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..."
You Turn Me On
Labelle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each time I open my eyes
It's raining
Love could never be
The same for me
There's too much, pain here
Too much
Now I'm all alone
I can't stop myself from saying
It's you (you)
Oh, you (you)
Turn me on about, yeah (you, you, you)
Yeah, it's you (you)
Mm, you turn me on
Oh, every time was new
When I was loving you
And believe me, mm
I come like the pouring rain
Each time you call my name
What a good feeling
It's no mystery
Like I need air to breathe
I cant stop myself from saying
It's you (you)
Oh, you (you)
Turn me on about, yeah (you, you, you)
Yeah, yes, it's you (you)
Mm, you turn me on
Oh, I come like the pouring rain
Each time you call my name
It's good what you're doing, what you're doing
It's good what you're
Oh, I come like the pouring rain
Each time you call my name
It's good what you're doing, what you're doing
It's good what you're
Ah, now, I'm all alone
The painted smile has gone
Now I cant stop myself from, from saying
It's you, boy (you)
Oh, you (you)
Turn me on, yeah, yeah, yeah (you, you, you)
It's you (you)
You turn me on
Oh, I come like the pouring rain
Each time you call my name
It's good what you're doing, what you're doing
It's good what you're
Oh, I come like the pouring rain
Each time you call my name
It's good what you're doing, what you're doing (I come, I come)
It's good what you're (I come)
Oh, I come like the pouring rain (come on)
Each time you call my name
It's good what you're doing, what you're doing
It's good what you're
Oh, I come like the pouring rain
Each time you call my name
It's good what you're doing, what you're doing
Labelle's "You Turn Me On" is a song that celebrates the feel-good nature of funky music. The song highlights how funky music has a powerful impact on the way people feel, urging them to express themselves and let loose. The lyrics in the song acknowledge that the power of funky music is such that even though the singer cannot explain what it is that makes it so great, they know they do not want to lose it.
The lyrics emphasize how the music has a physical and emotional effect on the singer. The funky music has the ability to ignite the soul and bring a feeling of euphoria. The verses contain imagery of the physical sensations that funky music creates, such as the blood boiling in their veins and a feeling like a rollercoaster ride. The song is an invitation to everyone to let go and give themselves over to the irresistible rhythm of funky music.
In conclusion, "You Turn Me On" is a celebration of the inherent power of the funky music genre. It highlights the way that the music can connect with individuals on both an emotional and physical level, urging them to release their inhibitions and enjoy the pure exhilaration of the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I like the sound of funky music
This song is about how the singer loves funky music
Let me hear you sing it (I like the sound of funky music)
The singer is asking the audience to sing along with them and show their love for funky music
I like it
The singer really enjoys funky music
'Cause funky music sho nuff turns me on
Funky music gets the singer really excited and energized
Bless my soul, I can't control
The singer is so entranced by funky music that they can't help but react to it
The feeling I get when I hear the funky music
Funky music creates a unique emotional and physical response in the singer
People, it does something to my brain
The singer feels like funky music affects them on a deep level
What it is I can't explain
The singer doesn't know exactly what it is about funky music that affects them so strongly
Keep it right there
The singer wants the funky music to keep playing at the same level of intensity
I don't want to lose it
The singer doesn't want to lose the feeling that the funky music gives them
Come on, come on, come on people now
The singer is encouraging the audience to join in on their love of funky music
Express yourself
The singer wants everyone to express themselves through the music
My mind is singing
The music is so catchy that it feels like the singer's mind is singing along
Everybody sing it sing it
The singer wants everyone to join in on the fun and sing the song
Music's got my soul on fire
The music is so exciting that it feels like the singer's soul is on fire
I can feel the blood boiling in my veins
The singer is so pumped up by the music that it feels like their blood is boiling
People I get a feeling deep down inside
The singer feels a strong and powerful emotion when they hear funky music
Something like a rollercoaster ride
The feeling that the singer gets from funky music is like going on a thrilling rollercoaster ride
And I ain't ashamed to say that I feel alright
The singer is proud of how good funky music makes them feel
Funky now
The singer wants the music to keep getting funkier and funkier
Don't it make you feel alright
The singer is asking the audience if they also feel good when they hear funky music
All you crazy people from the big city
The singer is addressing the audience as energetic and enthusiastic 'crazy people' from the big city
Get on down to the nitty gritty
The singer wants the audience to dance and let loose to the funky music
Everybody sing it with me (I like the sound of funky music)
The singer is urging the audience to join in on singing the song and expressing their love for funky music
'Cause funky music sho nuff turn me on
The singer reiterates that funky music gets them really excited and energized
Boom boom boom
The singer is using sound effects to emulate the beat of the funky music
Like a river turns me
The singer is comparing the feeling they get from funky music to the way a river flows and moves them
Boom boom boom
The singer repeats the sound effects to emphasize the beat of the music
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nona Hendryx
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind