Village People in Manila: A Concert Recap
When in Manila, everyone loves music. No matter the genre, a melodious tune can lift the grumpiest of spirits. And what is more uplifting than the catchy disco hits from the 70’s & 80’s? On May 28, the audience at Solaire Resort & Casino’s Grand Ballroom was uplifted by singing and dancing along to the greatest hits of one of disco era’s best: The Village People!
After a performance by the Mocha girls, the long-awaited Village People came on stage introducing their show with “Gimme Some Lovin”. The Grand Ballroom full of disco fanatics slowly started moving in rhythm as “Macho Man” followed. By the time “San Francisco (You’ve got me)” and “In Hollywood (Everybody’s a Star)” came on, one or the other sang along remembering the famous lyrics of these classics.
The eclectic mix that makes the world-famous Village People – a police man (cop), a native American, a construction worker, a cowboy, a biker and a G.I./sailor – is of course the representation of male cultural stereotypes, a group of various fantasy personae. Their costumes an enforcement of their characters and each persona’s dance moves & attitude a perfect reflection of the stereotype portrayed.
Meet the Village People: Native American, Cop, Cowboy, Construction Worker, Biker and G.I
For the song “Trash Disco”, the group changed outfits accordingly and dressed in, well, trashy disco outfits! After a series of greatest hits, the Village People introduced their latest single “Let’s Go Back to the Dance Floor!”, an upbeat party song that makes you want to move it and shake it like the boys on stage. “Can’t Stop the Music”, “Take my Breath Away” and “You make me feel (Mighty Real)” came on next and the Grand Ballroom excitedly clapped and sang along.
“Trash Disco”
Some of the Village People’s greatest successes, “In the Navy” and “Go West”, were especially well received by the audience and made one reminisce about the happy times that were the disco 70’s & 80’s.
The band that formed in 1977 has seen many a member-changes in their 37-year career. Today, half of the Village People are still the ‘originals’: Alex Briley (G.I./Sailor), Felipe Rose (Native American) and Ray Simpson (Cop; started in 1980 after first ‘Cop’ Victor Willis). New additions: Bill Whitefield (Construction Worker), Jim Newman (Cowboy) and Eric Anzalone (Biker).
Among their biggest accomplishments: over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 10 Gold & Triple Platinum albums and 17 chart-topping singles, not to mention a 37-year long continuous career run. And if that doesn’t speak for itself, their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame certainly does.
Of course the 6 party superstars could not leave without singing their all-time greatest hit “YMCA”. First however, the Villagers took it upon them to educate the audience on the correct dance moves: in case you were wondering, the ‘M’ in ’YMCA’ is NOT to be formed with bended arms on your shoulders (as the band recounted seeing this wrong “monkey” dance move at numerous weddings and events throughout the past 30+ years), but rather by forming an M with your arms in front of your stomach.
At the end of the concert, to the contentment of the excited audience, each member graciously met with some fans and took pictures.
The Village People meeting the fans
Posing for photos after the concert
It was a night of song and dance and mostly a memory of the disco – and some would argue better – days. The Village People, while only 50% in its original line-up, entertained in top form at 100% and got a disco-fever Manila moving, singing and reminiscing. The group went on to perform in Cebu today and will be finishing their Philippine leg of the tour in Davao tomorrow. How long these disco legends will continue to perform is unclear but one thing is certain: when in Manila, the Village People are always welcome!
Village People
Website: https://officialvillagepeople.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialVillagePeople
