In the Navy
"In the Navy" | ||||
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File:In the navy.jpg | ||||
Single by Village People | ||||
from the album Go West | ||||
B-side | "Manhattan Woman" | |||
Released | March 17, 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1978 | |||
Genre | Disco | |||
Length | 5:39 (album version) 3:45 (single edit) | |||
Label | Casablanca | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Jacques Morali | |||
Village People singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"In the Navy" on YouTube |
"In the Navy" is a song by American disco group Village People. It was released as the first single from their fourth studio album, Go West (1979). It was a number one hit in Canada, Flanders, Japan and the Netherlands, while reaching number two in Ireland, Norway and the UK. In 1994, a remix charted at number 36 in the UK. "In the Navy" was the last top 10 hit for the group in the United States.
Background, writing and video
After the enormous commercial success of their 1978 hit "Y.M.C.A." which unexpectedly became the unofficial hymn and powerful advertising tool for the YMCA,[1] the group took on another national institution, the United States Navy. The Navy contacted group manager Henri Belolo to use the song in a recruiting advertising campaign for television and radio. Belolo gave the rights for free on the condition that the Navy help them shoot the music video. Less than a month later, the Village group arrived at Naval Base San Diego where the Navy provided them with access to film on the deck of the berthed frigate USS Reasoner; in the end, the Navy did not use the video, choosing to remain with the traditional "Anchors Aweigh".[2]
In a landmark ruling in 2012, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California ruled that under the Copyright Act of 1976, co-writer Victor Willis (Village People's "Cop"/"Naval officer") can recover his share of the copyrights to songs co-written by him.[3] Willis now owns 33% of his songs.[4]
Critical reception
According to Billboard Magazine, "In the Navy" is an "upbeat dance effort [which] showcases the group's familiar theme and sound with this comedic spoof on" the Navy.[5] Cash Box said it has "a vibrant beat, powerful horns, sweeping strings and another knock-out campy lyric."[6]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[28] | Platinum | 150,000^ |
France (SNEP)[29] | Gold | 500,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] | Silver | 250,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[31] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 2,000,000[32] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "How Does the YMCA Feel About the Village People Song 'Y.M.C.A.'?". 31 January 2017.
- ^ Ed Vulliamy (12 November 2006). "Ed Vulliamy on the Village People story". the Guardian.
- ^ Eriq Gardner (8 May 2012). "Village People Songwriter Victor Willis Wins Case Over Termination of 'Y.M.C.A.' Rights". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Edvard Pettersson (8 May 2012). "Village People Motorcycle Cop Wins 'YMCA' Copyright Case". Bloomberg.com.
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. March 10, 1979. p. 88. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 10, 1978. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 329. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Village People – In The Navy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Village People – In The Navy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Item: 2712 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Village People". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 275. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "In the Navy in Irish Chart". IRMA. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009. Only results when searching "In the Navy"
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 8 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Village People".
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Village People" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Village People – In The Navy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Village People – In The Navy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Village People – In The Navy". VG-lista. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Village People – In The Navy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Village People – In The Navy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Village People – In The Navy". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 28 May 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved December 3, 2020 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ Bac-lac.gc.ca
- ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1979" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications. January 5, 1980. p. 30. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- ^ Musicoutfitters.com
- ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1979". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph. Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 483. ISBN 0668064595.
The global tally is estimated at over two million
- CS1 Finnish-language sources (fi)
- CS1 Italian-language sources (it)
- CS1 French-language sources (fr)
- Articles with short description
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Articles with missing files
- Articles with hAudio microformats
- Singlechart usages for Austria
- Singlechart usages for Flanders
- Singlechart usages for Dutch40
- Singlechart usages for Dutch100
- Singlechart usages for New Zealand
- Singlechart usages for Norway
- Singlechart usages for Sweden
- Singlechart usages for Switzerland
- Certification Table Entry usages for Canada
- Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments figures
- Certification Table Entry usages for France
- Pages using certification Table Entry with sales figures
- Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom
- Certification Table Entry usages for United States
- Certification Table Entry usages for unsupported region
- Pages using certification Table Entry without certification
- Pages using certification Table Entry with sales footnote
- Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments footnote
- AC with 0 elements
- 1978 songs
- 1979 singles
- Casablanca Records singles
- Disco songs
- Military humor
- Oricon International Singles Chart number-one singles
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Song recordings produced by Jacques Morali
- Songs about sailors
- Songs about the military
- Songs written by Jacques Morali
- Songs written by Victor Willis
- Village People songs
- Works about the United States Navy