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LaBelle — Lady Marmalade
Album: Nightbirds
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 829









Released: 1975
Length: 3:54
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Hey Sister, Go Sister, Soul Sister, Go Sister [x2]
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 Hmmm Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da [? ]
Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya
Here [? ]
Mocca chocolata Ya Ya
Creole Lady Marmalade
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
He savored her cool
While she freshed up
That boy drank all that magnolia wine
On the black satin sheets where
He started to freak
Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da
Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya Here
Mocca chocalata Ya Ya
Creole Lady Marmalade
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Heh, Heh, Hehhhh
Seeing her skin feeling silky smooth
Colour of cafe au lait
Made the savage beast inside
Roaring till it cried More, More, More
Now he's at home doing 9 to 5
Living his brave life of lies
But when he turns off to sleep
All memories keep More, More, More
Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da Da
Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya here
Mocca chocolata 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
Comments (67)add comment
Makes the body want to move!  Better than a cup of coffee at that sluggish time in the afternoon. 
My flatmate bought this album (completely out of character - he was much more of a Steely Dan, Joe Walsh kind of guy) and this track brings back some great memories.
 Melissag wrote:

The only French language phrase I remember!  Love it!



All you really need really.
Dang. Patty and the rest of her band sing the hellllllll out of this. 
 Proclivities wrote:

I think these lyrics are meant to be more in Cajun (New Orleans) dialect than in formal, modern French.  Great tune anyhow - fantastic bass line.  Excellent production by the legendary Allen Toussaint.


The sentence is perfect french and the formal ''voulez-vous'' gives a context of some distance - like talking to a stranger and sounds like what a high class courtesan would say, for example.  Veux-tu coucher avec moi ce soir would be more direct, dirty and empowered.
 oldfart48 wrote:
LaBelle was not disco, she is a new Orleans soul queen. the band behind her is the Meters.{#Dance}


Patti LaBelle is certainly a soul queen, but she's from Philly, not New Orleans.
 ace-marc wrote:

No, it's about US, the listeners,  and the comment is valid. Until Bill removes the comment button we can say and judge and criticize as we please.

It's not about you, either.
 Bleyfusz wrote:
Does ANYBODY actually NOT like this?


My rating for this was a '4' for some reason.  Must have either been a mistake, or I was in a bad mood that day.  
Does ANYBODY actually NOT like this?
Had no idea what the lyrics were until I saw them here. Having been to NOLA, it made me appreciate the song even more. 
 bubink wrote:
WTF?  Why are you playing this commercial crud?  It was bad enough back in the 70's....  We survived, but just barely...
 
Having survived the 70s myself, I remember having this perspective about disco. Looking back on this now, I realize that we felt that disco was threatening the dominance of classic rock and that caused a knee jerk negative reaction for many of us. The “Disco Sucks” movement was strong at that time. However, I appreciate disco much more now because I am no longer threatened by it. My 16 year old son has helped with this process I think. He appreciates disco songs for what they are because he didn’t grow up with that baggage. I can appreciate that. 
After all the times I've heard this, I read the lyrics and find out today what it really was about. Thank you RP!   
 Jelani wrote:
 Ropes wrote:
I walk away to get some coffee and I come back and I'm in Studio 54.
 The "vitamin C "is much stronger than coffee!

 Back to the Future 

no thanks.  This is an ugly song.
OK now I am questioning my fellow RP'ers.  A 7?  How can you give this anything less than 10?  Yeesh.

 Ropes wrote:
I walk away to get some coffee and I come back and I'm in Studio 54.
 The "vitamin C "is much stronger than coffee!

I walk away to get some coffee and I come back and I'm in Studio 54.
 h8rhater wrote:

Because it is NOT about you.
 
No, it's about US, the listeners,  and the comment is valid. Until Bill removes the comment button we can say and judge and criticize as we please.
First time in strip club, yes, this song. Do not remember the girls but remember the song. 
Played just about often enough. RP is still the best mix. pxd
 nutrod42 wrote:
I remember my junior high French teacher telling us that "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?" is not grammatically correct (it should be "Voulez-vous vous coucher...").
 
Hi nutrod42,

Your Junior high French teacher wasn't right...
In this song, the invitation is clearly sexual and that's "voulez-vous coucher avec moi" means.
"Voulez-vous vous coucher ?" would mean : Would you like to go to bed ?  It is generally not used with "avec moi". This sentence is much more wise (the invitation is for going to bed alone  to sleep or rest).
Hope this could help...
 nutrod42 wrote:
I remember my junior high French teacher telling us that "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?" is not grammatically correct (it should be "Voulez-vous vous coucher...").
 
Maybe but in the real life, it's `` voulez- vous coucher avec moi¨¨ we don't have time for that extra vous 
I remember my junior high French teacher telling us that "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?" is not grammatically correct (it should be "Voulez-vous vous coucher...").
 Proclivities wrote:

I think these lyrics are meant to be more in Cajun (New Orleans) dialect than in formal, modern French.  Great tune anyhow - fantastic bass line.
 
Is there anything NOT fantastic about this tune?
One of our favorite sing along songs as a kid.
HUH?
Say what you want about the song, she has a great set of pipes and puts most modern singers to shame.
 
Perfect. Cleaning house.
How to make a buck by singing Roswell Alien YAYA. She's a much better soul Diva than that sound!!!
What a wonderful surprise!!!
 scrubbrush wrote:
Brilliant.



Everyone in every hotel room loves this song!


 
Everyone in my Motel room .....pay by the hour.
 bubink wrote:
WTF?  Why are you playing this commercial crud?  It was bad enough back in the 70's....  We survived, but just barely...

 
Because it is NOT about you.
WTF?  Why are you playing this commercial crud?  It was bad enough back in the 70's....  We survived, but just barely...
Madmoiselle LaBelle rocked my suburban teenage ass!!!  Godess of Gettin it On
Way to go Bill !
 
 fredriley wrote:
Something I've always wondered: would a French person use the formal vous when inviting someone to warm their bed? It seems a tad formal for someone you're wanting to shag. Any French experts or native speakers care to comment?

 
I think these lyrics are meant to be more in Cajun (New Orleans) dialect than in formal, modern French.  Great tune anyhow - fantastic bass line.  Excellent production by the legendary Allen Toussaint.
backed by most of the meters...{#Bananasplit}

LaBelle was not disco, she is a new Orleans soul queen. the band behind her is the Meters.{#Dance}


 Melissag wrote:
The only French language phrase I remember!  Love it!

 

Ha! Understand exactly what you mean. How about these?

"Michelle, ma belle, son des mots qui vont tres bien ensemble, tres bien ensemble." 

I enjoyed figuring out the words to both songs many moons ago; as a teen, it was a fun way to use French lessons. {#Tongue} 
This makes my skin crawl. Brutal.
When you consider that Patti LaBelle's first hit was with the Blue Belles in 1962, she's one of the great survivors. And the Blue Belles were Patti, Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash, and Cindy Birdsong--an all-star lineup by any definition.
he did not
 fredriley wrote:
Something I've always wondered: would a French person use the formal vous when inviting someone to warm their bed? It seems a tad formal for someone you're wanting to shag. Any French experts or native speakers care to comment?

 

If it is a solely a business transaction, the formal would be appropriate.
Moldy oldie
soul disco
Now what am I gonna tell people, I can't say "you'll never hear Lady Marmalade on RP"
you can't see it but I'm throwing my hands in the air in a gesture of despair
kinda hurts.......ugggghhhh!
I'm confused {#Cry} 
It was just another disco song that grated when it came out. But a few of them have stood the test of time, and this is one...
 fredriley wrote:
Something I've always wondered: would a French person use the formal vous when inviting someone to warm their bed? It seems a tad formal for someone you're wanting to shag. Any French experts or native speakers care to comment?
 
Maybe she's asking several guys, not only one. She's using the plural instead of the singular. It makes sense this way...
I know, I'm dirty, I'll sleep on the couch tonight :( Bad Mayasha, bad!
The only French language phrase I remember!  Love it!
Surprise!
 aelfheld wrote:
I hated this when it came out.

My opinion hasn't changed.
 
{#Yes}
What fun!
Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir?   Mais oui! avec plaisir!
Sweet!!!!!
I hated this when it came out.

My opinion hasn't changed.
Thanks! love this one
nice!
Something I've always wondered: would a French person use the formal vous when inviting someone to warm their bed? It seems a tad formal for someone you're wanting to shag. Any French experts or native speakers care to comment?
Last place I would expect to hear this.  But it fits the set nicely.  I like it.
Allen Toussaint
Awesome on the alarm clock this morning.
Why "choucher"...?
Hey, it's that song from "Moulin Rouge!"

Sorry, but I wasn't digging this scene in '75, so the movie was my first exposure to the song. Nice.
It always saddened me that classical old-school "SOUL" had disappeared in recent years!

It's high time for a big-big revival!
Awesome. Surprises like this are why I love RP.
Then I must be second!  More more more! {#Dancingbanana}
Me too! Wait.. what?
Brilliant.



Everyone in every hotel room loves this song!

I can't believe I'm first!  - Oh I guess I'll give it 7 for now til it grows on me more!