-dive
Study oceanography
Sign up for the big band or sit in the grandstand
When your team and others meet
In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand?
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy (in the navy), in the navy (ah)
They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit
They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit
If you like adventure
Don't you wait to enter the recruiting office fast
Don't you hesitate, there is no need to wait
They're signing up new seamen fast
Maybe you are too young to join up today
But don't you worry 'bout a thing
For I'm sure there will be always a good navy
Protecting the land and sea
In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on, be bold and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand?
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on, be bold and make a stand
In the navy (in the navy), in the navy (in the navy)
They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit (who, me?)
They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit
But, but, but, I'm afraid of water
Hey, hey, look, man
I get seasick even watchin' it on the TV!
They want you (oh my goodness)
They want you in the navy
(What am I gonna do in a submarine?)
They want you, they want you (in the navy)
They want you (oceanography what?)
They want you (in the navy)
They want you, they want you (in the navy)
Oh, yes, sir
No, sir
Yes sir (in the navy)
Yes sir
Uh, no, sir
Yes sir (in the navy)
Aye-aye, sir
Where can you find pleasure?
Search the world for treasure
Learn science technology
Where can you begin to make your dreams all come true?
On the land or on the sea?
Where can you learn to fly?
Play in sports and skin-dive
Study oceanography
Sign up for the big band or sit in the grandstand
When your team and others meet
In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on, be bold and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand?
In the navy
Come protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on, be bold and make a stand
In the navy (in the navy), in the navy (in the navy)
In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on, be bold and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy