Music Video for “Hard Times” by Randy Jones (A2B / Epic Extended Disco Hustle Mix)
Randy Jones’ two separate music videos “Hard Times Remixes” was launched on September 15 with a glamorous party at Manhattan’s hot spot “Beautique” in midtown with more than 100 guests.
Music Video for “Hard Times” by Randy Jones (Mark Saunders / A Night at 54 Disco Mix)
In June 2017, Young Pals Music released “Hard Times,” the first single from Randy Jones’ upcoming full-length album, Still Makin’ Noise. The single reached #42 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, and was the first chart placement from any member of the Village People as a solo artist.
Photo album for Randy Jones’ launch event on September 15 with soundtrack of “Hard Times” by Randy Jones (DJ Drew G / Bigger Room Mix)
Dance Club hit aligns with 40th anniversary celebration of The Village People, including beloved hits “YMCA,” “Macho Man” and “In the Navy.” With “Hard Times” success, Jones is the only group member to achieve a solo hit.
Let the hard times roll! In the midst of the 40th anniversary celebration of the iconic Village People’s chart-topping music career—including global smashes “YMCA,” “Macho Man” and “In the Navy”—the group’s beloved cowboy, Randy Jones, is keeping the fire burning. His solo single “Hard Times” is a top 40 hit on Billboard’s Top Dance Club Play chart.
The dance club anthem, released by New York City-based Young Pals Music, includes an original studio version and eight re-rubs from renowned music mixologists Mark Saunders, Eric Kupper, Tim Cox, Date Night (f/Brannew), A2B (f/Emre Yilmaz), DJ Drew G, Onur Koc, and Peacemode. A 10-track single was released to all major digital outlets in July.
“Hard Times” launched at No. 42, as the second-highest entry among five new songs on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, for the week of August 26, 2017. Adding to the achievement, Jones is the only member of the Village People to score a solo hit.
With Jones’ vocal machismo guiding the joyous uptempo fanfare, “Hard Times” is driven by a flourish of acoustic guitars, pounding percussion and a chorus of angelic voices, alongside an empowering message that tough times may come and go, but with the will to win, you can always land “on the right line.”
Amid Jones’ own five-decade career, the renowned vocalist, film star, philanthropist—and all-round nice guy—has helped sell 100 million singles/albums and fostered a quarter billion views on YouTube, thanks to the Village People’s beloved catalog of disco songs. Add to that 75 Gold and Platinum record certificates, the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, alongside a co-starring role in the 1980 musical comedy film “Can’t Stop the Music,” directed by Nancy Walker—and also starring (then) Bruce Jenner.
Continuing a career as an actor, singer and dancer, he has also released a number of solo CDs, including most recently, “Ticket to the World,” “Your Disco Needs You!” and in 2016, “Mister Right.” In 2018, he is slated to release a new full-length project, tentatively titled “Still Making Noise.”
Tough times certainly come and go, but with the will to win, empowered individuals always land “on the right line.” That’s the overwhelming lyrical theme of “Hard Times,”the latest single from New York City-based indie label Young Pals Music.
Leading the vocal charge on “Hard Times”is multi-platinum recording artist and American Music Award Winner Randy Jones, who is beloved as the iconic Original Cowboy from Village People. Jones, through a career spanning five decades, has sold more than 100 million singles/albums and garnered in excess of a quarter billion views on YouTube, thanks to “Macho Man,” “In the Navy,” “Go West“, “YMCA”, and his solo efforts. Add to that the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, alongside countless appearances in movies, TV and documentaries.
Randy Jones not only remains a fixture among New York City’s entertainment illuminati, but he is a gifted solo artist. Contributing to songwriter/producer Ayhan Sahin’s joyous full-length album “Pop,” Jones and his vocal machismo saddle up and stride atop an irresistible uptempo, tribal-world music inspired track, driven by an ultimately skillful chemistry of tasty acoustic guitars, complex pounding percussion and a chorus of saucy angelic voices. The song’s positive message is about being in the right place at the right time—to cross life’s finish line.
Jones sings, “Hard times, they happen all the time, we go on and on, gotta land on the right line/Hard times, they can destroy your mind, you must endure the grind, till you get on the right line.”
“Hard Times” is the unprecedented seventh release from “Pop.” Previous single “Another Bad Mistake” featured lead vocals which hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100, Disco, and Soul Singles charts in 1979.
In April, “Pop” was awarded The Akademia Music Award for Best Rock Song for previous single “Drink.” It offers 12+ diverse vocalists & musicians across a myriad of styles, including R&B & soul, dance, jazz, country and of course… pop. All songs are co-written and co-produced by Sahin with hit songwriter Bernadette O’Reilly, who has also worked for three decades in artist relations, management and song placement.
Jones—presently working the success of his newly-released solo cd, MISTER RIGHT—says, “Ayhan has been an ally of mine and a fellow New York City musician for more than a decade. I’m a upbeat kind of guy and so is he. When he reached out to me to contribute to ‘Pop,’ come on, man… I smiled, he smiled and we were creating more than a little magic in the studio. Singing and co-writing “Hard Times” is definitely a meeting of the minds with its message about the struggle to be your best.”
Sahin adds, “I have so many great memories attending Randy’s weekly hosted events at Splash NYC, which drew thousands of fans, old and new. His energy continues to ignite generations. Then there’s that constant smile. Randy is such a perfect fit for ‘Hard Times.’ Yes, I am thrilled to have him on board.”
As a songwriter and producer, Sahin has achieved notoriety in pop, rock, dance and musical theater, while working with Olivia Newton-John, Melba Moore, Phoebe Snow, Broadway actress Bianca Marroquín, Turkish superstars Sezen Aksu and Sertab Erener, Sandra Bernhard and five “American Idol” finalists. He has appeared live on Telemundo, while Sahin’s music has been featured on CNN, The Los Angeles Times, Playbill, MTV, Yahoo! Music and “The Wendy Williams Show”; and heralded by USA Today, New York magazine, MTV and The New York Daily News.
The dance club anthem, released by New York City-based Young Pals Music, includes an original studio version and eight re-rubs from renowned music mixologists Mark Saunders, Eric Kupper, Tim Cox, Date Night (f/Brannew), A2B (f/Emre Yilmaz), DJ Drew G, Onur Koc, and Peacemode. A 10-track single was released to all major digital outlets in July. 
AYHAN SAHIN 