23 Best Songs About Candy

​​​​​​​The best songs about candy use this food as both a metaphor for forbidden passion and as a way to represent our deep-rooted desires.

It’s something that everyone, from 1950s singers to today’s biggest pop stars, has drawn upon as inspiration for their music.

In this playlist, we cover many songs that use candy literally and metaphorically, from classic rock songs to chart-topping hits.

The 23 Best Songs About Candy

This playlist has been carefully curated to cover songs on the subject of candy from a broad selection of genres, including the biggest names in the music industry.

Whether you’re a fan of obscure rock music or prefer to listen to the latest hits from the Billboard charts, a song is here that caters to your taste.

Without further ado, here’s our playlist of the 23 best songs about candy:

23. “Candy” – Iggy Pop & Kate Pierson

We’ll kickstart this playlist of the best songs about candy with the simply titled “Candy” by Iggy Pop featuring Kate Pierson.

It’s a song that uses candy as a metaphor for love and the addictive feeling love brings, with catchy lyrics about “dying for candy.”

With wonderful vocals from Iggy Pop and Kate Pierson, who’s best-known as a member of the B-52s, “Candy” is a joyful song to sing along to.

22. “Candy And A Currant Bun” – Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd began their early work with the song “Candy and a Currant Bun,” which served as the B-side to their first-ever single.

As you might expect from Pink Floyd, there’s a rebellious streak to the lyrics, which the band had to alter after the original lyrics were considered too inflammatory.

In the song, the vocals talk about a lover who has gone away and how he would give anything to be with her, including the titular food.

21. “Candyman” – Christina Aguilera

For the song “Candyman,” Christina Aguilera took the music from the classic song “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and adapted it to her new version.

In typical Aguilera style, the lyrics are centered around being in love, with more saucy lyrics and adult themes coming into play as the song progresses.

Christina Aguilera has been responsible for many hit songs, including one of the best karaoke songs you can listen to, “Genie in a Bottle.”

20. “Candy Says” – The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground contributed to the best songs about candy with their 1969 rock song “Candy Says.”

This song is about a girl named Candy, who says in the lyrics: “I’d like to know completely what others so discreetly talk about.”

The Velvet Underground released “Candy Says” on their album Boston Tea Party, which featured a selection of their live performances.

19. “Hard Candy” – Counting Crows

Counting Crows released their excellent song “Hard Candy” in 2002, a sad and soulful piece of music that avoids many of the cliches found in candy-themed songs.

Here, the candy has a bittersweet taste, reflecting the song’s themes of lost love, nostalgia, and the memories associated with a past relationship.

The track was released on the fourth album of the same name by the Counting Crows, which also included the hidden track “Big Yellow Taxi.”

18. “Bubble Gum World” – 1910 Fruitgum Company

One of the most family-friendly songs about candy you can listen to is “Bubble Gum World,” a 1968 song from 1910 Fruitgum Company.

This obscure but enjoyable song is a wonderfully light ditty that children of all ages can enjoy listening to, especially those who love bubble gum.

The term “bubble gum” was used to describe a niche subgenre of music during the 1960s that was playful, fun, and held broad appeal for many music fans.

17. “I Want Candy” – The Strangeloves

Another great song from the 1960s, “I Want Candy,” is a popular song from the Strangeloves that was covered by several artists in the years since.

The original version is a wonderfully upbeat song about a girl who really loves candy and can’t get enough of the sweet treats.

Cody Simpson and Backstreet Boys singer Aaron Carter are among the other great musicians who have covered “I Want Candy” in recent years.

16. “Chocolate Jesus” – Tom Waits

Tom Waits tackles the subject of candy in his own inimitable style with the song “Chocolate Jesus,” inspired by his father’s love of Testamints.

It’s a song that blends religious themes with the love of candy to great effect, with a tongue-in-cheek undercurrent and Waits’s effortlessly smooth vocals.

In case you were wondering, as the name implies, Testamints were lozenges that featured crosses on the design to help the eater worship God wherever they were.

15. “Marshmallow World” – Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby’s lush singing style was used to full effect in the song “Marshmallow World,” which was released way back in 1950.

In this song, Crosby compares a snowy landscape combined with a cloudy sky with the titular marshmallow, and it was another Christmas-themed hit for the singer.

Speaking of the best Christmas songs celebrating the festive season, Bing Crosby’s “Silent Night” is another popular holiday song enjoyed during the festive season.

14. “Candy-O” – The Cars

Often considered to be among the most iconic songs about candy you can listen to, “Candy-O” by the Cars encapsulates the excitement and anticipation of eating candy.

Released in 1979, “Candy-O” features an upbeat tempo and simple yet catchy lyrics, and it uses candy as a metaphor for yearning for a woman.

“Candy-O” was also the title of the second studio album from American rock band The Cars, who epitomized the New Wave scene of the late 1970s.

13. “Lollipop” – Chordettes

Return once again to classic songs from the 1960s for “Lollipop” by the Chordettes, another memorable pop-infused song from the era.

In this song, a lollipop is used as a comparison for the man the singer is in love with, with the bright lyrics matched with the bouncy tempo.

The Chordettes enjoyed another hugely popular hit with the song “Sandman,” which is still played on the radio regularly to this day.

12. “Rock Candy” – Montrose

American rock band Montrose served up a more obscure song about candy with “Rock Candy,” which was released in 1973.

The song features rather suggestive lyrics, including the line, “You’re hard, sweet an’ sticky, yeah you are, but you’re rock candy, baby.”

It’s another great song about candy that was featured on a live album, in this case, the Montrose album At the Record Plant 1973.

11. “Candy Bling” – Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey brings her trademark sweet and dynamic vocals to bear in the song “Candy Bling,” which she released in 2000.

Carey uses candy as a metaphor for reflections on life and love and the feelings she previously felt for her “sweet baby.”

A popular track from the album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, it was one of many hit songs that helped her win five Grammy Awards along with many more nominations.

10. “Candy Girl” – The Four Seasons

“Candy Girl” by the Four Seasons takes us back to the 1960s for another example of a candy song that uses it as a metaphor for women and love.

With the impressive falsetto singing of Frankie Valli, “Candy Girl” is a doo-wop masterpiece that deserved its huge success.

While it didn’t perform quite as well as their previous songs, “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” it cemented their reputation as great singer-songwriters.

9. “Sugar Dumpling” – Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke might not have used the word “candy” in his song on the subject, but “Sugar Dumpling” certainly fits in with the other songs on this playlist.

Released in 1962, “Sugar Dumpling” is a song that uses the idea of a sugar rush as an analogy for how the singer feels when he spends time with his lover.

If you enjoyed this song from Sam Cooke, you should check out “A Change Is Gonna Come Soon,” one of the best songs about change ever recorded.

8. “Cherry Popsicle” – Jann Arden

“Cherry Popsicle” by Jann Arden is an incredibly sweet addition to pop music that serves as a reminder of the carefree days we experienced in our youth.

It’s a beautiful song in which Arden sings about young love and the experiences of her first kiss.

The Canadian singer-songwriter released “Cherry Popsicle” in 2000 on her album Blood Red Cherry, which charted at Number 4 on the top Canadian albums chart.

7. “Sell Me Candy” – Rihanna

Pop princess Rihanna’s contribution to this playlist of the best songs about candy, “Sell Me Candy,” is a more risque entry.

Taken from her album Good Girl Gone Bad, it features saucy lyrics about Rihanna’s sexual desire for a man in her life.

Rihanna is no stranger to enjoying huge success, with multiple number-one hits on the Billboard charts to her name over the years.

6. “Kitchenware & Candy Bars” – Stone Temple Pilots

The popular American rock band Stone Temple Pilots earned a solid reputation among rock fans with their hard-hitting guitar playing and vocals.

“Kitchenware and Candy Bars” sees the band in fine form, using candy as a stand-in for addiction to altogether more harmful substances.

Anyone who has struggled with addiction of one kind or another will find that the lyrics resonate with their experiences.

5. “Candy Girl” – New Edition

Pioneers of fusing hip-hop and R&B, New Edition enjoyed a great deal of success over their career, including the popular song “Candy Girl.”

It’s a catchy song that exemplifies the New Jack Swing style the group became intimately associated with throughout the 1980s.

When it was released in the UK, the song hit number one, making New Edition a household name in the country, and it remains one of their biggest hits.

4. “The Candy Man” – Sammy Davis, Jr.

This great song from Sammy Davis, Jr., which he released in 1973, is adapted from the song featured in the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s seminal children’s book, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Sammy Davis sings about candy in its literal sense, referencing many of the sweet treats featured in the book and movie, such as Everlasting Gobstoppers and Fizzy Lifting Drinks.

It was originally performed by Aubrey Woods, who sang this song in the film as the owner of a candy shop, and it proved to be Davis’s only number-one hit.

3. “Hard Candy Christmas” – Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton brings together candy and Christmas in her classic song “Hard Candy Christmas,” one of the most lovable candy songs you can hear.

There’s a raunchy overtone to this song, which was featured in the popular movie, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, released in 1982.

With a long list of hit songs in her discography, Dolly Parton was responsible for one of the best songs about cheating of all time, “Jolene.”

2. “I Want Candy” – Bow Wow Wow & Razed In Black

We’ve covered the original version of “I Want Candy” by the Strangeloves, but now it’s time to return to the song for the most popular cover version ever released.

The 1982 version from Bow Wow Wow & Razed in Black was a huge hit, surpassing the original and reaching millions of new fans.

Featuring impressive guitar riffs, a blazing tempo, and catchy lyrics, it’s a song most people recognize to this day.

1. “Candy Store Rock” – Led Zeppelin

“Candy Store Rock” by Led Zeppelin rounds up this overview of the best songs about candy in a rock-infused tune.

Lead singer Robert Plant reportedly wrote this song in under an hour while confined to a wheelchair as he was recovering from an accident.

Led Zeppelin is no stranger to success, and they released one of the best songs of all time, “While Lotta Love.”

Summary

So there you have it, our sweet and complete playlist exploring the best songs about candy you can listen to, whatever your taste in music.

It’s not surprising that candy has frequently been used to represent love and more passionate emotions over the years, whether in classic rock ballads or recent pop chart-topper releases.

This ubiquitous subject will continue to inspire singer-songwriters and bands in the years to come, bringing new music into our lives.

What’s the best song about candy, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.