History Music / VillagePeople

Their original career was derailed by 1980's ''Film/CantStopTheMusic'', a musical comedy film directed by Nancy Walker. It is a pseudo-biography of the group [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory which bears only a vague resemblance to the actual story of their formation]]. ''Newsweek'' described the movie like this: "''Can't Stop the Music'' ushers in a whole new concept in entertainment -- it's the first all-singing, all-dancing horror film; the ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'' of the disco era." This movie, along with ''Film/{{Xanadu|1980}}'', inspired John Wilson to create the UsefulNotes/{{Golden Raspberry Award}}s to honor the worst that Hollywood had to offer, and contributed to rendering the (live-action) movie musical genre [[PopularityPolynomial functionally dead for about twenty years]].

->'''Johnny Cage:''' You just need a cop, a sailor and a cowboy.
->'''Kotal Kahn:''' For what, Johnny Cage?
->'''Johnny Cage:''' Only the greatest disco reboot ever.

Their original career was derailed by 1980's ''Film/CantStopTheMusic'', a musical comedy film directed by Nancy Walker. It is a pseudo-biography of the group which bears only a vague resemblance to the actual story of their formation. ''Newsweek'' described the movie like this: "''Can't Stop the Music'' ushers in a whole new concept in entertainment -- it's the first all-singing, all-dancing horror film; the ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'' of the disco era." This movie, along with ''Film/{{Xanadu|1980}}'', inspired John Wilson to create the UsefulNotes/{{Golden Raspberry Award}}s to honor the worst that Hollywood had to offer, and contributed to rendering the (live-action) movie musical genre [[PopularityPolynomial functionally dead for about twenty years]].

* FauxYay: Out of the original lineup, the policeman (Victor Willis) and the leatherman (Glenn Hughes) are straight. Only the cowboy (Randy Jones) and the Indian (Felipe Rose) are known to be openly gay.

* {{Leatherman}}: Glenn Hughes. His Leatherman persona directly influenced [[HellBentForLeather Rob Halford]] of Music/JudasPriest. Ironically, for as much as his IconicOutfit became a defining image in gay culture, Hughes was actually straight. When Hughes died he was reportedly buried in that very outfit.

* CampStraight: Victor Willis, who was the only member of the original lineup who wasn't gay.

* FauxYay: Out of the original lineup, the policeman (Victor Willis) is straight. Only the cowboy (Randy Jones) and the Indian (Felipe Rose) are known to be openly gay.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* {{Leatherman}}: Glenn Hughes. His Leatherman persona directly influenced [[HellBentForLeather Rob Halford]] of Music/JudasPriest. Ironically, for as much as his IconicOutfit became a defining image in gay culture, Hughes was actually straight.

* CelebrityEdition: An episode of ''Series/FamilyFeud'' against a team of disco divas.

* GayCowboy: Randy Jones.

%%* HotMenAtWork
* IAmSong: "I Am What I Am".

%%* MachoCamp: Most of the members.

%%* ManlyGay: At least when it was new and fresh. It has become retroactively more {{Camp}} as it has aged.
%%* PopCulturalOsmosis

%%* SpellingSong: "Y.M.C.A."

Village People are a concept {{disco}} group consisting of gay stereotypes formed in the late [[TheSeventies 1970s]]. The group is as well known for their on-stage costumes as for their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics. Original members were: policeman (Victor Willis), American Indian chief (Felipe Rose), cowboy (Randy Jones), construction worker (David Hodo), leatherman (Glenn Hughes) and Military man (Alex Briley). For the release of "In the Navy", both Willis and Briley appeared temporarily as sailors. Originally created to target disco's primarily gay fan base by featuring stereotypical gay fantasy personas, the band's popularity quickly brought them into mainstream. The group is seen by some music critics as less serious for their camp style, appearance and musical choices.

Their original career was derailed by 1980's ''Film/CantStopTheMusic'', a musical comedy film directed by Nancy Walker. It is a pseudo-biography of the group which bears only a vague resemblance to the actual story of their formation. ''Newsweek'' described the movie like this: "''Can't Stop the Music'' ushers in a whole new concept in entertainment -- it's the first all-singing, all-dancing horror film; the ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'' of the disco era." This movie, along with ''Film/{{Xanadu|1980}}'', inspired John Wilson to create the UsefulNotes/{{Golden Raspberry Award}}s to honor the worst that Hollywood had to offer, and contributed to rendering the movie musical genre [[PopularityPolynomial functionally dead for about twenty years]].

* HotMenAtWork

* MachoCamp: Most of the members.
* ManlyGay: At least when it was new and fresh. It has become retroactively more {{Camp}} as it has aged.
* PopCulturalOsmosis

* SpellingSong: "Y.M.C.A."

Their original career was derailed by 1980's ''Film/CantStopTheMusic'', a musical comedy film directed by Nancy Walker. It is a pseudo-biography of the group which bears only a vague resemblance to the actual story of their formation. ''Newsweek'' described the movie like this: "''Can't Stop the Music'' ushers in a whole new concept in entertainment -- it's the first all-singing, all-dancing horror film; the ''Film/DawnOfTheDead1978'' of the disco era." This movie, along with ''Film/{{Xanadu}}'', inspired John Wilson to create the UsefulNotes/{{Golden Raspberry Award}}s to honor the worst that Hollywood had to offer, and contributed to rendering the movie musical genre [[PopularityPolynomial functionally dead for about twenty years]].