In the Navy

For the 1941 Abbott & Costello film, see In the Navy (film).

"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, peaking at number three.

"In the Navy"
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)	Jacques Morali Henri Belolo Victor Willis
Producer(s)	Jacques Morali
Village People singles chronology
"Y.M.C.A." (1978) "In the Navy" (1979) "Go West" (1979)
Music video
"In the Navy" on YouTube

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]

Another music video for the song was made during production of the 1996 comedy movie Down Periscope, featuring the movie's cast and clips from the movie. The music video is shown during the movie's end credits.

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] Record World called it a "pounding disco number with a chuckle in the lyrics."^[7]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1979) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 7 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 2 Italy (Musica e dischi)[14] 12 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 7 Norway (VG-lista)[18] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 3 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 3 West Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 3 Chart (1994) Peak position UK Dance (Music Week)[23] 18

Year-end charts Chart (1979) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[24] 51 Canada Top 200 (RPM)[25] 27 UK Top 100 (Record Mirror)[26] 49 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 48 US Cash Box Top 100[28] 36

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[29]	Platinum	150,000^
France (SNEP)[30]	Gold	500,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[31]	Silver	250,000^
United States (RIAA)[32]	Gold	1,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide	—	2,000,000[33]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

In popular culture

In the Black Mirror episode "Loch Henry", characters create a parody of "In the Navy" where they change the song's lyrics as a form of gallows humor while describing a site where murders had taken place. It was also used in The Simpsons episode "Simpson Tide".

References

1. "How Does the YMCA Feel About the Village People Song 'Y.M.C.A.'?". 31 January 2017.
2. Ed Vulliamy (12 November 2006). "Ed Vulliamy on the Village People story". the Guardian.
3. Eriq Gardner (8 May 2012). "Village People Songwriter Victor Willis Wins Case Over Termination of 'Y.M.C.A.' Rights". The Hollywood Reporter.
4. Edvard Pettersson (8 May 2012). "Village People Motorcycle Cop Wins 'YMCA' Copyright Case". Bloomberg.com.
5. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. March 10, 1979. p. 88. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
6. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 10, 1978. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
7. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 17, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
8. 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.
9. "Village People – In The Navy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
10. "Village People – In The Navy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
11. "Item: 2712 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
12. 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.
13. "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"
14. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 8 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Village People".
15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Village People" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
16. "Village People – In The Navy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
17. "Village People – In The Navy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
18. "Village People – In The Navy". VG-lista. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
19. "Village People – In The Navy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
20. "Village People – In The Navy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
21. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
22. "Village People – In The Navy". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
23. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 28 May 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
24. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved December 3, 2020 – via Imgur.com.
25. Bac-lac.gc.ca
26. "Top 100 Singles of 1979" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications. January 5, 1980. p. 30. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
27. Musicoutfitters.com
28. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1979". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
29. "Canadian single certifications – Village People – In the Navy". Music Canada. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
30. "French single certifications – Village People – In the Navy" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved December 28, 2021. Select VILLAGE PEOPLE and click OK. 
31. "British single certifications – Village People – In the Navy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
32. "American single certifications – Village People – In the Navy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
33. Murrells, Joseph (1985). 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