This was one of my favorites off "Sex Cymbal" long before the huge remake came out by Xtina and the girls. I wonder if the WB had promoted this as a single if Sheila couldn't have had a major hit on her hands? Or do you think it took 4 of them to make it a hit again?

if that phat song Sex Cymbal or the single version of "Dropping like Flies" (which was far superior to the album version) didnt chart then I doubt Lady Marmalade would have....

sosgemini said:

Agreed. "Sex Cymbal" is the shhhhh-ut yo mouf! Though I like "Lady Marmalade" I don't think it was 'radio friendly' enough. 'Sex Cymbal' could've been a hit.

Anyone like All Saints' version as well?

Chico1 said:

I really like All Saints.



Listen to the rhythm while I'm hypin up the tempo!

I didn't care for it and I hated the version those three or four little tramps did together about two or three years ago. Only LaBelle could do this song justice.

Nope,I don't think Sheila's version of "Lady Marmalade" woulda been a hit.The song "Cry Baby" deserved better promotion.....if there had been a video,it could have been a smash! The track "Whatcha Gonna Do" should have also been a single.

I think once Patti kills a song, nobody else can fuck w/ it & stand a chance. NOBODY...

Actually, this is just like when Sinead O'Connor came out with her cover of Nothing Compares 2 U. When I heard the Rouge version of it, I thought it was pretty good, but then immediately pulled out Sex Cymbal and played that version, and I still like that one. Complete redone joint, but phatter than the Xtina version. And Sheila's version leads into her famous 808 Kate drum solo. Fonkay like she know she be!

Personally, I LOVE Sheila's version. Both on the album, on Aresnio, and at the House of Blues '98.

I love me some Patti, but I like this version better than the original studio version, which is kind of tired now. (although Patti still kills it live!)

Sheila really makes it funky with the horns, and the syncopation, and it exemplifies her extreme musicanship which most people dont' even begin to comprehend.

Unfortunately, it was probably too "advanced" musically for radio.

And as someone said already, Sex Cymbal never made it, and it had an amazing video!!! (especiall those 2 hot wrestler guys hugging---very ahead of her time!) I never understood why that didn't chart.

PS Shoudln't this thread be on Associated Artists?

GaryMF said:

i was torn.....i kept it here...

Love Sheila to death, but she did this track no justice at all. The only other person who ever really did a great version besides Patti was George Michael on the Faith tour. Sheila just doesn't have the voice for that track.

WonderU said:

In general, I agree with the "Only Patti should sing Patti songs" concept. (On a side note, one of the main reasons my friends and I HATE Celine is for overshadowing Patit's If You Asked Me Too!)

But I respectfully disagree with what you say. It'snot the singing per se that makes it great (cuz noone can sing like Patti, and Sheila never claims to be a "singer" singer), but it's the overall musicality of it. The arrangement, the funkiness, the way you think it's over but she throws in some extra syncopated parts at the very end... etc.

TO be honest, I haven't listened to the album version in a while, but I have a live version of HOB 98 which I play all the time and I can't get enough. It's pretty close to the album version I think, but probably more funky.
[Edited 1/6/05 13:04pm]

GaryMF said:

I agree totally on the music part of that and I also love the House of Blues version as well. It just was so not in a range vocally that she sounded good in, but I also loved her singing it on Arsenio.

WonderU said:

We agree .

The HOB version (which is probably my most treasured "unofficial" disc of all) is great. It's funny cuz she kinda screws up the words at some point. She repeats the 1st verse ("I dont' think they heard me, I'm gonna say it again").

Then again, Miss Patti constantly forgets/screws up her own lyrics so it's kinda in the tradition. I think on Aresnio she tells him on the couch that it was really ambitious to try and do a Patti song, and she knows it's not like she thinks she is that type of singer.

I remember playing it for someone a long time ago, and they didn't "get it". Maybe I"m just more focused on the overall arrangement and attitude, and really get the whole syncopation feel, whereas the average Joe would just be like "oh it's different than what i Know"?