"Candy" is a song from Iggy Pop's ninth solo album, Brick by Brick. A duet with Kate Pierson of The B-52's, it was the album's second single, in September 1990. It became the biggest mainstream hit of Pop's career, as he reached the top 40 in the United States for the first and only time. The song additionally peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands. "I've written one good pop song: 'Candy'," he noted. "It's a very decent, proper pop song, but that's as far as that went." The cover was drawn by American cartoonist Charles Burns. "Candy" reappeared on the 1996 compilation ' and the 2005 two-disc collection, '.
Background
The initial narrator is a man who grieves a lost love. Following the first chorus, the perspective of the woman is heard. She expresses, unbeknownst to the male, that she misses him too. According to Pop, the lyrics refer to a teenage girlfriend, Betsy:
Reception
In the United States, "Candy" debuted on November 24, 1990 at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number 28 in February 1991 and is Pop's only single to appear on the chart. The song was a top five modern rock hit, remaining on the Modern Rock Tracks chart for 17 weeks. It also reached the top 30 of the Album Rock Tracks chart. Elsewhere, the single reached the top 10 in Belgium, the Netherlands and Australia, peaking at numbers ten, four and nine, respectively. "Candy" also charted well in New Zealand, reaching number 39, and is Pop's only other song to chart there besides the number-one hit "Real Wild Child ". However, it was not as commercially successful in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 67. In 2008, the song was ranked number seven in Spinner.com's list of the 10 best duets ever, and number 14 in Retrocrush's list of the 25 greatest duets of all time.
"Candy" was recorded and released as a single by the Spanishpunk band Killer Barbies and German rock musician Bela B. in 2002 on Drakkar Records. The maxi-CD contains a comic book illustrated by Germangraphic artist Schwarwel, titled "Tales of the Killer Barbies," in which Bela appears as Count Bela. The band's Sin Is In album does not include the single version of the song; however, it does contain a John Fryer remix as well as the music video for "Candy."
Video
Silvia finds a comic book from a stand, where Bela as Count Bela sings to her. She gets hooked on it and sits down to read it. However, her band mates follow her and she has to flee to read the comic book in peace. Later, Count Bela sings in the studio with her. Silvia is also seen as a comic book character.
Track listings
"Candy" feat. Bela B. — 3:59
"Candy" — 3:57
;Comic book version
"Candy" feat. Bela B. — 3:59
"Fui yo" — 3:29
"Going Wild" — 3:11
"Candy" feat. Bela B. — 3:57
Other versions
Heavy metal artist, the Impaler, with singer Cindi St. Germain, recorded a spoken word version of the song for the 1998 tribute album, Pop O.D.: The Songs of Iggy Pop.
Polish rock band Hey recorded a live version of the song for their album MTV Unplugged. It was performed by band's female singer Kasia Nosowska and Jacek "Budyń" Szymkiewicz from band Pogodno on male vocals.
Czech punk band Tři sestry made cover named "Venda" with their own Czech lyrics. This song is part of 1999 album "Soubor kreténů".
Spanish Rock singer Loquillo has also recorded a cover of "Candy" titled "Candy baby". It's included in Loquillo's Compilation album "Rock n' roll star: 30 años" and Kate Pierson's part was sung by Aurora Beltrán, the Tahúres Zurdos' vocalist.
