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Candy (Mandy Moore song)

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"Candy"
Single by Mandy Moore
from the album So Real and I Wanna Be with You
B-side
  • Snippets
  • "Not Too Young"
ReleasedAugust 17, 1999 (1999-08-17)
GenreBubblegum pop
Length3:54
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Mandy Moore singles chronology
"Candy"
(1999) 		"Walk Me Home"
(1999)
Music video
"Candy" on YouTube

"Candy" is a song by American pop singer Mandy Moore. Serving as Moore's debut single, it was released as the lead single from her first studio album, So Real (1999), on August 17, 1999, by Epic Records and 550 Music. Internationally, the song was released as the first single from I Wanna Be with You (2000).[1][2] The song was written and composed by Denise Rich, Dave Katz, Denny Kleiman, and produced by Jive Jones, Tony Battaglia, and Shaun Fisher.[3]

The song was moderately successful on the US charts, peaking at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1999, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for having sold more than 500,000 copies in the US. The success of the single led to an earlier release date for So Real.[4]

Background

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Mandy Moore, who as a child participated in local singing troupes[5] and had sung the National Anthem at various events in Orlando,[4] 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.[5] 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.[5] 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.[6] In the summer of 1999, Moore toured with boy band NSYNC to promote the single.[5]

Composition

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"Candy" is a bubblegum pop song that lasts for 3 minutes and 54 seconds, written in the key of G major.[7][8] The song begins with a "twinkling melody that [adds to the song's] dreamy innocence".[9] Can't Stop the Pop wrote the song "encapsulated the bubblegum era like no other",[9] and although it shares elements with Swedish pop, its "lyrical content and delivery were skewed towards a younger teen audience."[9] The website added,

Of course, the pièce de résistance of the whole song is the iconic spoken middle-eight. It's the moment that Mandy Moore stamps her identity over the track...'You know who you are, your love is as sweet as candy, I'll 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.[9]

Critical reception

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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.[3]

Chart performance

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"Candy" charted on the Billboard Hot 100, entering at number 88 and peaking outside the top 40 at number 41 on the week of October 29, 1999.[10] The single received more success abroad, peaking at number six in the UK and number two in Australia. As of November 2012, "Candy" has sold 753,000 physical copies and 198,000 paid digital downloads according to Nielsen Soundscan.[11]

Music video

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Moore dancing in a skatepark in the song's 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.[12]) 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 boy 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 boy 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 Vespa-style scooter 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.[12]

Live performances

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Moore performed the Wade Robson Remix version during Summer Music Mania 2000.[13]

Legacy

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Though Moore has expressed distaste for the teen pop beginnings of her early music career,[14][15][16] she has since embraced "Candy"[17] and performs the song as part of her set list at her shows.[18] "Candy" was covered by Tiffany Giardina for her 2009 album No Average Angel. The song was featured in the 2000 movie Center Stage,[12] as well as on the first episode of 2019 comedy series PEN15.[19] 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[20] and a nod to Moore's hairstyle.[21] "Candy" was featured in one of the scenes in the Netflix movie Senior Year (2022), starring Australian actress Rebel Wilson.[22]

Track listings

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The US snippets consist of album tracks "So Real", "What You Want", "Lock Me in Your Heart", and "Quit Breaking My Heart". The Australian version also includes a snippet of "Candy" between the first two tracks.

Credits and personnel

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Credits for "Candy" are adapted from the So Real liner notes.[31]

  • Mandy Moore – vocals
  • Billy Lawrence
  • Jive Jones – backing vocals, production
  • Dakari – additional vocals
  • Rob Bailey – guitars
  • Tony Battaglia – guitars, mixing
  • Dave Katz – keyboards and drum programming
  • Shaun Fisher – keyboards and drum programming, bass
  • The Wasabees – co-production
  • Charlie Pennachio – co-production
  • Ethan Mates – recording
  • Mike Tucker – recording
  • Tommie Hicks Jr. – recording
  • Joe Smith – mixing

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[50] Platinum 70,000^
United States (RIAA)[51] Gold 951,000[11]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States August 17, 1999
[51][52]
United Kingdom April 24, 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 [53]

References

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  1. ^ "I Wanna Be With You". Sony Music Australia. Archived from the original on January 17, 2004.
  2. ^ Mandy Moore – Candy (CD). Epic. May 9, 2000. 669345 2. Taken from the forthcoming EPIC release I Wanna Be With You
  3. ^ a b William Ruhlmann (August 17, 1999). "Candy [Single] - Mandy Moore | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Flick, Larry (November 20, 1999). "With High 'Candy' Sales, 550 Ups Street Date for Moore's Debut". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 47. p. 21. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Gettelman, Parry (October 27, 1999). "Next Teen Queen". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  6. ^ "Artist Confidential: Mandy Moore". ABC News. November 17, 2007. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Firman, Tehrene (April 10, 2015). "This Video of Mandy Moore Singing a New Version of "Candy" is Everything". Teen Vogue. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "Mandy Moore | Candy". Tunebat. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d "Mandy Moore - Candy". Can't Stop the Pop. April 20, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "Mandy Moore Chart History". Billboard.
  11. ^ a b "Billboard.com - Ask Billboard". Billboard. November 12, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2013.[dead link‍]
  12. ^ a b c "Mandy Moore Celebrates National Candy Day With Epic Throwback GIF". E! Online. November 4, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "The boy bands are coming! The boy bands are coming!". Biz Journals. August 2, 2000. Archived from the original on October 7, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  14. ^ Highfill, Samantha (February 12, 2020). "This is Mandy Moore: The singer discusses her return to music after more than a decade away". EW.com. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "Moore Hates First Albums". Contactmusic.com. January 12, 2006. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ^ Sander, Brice (April 10, 2015). "Mandy Moore Redid "Candy" And It Is Amazing". BuzzFeed. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  17. ^ Moore, Mandy (August 17, 2020). "Happy Anniversary, Candy!". Twitter. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  18. ^ "Mandy Moore "Candy" LIVE at Webster Hall NYC 6/15/22". YouTube. June 15, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  19. ^ Carlin, Shannon (February 8, 2019). "Hulu's "PEN15" Soundtrack Will Make You Seriously Miss The 2000s". Refinery 29. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  20. ^ Roby, India (August 23, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo Wears THE Most Y2K Outfits Ever In Her New "Brutal" Music Video". Nylon. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  21. ^ Van Paris, Calin (August 23, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's "Brutal" Music Video Is an Ode to Y2K Beauty". Vogue. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  22. ^ Abdulbaki, Mae (May 14, 2022). "Senior Year Proves Hollywood's Millennial Nostalgia Obsession Has To End". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  23. ^ Candy (US CD single liner notes). Mandy Moore. Epic Records, 550 Music. 1999. 36K 79240.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ Candy (US cassette single sleeve). Mandy Moore. Epic Records, 550 Music. 1999. 36T 79240.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ Candy (UK CD1 liner notes). Mandy Moore. Epic Records, 550 Music. 2000. 669345 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ Candy (UK CD2 liner notes). Mandy Moore. Epic Records, 550 Music. 2000. 669345 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Candy (UK cassette single sleeve). Mandy Moore. Epic Records, 550 Music. 2000. 669345 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Candy (European CD single liner notes). Mandy Moore. Epic Records, 550 Music. 2000. FFM 668171 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Candy (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Mandy Moore. Epic Records, 550 Music. 2000. FFM 668171 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ Candy (Australian CD single liner notes). Mandy Moore. Epic Records, 550 Music. 2000. 667895 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ So Real (US CD album liner notes). Mandy Moore. Epic Records, 550 Music. 1999. BK 69917.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ^ "Mandy Moore – Candy". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  33. ^ "Mandy Moore – Candy" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  34. ^ "Mandy Moore – Candy" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  35. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7284." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  36. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7842." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  37. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 20. May 13, 2000. p. 11. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  38. ^ "Mandy Moore – Candy" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  39. ^ "Mandy Moore – Candy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  40. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (1.7–8.7 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 30, 2000. p. 12. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  41. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Candy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  42. ^ "Mandy Moore – Candy". Top 40 Singles.
  43. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  44. ^ "Mandy Moore – Candy". Singles Top 100.
  45. ^ "Mandy Moore – Candy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  46. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  47. ^ "Mandy Moore Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  48. ^ "Mandy Moore Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  49. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2000". ARIA. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  50. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  51. ^ a b "American single certifications – Mandy Moore – Candy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  52. ^ "Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2268. August 16, 1999. p. 9.
  53. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting April 24, 2000: Singles". Music Week. April 22, 2000. p. 27.
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