Theme weeks like this one on the Library of Congress’ latest additions to the National Recording Registry always reveal holes in my musical education.
For example, I never knew the 2001 Moulin Rouge song ‘Lady Marmalade’ was a cover of a 1974 single by Labelle. And I didn’t know Patti LaBelle fronted a girl group called Labelle, a trio that started as Patte LaBelle and the Bluebelles before changing their name in the early 70s.
Patti, along with bandmates Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 with this disco soul track about a New Orleans prostitute.
LaBelle says she had no idea what the song was about, or that its French refrain (“Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?”) meant “Do you want to sleep with me tonight?”
Hey sister, go sister
Soul sister, go sister
Hey sister, go sister
Soul sister, go sister
[Verse 1]
He met Marmalade down in Old New Orleans
Strutting her stuff on the street
She said, “Hello, hey Joe
You wanna give it a go?” hmm hmm
[Chorus]
Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha chocolata, ya ya
Creole Lady Marmalade
[Post-Chorus]
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
[Verse 2]
He stayed in her boudoir
While she freshened up
That boy drank all that Magnolia wine
On her black satin sheets
Where he started to freak
[Chorus]
Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha chocolata, ya ya
Creole Lady Marmalade
[Post-Chorus]
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
[Verse 3]
Hey, hey, hey
Seeing her skin
Feeling silky smooth
Color of cafe au lait
Made the savage beast inside
Roaring until 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
[Chorus]
Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da da
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha chocolata, ya ya
Creole Lady Marmalade
[Post-Chorus – Variation]
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 coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
[Outro]
Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha chocolata, ya ya
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Meet Me In Montauk 
This is where a five year age difference between us shows. I actually remember this song on the radio and my mother enjoying it during her Disco Queen phase (1975 to 1978).
What on earth did she think it was about?! 😜 certainly was a perfect choice for Moulin Rouge, though. As for Dana’s comment, I think his familiarity with it has less to do with the 5 year age difference and much more to do with his Disco Queen mom. 💗 While I knew most of the songs in the films were covers, I certainly wasn’t familiar with this original either.