Candy Girl (New Edition song)

Single infobox
Name = Candy Girl


Artist = New Edition
from Album = Candy Girl
Released = February 14, 1983
Format = CD single
Recorded = November 6, 1982
Genre = R&B/Pop
Length = 3:52
Label = Streetwise/Warlock
Writer = Maurice Starr
Producer = Maurice Starr
Chart position =

#46, US Pop

#1, US R&B

#1, UK Pop

#8
NoReviews = yes
Last single = —
This single = "Candy Girl" (1983)
Next single = "Is This The End"
(1983)

"Candy Girl" is an R&B/Pop song by R&B quintet New Edition. Released in 1983, it was the first single from their debut album of the same name. It hit number one in the United Kingdom in May 1983, becoming the 31st best selling single of the year there.

Overview

History

After having discovered New Edition performing at a local talent show, songwriter/producer Maurice Starr wrote "Candy Girl" for the group, envisioning them as a 1980s answer to The Jackson 5. Ralph Tresvant was positioned as the lead singer, because Starr considered his high tenor as reminiscent of a younger Michael Jackson, while having members Ricky Bell and Bobby Brown sharing alternate leads.

Release and reaction

Released as a single in 1983, the song netted a slow ascent up the charts. It eventually peaked at #46 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart singles chart, and #1 on the R&B singles chart; it also topped the charts in the UK. The song established New Edition as a seminal teen act of their day, and paved the way for a string of hits to come.

Trivia

The song has been sampled by several hip-hop acts. Much notably, the song's chorus was lifted for hip-hop group D4L's crossover hit, "Laffy Taffy". It was also the basis for LL Cool J's hit "Candy", which featured Ralph Tresvant and Ricky Bell. Recently, Lil's Keke's track "Luv By Few Hated By Many" also sampled it. The song was also one of the first songs that mixed hip-hop and R&B, with all five band members sharing raps in the song. Some have suggested that the song bears a striking resemblance to the Jackson 5's song, ABC.

Producer/writer Maurice Starr ended his relationship with New Edition after losing a lawsuit to own the rights to the group's name. He would later produce and write for the highly-successful New Kids On The Block.

Credits

*Ronnie DeVoe: rap and background vocals
*Bobby Brown: lead and background vocals; rap
*Ricky Bell: lead and background vocals; rap
*Michael Bivins: rap and background vocals
*Ralph Tresvant: lead and background vocals; rap