Candy Girl (New Edition song) explained

Candy Girl
Cover:	NE candygirl single.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	New Edition
Album:	Candy Girl
Released:	February 24, 1983^[1]
Recorded:	1982
Studio:	Unique Recording Studios, New York City^[2] ^[3]
Genre:	R&B, bubblegum pop, funk, post-disco
Length:	3:52 6:58 (12')
Next Title:	Is This the End
Next Year:	1983

"Candy Girl" is the debut single by New Edition from their debut album Candy Girl. It was released as a single in late February 1983 and the song hit number one on the UK Singles Chart,^[4] becoming the 31st-best-selling single of the year. It also peaked at number 1 on the Hot Black Singles chart, passing Michael Jackson’s song "Beat It" on May 14, 1983.

"Candy Girl" established New Edition as a bubblegum pop group with stylings from contemporary R&B.^[5]

History

New Edition was first discovered and mentored by their manager Brooke Payne. He entered them in a local talent show where they met songwriter/producer Maurice Starr who 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.

The 12" version features producers Starr and Michael Jonzun doing some additional instrumentation in the outro.

Release and reaction

Released as a single in February 1983 before the album was released, the song made a slow ascent up the chart, peaking on June 25, 1983, at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart singles chart,^[6] and number 1 on the R&B singles chart in the US.^[7] It was most successful in the UK, where it peaked at number 1 for one week in May 1983.^[4]

Personnel

• Ralph Tresvant

lead and background vocals; rap

• Bobby Brown

lead and background vocals; rap

• Ricky Bell

lead and background vocals; rap

• Michael Bivins

rap and background vocals

• Ronnie DeVoe

rap and background vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1983-1984)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[8]	10
South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[9]	1
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)^[10]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1983)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[11]	76
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[12]	24
South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[13]	12
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[14]	33

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dart Adams. NEW EDITION'S "CANDY GIRL" TURNS 30: A RETROSPECTIVE. KillerBoomBox. 2013-03-15. 2019-11-07.
2. Web site: Candy Girl - New Edition | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic . .
3. Web site: Unique Recording Studio . https://web.archive.org/web/20060324005414/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_unique_recording_studio . March 24, 2006 . Mixonline.com . August 1, 2000 . July 6, 2020.
4. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 423.
5. Pieces of a Dream . 82–86 . Good . Karen R. . November 1996 . . 4 . 9 . 1070-4701 .
6. New Edition . .
7. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 427.
8. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
9. Web site: SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs C–D. South African Rock Lists. September 16, 2020.
10. New Edition Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs). Billboard. November 7, 2019.
11. Web site: Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983 . . Imgur.com . 22 January 2023.
12. Web site: End of Year Charts 1983. Recorded Music NZ. September 16, 2020.
13. Web site: Top 20 Hit Singles of 1983. South African Rock Lists. September 16, 2020.
14. Book: Peter. Scaping. Top 100 singles: 1983. BPI Year Book 1984. British Phonographic Industry. 42–43. 1984. 0-906154-04-9.