Sex and Candy

"Sex and Candy"
Single by Marcy Playground
from the album Marcy Playground
Released November 4, 1997
Format CD
Recorded 1996
Genre Alternative rock
Length 2:52
Label EMI
Writer(s) John Wozniak
Producer(s) Jared Kotler, Jim Sabella & Kenny Gioia
Marcy Playground singles chronology
"Poppies"
(1997)		 "Sex and Candy"
(1997)		 "Saint Joe on the School Bus"
(1998)

"Sex and Candy" is a song released by American alternative rock group Marcy Playground. It was released in November 1997 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album. It was the band's breakthrough single.

The song was written by John Wozniak, executive produced by Jeff J. White, produced by Jared Kotler and engineered by Kenny Gioia & Bill Seasack. Both the drums and bass were performed by Jared Kotler. Guitar and vocals were performed by Wozniak.

Track listing

  1. "Sex and Candy" - 2:54
  2. "The Angel of the Forever Sleep" - 4:53
  3. "Memphis" - 2:37

Chart performance

"Sex and Candy" spent a then-record 15 weeks at number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart (beating Oasis' 10-week run at #1 with "Wonderwall" in 1995). The song was also the band's only major hit, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Critical reception

The song was generally well-received, with AllMusic commenting that "songs like 'Sex and Candy' capture the band at their best, turning out hard-edged, melodic pop songs with strong hooks and backbeats."[1] Rolling Stone gave the song a less enthusiastic review, calling it "an unappetizing artificial-sweetener marriage of down-tempo Nirvana chords and greasy Dave Matthews frat-minstrel sensitivity concerning a sad sack strung out on hippie lingo ('Dig it,' 'Yeah, mama') and caffeine".[2]

Covers

Maroon 5 made a slowed-down cover of the song that was launched in the deluxe edition of their album V.[3]

Chart positions

Peak positions

Chart (1997–1998) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 24
Canadian RPM Singles Chart[6] 2
Canadian RPM Alternative 30[7] 1
Germany (Media Control Charts)[8] 90
Norway (VG-lista)[9] 15
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 21
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 29
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 8
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[13] 4
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[14] 3
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[15] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1998) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[16] 28
Canadian RPM Alternative 30[17] 2

Preceded by
"Everything to Everyone" by Everclear		 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single
December 27, 1997 – April 4, 1998 		Succeeded by
"The Way" by Fastball
Preceded by
"Given to Fly" by Pearl Jam		 Canadian RPM Rock/Alternative 30 number-one single
February 23 – April 6, 1998 (first run)
April 20, 1998 (second run) 		Succeeded by
"I Will Buy You a New Life" by Everclear
"The Way" by Fastball

References

  1. ↑ Marcy Playground. AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
  2. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20071001200152/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/marcyplayground/albums/album/231741/review/5943676/marcy_playground
  3. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/v-deluxe-version/id900751540
  4. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Marcy Playground – Sex and Candy". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  5. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Marcy Playground – Sex and Candy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  6. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 67, No. 8, May 18, 1998". RPM. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  7. ↑ "Rock/Alternative - Volume 66, No. 22, February 23, 1998". RPM. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  8. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Marcy Playground > Sex and Candy – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  9. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Marcy Playground – Sex and Candy". VG-lista.
  10. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Marcy Playground – Sex and Candy". Singles Top 60.
  11. ↑ "Marcy Playground Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Marcy Playground. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  12. ↑ "Marcy Playground Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Alternative Songs for Marcy Playground. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  13. ↑ "Marcy Playground – Chart History: Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Marcy Playground Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Marcy Playground. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  15. ↑ "Marcy Playground Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Marcy Playground. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  16. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1998". Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  17. ↑ "Rock/Alternative - Volume 68, No. 12, December 14, 1998". RPM. Retrieved 2010-10-18.

External links