"Lady Marmalade" was originally a song written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, for the latter's disco group, but first became popular in 1974 when performed by the R&B group Labelle. It's also famous for popularising the French expression "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?" as an easy shorthand for Intercourse with You.
It has been covered many times, and the most famous is the 2001 version created to tie in with the Moulin Rouge! movie - and although a cover is performed in the movie by the characters, it differs from the single. Envisioned as a massive collaboration between four pop divas of the day, it was performed by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, P!nk and Mýa. Missy Elliott, who co-produced the track with her usual partner Rockwilder, appears at the start and end of the video to introduce the performance.
The cover was an instant hit, reaching number one in its eighth week in the chart and staying there for five. In Billboard chart history, it became the third song to reach the top through sheer airplay only, after Aaliyah's "Try Again" and Shaggy's "Angel". It's also the highest selling single for Mya and Lil' Kim, and also made the latter hold a record for longest number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 by a female rapper until Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" in 2014.
The song won a 2002 Grammy for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals", and two MTV Video Music Awards for "Best Video of the Year" and "Best Video from a Film". It was also a heavy influence on "Bang Bang", a later collaboration between Ariana Grande, Jessie J and Nicki Minaj. When Moulin Rouge! received a Broadway adaptation, "Lady Marmalade" was incorporated into the soundtrack.
Tropes relating to "Lady Marmalade":
- Adaptational Location Change: The original referred to New Orleans. To tie in with the Moulin Rouge, the 2001 version relocates it to Paris.
- Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: Christina (blonde), Mya (brunette), and P!nk (pink). Lil Kim subverts this as, while she has red hair in some scenes, those are her solo shots, and she's blonde when performing with the others.
- Book Ends: The video opens with Missy Elliott introducing it as the MC, and ends with her giving a role call for each singer.
- Burlesque: Each singer has a sequence where they're performing on the stage of the Moulin Rouge, and the video ends with all four performing together.
- Crossover: The song is pop, but all four performers are known for different genres of music; Mýa being a R&B Diva, P!nk bringing a Rock edge, Lil' Kim raps her way through a Hip-Hop verse, and Christina being a Pop princess.
- Dressed Like a Dominatrix: Christina's costume fits this the most - with her leotard, gloves and boots. Although the latter aren't that high, at just below the knees.
- Everything Sounds Sexier in French: The original helped popularise "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?", which translates as "would you like to sleep with me tonight".
- Everything's Better with Sparkles: P!nk performs in a sparkly bustier and bejewelled panties and boots, Mya's red outfit is sequinned along the hem and her blue one likewise has lines of sequins going down, Christina has rhinestones around her eyes, and Lil' Kim's corset is glittery.
- Everything's Sparkly with Jewelry:
- Both Lil' Kim's costumes feature her wearing elaborate necklaces, bracelets and earrings for maximum sparkle effect. She's also being offered another necklace in one sequence. It can't be glimpsed as clearly, but she's wearing several sparkly rings as well.
- Mya has two huge sparkly hoop earrings, a sparkly bracelet on each wrist and a dazzling belt.
- P!nk actually has the most jewellery on, with two bracelets per wrist, a huge ring on her left hand, and three necklaces.
- Christina meanwhile has a sparkly choker, with matching earrings and a headband.
- Fanservice Costumes: Justified because they're performing at the Moulin Rouge, and therefore sex appeal is the aim.
- Fanservice Pack: Rolling Stone joked that Lil' Kim and Christina would probably wear their outfits to the supermarket, but it was quite surprising to see P!nk and Mya looking that sexy.
- Fluffy Fashion Feathers: Mya has long red feathers as part of her headdress.
- Girliness Upgrade: P!nk was best known as a short-haired tomboy, and thus it was a surprise to see her with long ringlets and in corsets and lingerie.
- High-Class Call Girl: In-universe, the girls are portraying Moulin Rouge performers, so they are presumably this. Lil Kim has scenes where she's being shown various jewellery, presumably as gifts from her patron.
- High-Class Gloves: You know these are expensive call girls by the elbow length gloves they wear.
- High-Heel Power: All four sell themselves as powerful and independent, and thus each wears high heels.
- Hotter and Sexier: While the original was suggestive, it was a bit coyer about it, to the point that Patti LeBelle didn't know what the French lyric meant. The 2001 cover and video are much more overt, with all four singers on Ms. Fanservice duty.
- Iconic Item: Each singer gets one in their section of the video, Mýa gets a riding crop, P!nk gets a stool, Lil' Kim gets dollar bills, and Christina has her gloves.
- Lady in Red: Each singer except P!nk gets a costume that's primarily red. Lil' Kim has a long red wig on in her bit. As befitting a sexual song.
- Of Corset Hurts: Downplayed. Mya has a couple of shots where she's being laced into her corset, and in one swats the maids away for going too tight.
- Of Corsets Sexy: Each singer has an outfit including a corset for added sexiness. Both of Mya's are corsets.
- The Oldest Profession: The original was about a brothel in New Orleans. The 2001 version is about the Moulin Rouge.
- Pink Is Erotic: P!nk has scenes in a bedroom setting, where she's wearing a pink corset and lingerie, and of course her hair adds to the sensuality. The set also has pink curtains, wallpaper and bed linen.
- Sexy Silhouette: Mya and P!nk have several shots where they're only filmed in silhouette.
- Stocking Filler: All four wear stockings in both sets of outfits for maximum sex appeal.
- Supermodel Strut: Christina begins her solo by walking onto the stage like this.
- Three Minutes of Writhing: One of the more famous examples of this in the early 2000s.
- A Wild Rapper Appears!: Lil' Kim naturally supplies the third verse in rap form.
