In 1961, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash of the Del Capris joined Patricia Holt and Sandra Tucker as replacement singers for Holt's singing group, The Ordettes. When Tucker's parents made her leave the group, she was replaced by Cindy Birdsong. Patricia Holt had her name changed to Patti LaBelle after the group became The Bluebelles. Though the first single was "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" (released as the Bluebelles), LaBelle relays in her memoir (Don't Block The Blessings) that the group didn't actually perform on the original track. As she tells it, the song's producer had recorded it with Starlets and renamed them the Bluebelles, but the group left upon the single's release. He quickly recruited the Ordettes to perform and promote the single using the Bluebells' moniker, and "I Sold My Heart To The Junkman" was later recut by the new group. The song was a hit, as was the new Bluebelle's 1963 follow-ups "Down the Aisle", "You'll Never Walk Alone" (1964; Rodgers & Hammerstein) and "Danny Boy" (a traditional Irish folk song). They signed with Atlantic Records in 1965, releasing "Over the Rainbow" and "Groovy Kind of Love" (later a hit for the Mindbenders and Phil Collins) with only mild success. They also contributed background vocals to Tony Kosinec's "Simple Emotion" and Wilson Pickett's hit "634-5789" in 1966. Along the line, they had extended their name to Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles.
In 1967, the group became a trio after Cindy Birdsong left to join the Supremes, replacing Florence Ballard. Three years later, the group lost their contract and hired Vicki Wickham, a British TV producer, to remake their image. She changed the name to Labelle and pushed the group to a more contemporary sound, incorporated glam influences, particularly in the spectacular spacey stage costumes that included large amounts of glitter, feathers and other acoutrements. In the early 70s, Labelle opened for the Who and lent their unmistakably powerful vocals to Laura Nyro's Gonna Take a Miracle album in 1971 (now considered a classic). Two songs from this album ("Desiree" and "Gonna Take a Miracle") were used in the 2004 Colin Farrell film A Home at the End of the World to great dramatic effect -- especially "Gonna Take a Miracle," at the end of the film. Labelle also contributed to Nikki Giovanni's "Peace Be Still".
The group released Labelle in 1971 on Warner Brothers Records. It included covers of songs by the Rolling Stones, Kenny Rogers, Carole King and Laura Nyro. The following album, Moonshadow (1972), even though it included covers of famous songs ("MoonShadow" by Cat Stevens and the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again"), gave Hendryx more freedom to write material for Labelle. The album flopped commercially, as did the third Labelle album, Pressure Cookin, (1973), released on RCA Records. By this time and until Labelle's break-up, Hendryx wrote most of Labelle's material, taking the songs in a highly experimental direction that was a far cry from the sound that the Bluebelle's (and most other "girl groups" of the era) had performed. Although the album wasn't commercially successful, Pressure Cookin' allowed her to hone her talents as a songwriter, clearly demonstrated by the moving "(Can I Speak to You Before You Go to) Hollywood," which was based on the way the ladies felt when people who had "made it" in the business no longer were interested in keeping in contact with Patti, Sarah, or Nona.
After Pressure Cookin', Labelle signed with Epic Records and recorded an album, Nightbirds, with Allen Toussaint, a famous record producer. "Lady Marmalade", a sexy, funky disco song about a New Orleans prostitute(with a come-hither French chorus, "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?") became a massive hit in 1975 and one of the first mainstream disco hits (Jones and Kantonen, 1999). The success of the single also pushed the album to the top of the charts. It would be covered by numerous artists including Madchester-era indie The Happy Mondays (spliced into "Kinky Afro") and most notably Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and P!nk for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack.
Labelle's commercial momentum after Nightbirds and "Lady Marmalade" decreased, in spite of several hits and the critically acclaimed experimental albums Phoenix (1975) and Chameleon (1976). When the group split up in 1976, Hendryx and LaBelle managed successful solo careers, while Sarah Dash had a few notable dance hits: "Sinner Man" (1978, which gained her much public attention), and "Lucky Tonight" (1984), with Sylvester singing background vocals. Dash also acted on television for the PBS series "Watch Your Mouth," (1978), and has performed on Broadway. Her career picked up again om the 90s when she was asked to sing with The Rolling Stones on their Steel Wheels album, and even more so when she became one of Keith Richards' "X-pensive Winos," and was given solo and duet opportunities with his band (namely the (duet) ballad, "Make No Mistake," and solo "Time Is on My Side," which Richards said in his autobiography is "the best version he has ever heard").
LaBelle, Hendryx, and Dash have reunited several times including a famed 1991 reunion at the Apollo Theater 30 years after the group first stole the audience's hearts at the same venue. The concert was recorded as a live album. A brief reunion came in the form of the huge dance succes "Turn It Out," from the To Wong Foo soundtrack. They reunited again in 2001 to honor Patti on BET's "Walk of Fame," where the performed an explosive version of "What Can I Do for You," as well as "Lady Marmalade" The most recentl reunion was in 2005 during a tribute to Patti's 45th anniversary in show business. In January 2006, Labelle again reunited to record "Dear Rosa," a tribute to the late civil rights champion Rosa Parks. The release date of the single has not been set at this time. There are also plans for an entire reunion album and tour, most likely to happen in 2007. In addition, Labelle will contribute songs for the soundtrack for the upcoming film, "Preaching to the Choir."
There are other artists with the same name:
2) LaBelle (aka LaBelle Rocks) is a rock band from Madrid, Spain with strong influence from 1950s music and appearance. Their current lineup consists of Alicia Montesquiu, Pedro Herrero, Mey Alean and Carlos Mirat.
Cinema is his first album produced by filmmaker Juanma Bajo Ulloa with a first celebrated single FIRE! and the musical production by Fernando Montesinos and David Kano. His second album Accidents a very personal and enveloping work, again with the musical talent of Fernando Montesinos in production for Noisy Sound and Paco Ortega for Musigrama in one of the songs.
3) Labelle (Jérémy Labelle,Maloya-Electronic Composer from Reunion Island. Founder member of Eumolpe.)
"...Resolutely syncretic, the universe of Labelle unites Maloya (from Réunion traditional music) and electronics, colored with Indian and African touches..."
Are You Lonely?
Labelle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the stars that filled the sky
We were caught up in the magic and it felt so right so right
All those times I stood beside you
When your heart was falling down
Picking up every good piece of the world we found we found
You are my shining light
You are a flower in the desert
You are my life
New days and ways to make you happy
I searched my whole life through
Did you come to understand that all I told you was true so true
Wonder that only eyes could show me
A window to your soul
There were nights empathy made me whisper I know I know
You are everything I hoped for
You are my shining light
You are a flower in the desert
You are my life
Sometimes we crossed with our own minds
More often we shared in the same crimes
Can you find it in your heart to let me know its fine all fine
Deep breath back above the water
A friendly home where you can hide
You know that you will always have a place inside inside
You are everything I hoped for
You are my shining light
You are a flower in the desert
You are my life
How long till once again I see you
How long till we share this simple song
I will carry all the memories to keep me strong so strong
You are everything I hoped for
You are my shining light
You are a flower in the desert
You are my life
You are everything I hoped for
You are my shining light
You are a flower in the desert
You are my life
The song "Are You Lonely?" by Labelle feat. Patti LaBelle is a mournful and melancholic ballad that speaks to the pain of separation and the longing for love. The lyrics begin with a series of questions that express the singer's confusion and hurt over the absence of their lover. They wonder where their lover has gone and express their disappointment that someone they thought cared about them has left them feeling so alone. The second verse speaks to the heartache and disbelief that come with the end of a relationship. The singer asks where their heart and their dreams have gone now that their relationship has ended. They question whether the love they gave was reciprocated, or if it was all for naught. The chorus cuts to the heart of the matter, with the singer asking where their happy ending is and expressing their desire to know where their lover is.
The song is a poignant reflection on the pain of separation and the desire for connection. The use of questions throughout the lyrics creates a sense of uncertainty and vulnerability, as though the singer is searching for answers that they may never find. The repeated refrain of "Where are you?" underscores the theme of searching and longing, while the haunting melody and rich harmonies add to the emotional depth of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Where are you?
I am lost without you and need to know where you are.
Where have you gone without me?
I feel abandoned by you and wonder where you have gone without me.
I thought you cared about me
I believed you had feelings for me, but now I am uncertain.
Where's my heart?
I feel empty and as if a part of me is missing without you.
Where is the dream we started?
The future we envisioned together seems to have disappeared.
I can't believe we parted
I am in disbelief that we have gone our separate ways.
When we said goodbye, love
When we ended things between us,
Or was it just a game? Yeah
Did you deceive me, and was our relationship just a game to you?
When I gave you my love
When I committed myself to you emotionally,
Was it all in vain?
Did I waste my time and effort loving you?
All life through
Throughout my entire life,
Must I go on pretending
Do I have to continue putting on a facade that I am okay without you?
Where is my happy ending?
I long for a happy conclusion to this difficult chapter in my life.
Where are you?
Above all, I need to know where you are.
Please tell me where
I am pleading with you to be honest with me and tell me your whereabouts.
I ask you where
I am posing the question to you, hoping for a truthful response.
I wanna know where
It is important to me and my well-being to know where you are.
Is that you over there?
Could it be that I see you in the distance?
I said where are you
To emphasize the urgency of my plea, I repeat my question.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Curtis Labelle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
robindruggles
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you lonely? (Lonely)
Are you lonely, living in a city without a heart?
You've been runnin’ around counting teardrops
They said it was rain falling from the sky
You've been wondering why the rain never stops
Only tears your people cry
Who are lonely. (Lonely)
Are you lonely, living in a city without a heart?
Are you lonely, living in a city without a heart?
See the well-dressed preacher, living like a king
Hold the unwed mother, who's afraid to scream
See the hungry children, posing for a shot
Hear their mothers tell them, that’s all we've got
Ain't that lonely?
Ain't it lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely
Ain't it lonely? (Lonely)
Living in a city without a heart?
Who are lonely. (Lonely)
Are you lonely, living in a city without a heart?
Living in a city with a heart
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you hungry? (Hungry)
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you hungry? (Hungry)
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you hungry? (Hungry)
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you hungry? (Hungry)
Living in a city without a heart?
Living in a city without a heart?
vivalamauza
the bass line is just incredible.
Lisa Green
babooshky THAT BASS IS NASTY! THE PERCUSSION AND HORNS AINT NO JOKE EITHER!!!
folly5girl
Pretty sure that’s gotta be George Porter from The Meters on bass.. though i might be wrong. Allen Toussaint produced them often and used a chunk of NOLA musicians from what I understand ❤️❤️
Cenica Edwards
This track just BANGS from start to finish, from the first beatdrop to the ending fadeout.
robindruggles
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you lonely? (Lonely)
Are you lonely, living in a city without a heart?
You've been runnin’ around counting teardrops
They said it was rain falling from the sky
You've been wondering why the rain never stops
Only tears your people cry
Who are lonely. (Lonely)
Are you lonely, living in a city without a heart?
Are you lonely, living in a city without a heart?
See the well-dressed preacher, living like a king
Hold the unwed mother, who's afraid to scream
See the hungry children, posing for a shot
Hear their mothers tell them, that’s all we've got
Ain't that lonely?
Ain't it lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely
Lonely, lonely, lonely
Ain't it lonely? (Lonely)
Living in a city without a heart?
Who are lonely. (Lonely)
Are you lonely, living in a city without a heart?
Living in a city with a heart
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you hungry? (Hungry)
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you hungry? (Hungry)
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you hungry? (Hungry)
Are you lonely? (Lonely) Are you hungry? (Hungry)
Living in a city without a heart?
Living in a city without a heart?
rajat200
groovy... really bangs right from the start to the finish.... found this song after almost 35 years
timmy841212
Funky as collard greens on a Sunday afternoon.
TheBigdaddy45able
Phoenix labelled
diane189444
Wonderful video and song Nona I have known you since 7th grade to 12th and love ya .... you girls are so talented I love this song. Love it.
Silvio SOUZA
Voz incrível mas só teve duas músicas que eu curti dela