The Candy Man
"The Candy Man" (or alternatively, "The Candy Man Can") is a song that originally appeared in the 1971 film
Attempt at replacing the Woods vocal
Lyricist Anthony Newley has said in interviews[
Newley's distaste for the performance became so intense that he was willing to forgo his own performance fee if he were to be allowed to re-arrange and re-record the song himself as well as pay for the session. When denied by producer
Sammy Davis Jr. version
"The Candy Man" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Sammy Davis Jr. | ||||
from the album Sammy Davis Jr. Now | ||||
B-side | "I Want to Be Happy" | |||
Released | April 1972 | |||
Recorded | August 19, 1971[2] | |||
Studio | Los Angeles, California | |||
Genre | Easy listening[3] | |||
Length | 3:10 | |||
Label | MGM | |||
Songwriter(s) | Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley | |||
Producer(s) | Don Costa, Michael Viner, Mike Curb | |||
Sammy Davis Jr. singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Official audio | ||||
"The Candy Man" on YouTube |
Despite the record's commercial success, Davis himself disliked it, telling his manager “It’s horrible. It’s a timmy-two-shoes, it’s white bread, cute-ums, there’s no romance. Blechhh!”[5] After hastily recording it in two takes at a studio session, he also reportedly said “This record is going straight into the toilet. Not just around the rim but into the bowl, and it may just pull my whole career down with it."[6]
In 2014, Sammy Davis Jr.'s lead vocals from the original 1972 recording were sampled to create a "virtual duet" with singer Barry Manilow, which appeared on Manilow's album My Dream Duets.
Chart history
Weekly charts
Chart (1972) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia Kent Music Report | 3 |
Canada RPM Top Singles[7] | 2 |
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[8] | 3 |
US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 1 |
US Billboard Easy Listening[4] | 1 |
US Cash Box Top 100[10]
|
1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1972) | Rank |
---|---|
Australia | 24 |
Canada | 15 |
US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 5 |
US Cash Box[12] | 23 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[13] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Zedd version
"Candyman" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Interscope | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley | |||
Producer(s) | Zedd, Grey, Joseph Trapanese | |||
Zedd singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Aloe Blacc singles chronology | ||||
|
"Candyman" was covered by German-Russian producer
Production
The song was recorded by Zedd with help from
Critical reception
The track received generally positive reviews. Hugh McIntyre wrote that the song is catchy and fun.[16] Aloe Blacc's vocals were praised by Ryan Middleton, who thought that they fit well with Zedd's music.[14] The song was criticized by Diplo, saying that the song was a "rip-off" of Flume.[17]
Charts
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[18] | 9 |
US | 18 |
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[20] | 12 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2016) | Position |
---|---|
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[21] | 35 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[22] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Other uses
This section needs additional citations for verification. (March 2024) |
"The Candy Man" has been featured in a number of radio, films and TV shows after its introduction in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
- In the 1980s, the tune was adapted as a commercial jingle ("The Sunshine Baker Man", sung by Davis) for Sunshine Biscuits.
- Chris Evans originally played the song on his drive time BBC Radio 2 show every Friday afternoon. When he replaced Terry Wogan on the breakfast show in January 2010, he continued to play the tune every Friday morning, immediately following the 8:00 am news until around 2014. The song was also used on a TV trailer, promoting his breakfast show.
- BBC London 94.9until its cancellation.
- Comedian Tim Hawkins released a parody of the song, "The Government Can", in 2009.[23] The video for the song went viral and has garnered over 7.6 million hits on YouTube.[24]
- Zedd later released his single "Candyman", which samples the original song, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of M&M's candy.[25] An M&M's ad featuring the song shows Red and Yellow trying to remix the "M&M's Man" jingle with help from Zedd and Aloe Blacc.
- The Broadway production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features Willy Wonka singing this song at the top of the show, just as he disguises himself as a candy store owner.
- Sammy Davis Jr's recording is heard in the intro for the 2021 film, Candyman.
References
- ISBN 978-1591136996. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ Sammy Davis Jr.'s website
- ISBN 031214704X.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 72.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (28 February 2019). "The Number Ones: Sammy Davis Jr.'s "The Candy Man". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ Dellar, Fred (6 September 2022). "MOJO Time Machine: Sammy Davis Jr Strikes Candy Man Gold". MOJO. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 6/10/72". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972". Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "American single certifications – Sammy Davis, Jr. / Mike Curb Congregation – Candy Man". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ a b c Middleton, Ryan (25 February 2016). "Zedd, Aloe Blacc Re-Imagine M&M's Theme Song 'Candyman'". Music Times.
- ^ a b Reyes, Kim (25 February 2016). "Zedd and Aloe Blacc team up for 'Candyman'". Dancing Astronaut.
- ^ a b McIntyre, Hugh (10 March 2016). "Zedd and Aloe Blacc Talk Recreating a Classic Hit for M&M's 75th Birthday". Forbes.
- ^ Stutz, Colin (21 March 2016). "Diplo Calls Zedd a Flume Rip-Off Over M&Ms Song: 'Don't be Such a Pompous Cornball Loser'". Billboard.
- ^ "NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ "Zedd Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^ "Zedd Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- ^ "American single certifications – Zedd – Candyman". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ "The Government Can Lyrics". Elyrics.net. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Tim Hawkins – The Government Can". Tim Hawkins. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Zedd and Aloe Blacc Put an Unexpected Spin on 'Candyman'". Complex. Retrieved 27 February 2016.