Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1999
Candy (Mandy Moore song)
Buy Candy (Mandy Moore song) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Candy
| cover = Candy Australian CD single.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Mandy Moore
| album = So Real
| B-side =
| released = August 17, 1999
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = *Bubblegum pop
| length = 3:54
| label =
*Epic
*550 Music
| writer =
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Walk Me Home
| next_year = 1999
| misc =
}}
'"Candy"' is a song by American pop singer Mandy Moore. It served as Moore's debut single from her debut studio album, 'So Real' (1999). and was released on August 17, 1999, by Epic Records and 550 Music. The song was written and composed by Denise Rich, Dave Katz, Denny Kleiman, and produced by Jive Jones, Tony Battaglia, and Shaun Fisher.
Though the song was moderately successful on the US charts, peaking at number 41 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in October 1999, the success of the single led to an earlier release date for 'So Real', Retrieved September 15, 2021. and has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for having sold more than 500,000 copies in the US. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
Background
Moore, who as a kid participated in local singing troupes and had sung the National Anthem at various events in Orlando, was said to be discovered by producers Shaun Fisher and Tony Battaglia when they listened to a track she sang on a children's music CD. Moore worked with Fisher and Battaglia on recording a demo, which eventually found its way to record labels and sparked a bidding war for Moore between Sony Records and MCA Records. After signing with Epic Records, Moore began work on her debut album with Battaglia and Fisher as primary producers and writers. "Candy" and 'So Real' were released when Moore was fifteen years old. In the summer of 1999, Moore toured with boy band NSYNC to promote the single.
Composition
"Candy" is a bubblegum pop song that lasts for 3 minutes and 54 seconds, written in the key of G major. The song begins with a "twinkling melody that [adds to the song's] dreamy innocence". 'Can't Stop the Pop' wrote the song "encapsulated the bubblegum era like no other", and although it shares elements with Swedish pop, its "lyrical content and delivery were skewed towards a younger teen audience." The website added,
Of course, the pice de rsistance of the whole song is the iconic spoken middle-eight. Its the moment that Mandy Moore stamps her identity over the track...'You know who you are, your love is as sweet as candy, Ill be forever yours, love always, Mandy''. This is what the bubblegum pop era was all about; music that was completely unfazed and unpretentious about itself, no matter how utterly absurd it could be.
Critical reception
Though the song was a commercial success, "Candy" received mixed reviews from critics who compared the single to that of other teen pop singers like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson. In a lukewarm review, William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote,
Moore is 550 Music's entry in the female teen singer sweepstakes of 1999. Moore lacks the undercurrent of sensuality Britney Spears brings to such material, but then she seems to be aiming at a younger demographic. Whether or not she makes it is more dependent on her looks, her ability to dance, and her label's promotional abilities than on the record itself, which is about par for this sort of thing.
Chart performance
"Candy" was a modest hit on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, entering the chart at number 88 and peaking just outside the top 40 at number 41 on the week of October 29, 1999. The single received more success abroad, peaking at #6 in the UK and #2 in Australia. As of November 2012, "Candy" has sold 753,000 physical copies and 198,000 paid digital downloads according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Music video
The music video to promote the single and album was directed by Chris Robinson. Filmed in July 1999, the video begins with shots of a typical neighborhood, with the camera eventually zooming in to Mandy Moore's bedroom. After Moore's friends (played by the members of the female pop group P.Y.T.) call Moore from outside her bedroom window, her friends get in a green Volkswagen New Beetle (with the VW logos removed) and Moore drives her friends to their destination. A guy skateboarding with friends in the neighborhood notices Moore as her car passes him by. Moore and her friends arrive at a diner called Cadillac Jack's. After being seated, the same guy from earlier shows up in the diner with his friends. He and Moore steal glances at each other from across the diner. The video intercuts between Moore dancing outside the diner with her friends and her crush driving his motorcycle through the neighborhood, accompanied by Moore. The end of the music video shows Moore and her dancers in an empty pool, surrounded by the skateboarders doing laps.
The video was nearly retired from 'TRL;' it had spent 61 days on the countdown in total.
Live performances
Moore performed the Wade Robson Remix version during Summer Music Mania 2000.
Legacy
Though Moore has expressed distaste for the teen pop beginnings of her early music career, she has since embraced "Candy" and performs the song as part of her set list at her shows. "Candy" was covered by Tiffany Giardina for her 2009 album 'No Average Angel'. The song was featured in the 2000 movie 'Center Stage,' as well as on the first episode of 2019 comedy series 'PEN15'. The 2021 music video for "Brutal" by Olivia Rodrigo contained visual references to Y2K-era pop culture like the "Candy" video, including the lime green VW bug and a nod to Moore's hairstyle. Candy was featured in one of the scenes in the Netflix movie 'Senior Year' (2022), starring Australian actress Rebel Wilson.
Track listings
;US single
# "Candy" (main version) 3:52
# "Candy" (instrumental) 3:52
# Album snippets 5:59
;UK CD single
#"Candy"
#"Candy" (Hex Hector Radio Edit)
#"Not Too Young"
#"Candy" (video)
;UK CD 2
#"Candy" 3:56
#"Candy" (Rhythm Masters Club Mix) 7:35
#"Candy" (Richie Santana Club Mix) 6:34
;UK Cassette Single
#"Candy" 3:56
#"Not Too Young" 3:52
;Australian CD single
#"Candy" 4:06
#"Candy" (George Calle Radio Remix) 3:42
#"Candy" (Hex Hector Radio Mix) 3:45
#"Candy" (Santana Radio Remix) 4:20
#Album snippets 18:57
#Multimedia
;European CD single (Non-UK)
#"Candy" 4:06
#"Candy" (instrumental) 4:06
;Europe CD 2
#"Candy" (album version) 3:56
#"Candy" (Hex Hector radio edit) 3:45
;Germany CD
#"Candy" (album version) 3:56
#"Candy" (Hex Hector 12" Mix) 9:52
#"Candy" (Richie Santana Club Mix) 6:34
;US 12" vinyl promo
#"Candy" (Hex Hector 12" Mix) 9:00
#"Candy" (George Calle Radio Mix) 4:00
#"Candy" (Richie Santana Club Mix 7:30
#"Candy" (Hex Hector Dub) 7:00
;Brazilian remixes EP promo
#"Candy" (edit with vocals) 3:00
#"Candy" (album version) 3:55
#"Candy" (Calle Rhythm Radio) 3:42
#"Candy" (Hex Radio) 3:45
#"Candy" (Hex Club) 9:52
#"Candy" (Hex Dub) 9:01
#"Candy" (Richie Santana Radio) 4:20
#"Candy" (Richie Santana Club) 6:35
#"Candy" (Richie Santana Dub) 5:04
Credits and personnel
Credits for "Candy" adapted from 'So Real' liner notes.'So Real' liner notes. Epic Records (1999)
* Mandy Moore Vocals
* Billy Lawrence, Jive Jones Backing vocals
* Dakari Additional vocals
* Rob Bailey, Tony Battaglia Guitars
* Dave Katz - Keyboards and drum programming
* Shaun Fisher: Keyboards and drum programming, Bass
* Produced by Jive Jones
* Co-Produced by The Wasabees and Charlie Pennachio
*Recorded by Ethan Mates, Mike Tucker and Tommie Hicks Jr.
*Mixed by Tony Battaglia and Joe Smith
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Buy Candy (Mandy Moore song) now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1999