They don’t teach French at South Philly churches.

And that’s the only place that young Patricia Holte would have learned it since she spent every waking moment singing at Beulah Baptist Church.

But when famed New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint asked girl group LaBelle to record “Lady Marmalade,” the “Belles” knew they had a hit, even if they didn’t know a lick of the language.

Poor Patti had been performing “Lady Marmalade” for months before her divine intervention turned revelation when angry nuns came after her for promoting a sexual lifestyle. That’s how sweet, naive, church-going Patti found out she’d been singing about sex work all along.

“Nobody, I swear this is God’s truth, nobody told me what I’d just sung a song about,” she told Jet Magazine. Her shame almost kept her from going back to church, but when she did, the way she was welcomed made her realize “Hey, hookers are people too.” Billboard Magazine got a slightly more colorful quote: “A hooker has to make a living, too — she don’t take the mic out of my mouth and I’m not gonna take the mattress from under her.”

Point is, Ms. Patti was here for ALL the people. And she was joined by Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, her accompanying members in the legendary LaBelle, which had gained success in the first place thanks to their very unique approach to music. Their covers included “Wild Horses” and “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” Their original songs included titles like “Morning Much Better” and “Touch Me All Over.” LaBelle was bound to stand out and together, the funk-soul trio absolutely took the world by storm with “Lady Marmalade.” Everyone wanted a piece of the incredible energy, harmonies, and presence LaBelle brought to the stage. These three ladies became the first Black vocal group ever featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. They were the first pop group of ANY race to play the Metropolitan Opera House founded in 1883, and now one of the most globally accessible music venues in the world.

In this performance recorded live for MTV/VH1, see for yourself why LaBelle absolutely stunned critics, record labels, networks and audiences alike. Remember, I called them a funk-soul group and clearly there is no lie. The costumes you’ll see in this performance are actually tame in comparison to most of LaBelle’s wardrobe, if you can imagine this much skin, sequins and shine being “tame.” But the vocals here are completely outrageous. Patti’s infallible pitch, runs, and ad-libs, these amazing three-part harmonies that just materialize out of nowhere, and the fact that it all happens while dancing around in these get-ups? Otherworldly.

“Lady Marmalade” was LaBelle’s biggest hit, but in the tale all we know too well, success frequently drives a wedge between even the closest of groups. Each lady already had different desires for the direction of the group, and eventually they all followed their hearts and disbanded. Yes, Patti is the “Godmother of Soul” you know and love so well. But Nona Hendryx found her own success in rock, eventually writing, recording and collaborating with Dusty Springfield, Prince, Keith Richards and many, many more. Sarah Dash went on to dazzle in dance and disco music, and you’ve most famously heard her with the Stones as well, duetting on “Time Is On My Side.”

Unless you just don’t listen to music, you’ve heard “Lady Marmalade” so many times, I’m certain you’ve been singing that racy French line to yourself the entire time you’ve been reading along— “voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir?”—so take a break and do yourself the favor of watching & hearing my favorite performance of it from the only ladies who could truly do it right.

Even if they had no idea.

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