Totp 1979

[factor-fiction]

Just watched it on BBC4- it finished with Village People-YMCA. I wonder why it never occurred to me in 1979 as a student, when I thought I was so worldlywise, that they were so camp? To quote wikipedia "created by Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo to target disco's gay audience by featuring popular gay fantasy personas,".

[boxtops]

We were far more liberal and less PC then, factor - yeah, man....

[jeffa]

Only two of them were actually gay, factor.

[factor-fiction]

I'm sure you are right, jeffa -but they do say they were targeting the gay 'community' (I dislike that phrase but can't immediately think of an alternative) and it's now clear they were deliberately aiming to dress as gay stereotypes.

[pixie373]

I didn't think of that either. What were they? Red Indian, fireman....

[factor-fiction]

I can see all the stereotypes now (clothes, handlebar moustaches, mincing...) but never noticed any of it at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAAzxdBkAdM

[pixie373]

black leather!!:-)

[losgigs]

I just watched it too, but what struck me was when Peter Powell had his arm around a girl's waist and then gave her a kiss. In the light of the DLT case, it wouldn't surprise me if she also brought a case against him (PP) for 'groping'!

[factor-fiction]

One of the reasons I watched was out of curiosity to see which of the old presenters they are still prepared to show

[boxtops]

Factor, I must admit that it never crossed my mind that the VP weren't gay - but perhaps I was older than you in 1979 :-)

[losgigs]

I'm pretty sure that they won't be showing any TOTPs hosted by DLT or Jimmy Saville!

[Stephen_G]

I thought it was just the Red Indian that was Gay.....

[Tilly2]

I thought they were really just a stereotypical group of people you might find in an American 'village'. I had no idea about the gay thing when I was young and naive.

[Prudie]

It never crossed my mind at the time either that they were meant to be gay icons, always thought it was just a group dressing up in the style of the era - but I was a tad innocent.

[Tilly2]

You and me both, Prudie. We know better now though, don't we?

[jeffa]

The cowboy was / is gay too. Married in a civil ceremony with his boyfriend of over 20 years, according to wikipedia.

[Prudie]

We do -although I never really learned the dance!

[Tilly2]

I can do the Y and the M but I find the C problematic. I can do the A as well. It's the C that gets me.

[Psybbo]

Factor :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhhOmFwp7tc&feature=player_detailpage#t=11

[Baldric]

I think you needed to get out more in 1979 ff!
;-)

[jeffa]

Great song, Psybbo! One of Leo Sayer's finest.