Candy (Cameo song)
| "Candy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Cameo | ||||
| from the album Word Up! | ||||
| B-side | "She's Strange" | |||
| Released | 1986 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
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| Label | Atlanta Artists | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Larry Blackmon | |||
| Cameo singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Candy" on YouTube | ||||
"Candy" is a song by the American funk band Cameo, released as the second single from their 1986 album Word Up!. The song features a solo by saxophonist Michael Brecker. "Honey", a reworked version with different lyrics was included on their next album, Machismo.
Charts
In America, "Candy" reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the R&B charts in early 1987, causing Aretha Franklin's "Jimmy Lee" to stop at number 2.[3]
"Candy" also made the Top 10 on the US Dance charts and number 27 in the United Kingdom in late 1986.
| Chart (1986–1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[4] | 27 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[5] | 21 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[6] | 10 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[7] | 1 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[8] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Music video
The music video, shot on film, was directed by Polish filmmaker Zbigniew Rybczyński. Set against a backdrop of Times Square and various neon signs, the video features a high level of video compositing, with multiple layers of the band members and dancers appearing on screen in varying sizes and depths of field at once.
Samples
The song has been sampled by various artists, including 2Pac ("All Bout U", featured on his album All Eyez on Me), Will Smith ("Candy", on his album Big Willie Style), and Mariah Carey ("Loverboy", on the soundtrack to the film Glitter); the latter song would reach #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001. The Black Eyed Peas sampled it for the song "Ba Bump" from their album Monkey Business. Tichina Arnold sampled the basis for her song "Sweet Love" off her album Soul Free. The song was also sampled by R&B singer Jacquees on his song "Come Thru" which features hip-hop artist Rich Homie Quan. It was also sampled by 8ball & MJG on "Just Like Candy" off the Suave House Records compilation album The Album of the Year.
The song's lyrics, "You're giving me a heart attack, It's the kind I like" were interpolated in the New Radicals song "Mother We Just Can't Get Enough" as "You're a heart attack, just the kind I like".
References
- ^ Willis, Shawn (February 11, 2011). "Weekend Music Roundup: Cameo, Henry Rollins, and More". Washington City Paper. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ Powell, Jon (November 26, 2025). "R&B songs with food in the title to bring flavor to your playlist". Revolt. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 98.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 30/11/1986 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "Cameo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 48.
- ^ "Cameo Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Cameo – Candy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 21, 2020. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Candy Cameo in the "Search:" field.
External links