Glenn Hughes生前也這樣評價過Village People─ “If our popularity was based strictly on the costumes and the gimmicks we would have been a flash in the pan…The thing that has brought Village People to fame and kept us working is that we are professional entertainers who sing and dance. We have crossed every age, race, and lifestyle barrier because whether you like our music or not or whether you like the characters or not and whether you take it seriously or as a joke, you leave the room entertained!”
“They have everything for young men to enjoy. You can hang out with all the boys.” – 【YMCA】
論經典,不得不提79年的【In The Navy】,歌詞玩盡惹人遐思的「水手形象」,高明得連直人世界也攪紛了。當【In The Navy】唱至街知巷聞之際,悉值美國海軍部進行人材招攬計劃,有海軍部人員提議用【In The Navy】一曲作為招攬廣告歌,為隆重其事,聖地牙哥海軍總部願意撥出一艘母艦,5架海軍戰機,二百名水手,參與廣告的拍攝工作,果真大堆頭大製作,對【In The Navy】一曲背後的homo innuendo懵然不知,直至傳媒將之大炒大作,才演變成一場政治醜聞,令遲遲才恍然大悟的白宮和 Pentagon尷尬得要死。作者Jacques Morali更多次要公開為這場軍事/性向爭論解畫。自始,直人世界才意識到同志世界有自己一套「畫公仔不一定畫出腸」的語言,小心不要單看字面:
“They want you. They want you. They want you as a new recruit.” – 【In the Navy】
對,來者不拒,都是「自己人」嘛!
前車可鑑,也許解釋了為何美國警察部從沒考慮將【Hot Cop】用作警員招募主題曲:
“Cause he’s a Hot Cop. Hottest Cop on the disco scene. People say that I’m a dancing machine.” – 【Hot Cop】
說Village People是性解放的尖兵實不為過,早在 Internet還未出現,Cyber Sex還未被認可為人類性行為的一種前,他們已於84年的【Sex On the Phone】一曲向你推介這種既安全兼即call 即「有得傾」的新興性玩意:
“Sex on the phone. They’re always willing. It’s so fulfilling. I’m never alone.” – 【Sex on the Phone】
Village People故然之無性不歡,但也不忘在以下一些經典的gay anthem中提醒大家爭取同權的重要,找誰上床前,我們還得要在不大容得下我們的世界先找到自己:
“People have the right to truly be a friend to love is not a sin. I didn’t choose the way I am. I say I am what I am.” – 【I Am What I Am】
“I know that there are many ways to live there in the sun or shade. Together we will find a place to settle down and live with space.” – 【Go West】
回顧Village People的歷史,音樂上他們無疑是人工啤製出來 的manufactured pop,但他們在在紀錄了廿載同志流行文化 走過的攣迴曲折路,尤其象徵了pre- Aids年代那種近乎天的縱慾和解放。當然,時移勢逆,今日重溫Village People 某些縱情縱性的歌詞,少不免多了一種殘忍的諷刺和婉惜,但仍是叫人緬懷那種沒有恐懼只有希望的pre-Aids紀元,在 這個純真派對結束前,Village People為我們留下過一首激昂輓歌。
身為同志的Jacques Morali在一手創造Village People 時,或 許只一意要他們做chart-topper,沒想過他們要做甚麼同運大軍,但他也明白一首響遍全球的歌曲的重要,Village People確實在我們邁向解放的路上提供過最妖孽最狂野的 soundtrack:
“Right now we are one take our place in the sun. To be free we must be all for one! Yes, we are strong. Realize we belong. Do your part write a song. The time has come.” – 【Village People】
這個時代可能不如預期中近,但只要還有更多人願意 write a song, wear a ribbon, take a stand…我們還是有機會迎上這個遙遠的年代。
告別Village People,永別皮褸先生,西邊的極樂世界,仿彿架起一度跨越善惡古今的七色彩虹,虹上的 Glenn Hughes仍舊披著鐵褸鐵鍊,肆意哼著 “Go west, where the skies are blue. Go west, this and more we’ll do…”。