I Want Candy

First recorded by The Strangeloves (US #11/CAN #7 1965).
Hit versions by Brian Poole & the Tremeloes (UK #25 1965), Bow Wow Wow (US #62/UK #9/IRE #7/AUS #39 1983), Candy Girls (UK #30 1996), Aaron Carter (UK #31/SWE #10/AUS #37/NETH #37 2000), Melanie C. (UK #7/ITA #9/DEN #12 2007).
Also recorded by Pop ‘n Fresh (2008).

From the wiki: “‘I Want Candy’ was written by Bert Berns, Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer (‘My Boyfriend’s Back’) in 1965. For this song, the trio took on the moniker of The Strangeloves, and recorded the tune themselves, augmented by studio musicians. Although Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer used their real names in the writing and production credits of this single, they claimed The Strangeloves were actually three Australian brothers (and ex-sheep farmers) named Giles, Miles and Niles Strange. Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer dressed up in shaggy wigs and exotic clothing for publicity photos as The Strangeloves.

“It was The Strangelove’s second single, becoming a Top 10 hit in Canada and hitting #11 in the US. But, the record failed to chart in the UK — or in The Strangeloves’ so-called ‘native’ country, Australia. (A cover by Brian Poole & the Tremeloes, however, charted in the UK and peaked at #25.)

“‘I Want Candy’ was the first single by Pop-Rock group Bow Wow Wow, from their EP The Last of the Mohicans. For many in the US, ‘I Want Candy’ was their first introduction to young lead singer Annabella Lwin and the band. The song barely scraped the Top 50, but became an enduring new wave classic. The enduring popularity of Bow Wow Wow’s recording is partly due to the memorable video that got heavy play in the early days of MTV, a recording highly associated with 80s pop music.

“Candy Girls (Rachel Auburn and Paul Masterson) released a cover of ‘I Want Candy’ in 1996 and it became their third hit single, peaking at #30 in the UK. Aaron Carter released his cover of ‘I Want Candy’ as his 7th single and the second single from his second album Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) (2000). ‘I Want Candy’ was also the first single to be taken from Melanie C’s fourth album “This Time“, in the UK, Denmark and Italy.

“In 1998, the potato chip brand Pringles produced a TV advertisement parodying the song saying ‘I Want Pringles’.”

Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, “I Want Candy” (1965):

http://youtu.be/5nBJuyIRppM

Bow Wow Wow, “I Want Candy” (1982):

Candy Girls, “I Want Candy” (1996):

Pringles TV commercial, “I Want Pringles” (1998):

Aaron Carter, “I Want Candy” (2000):

Melanie C., “I Want Candy” (2007):

Pop ‘n Fresh, “I Want Candy” from Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 2 (2008):