In a recent podcast episode, Patti LaBelle said she only learned the meaning of the now-classic song after it became a hit.
Music icon Patti LaBelle claims she had no idea what the lyrics to "Lady Marmalade" actually meant when her band Labelle recorded the classic hit in 1974.
During a recent appearance on the "IRL Angie Martinez" podcast, the legendary singer revealed that she only learned the song's meaning after it became a commercial success and sparked backlash from some listeners, PEOPLE reports. .
«"Well, she's a prostitute," LaBelle said, discussing the song's plot. She explained that the famous French line, "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?" translates to "Will you sleep with me tonight?"»
«"When we recorded this song, we had no idea what it was about until it came out and started selling well," LaBelle said on the podcast.
The song, released by the trio Labelle, became one of the group's biggest hits, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1975. Despite its success, Labelle stated that the song's subject matter drew criticism from religious audiences, including nuns.
«"The nuns were enjoying Labelle's singing one day, singing songs about prostitutes," she recalled. "And I said, 'Well, they have to make a living, too. I can't take their mattress away. They have to do what they have to do.'".
The song "Lady Marmalade" became even more recognizable to a new generation when Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, and Pink re-recorded it for Baz Luhrmann's 2001 film Moulin Rouge! The remake topped the charts worldwide and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 2002. LaBelle's original version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame the following year.
LaBelle also recalled the unpredictable moments that have occurred during live performances of the song over the years. Previously, while appearing on "The Kelly Clarkson Show," she recounted an incident in which an audience member exposed himself on stage during a performance after being invited to dance.
The singer said that after the incident, security quickly escorted the man out.
Now 82, LaBelle remains one of the most renowned voices in R&B and soul music, with a career spanning more than six decades. "Lady Marmalade" remains considered one of her signature recordings and one of the most recognizable songs of the 1970s.
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