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..."
Phoenix
Labelle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
see how she dances
to bring us the news
see how she dances
ashes and news
see how she dances
rise from the blues
just like heaven and hell reaches so very far
wrapped up in pages of yesterday’s news
sings with the devil
and dances the blues
in a red dress
she dances the blues
races the dawn
to bring us the news
now that I’m here
I’ll tell you the news
come on, sing the news
we’ve all got to go like we’ve come
before or after the sun
a single string guitar
plays the amazing flight of a lone star
see how she dances
ashes and news
you are tired of waiting in shadows
hiding thoughts of new ways in old mason jars
green on the edges but much more inside
running in races
never using the prize
now open your eyes
rise, phoenix
and face the blues
rise, phoenix
now that I’m here
rise, phoenix
I’ll tell you the news
come on, sing the news (rise!)
we’ve all got to go like we’ve come
before or after the sun
and if you believe in the word,
you’ll be living the one life god’s given.
we’ve all got to go like we’ve come
before or after the sun
and if you believe in the word,
you’ll be living the one life god’s given.
we’ve all got to go like we’ve come
before or after the sun
and if you believe in the word,
you’ll be living the one life god’s given
given
given
given
we’ve all got to go like we’ve come
before or after the sun
and if you believe in the word,
you’ll be living the one life god’s given.
we’ve all got to go like we’ve come
before or after the sun
a single
string
guitar
plays the a-
plays the amazing
plays the amazing flight
(ooh-hu-huuuuuu!!!)
then phoenix
then phoenix
then phoenix
then phoenix
then phoenix
then phoenix
then phoenix
The song "Phoenix (The Amazing Flight of a Lone Star)" by Labelle is all about rising from the ashes and dancing through the blues. The lyrics describe a woman in a red dress who dances to bring the news, even if it's ashes and news that she delivers. The chorus is a call to rise like a phoenix from the ashes, with the hope that believing in the word will allow you to live the one life that God has given you.
The verses of the song describe a world in which we are all racing towards our ultimate end, either before or after the sun. It reminds us that we should make the most of the time that we have and not hide our thoughts or waste our talents. The song encourages us to rise up, face the blues, and live our lives to the fullest.
Overall, "Phoenix (The Amazing Flight of a Lone Star)" is a call to action, reminding us that life is fleeting and we should make the most of it while we can. Whether we dance through the ashes or rise up like a phoenix, we should embrace every moment and live without regret.
Line by Line Meaning
dance the blues
Express sadness and despair through movement
see how she dances to bring us the news
Observe how this person uses dance as a medium for sharing information
ashes and news see how she dances
Watch as this person uses dance to represent both destruction and current events
rise from the blues
Overcome sadness and despair
the amazing flight of a lone star
The incredible journey of someone who stands out from the crowd
just like heaven and hell reaches so very far
Similar to the concepts of afterlife, this has a wide-ranging impact
wrapped up in pages of yesterday’s news
Tied up in the events of the past
sings with the devil
A metaphorical statement that the person is dealing with dark forces in their life
and dances the blues
Uses dance as a way of expressing their struggles with sadness and despair
in a red dress she dances the blues
The color red is often associated with passion and intensity, highlighting the emotional depth of their dance
races the dawn to bring us the news
Moves quickly to share current events with the world
now that I’m here I’ll tell you the news
Now that I am present, I will share the most important updates
come on, sing the news
Encouragement for those around them to not only share news, but to do so joyfully
we’ve all got to go like we’ve come before or after the sun
Death is inevitable, regardless of how we arrived or when we go
a single string guitar plays the amazing flight of a lone star
Music is used to convey the remarkable journey of this singular person
you are tired of waiting in shadows
Feeling fatigued from living a life of secrecy and inactivity
hiding thoughts of new ways in old mason jars
Suppressing ideas for innovative approaches in favor of outdated strategies
green on the edges but much more inside
Appearing to be inexperienced or inexperienced from the outside, but actually having more depth
running in races never using the prize
Participating in challenging endeavors but failing to recognize their value and reward
now open your eyes rise, phoenix
A call to action to finally awaken and take control of one's life, rising from the ashes like the Phoenix
and face the blues
Confront and overcome sadness and despair
I’ll tell you the news
I will provide updates and information
come on, sing the news (rise!)
In addition to sharing updates, we should celebrate them joyfully
if you believe in the word, you’ll be living the one life god’s given.
Having faith in a higher power can help one make the most of the time we have on earth
(ooh-hu-huuuuuu!!!) then phoenix
An exclamation expressing triumph and rebirth, rising again like the Phoenix.
Contributed by Molly B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.