"Macho Man" is a song by American disco group Village People, released as the second single and title song of their eponymous album (1978). The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 on June 24, 1978 (when the album had already been charting since March) before picking up more airplay that August. It became the Village People's first charting hit in the United States, peaking on the Hot 100 at number 25 on the week of September 2. A medley with "I Am What I Am" and "Key West" reached number four on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. On the survey of Chicago radio superstation WLS-AM, "Macho Man" spent two weeks at number three. Background Martin Aston writes, in his book Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache: A History of How Music Came Out, that Jacques Morali, already having a lead singer with Victor Willis, and after what he calls the "more comical than sexy: unrehearsed" promo video for the song "San Francisco (You've Got Me)", placed the advert "Macho types wanted: must dance and have a moustache" in the trade press. Village People cowboy Randy Jones recalled, "The Monday after Thanksgiving (1977), we signed contracts and the Tuesday after, we were in studio recording "Macho Man", with Victor Willis' handwritten lyrics that were written in the morning with egg stains and coffee rings on it. Everything was happening that quickly." Critical reception Billboard described the song as a "spirited fast paced percussive track highlighted by multi -part harmonies and a rugged lead vocal." Cash Box said that "this funky number should be a dance floor hit" and praised the hook. Record World called it an "energetic dance-r&b tune" whose "vocal is good...with a touch of humor." Music video Aston writes that it was "back to the gym for 'Macho Man'" and that "[t]he aesthetic of Bob Mizer's Physique Pictorial was now all over national TV in a Village People music video." The band members are seen working out and dancing in a gym while performing the song. Charts Weekly charts Year-end charts Certifications and sales In popular culture A year after the song's release in 1978, it was performed by the Muppet characters Link Hogthrob and The Great Gonzo on The Muppet Show in episode 5, with guest star Victor Borge, of their fourth season. Also in 1979, Donald Duck released a parody, with the title "Macho Duck",