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Patti LaBelle Was Afraid of What Her Mother Would Think After Recording This “Taboo” Song
Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade” became the group’s first and only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. Patti LaBelle later said the group did not know the song was about a sex worker when they recorded it, and worried about what her mother would think once she learned its meaning.
LaBelle defended the song despite its taboo subject, saying she had a friend who was a sex worker and opposed judging people for their work. Written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, the track appeared on the album *Nightbirds*. A 2001 version by Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Pink and Lil’ Kim topped the charts for five weeks.
In short
- “Lady Marmalade” was Labelle’s only Hot 100 No. 1.
- Patti LaBelle said the group initially did not know what the lyrics meant.
- She worried about her mother’s reaction but defended the song.
Explained simply
Patti LaBelle was the lead singer of Labelle, a vocal group that began as a 1960s trio and later became known for its flamboyant style and blend of soul, funk and rock. “Lady Marmalade” was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan and featured on the group’s 1974 album Nightbirds.
The song’s French refrain refers to a woman inviting someone to her room, and its story centres on a sex worker. That subject was considered taboo in popular music at the time. Labelle’s success with the track helped bring the group wider attention, and a 2001 remake by Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Pink and Lil’ Kim introduced it to another generation of listeners.