Interview: Labelle (Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx and Patti LaBelle) - R&B's Pioneering Female Trio - Page 5

Nona Hendryx: "I Believe That I've Finally Made It Home." But "(Can I Speak Before You Go To) Hollywood" if I had to say one.

Sarah Dash: "Sunday's News" and "If I Can't Have You".

In 2001, "Lady Marmalade" was covered by Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and Lil' Kim for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. What were your initial impressions of the remake?

Sarah Dash: Great, great, great!

Patti LaBelle: Fabulous! Those girls sang their butts off and their video was phenomenal. Missy Elliott and Rockwilder did a great job producing it and what could we say but, "Thank you, girls."

Nona Hendryx: All we can say is we wish we'd written it [laughing].

Patti LaBelle: Yes, that's a good thing to say, but we didn't [laughing].

As Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, you recorded a cover of "Over the Rainbow" in 1965, and for the past four decades, Ms. LaBelle, the song has become a staple in your solo stage performance. What personal attachment does this song have for you?

Patti LaBelle: It's like "When You Wish Upon a Star." When you dream big dreams and believe that they can come true, when you see birds fly high over the rainbow, then you always wonder: "Why can't I?" When I see the rainbow, I wonder why can't I get to the top of the charts like Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler and Madonna? So when I'm flying, I'm trying to get higher. When I sing that song, I'm really wondering: "Why, oh why can't I?"

For more information on Labelle, visit their MySpace page.

Article Author: Clayton Perry

Clayton Perry's mission parallels that of John Hope Franklin, Marcus Garvey and Carter G. Woodson. As the founder of the NUBIANO Project, Perry facilitates the design of projects that give voice to the Black diaspora, empower the Black community, …

Visit Clayton Perry's author page — Clayton Perry's Blog