Sex and Candy
Encyclopedia
"Sex and Candy" is a 1997 single released by Marcy Playground
from their self-titled debut album Marcy Playground
. It was the band's breakthrough single.
The song was written by John Wozniak
, produced by Jim Sabella & Kenny Gioia
, and engineered by Kenny Gioia & Bill Seasack. Both the drums and bass were performed by Jared Kotler. Guitar and vocals were performed by Wozniak.
Modern Rock Tracks
chart (beating Oasis
' 10-week run at #1 with "Wonderwall
" in 1995). The song was also the band's only major pop hit, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100
chart.
by Jimmy Fallon
on Weekend Update
featuring lyrics changed to go with a Halloween
theme. The chorus of the song is also featured in "Weird Al" Yankovic
's "Polka Power!" polka medley. A cover of it was also featured on the Strictly Strange Tour 08 compilation by rapper Prozak
.
Marcy Playground
Marcy Playground is an American alternative rock band consisting of three members: John Wozniak , Dylan Keefe , and Shlomi Lavie . The band is best known for their 1997 hit "Sex and Candy".-Early years:...
from their self-titled debut album Marcy Playground
Marcy Playground (album)
Marcy Playground is the self-titled album by Marcy Playground, released on February 25, 1997 with EMI. It was reissued later that year on October 7 on Capitol Records with a large amount of promotion for the single "Sex and Candy," which became the band's breakthrough single, spending a then-record...
. It was the band's breakthrough single.
The song was written by John Wozniak
John Wozniak
John Keith Wozniak is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the band Marcy Playground. He is the son of a developmental psychologist dad and a free spirited Bohemian mother....
, produced by Jim Sabella & Kenny Gioia
Kenny Gioia
Kenny Gioia is a Multi-Platinum music producer, engineer, mixer and songwriter from New York City, who is best known for working on the #1 hits "Sex and Candy" and "Crush"...
, and engineered by Kenny Gioia & Bill Seasack. Both the drums and bass were performed by Jared Kotler. Guitar and vocals were performed by Wozniak.
Chart performance
"Sex and Candy" spent a then-record 15 weeks at number one on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart (beating Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
' 10-week run at #1 with "Wonderwall
Wonderwall (song)
"Wonderwall" is a song by English rock band Oasis, written by the band's guitarist and main songwriter Noel Gallagher. The song was produced by Owen Morris and Gallagher for their second album, Morning Glory?...
" in 1995). The song was also the band's only major pop hit, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
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."In popular culture
- The song was played in the background of Episode 3 of True Blood'sTrue BloodTrue Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
second season when vampire Jessica first meets Hoyt at Merlotte's. - The song is also played in the background during the high school reunion scene of Zack and Miri Make a PornoZack and Miri Make a PornoZack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was...
. - The song is Downloadable ContentDownloadable contentDownloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
for the 2010 video game Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock.
Covers and parodies
It was parodied on the popular television sketch show Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
by Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
on Weekend Update
Weekend Update
Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance...
featuring lyrics changed to go with a Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
theme. The chorus of the song is also featured in "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
's "Polka Power!" polka medley. A cover of it was also featured on the Strictly Strange Tour 08 compilation by rapper Prozak
Prozak (rapper)
Steven T. Shippy, better known by his stage name Prozak, is an independent rapper and film director from Saginaw, Michigan. He is signed to Tech N9ne's Strange Music label through a distribution deal, as well as being a member of the rap groups Project: Deadman and Bedlam...
.
Peak positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| 1998 |
|
| US Mainstream Rock Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
4 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
2 |
| Canadian RPM Alternative 30 Canadian rock/alternative chart The Canadian rock/alternative chart was first published on June 11, 1995 by RPM magazine under the name Alternative 30. The song which held the number-one spot on this first chart was "More Human than Human" by White Zombie... |
1 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1998) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 28 |
| Canadian RPM Alternative 30 | 2 |