Context

This song was recorded in 1974 by Kenny Nolan's group The Eleventh Hour on the album Eleventh Hour's Greatest Hits. It was then recorded by Labelle for the album Nightbirds (1974).

Some places just know how to throw a party, like New Orleans, Paris, and Studio 54. Fasten your seatbelts, take off your judgmental hats, and put them in Pandora's box. We're goin' for a ride without ya daddy. This quote is about female power and sistas supporting each other: ladies gotta be free, lookin' for equality.

Originally inspired by the New Orleans scene in 1974 and most famously performed by Labelle, the song was heated up by Missy Elliott for the soundtrack to Moulin Rouge in 2001. The video production of that version featuring Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil' Kim, and Mya actually increased global warming. The Missy Elliott version won a Grammy; the Labelle version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.

The song gets into your brain like an earworm, but don't take our word for it. Check out the original recording by Eleventh Hour here and the Labelle performance here.

Where you've heard it

You've probably heard this quote, or something close to it, everywhere around the world by activists like Gloria Steinem and Malala Yousafzai. They've been saying it in different ways through endless generations, but "Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, flow sista" says it with pizzazz.

Additional Notable References:

• Dr. Dolittle soundtrack
• Moulin Rouge soundtrack
• Sheila E

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

There's no pretension in supportin' ya sistas. Shake your tail feathers and go do your thang, girls.