| The Candies | |
|---|---|
The Candies play their final concert at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo on 4 April 1978. From left to right are: Miki Fujimura, Ran Ito and Yoshiko Tanaka |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Japan |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 1973-78 |
Candies (キャンディーズ) was a famous Japanese idol group formed in 1973, their first single being "あなたに夢中" (Anata ni Muchu). Candies was composed of three girls: Ran Ito (伊藤蘭) called Ran, Yoshiko Tanaka (田中好子) called Sue and Miki Fujimura (藤村美樹) called Miki. They had overwhelming popularity among young Japanese people.
They had eight top 10 songs; 年下の男の子 (Toshishita no Otokonoko), 春一番 (Haru Ichiban), 夏が来た! (Natsu ga Kita!), やさしい悪魔 (Yasashii Akuma), 暑中お見舞い申し上げます (Shochuu Omimai Moshiagemasu), アン・ドゥ・トロワ (Un, Deux, Trois), わな (Wana), and 微笑がえし (Hohoemi Gaeshi). They were a representative idol group of Japan in the 1970s along with Pink Lady.
In 1977, at the height of their popularity, they dropped out of the music business with the famous phrase of "普通の女の子に戻りたい" ("Futsū no onnanoko ni modoritai" "We want to return to being ordinary girls.") Their farewell concert was held at the Korakuen Stadium on April 4, 1978.
A few years after leaving the industry, Ran and Sue came back as actresses. Miki returned to singing, but quit shortly after getting married. Sue died from breast cancer in April 2011.
In 2011 the Japanese music program Music Station listed them in their Top 50 Idols of All-time based on their sale figures. They were placed no. 32, with sales exceeding 5,000,000.[1]
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In the anime and manga series Shugo Chara!, the main character Amu Hinamori has three guardian characters named Ran, Miki and Sue after the members of this group.[2]
The Candies were also an inspiration for Sue Cat, a 1980 TV anime series by the studio Knack Productions based on a cartoon character who had been introduced the year before. The lead character, Sue, is an anthropomorphic female cat who dreams of becoming an idol singer. She has two sisters named Ran and Miki, and they eventually form a trio by the end of the series.
| # | Title | Release Date/Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anata ni Muchū (あなたに夢中) (Crazy For You) First single to feature Sue as main vocalist. |
1973-09-01 (#36) |
| 2 | Soyokaze no Kuchizuke (そよ風のくちづけ)(Kiss Of The Gentle Breeze) | 1974-01-21 (#39) |
| 3 | Abunai Doyōbi (危い土曜日)(Dangerous Saturday) | 1974-04-21 (#46) |
| 4 | Namida no Kisetsu (なみだの季節)(Season Of Tears) | 1974-09-21 (#40) |
| 5 | Toshishita no Otokonoko (年下の男の子)(The Younger Boy) First single to feature Ran as main vocalist. |
1975-02-21 (#9) |
| 6 | Uchiki na Aitsu (内気なあいつ)(The Shy Guy) | 1975-06-01 (#18) |
| 7 | Sono Ki ni Sasenaide (その気にさせないで)(Don't Come On To Me) | 1975-09-01 (#17) |
| 8 | Heart no Ace ga Detekonai (ハートのエースが出てこない)(Show The Ace Of Hearts) | 1975-12-05 (#11) |
| 9 | Haru Ichiban (春一番)(Spring's First Breeze) Became the group's trademark song. |
1976-03-01 (#3) |
| 10 | Natsu ga Kita! (夏が来た!)(Summer Has Come!) | 1976-05-31 (#5) |
| 11 | Heart Dorobō (ハート泥棒)(Thief Of Hearts) | 1976-09-01 (#17) |
| 12 | Aishū no Symphony (哀愁のシンフォニー)(A Symphony Of Sorrow) | 1976-11-21 (#12) |
| 13 | Yasashii Akuma (やさしい悪魔)(My Sweet Devil) | 1977-03-01 (#4) |
| 14 | Shochū Omimai Mōshiagemasu (暑中お見舞い申し上げます)(Midsummer's Greetings) | 1977-06-21 (#5) |
| 15 | Un, Deux, Trois (アン・ドゥ・トロワ)(One, Two, Three) | 1977-09-21 (#7) |
| 16 | Wana (わな)(The Trap) First single to feature Miki as lead vocalist. |
1977-12-05 (#3) |
| 17 | Hohoemi Gaeshi (微笑がえし)(Return Of A Smile) | 1978-02-25 (#1) |
| 18 | Tsubasa (つばさ)(Wings) Written by Ran for the final concert as a farewell song. Released after the group's disbandment. |
1978-11-21 (#16) |
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anata ni Muchū ~Uchiki na Candies~ (あなたに夢中〜内気なキャンディーズ〜) | 1973-12-05 |
| 2 | Abunai Doyōbi ~Candies no Sekai~ (危ない土曜日〜キャンディーズの世界〜) | 1974-06-21 |
| 3 | Namida no Kisetsu (なみだの季節) | 1974-12-10 |
| 4 | Toshishita no Otoko no Ko (年下の男の子) | 1975-04-21 |
| 5 | Sono Ki ni Sasenaide (その気にさせないで) | 1975-10-01 |
| 6 | CANDIES' CARNIVAL FOR 10000 PEOPLE | 1975-12-21 |
| 7 | Haru Ichiban (春一番) | 1976-04-01 |
| 8 | Natsu ga Kita! (夏が来た!) | 1976-07-21 |
| 9 | Candies Live (キャンディーズ・ライブ) | 1976-12-05 |
| 10 | Candies 1½ Yasashii Akuma (キャンディーズ 1 1/2 やさしい悪魔) | 1977-04-21 |
| 11 | CANDY LABEL | 1977-09-01 |
| 12 | CANDIES 1676 DAYS | 1977-12-05 |
| 13 | Sōshunfu (早春譜 Early Spring Music) | 1978-03-21 |
| 14 | FINAL CARNIVAL Plus ONE | 1978-05-21 |