Candy Girl (New Edition song)

"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.^[5]

"Candy Girl"
Single by New Edition
from the album Candy Girl
Released	February 24, 1983[1]
Recorded	1982[1]
Studio	Unique Recording Studios, New York City[2][3]
Genre	R&B, bubblegum pop, funk, post-disco
Length	3:52 6:58 (12')
Label	Streetwise Warlock
Songwriter(s)	Maurice Starr Michael Jonzun
Producer(s)	Maurice Starr Michael Jonzun
New Edition singles chronology
"Candy Girl" (1983) "Is This the End" (1983)
Music video
"Candy Girl" (Audio) on YouTube

"Candy Girl" established New Edition as a bubblegum pop group with stylings from contemporary R&B.^[6]

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,^[7] and number 1 on the R&B singles chart in the US.^[8] 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)[9] 10 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 13 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 11 Ireland (IRMA)[12] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 2 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[16] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[17] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[18] 46 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[19] 17 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[5] 1 West Germany (GfK)[20] 22

Year-end charts Chart (1983) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[21] 76 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 24 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[23] 12 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[24] 33

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[25]	Silver	250,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Dart Adams (2013-03-15). "NEW EDITION'S "CANDY GIRL" TURNS 30: A RETROSPECTIVE". KillerBoomBox. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
2. "Candy Girl - New Edition | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
3. "Unique Recording Studio". Mixonline.com. August 1, 2000. Archived from the original on March 24, 2006. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 423. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
5. "New Edition Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
6. Good, Karen R. (November 1996). "Pieces of a Dream". Vibe. Vol. 4, no. 9. pp. 82–86. ISSN 1070-4701.
7. "New Edition". Billboard.
8. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 427.
9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
10. "New Edition – Candy Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
11. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6300." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
12. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Candy Girl". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
14. "New Edition – Candy Girl" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
15. "New Edition – Candy Girl". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
16. "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs C–D". South African Rock Lists. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
17. "New Edition: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
18. "New Edition Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
19. "New Edition Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – New Edition – Candy Girl" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
21. "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via Imgur.com.
22. "End of Year Charts 1983". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
23. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1983". South African Rock Lists. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
24. Scaping, Peter, ed. (1984). "Top 100 singles: 1983". BPI Year Book 1984. British Phonographic Industry. pp. 42–43. ISBN 0-906154-04-9.
25. "British single certifications – New Edition – Candy Girl". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 16, 2020.