Lady Marmalade

Labelle

About Lady Marmalade

"Lady Marmalade" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan. The song is famous for its sexually suggestive chorus of "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?", which translates into English as "Do you want to sleep with me (tonight)?". The song first became a popular hit when it was recorded in 1974 by the American girl group Labelle. Labelle held the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week, and also topped the Canadian RPM national singles chart. The song has had many cover versions over the years. In 1998, girl group All Saints released a cover of the song that peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart. The 2001 version by singers Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Pink and rapper Lil' Kim, recorded for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack, was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for 5 weeks, and also a number-one hit in the UK. "Lady Marmalade" was the ninth song to reach number one by two different musical acts in America. 


Year:
2001
3:58
1,118 
#1

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Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, go sister
Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, go sister

He met marmalade down in old new orleans
Struttin' her stuff on the street
She said "hello,
Hey joe, you wanna give it a go?" mmm, mmm

Itchi gitchi ya ya da da
Itchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha-choca-lata ya ya
Creole lady marmalade

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

He sat in her boudoir while she freshened up
The boy drank all her magnolia-wine
On the black satin sheets oh I swear he started to freak

Itchi gitchi ya ya da da
Itchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha-choca-lata ya ya
Creole lady marmalade

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

Hey, hey, hey
Touching her skin feelin' silky smooth
The colour of cafe au lait
Made the savage beast inside
Roar until it cried, more, more, more

Now he's back home doing nine to five
Living his grey flannel life
But when he turns off to sleep
Old memories creep, more, more, more

Itchi gitchi ya ya da da da
Itchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha-choco-lata ya ya
Creole lady marmalade

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir?
Creole lady marmalade

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

Itchi gitchi ya ya da da
Itchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha-choco-lata ya ya
Itchi gitchi ya ya here

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Labelle

LaBelle is an American all female singing group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s. The group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the Philadelphia/Trenton areas, the Ordettes and the Del-Capris, forming as a new version of the former group, later changing their name to The Blue Belles (later Bluebelles). The founding members were Patti LaBelle (formerly Patricia Holt), Sundray Tucker, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. Tucker left before the group cut their first record and was replaced by Cindy Birdsong. more »

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Written by: Kenny Nolan, Robert Crewe

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

ORIGINAL RELEASE
"Lady Marmalade" was originally released by the American girl group "Labelle" in 1974. This iconic song was their biggest hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for a week in March 1975.
COVER VERSIONS
There have been multiple cover versions of the song. All Saints, a British-Canadian girl group, covered "Lady Marmalade" in 1998 for their debut studio album, while Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink covered the song for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack in 2001.
GRAMMY AWARDS
The 2001 version by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
CHART-TOPPING PERFORMANCE
Both the original Labelle version and the 2001 cover by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The 2001 version also topped the UK Singles Chart.
MUSIC VIDEO
The music video for the 2001 version was a massive hit, earning a MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.
CULTURAL IMPACT
The song is best known for its sexually suggestive French chorus of "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?", which translates to "Do you want to sleep with me (tonight)?"
MEANING OF THE SONG
"Lady Marmalade" is about a prostitute who is trying to entice a man. The use of French language was influenced by New Orleans' French Quarter, where the song's character Marmalade might have been working.
MUSICAL STYLE
The song combines elements of soul, funk, and R&B music, and was described as a "Creole-infused, sexually suggestive" track by Billboard.
PRODUCTION DETAILS
The original "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle was produced by Allen Toussaint, a well-known New Orleans producer. The 1998 All Saints version was produced by Neville Henry and Cameron McVey, while the 2001 rendition was produced by Missy Elliott and Rockwilder.
ALL SAINTS' VERSION DIFFERENCES
The version by All Saints features a more laid-back, R&B-inspired sound, with the group members sharing lead vocals. The sexually suggestive lyrics of the chorus were also translated to English in their version.
SALES RECORDS
The version performed by Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink for the Moulin Rouge! Soundtrack was a commercial success, selling 5.2 million copies worldwide as of 2006.
ICONIC PERFORMANCE
When performed live at the 2002 Grammy Awards by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink, the ladies were joined on stage by the original "Labelle" trio - Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash.

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    "Lady Marmalade Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 31 Oct. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4756142/Labelle/Lady+Marmalade>.

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    Lady Marmalade

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1975

    Billboard #1


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