Lady Marmalade
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| “Lady Marmalade” | |||||
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| Single by Labelle from the album Nightbirds |
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| Released | December 1974 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Recorded | 1974 | ||||
| Genre | Soul, disco, funk | ||||
| Length | 3:56 | ||||
| Label | Epic 50048 |
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| Writer(s) | Bob Crewe, Kenny Nolan | ||||
| Producer | Allen Toussaint, Vicki Wickham | ||||
| Certification | Gold (RIAA) | ||||
| Labelle singles chronology | |||||
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"Lady Marmalade", released in December 1974, is a 1975 number-one song recorded by Labelle for CBS Records' Epic label. An early disco hit, the song is most famous for its sexually suggestive chorus of "voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?" (see below for translation.) The song held the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States for one week, from March 23 to March 29, 1975, replacing "My Eyes Adored You" by The Four Seasons and replaced by "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton. Labelle's version of "Lady Marmalade" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.[1]
The song is set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, and is about a prostitute named Lady Marmalade. The refrain is her invitation (in French) to potential customers: "Would you like to sleep with me (tonight)?". "Voulez-vous?", a formal way of asking "Would you like to?", indicates that she's making this offer to strangers, not a boyfriend.
Although the song gave way to many cover versions over the years, the most successful was recorded twenty-six years later by singers Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink as a single for the Moulin Rouge! film soundtrack. Their version was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. for five weeks, from May 26 to June 30, 2001. The Moulin Rouge! version of "Lady Marmalade" was also a number-one hit in the United Kingdom and Australia, introducing the song to a whole new generation of music listeners, and brought the song's infamous catchphrase back into mainstream culture.
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[edit] Labelle's original version
"Lady Marmalade" was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, who also wrote "My Eyes Adored You." Labelle lead singer Patti LaBelle, accompanied by backing from her bandmates Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, tells the story of a woman known only as "Lady Marmalade", who seduces a man she met on the street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Although the man has moved on from the experience,when he tries to sleep his memories of their tryst remain vivid. The song's chorus "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?" means "Do you want to sleep with me (tonight)?" in French, and is an unsubtle invitation for sexual intercourse. The same line appeared previously in the play A Streetcar Named Desire, coming from the promiscuous Blanche DuBois.
"Lady Marmalade" was first recorded by the relatively obscure group Eleventh Hour (of which songwriter Nolan was a member) in 1974 on Eleventh Hour's Greatest Hits LP, but Labelle's producer Allen Toussaint decided to record it as the main track of the album Nightbirds, which became highly successful. The record was produced by Toussaint, with instrumental backing from The Meters.
"Lady Marmalade" was a number-one hit for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States during the early spring of 1975, and charted at number-one for one week on the Billboard Top Soul Singles chart. The single also charted at number seventeen in the United Kingdom. "Lady Marmalade" replaced another Crewe/Nolan composition, The Four Seasons' "My Eyes Adored You", as the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single. This made Crewe and Nolan the third songwriting team in Billboard history (after Lennon-McCartney and Holland-Dozier-Holland) to replace themselves at number-one.[2]
The single's disco success inspired Labelle to adopted a more eclectic, Funkadelic-based image for their next album, Phoenix. However, the group never had another top forty hit after "Lady Marmalade", and broke up in 1976. Patti LaBelle went on to have a successful solo career on another CBS Records-owned label, Columbia Records. Also in 1975, Nanette Workman recorded a French version that became very popular in Canada (Quebec).
The song was first covered by Sheila E. on her 1991 album Sex Cymbal in a jazz-oriented rendition, with horns as the centerpiece. In 1995 disco cover band Boogie Knights covered "Lady Marmalade", fronted by singer Jeff Scott Soto. In 1999, the song was covered by the techno act Lords Of Acid as a bonus track on their remix album Expand Your Head. The song is not part of the official track listing on the CD itself, however. Luck Mervil made a second French version of the song.
More recently, the track has featured in the TV series Angel, performed by actor Andy Hallett, and was released on the soundtrack in 2005. The Labelle version appears in several films, including The Long Kiss Goodnight, Dick, and Jacob's Ladder.
In 2004 the original version of "Lady Marmalade" was ranked #479 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In March 2008, Comcast began to use the song and its "more, more, more" refrain to promote its "On Demand" service -- the ad also features the "voulez-vous" line as the ad ends.
Improbably, the lyrics of "Lady Marmalade" were sung to the tune of the Toreador Song from Carmen by Tim Brooke-Taylor on the radio comedy panel-game show, "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" as part of a round called "One Song to the Tune of Another".
[edit] All Saints cover
| “Lady Marmalade” | |||||
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| Single by All Saints from the album All Saints |
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| B-side | "No More Lies", "Get Bizzy" | ||||
| Released | April 27, 1998 | ||||
| Format | CD single | ||||
| Recorded | 1997 | ||||
| Genre | Pop | ||||
| Length | 4:04 | ||||
| Label | London | ||||
| Producer | Johnny Douglas, Timbaland | ||||
| All Saints singles chronology | |||||
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In 1998 the song was covered by the English female pop group All Saints as part of the double A-sided single "Under the Bridge"/"Lady Marmalade", which reached number one on the official UK Top 40. The All Saints' version contains different lyrics for its verses; the only lyrics retained from the original composition are those for the chorus. Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" was the third single released from the All Saints debut album, All Saints. It became their second number-one single in the UK.
A total of 424,799 singles have been sold in the UK. The songs were covers of "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle and "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers respectively and the single was released as a double A-side. The proceeds from the single went to breast cancer charities.
The Timbaland version appeared on the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack. In Europe, a "Lady Marmalade"-only single was released.
[edit] Tracklistings
| Lady Marmalade single
(Released in EU only) |
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| 1. | "Lady Marmalade" (98 mix) | 4.03 | |
| 2. | "Lady Marmalade" (MARK's Miami Madness mix) | 7.56 | |
| 3. | "Lady Marmalade" (Sharp South Park vocal remix) | 8.10 | |
| 4. | "Lady Marmalade" (Henry & Haynes La Jam mix) | 6.48 | |
[edit] Moulin Rouge! cover
| “Lady Marmalade” | ||
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| Single by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa and Pink from the album Moulin Rouge! Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film |
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| Released | May 8, 2001 | |
| Format | 12" maxi single | |
| Genre | Pop, R&B, rap | |
| Length | 4:24 | |
| Label | Interscope | |
| Writer(s) | Bob Crewe, Kenny Nolan | |
| Producer | Missy Elliott, Rockwilder | |
| Christina Aguilera singles chronology | ||
| "Falsas esperanzas (2001) |
"Lady Marmalade" (2001) |
"Dirrty" (2002) |
| Lil' Kim singles chronology | ||
| "Hold On" (2000) |
"Lady Marmalade" (2001) |
"In the Air Tonite" (2001) |
| Mýa singles chronology | ||
| "Case of the Ex" (2001) |
"Lady Marmalade" (2001) |
"My Love Is Like...Wo" (2003) |
| Pink singles chronology | ||
| "You Make Me Sick" (2000) |
"Lady Marmalade" (2001) |
"Get the Party Started" (2001) |
"Lady Marmalade" is featured as part of a medley in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge!. In addition, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink recorded a cover version for the film's soundtrack album, and this version was released as the soundtrack's first single in spring 2001 (see 2001 in music). The cover version was produced by Missy Elliott and writing partner Rockwilder and features an intro and outro from Elliott. Lil' Kim wrote her rapped verse for the song, but does not receive publishing credit. A lyric was changed from the original version, with the song's setting being transferred from New Orleans to the Paris nightclub Moulin Rouge.
"Lady Marmalade" became a number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for the second time; it reached number one in its eighth week and spent five weeks at the top of the chart, from May 27 to June 30, 2001. It replaced "All for You" by Janet Jackson, and was replaced by Usher's "U Remind Me". It was the second song in Billboard chart history (after Aaliyah's "Try Again", 2000) to hit number one without being released in a major commercially available single format such as a CD or CD maxi single. "Marmalade" was Aguilera's fourth U.S. number-one single, Kim's second and for first time number-one for Pink and Mya in the U.S. It remained in the U.S. top forty for seventeen weeks and topped the charts in fifteen different countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia. It also occupied the top spot on the United World Chart for nine weeks.
[edit] Music Video
The music video features all four performers in lingerie and was filmed at the Moulin Rouge itself. The video won the MTV Video Music Award for "Best Video of the Year" and "Best Video from a Film"; it was also nominated for "Best Dance Video", "Best Pop Video", "Best Choreography" (Tina Landon), and "Best Art Direction". The song won a 2002 Grammy Award in the category of "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals". It ranks #30 on MuchMusic's 100 Best Videos.
[edit] Track listings and remixes
- Labelle 7" single #1
- "Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi Ce Soir? (Lady Marmalade)" – 3:14
- "It Took a Long Time" — 4:04
- Labelle 7" single #2
- "Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi Ce Soir? (Lady Marmalade)" – 3:14
- "Space Children" — 3:04
- All Saints CD maxi single
- "Lady Marmalade" (98 mix) - 4:02
- "Lady Marmalade" (Mark's Miami Madness mix) – 7:55
- "Lady Marmalade" (Sharp South Park vocal remix) – 8:09
- "Lady Marmalade" (Henry & Hayne's La Jam mix) – 6:47
- All Saints CD 1
- "Under the Bridge"5.03
- "Lady Marmalade" 4.04
- "No More Lies" 4.08
- "Lady Marmalade" (Henry & Haynes La Jam mix) – 9:23
- "Under the Bridge" (promo video) 5.00
- All Saints CD 2
- "Lady Marmalade" (Mark!'s Miami Madness mix) – 7:56
- "Lady Marmalade" (Sharp South Park vocal remix) – 8:10
- "Under the Bridge" (Ignorance remix featuring Jean Paul e.s.q) – 4:55
- "Get Bizzy" – 3:45
- Lords of Acid CD expand your head
- "Lady Marmalade" (1999 mix) – 3:23
- Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa and Pink
- "Lady Marmalade" (Thunderpuss club mix) – 9:35
- "Lady Marmalade" (Thunderpuss Mixshow mix) – 6:21
- "Lady Marmalade" (Thunderpuss radio mix) – 4:09
- "Lady Marmalade" (ThunderDUB) – 8:21
- "Lady Marmalade" (ThunderDrums) – 3:42
[edit] Charts
[edit] Labelle
| Chart (1974/1975) | Peak position |
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| Austrian Singles Chart | 17 |
| UK Singles Chart | 17 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Rhythm & Blues Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 1 |
[edit] All Saints
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
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| UK Top 40 | 1 |
| French Singles Top 100 | 28 |
| Swiss Singles Top 100 | 45 |
[edit] Moulin Rouge!
| Chart (2001)[3] | Peak position |
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| Argentina Top 40 Singles | 1 |
| Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| Austria Top 75 Singles | 3 |
| Belgium Top 50 Singles | 2 |
| Brazil Top 100 Singles | 3 |
| Canadian Singles Chart[4] | 17 |
| Chile Top 100 | 1 |
| France Top 100 Singles | 12 |
| Germany Top 100 Singles | 1 |
| Irish Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| Italy Top 50 Singles | 6 |
| Mexican Top 100 Singles | 1 |
| Netherland Mega Top 100 Singles | 2 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| Spanish Top 40 | 1 |
| Sweden Top 60 Singles | 1 |
| Switzerland Top 100 Singles | 1 |
| United World Chart | 1 |
| UK Top 40 Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks[4] | 43 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play[4] | 3 |
| Preceded by "My Eyes Adored You" by The Four Seasons |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (Labelle version) March 29, 1975 |
Succeeded by "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton |
| Preceded by "I Belong to You" by Love Unlimited |
Billboard's Hot Soul number one single February 22, 1975 (Labelle version) |
Succeeded by "Shame, Shame, Shame" by Shirley & Company |
| Preceded by "All I Need" by Boyzone |
UK Singles Chart number-one single (All Saints version) May 3, 1998 May 17, 1998 |
Succeeded by "Turn Back Time" by Aqua |
| Preceded by "Me, Myself and I" by Scandal'us |
Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single (Aguilera/Kim/Mýa/Pink version) May 20, 2001 - June 3, 2001 |
Succeeded by "Angel" by Shaggy & Rayvon |
| Preceded by "All for You" by Janet |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (Aguilera/Kim/Mýa/Pink version) June 2, 2001 - June 30, 2001 |
Succeeded by "U Remind Me" by Usher |
| Preceded by "Walking Away" by Craig David |
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single (Aguilera/Kim/Mýa/Pink version) June 10, 2001 - June 24, 2001 |
Succeeded by "What Took You So Long?" by Emma Bunton |
| Preceded by "Angel" by Shaggy & Rayvon |
UK Singles Chart number-one single (Aguilera/Kim/Mýa/Pink version) June 24, 2001 - July 1, 2001 |
Succeeded by "The Way to Your Love" by Hear'Say |
| Preceded by "Survivor" by Destiny's Child |
United World Chart number-one single (Aguilera/Kim/Mýa/Pink version) July 14, 2001 - September 8, 2001 |
Succeeded by "Someone to Call My Lover" by Janet Jackson |
[edit] References
- ^ Grammy Hall of Fame
- ^ Bronson, Fred (2003, 5th ed.). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. New York: Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6
- ^ Chart History Christina Aguilera
- ^ a b c d "Christina Aguilera - Billboard Singles". All Music Guide and Billboard.
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