Episode Publish Date: January 25, 2021
Libsyn Link: https://hallwatchers.libsyn.com/episode-57-an-american-band-why-the-village-people-matter
Currently Streaming On: Amazon Music/Audible, Apple, Gaana, Google Play, iHeart Radio, Libsyn, Radio.com, Radio Public, Spotify and Stitcher.
Episode Description:
From the ashes of the Stonewall Riots rose a civil rights movement, and a band that challenged people’s perceptions of masculinity followed in its wake. Today we discuss The Village People’s career, their role in bringing queer culture to mainstream audiences, and their enduring legacy in American pop culture. We also discuss whether these macho men have a place in the Rock Hall.
For Fun:
THE spider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYIUFEQeh3g
YMCA Wall of Death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfR0Q_xWAQw
History of the Lavender Scare:
https://www.nglcc.org/blog/lgbt-history-lavender-scare
https://outhistory.org/items/show/1425
Resources on the Stonewall Riot:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/stonewall/
https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/disasters/riots-stonewall.html
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-stonewall-riot
Resources on the racism/homophobia of the anti-disco movement:
https://www.vibe.com/2019/07/music-sermon-discos-revenge
https://timeline.com/disco-
Resources on The Village People:
https://believermag.com/
https://www.spin.com/2008/05/
https://www.out.com/music/2020/9/23/village-people-will-sue-you-saying-ymca-about-gay-sex
