"Lady Marmalade" was written by Bob Crewe (who co-wrote many of the hits recorded by The Four Seasons) and Kenny Nolan. The songwriting pair had previously collaborated on the hit Frankie Valli song "My Eyes Adored You". The song came about after Crewe made first-hand observations in New Orleans. First recorded by the relatively obscure group Eleventh Hour (of which songwriter Nolan was a member) in 1974 on Eleventh Hour's Greatest Hits LP, Labelle's producer Allen Toussaint decided to record it as the main track for the album Nightbirds, which would become highly successful. The record was produced by Toussaint, with instrumental backing from The Meters.
Although the song gave way to many cover versions over the years, the most successful was recorded in 2001 by singers Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink as a single for the Moulin Rouge! film's soundtrack. Missy Elliott produced the version, with instrumental help from beatsmith Rockwilder. The song was mixed by world renowned audio engineer Dave "Hard Drive" Pensado. Their version 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, introducing the song to a whole new generation of music listeners, and brought the song's infamous catchphrase back into mainstream culture.
In 2004, LaBelle's original version of "Lady Marmalade" was ranked #479 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In the United Kingdom, the song has been sung on several talent shows, including The X Factor by Leona Lewis, and on Eurovision: Your Country Needs You by Jade Ewen, where in both instances, the lyric "voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?" was changed to "voulez-vous chanter avec moi (ce soir)?".
Labelle's original version
Recorded with lead singer Patti LaBelle and accompanied with backing from bandmates Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, it tells the story of a woman known only as "Lady Marmalade", who seduces a man she met on the street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Although the man has moved on from the experience, his memories of their tryst remain vivid when he tries to sleep. The song's chorus, "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?", means "Do you want to sleep with me (tonight)?" in French, an unsubtle invitation for sexual intercourse. The same line appeared previously in the play A Streetcar Named Desire, coming from the promiscuous Blanche DuBois.
"Lady Marmalade" was a number-one hit for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States during the early spring of 1975, and charted at number-one for one week on the Billboard Top Soul Singles chart. Along with the track, What Can I Do For You?", "Lady Marmalade" peaked at number seven on the disco/dance charts. The single also charted at number seventeen in the United Kingdom. "Lady Marmalade" replaced another Crewe/Nolan composition, Frankie Valli's "My Eyes Adored You", as the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single. This made Crewe and Nolan the third songwriting team in Billboard history (after Lennon-McCartney and Holland-Dozier-Holland) to replace themselves at number-one.
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 forty hit after "Lady Marmalade", and broke up in 1976. Patti LaBelle went on to have a successful solo career on another CBS Records-owned label, Columbia Records. Also in 1975, Nanette Workman recorded a French version that became very popular in Canada (Quebec).
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 1999, the song was covered by the techno act Lords Of Acid as a bonus track on their remix album Expand Your Head. The song is not part of the official track listing on the CD itself, however. Luck Mervil made a second French version of the song.
More recently, the track has featured in the TV series Angel, performed by actor Andy Hallett, and was released on the soundtrack in 2005.
The Labelle version appears in several films, including The Long Kiss Goodnight, Dick, and Jacob's Ladder. In March 2008, Comcast began to use the song and its "more, more, more" refrain to promote its "On Demand" service -- the ad also features the "voulez-vous" line as the ad ends.
Improbably, the lyrics of "Lady Marmalade" were sung to the tune of the Toreador Song from Carmen by Tim Brooke-Taylor on the radio comedy panel-game show, "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" as part of a round called "One Song to the Tune of Another".
It was featured on the video game Karaoke Revolution Volume 2 as a version performed with Patti Labelle.
Lady Marmalade
Labelle feat. Patti LaBelle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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
The lyrics of "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle feat. Patti LaBelle tells the story of a man meeting a woman named Marmalade in old New Orleans. Marmalade is strutting her stuff on the street when she catches the man's eye, and she invites him to give it a go. The chorus is a playful arrangement of sounds and words that can be interpreted as a flirtatious invitation, with Marmalade speaking in French and asking the man if he wants to sleep with her.
The second verse describes the man visiting Marmalade in her boudoir, drinking all her magnolia wine and lying on black satin sheets. Marmalade's skin is described as silky smooth and the color of cafe au lait, which ignites the man's desires, making the beast inside him roar for more. The final verse reveals that the man is back to his mundane life of a nine-to-five job, but memories of his time with Marmalade keep creeping back, demanding more.
Overall, the song is a sultry, seductive tune about a man's passionate encounter with a woman in New Orleans. The chorus, "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?", meaning "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?" in French, adds a touch of playfulness and sensuality to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, go sister
Encouragement to a female friend or ally to embrace their femininity, individuality and inherent strength
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
A flirtatious encounter between a man and a confident, self-assured woman who initiates the interaction
Itchi gitchi ya ya da da
Itchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha-choca-lata ya ya
Creole lady marmalade
A catchy, rhythmic refrain affirming the unique and alluring nature of the song's titular character
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
A provocative invitation to engage in sexual activity, sung in French for added allure and exoticism
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
An intimate and passionate encounter between the man and woman, with sensory detail that transports the listener into the moment
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
The visceral physical attraction and desire between the two partners made even more intense by their differences in race and cultural background
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
The lingering impact and longing for the intense, exciting experiences and passion he shared with the Creole lady in New Orleans
Voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir?
Creole lady marmalade
The straightforward but direct invitation extended once again to the Creole lady from New Orleans, emphasizing the lasting desire and impact she had on the man
Itchi gitchi ya ya da da da
Itchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha-choco-lata ya ya
Itchi gitchi ya ya here
The repeating chorus acts as a powerful end refrain underscoring the sensuality and exoticism of the previously discussed characters and experiences
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KENNY NOLAN, ROBERT CREWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KitKat_95
It's so sad that when people think of Lady Marmalade, they think of the 2000 version when Patty Labelle is the one who made it a huge success.
@1122337445566
To be honest, the original version was written in 1974 by Eleventh Hour, however the girls achieved more success with their soul version.
@HighMageCallum
Katie C cue me searching for the 2000 version
@jen1132
why is it sad tho? they did a really good job remixing it:)
@aconater
@Jeanette Ramos its sad because many individuals who profess to be fans of true great music are in reality shortsighted and can't appreciate the history of it, this version inspired the 2000s version and was merely done so it could be marketed with a horrible movie, know your facts, know your history 💯
@SpiritMQ
@Jason Heard Agreed. I always like the originals myself... be it songs or movies... Not a fan of re-makes n remixes. And my generation is all about remixes...
@sandrafulco1420
THIS IS NOT A VERSION. This is THE one and only. Let’s be perfectly clear as to who is the diva responsible for it in all its glory…the great Patti ❤
@nelsongandelini7966
Único mesmo labele amoooo
@esthergutierrez1086
@@nelsongandelini7966 Patti Labelle Lady Marmalade Cover
Missy Elliott Christina Aguilera Mya Pink Lil Kim Moulin Rouge
@aconater
Preach!!!