Lady Marmalade: Difference between revisions
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'''"Lady Marmalade"''', released in December [[1974]], is a [[1975]] number-one single recorded by [[Labelle]] for [[CBS Records]]' [[Epic Records|Epic]] label. An early [[disco]] hit, the song is most famous for its sexually suggestive chorus of "[[voulez-vous coucher avec moi?|voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?]]". 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 [[Frankie Valli]] and replaced by "Lovin' You" by [[Minnie Riperton]]. |
'''"Lady Marmalade"''', released in December [[1974]], is a [[1975]] number-one single recorded by [[Labelle]] for [[CBS Records]]' [[Epic Records|Epic]] label. An early [[disco]] hit, the song is most famous for its sexually suggestive chorus of "[[voulez-vous coucher avec moi?|voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?]]". 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 [[Frankie Valli]] and replaced by "Lovin' You" by [[Minnie Riperton]]. |
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Although the song gave way to many cover versions over the years, the most successful was recorded twenty-six years later by pop singers [[Christina Aguilera]] and [[ |
Although the song gave way to many cover versions over the years, the most successful was recorded twenty-six years later by pop singers [[Christina Aguilera]] and [[P!nk (musician)|Pink]], rapper [[Lil' Kim]], and R&B singer [[Mya (singer)|Mya]] as a single for the ''[[Moulin Rouge!]]'' film [[soundtrack]]. Their version, a more successful single than LaBelle's original, 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]], introduced 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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==History== |
==History== |
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===''Moulin Rouge'' version=== |
===''Moulin Rouge!'' version=== |
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!align="left"|Chart (2001) |
!align="left"|Chart (2001) |
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*Instrumentation by [[The Meters]] |
*Instrumentation by [[The Meters]] |
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===''Moulin Rouge'' version=== |
===''Moulin Rouge!'' version=== |
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*Lead and background vocals by [[Christina Aguilera]], [[Pink (musician)| |
*Lead and background vocals by [[Christina Aguilera]], [[Pink (musician)|P!nk]], and [[Mya (singer)|Mya]] |
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*Rap by [[Lil' Kim]] |
*Rap by [[Lil' Kim]] |
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*Vocal ad-libs by [[Missy Elliott|Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott]] |
*Vocal ad-libs by [[Missy Elliott|Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott]] |
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*Instrumentation, sequencing, and drum programming by [[Rockwilder]] |
*Instrumentation, sequencing, and drum programming by [[Rockwilder]] |
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==Samples== |
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{{listen|filename=1974-labelle-ladymarmalade.ogg|title="Lady Marmalade" - Labelle version|description=Released as a single by Labelle for the 1974 album ''[[Nightbirds]]''.|format=[[Ogg]]}} |
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{{listen|filename=2001-moulinrouge-ladymarmalade.ogg|title="Lady Marmalade" - ''Moulin Rouge!'' version|description=Released as a single by [[Christina Aguilera]], [[Pink (musician)|P!nk]], [[Mya (singer)|Mya]], and [[Lil' Kim]] for the soundtrack of the 2001 film ''[[Moulin Rouge!]]''|format=[[Ogg]]}} |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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<references/> |
<references/> |
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Revision as of 04:39, 1 April 2006
| "Lady Marmalade" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Lady Marmalade", released in December 1974, is a 1975 number-one single 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?". 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 Frankie Valli and replaced by "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton.
Although the song gave way to many cover versions over the years, the most successful was recorded twenty-six years later by pop singers Christina Aguilera and Pink, rapper Lil' Kim, and R&B singer Mya as a single for the Moulin Rouge! film soundtrack. Their version, a more successful single than LaBelle's original, 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, introduced the song to a whole new generation of music listeners, and brought the song's infamous catchphrase back into mainstream culture.
History
Labelle original
"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. 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)?" translates to "Do you want to sleep with me (tonight)?", and is an unsubtle invitation for sexual intercourse.
Labelle had first recorded the song on The Eleventh Hour LP, but Labelle's producer Allen Toussaint decided to record it as the main track of the Nightbirds album, 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 Billoard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States during the late winter of 1975, and charted at number-one for one week on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. The single also charted at number 17 in the United Kingdom. "Lady Marmalade" replaced another Crewe/Nolan compostion, Franki Valli's "My Eyes Adored You", as the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single. Rhis made Crewe and Nolan the third songwriting team in Billboard history (after Lennon-McCartney and Holland-Dozier-Holland) to replace themselves at number-one. [1]
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 40 hit after "Lady Marmalade", and broke up in 1976. Patti LaBelle would go on to have a successful solo career on another CBS Records-owned label, Columbia Records.
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 1998, the song was covered by the British female pop group All Saints as part of the double A-sided single "Under The Bridge"/"Lady Marmalade". All Saints' versio ncontains different lyrics for its verses; the only lyrics retained from the original composition are those for the chorus. The Labelle version appears in several films, including The Long Kiss Goodnight, Dick, and Jacob's Ladder.
Moulin Rouge cover
| "Lady Marmalade" | |
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| Song |
The 2001 version of "Lady Marmalade" was recorded by Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil' Kim, and Mya for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack. This version was produced by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, who primarily handled the vocal arrangements and recording; and Redman producer Rockwilder, who primarily handeld the instrumentation. In addition to the original Crewe/Nolan lyrics, Lil' Kim wrote and performs a rapped verse for the recording (for which she does not receive publishing credit), and the location of the encounter between "Lady Marmalade" and her male lover is moved from New Orleans to the Moulin Rouge.
The single's popular music video featured all four performers in 19th-century French lingerie as performers in a gentelmen's club. Missy Elliott also makes a cameo in the video, albeit wearing modern hip hop fashions. Christina Aguilera's makeup and hair in the video were the topic of many conversations in the entertainment industry when the video was released, as her appeareance was widely seen as being overdone. More than one commentor compared Aguilera's appearance in the "Lady Marmalade" video to that of Dee Snider from Twisted Sister.
"Lady Marmalade" was a number-one hit on over fifty international charts, including the main national charts for the United States, the United Kingdom, and Austraila. It was Chrisitna Aguilera's fourth U.S. number-one single, and was the first U.S. number-one single for P!nk, Mya, and Lil' Kim. The recording won the 2001 Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, and its video won the 2001 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video of the Year. The single is also notable for becoming the second song in Billboard history after Aaliyah's "Try Again", to hit number-one without being released in a major commercially-available single format.
Chart positions
Labelle version
| Chart (1974 - 1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 17 |
Moulin Rouge! version
| Chart (2001) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| UK Top 40 Singles | 1 |
| Canadian Billboard Hot 100 | 18 |
| Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| Argentina Top 40 Singles | 1 |
| Brasil Top 50 Singles | 1 |
| Ireland Top 50 Singles | 1 |
Credits
Labelle version
- Lead vocals by Patti LaBelle
- Background vocals by Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash
- Instrumentation by The Meters
Moulin Rouge! version
- Lead and background vocals by Christina Aguilera, P!nk, and Mya
- Rap by Lil' Kim
- Vocal ad-libs by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
- Vocal arrangements by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
- Instrumentation, sequencing, and drum programming by Rockwilder
Samples
Notes
- ^ * Bronson, Fred (2003, 5th ed.). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. New York: Billboard Books. ISBN 082-307677-6