YMCA Canada and indie pop group Walk Off the Earth have paired to offer a new spin on the Village People’s iconic dancefloor hit that promotes the organization’s free mental health support program.

At the heart of the collaboration lies the band’s cover song, which slows the tempo of the original and delivers a more heartfelt message that aligns with a focus of the modern YMCA organization: mental health. The organization is actively working to improve mental health among teens and young adults through its Y Mind program, which helps them cope with stress and anxiety at no cost to themselves.

“YMCA Canada has been proud to serve our communities for decades, helping Canadians overcome many obstacles that impact overall health, which includes mental wellbeing,” explains Peter Dinsdale, president and CEO of the organization. “While there has been good progress made to alleviate the stigma around mental wellbeing, programs like Y Mind are critical to addressing one of the biggest barriers to accessing help: cost.”

With subtle shifts to the song’s original lyrics, such as the use of “young mind” in the place of “young man,” and new lyrics in the chorus suggest the organization can help people “learn how to heal” if they “come along for some help that’s real.”

“We were honoured to take on the challenge of reinventing such an iconic song and give new meaning to its enduring lyrics,” says Sarah Blackwood, vocalist with the band. “When we took a look at the original lyrics, it was staggering how a message about the YMCA from 45 years ago is just as relevant and pointed today – but now we’re sharing that message with a focus on mental health tied to Y Mind.”

Edelman Canada worked with the YMCA and Walk Off the Earth to bring the collaboration together.