I Want Candy#Aaron Carter version

"I Want Candy" was written by Bert Berns, Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer in 1965. Some reports suggest that the song was written after the producers saw dancer Candy Johnson performing at the 1964 World's Fair.{{cite web|title= 'I Want Candy' Is About a 1960s Singer from the World's Fair |website= GroovyHistory.com |date= September 3, 2019 |access-date= April 2, 2021 |url= https://groovyhistory.com/i-want-candy-strangeloves-bow-wow-wow}}

As writers/producers, Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer had already scored big hits for other artists, including "My Boyfriend's Back" by the Angels. For this song, the trio took on the moniker of the Strangeloves, and recorded the tune themselves, augmented by studio musicians (co-writer Berns was not involved in the studio recording). The female vocalist heard half-screaming, half-singing "Baby!" in the middle of the track was an unknown session singer.

Although Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer used their real names in the writing and production credits of this single, they claimed the Strangeloves were actually three Australian brothers (and ex-sheep farmers) named Giles, Miles and Niles Strange. Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer dressed up in shaggy wigs and exotic clothing for publicity photos as the Strangeloves.

"I Want Candy", the Strangeloves' second single, reached No. 7 in Canada{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5601.pdf| title=RPM Top 40&5 Singles - August 2, 1965}} and hit No. 11 in the US. The record failed to chart in the UK—or in the Strangeloves' ostensibly "native" country, Australia.

In the UK, the song first hit the UK Singles Chart in 1965, in a version by beat group Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, who took it to No. 25.{{cite book|first= David |last= Roberts |year= 2006 |title= British Hit Singles & Albums |edition= 19th |publisher= Guinness World Records Limited |location= London |page= 535 |isbn= 1-904994-10-5}} This version also peaked at No. 81 in Australia.{{cite web|title= Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Chart Positions Pre 1989 Part 4 |publisher= Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien |access-date= June 18, 2014 |url= http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=34759&pages=}}

The Count Bishops, British proto punk and pub-rock band, released their version of "I Want Candy" on independent label Chiswick Records in 1978, making an appearance on the British TV show Top of the Pops.

{{Infobox song

| name = I Want Candy

| cover = Bow wow wow candy standard international edition.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Standard UK and international vinyl picture sleeve

| type = single

| artist = Bow Wow Wow

| album = The Last of the Mohicans

| B-side = King Kong

| released = 1982

| recorded =

| studio = Criteria (Miami)

| venue =

| genre =

• New wave{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/style/new-wave-ma0000002750/songs|title=New Wave Music Songs|website=AllMusic}}{{cite book|title= A Field Guide to Post-Punk and New Wave|first=Steve|last=Wide|date= September 22, 2020|chapter= Honourable Mentions: New Wave 'One-Hit Wonders'|page= 72|publisher=Smith Street Books|isbn=978-1-925811-76-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KEcMzAEACAAJ}}
• bubblegum{{cite book|first= David|last= Smay|editor1-first= Kim |editor1-last= Cooper|editor2-first= David|editor2-last= Smay|year= 2001|title= Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth|chapter= Bubblegum & New Wave|publisher= Feral House|location= Los Angeles|pages= 248–250}}

| length = 2:46

| label = RCA

| writer = {{hlist|Bert Berns|Bob Feldman|Jerry Goldstein|Richard Gottehrer}}

| producer = Kenny Laguna

| prev_title = Go Wild in the Country

| prev_year = 1982

| next_title = Fools Rush In

| next_year = 1982

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|JoXVYSV4Xcs|"I Want Candy"}}}}

}}

English new wave group Bow Wow Wow released their version in 1982 as the first and only single from their EP The Last of the Mohicans. It was a top 10 hit in their native United Kingdom. For many in America, "I Want Candy" was their first introduction to young lead singer Annabella Lwin and the band, who partnered with producer Kenny Laguna to record the song at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida.{{cite magazine|first= Bryan |last= Reesman |title= Classic Tracks: Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy" |magazine= Mix |date= October 1, 2007 |access-date= December 29, 2021 |url= https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks-bow-wow-wows-i-want-candy-365877}} The song barely scraped the top 60 there but became an enduring new wave classic.{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Demalon |title= Bow Wow Wow – I Want Candy |website= AllMusic |access-date= June 18, 2014 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-want-candy-mw0000313803}}

To capitalize on the success of the "I Want Candy" music video, RCA compiled an album called I Want Candy for their newfound American audience. The album peaked at No. 123 on the Billboard 200.{{cite web |title= Bow Wow Wow – Awards |website= AllMusic |access-date= June 26, 2018 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-want-candy-mw0000313803 |archive-date= June 26, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180626001535/https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-want-candy-mw0000313803 |url-status= bot: unknown }}

The Bow Wow Wow recording appeared on two VH1 countdowns:

• No. 86 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '80s"{{cite web|title= VH1'S "100 Greatest Songs of the '80s" preaches to the choir with Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" taking the top spot |date= 24 October 2006 |publisher= VH1 |url= http://www.vh1.com/press/press_releases/2006_release/100greatestsongs80s_10302006.jhtml |url-status= dead |archive-date= 31 January 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100131062803/http://www.vh1.com/press/press_releases/2006_release/100greatestsongs80s_10302006.jhtml}}
• No. 8 on VH1's "100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s"{{cite web|title= 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s: Read the List |publisher= VH1 |date= 1 April 2009 |url= http://blog.vh1.com/2009-04-01/100-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-80s-read-the-list-2/ |archive-date= 6 August 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090806041321/http://blog.vh1.com/2009-04-01/100-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-the-80s-read-the-list-2/}}

{{Infobox song

| name = I Want Candy

| cover = I Want Candy.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Candy Girls featuring Valerie Malcolm

| album =

| B-side = Four other remixes

| released = 1996 (UK)

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length =

| label = {{hlist|Feverpitch|EMI Records}}

| writer = {{hlist|Bert Berns|Bob Feldman|Jerry Goldstein|Richard Gottehrer}}

| producer =

| chronology = Candy Girls

| prev_title = Wham Bam

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

British duo Candy Girls, consisting of Rachel Auburn and Paul Masterson, released a cover of "I Want Candy" featuring singer Valerie Malcolm. It became their third hit single in 1996, peaking at No. 30 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 12 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. On Music Week{{'}}s UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart, the song hit number-one. The single was their last as the duo split after the release. Masterson went on to have hits as Amen! UK, Clergy, Yomanda, Dorothy and Hi-Gate. A music video was also produced to promote the single.

A reviewer from Music Week rated Candy Girls' version of "I Want Candy" three out of five, describing it as "a pumped-up version of Bow Wow Wow's hit complete with piano breaks for that hands in the air bit. The girls' debut could catapult them chartwards."{{cite magazine|title= Reviews: Singles |magazine= Music Week |page= 10 |date= November 16, 1996 |accessdate= October 6, 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-11-16.pdf}} Daisy & Havoc from the magazine's RM Dance Update gave it four out of five, writing, "The next booming Candy Girls outing is probably their best yet. It's really amusing, with the so-suitable 'I want candy' vocal and the all-round Nineties pop meets Fifties kitsch feel, and it's positively rabble-rousing in its enormous piano breaks."{{cite magazine|author= Daisy & Havoc |title= Hot Vinyl |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert) |page= 10 |date= November 16, 1996 |accessdate= October 6, 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-11-16.pdf}}

• Disc 1

1. "I Want Candy" (Radio Edit)
2. "I Want Candy" (12" Mix)
3. "I Want Candy" (Candy's Disco Dub)
4. "I Want Candy" (Jon the Dentist's Mix)
5. "I Want Candy" (Beat Barons Mix)

• Disc 2

1. "I Want Candy" (Radio Edit)
2. "Wham Bam"
3. "Fee Fi Fo Fum"

{{Clear}}

{{Infobox song

| name = I Want Candy

| cover = Aaron Carter I Want Candy cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Aaron Carter

| album = Aaron's Party (Come Get It)

| B-side = Jump, Jump

| released = 2000

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:16

| label = {{hlist|Jive|Zomba}}

| writer = {{hlist|Bert Berns|Bob Feldman|Jerry Goldstein|Richard Gottehrer}}

| producer =

| prev_title = Children of the World

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Aaron's Party (Come Get It)

| next_year = 2000

}}

Aaron Carter released a cover of "I Want Candy" as his seventh overall single, and the second single from his second album, Aaron's Party (Come Get It) (2000).

This version of "I Want Candy" begins with a phone conversation with a friend about a girl named Candy and features the participation of his brother Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys. Carter promoted it by performing it on the show Lizzie McGuire. A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Andrew MacNaughtan. Carter released a remix of the song in 2018, self-produced on his LøVë album.{{cite magazine|first= Tess |last= Koman |title= So Aaron Carter Just Dropped an 'I Want Candy' Remix |magazine= Cosmopolitan |date= February 16, 2018 |access-date= February 20, 2018 |url= https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a18210747/aaron-carter-i-want-candy-remix/}}

The music video for this version features Carter going on a date with Candy while three boys constantly harass him.

Single

1. "I Want Candy" (album version) – 3:13
2. "I Want Candy" (instrumental) – 3:13

Maxi CD

1. "I Want Candy" (album version) – 3:13
2. "I Want Candy" (instrumental) – 3:13
3. "Jump Jump" – 2:39

{{Infobox song

| name = I Want Candy

| cover = Melanie C - I Want Candy.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Melanie C

| album = This Time

| B-side = Already Gone

| released = 26 March 2007

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:23

| label = Red Girl

| writer = {{hlist|Bert Berns|Bob Feldman|Jerry Goldstein|Richard Gottehrer}}

| producer = Stephen Hague

| prev_title = The Moment You Believe

| prev_year = 2007

| next_title = Carolyna

| next_year = 2007

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|URp6GAJ4sGk|"I Want Candy"}}}}

}}

"I Want Candy" was released as the second single from English singer Melanie C's fourth album This Time, and the first single in the UK, Denmark and Italy, released on 26 March 2007.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-want-candy-mw0000573808 |title=I Want Candy by Melanie C |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=30 October 2024}} The song was also the soundtrack to the film of the same name, and the video featured Melanie dancing for the first time since the Spice Girls. Melanie split her time between the UK and Europe, where she was promoting "The Moment You Believe", and as a result, the single was not heavily promoted and reached No. 24 — although on the physical chart, the single reached No. 7. "I Want Candy" went on to sell 12,510 copies in the UK, but had better success in Italy (No. 9) and Denmark (No. 12).

Melanie premiered her version of the song during Al Murray's Happy Hour on ITV1 on 24 February 2007. The video was premiered on 2 March 2007 in the UK. The song was released as Italy's and Denmark's first single from the new album, where it reached No. 9 in both countries, while in other European countries, the ballad "The Moment You Believe" was chosen.

A music video for "I Want Candy", directed by Tim Royes, depicts Melanie C in a skin-tight catsuit, featuring a sexually suggestive dance routine with half-naked bodybuilders in crowd-controller uniforms. The video instantly grabbed the number one spot on YouTube with 200,000 hits in its first day.{{cite web|title= Home |website= MelanieC.net |access-date= February 1, 2012 |url= http://www.melaniec.net}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK CD single{{cite web|title=I Want Candy by Melanie C|website= Spotify |access-date=4 November 2024 |url= https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/album/1MyhckwgCYu1obFbM7BKow}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I Want Candy

| note1 = single version

| writer1 = {{hlist|Berns|Feldman|Goldstein|Gottehrer}}

| extra1 = Hague

| length1 = 3:24

| title2 = I Want Candy

| writer2 = {{hlist|Melanie Chisholm|Dave Munday|Phil Thornalley}}

| extra2 = Hague

| length2 = 4:08

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK maxi CD single{{cite web|title=I Want Candy by Melanie C|website= Spotify |access-date=4 November 2024 |url= https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/album/1MyhckwgCYu1obFbM7BKow}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = I Want Candy

| note1 = single version

| writer1 = {{hlist|Bert Berns|Bob Feldman|Jerry Goldstein|Richard Gottehrer}}

| extra1 = Stephen Hague

| length1 = 3:23

| title2 = I Want Candy

| note2 = Club Junkies mix

| writer2 = {{hlist|Berns|Feldman|Goldstein|Gottehrer}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Hague|Club Junkies{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length2 = 6:37

| title3 = I Want Candy

| note3 = So-Lo's Electric vocal mix

| writer3 = {{hlist|Berns|Feldman|Goldstein|Gottehrer}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Hague|So-Lo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length3 = 5:16

| title4 = I Want Candy

| note4 = So-Lo's Filtered disco dub

| writer4 = {{hlist|Berns|Feldman|Goldstein|Gottehrer}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Hague|So-Lo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length4 = 7:33

| title5 = I Want Candy

| note5 = music video

| length5 = 3:22

}}

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer

Credits adapted from the liner notes of This Time.{{cite AV media notes |title=This Time |type=liner notes |others=Melanie C |publisher=Red Girl Records |year=2007}}

• Bert Berns – writer
• Bob Feldman – writer
• Jerry Goldstein – writer
• Richard Gottehrer – writer
• Paul Grady – engineer
• Stephen Hague – engineer, producer

{{Reflist|25em}}

{{Aaron Carter}}

{{Bow Wow Wow}}

{{Melanie C singles}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1965 songs

Category:1965 singles

Category:1982 singles

Category:1996 singles

Category:2000 singles

Category:2007 singles

Category:Aaron Carter songs

Category:Bow Wow Wow songs

Category:Melanie C songs

Category:The Tremeloes songs

Category:Music videos directed by Andrew MacNaughtan

Category:Music videos directed by Tim Royes

Category:Song recordings produced by Stephen Hague

Category:Songs written by Bert Berns

Category:Songs written by Jerry Goldstein (producer)

Category:Songs written by Richard Gottehrer

Category:Bang Records singles

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Jive Records singles

Category:EMI Records singles

Category:Zomba Group of Companies singles

Category:Songs written by Bob Feldman