Background and writing
Perry and Aguilera have said that the song is new lyrics to music that is a new arrangement of The Andrews Sisters' 1941 hit "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". Critics are usually complimentary towards Aguilera for her authentic replication of the old style.
The song includes the military cadence "Tarzan & Jane Swingin' on a Vine", sampled from the album Run to Cadence with the United States Marines, Volume 2.
Release
Originally, "Candyman" was to be the second single off the album, but the label pushed for "Hurt" hoping it would have comparable success to 2002's "Beautiful" and would become a holiday hit. The song was released on February 5, 2007 in the US, although Aguilera had already performed it on New Year's Rockin' Eve. The song debuted in the January 20, 2007 release of the Billboard Hot 100. "Candyman" peaked at #25 in its seventh week on the chart making it Christina Aguilera's 14th top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK it was released on download only, peaking at #17 on the UK main singles chart and getting over 100,000 digital downloads. The song re-entered the UK Itunes chart in 2008 reaching 60 on the top 100 after Alexandra Burke performed the song on X-Factor. The song performed very well in Oceania, peaking #2 in both Australia and New Zealand and remaining in the Australian Top10 over 15 weeks.
Music video
The music video for the single "Candyman" was filmed on January 28, 2007. It was directed by Matthew Rolston and co-directed by Aguilera. It is based on a 1940s World War II theme, and Aguilera rented out an airport in Spain to film it. In the music video, she dances and sings in three different hair colors - red, blonde and brown, as if she were in a singing trio, a tribute to the Andrews Sisters. In another scene, she appears as the famous biceps-flexing factory worker Rosie the Riveter from Westinghouse's We can do it poster. Finally, she appears in scenes inspired by pin-up girls Judy Garland, Betty Grable, and Rita Hayworth. The video also features product placement for Campari. Benji Schwimmer, 2006 winner of So You Think You Can Dance, makes a cameo appearance as Aguilera's GI dance partner. Lacey Schwimmer, Benji's sister and also a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance, had also appeared in the video as a jitterbugger.
Aguilera asked Rolston to co-direct the video with her after he worked with her for a photo shoot for the cover of Rolling Stone. Shooting the sequences of Aguilera as a singing trio took the longest since they had to be shot for each hair color and camera angle, which was computer controlled for precision. The choreography was carefully arranged so that none of the versions overlapped and the takes could be spliced together. The color scheme is based on Technicolor films, focusing on primary colors and bright secondary colors.
On February 22, 2007, MTV gave the World Premiere of "Candyman" live on TRL and later on MTV's Making The Video. The video debuted at number six on TRL[9] and reached the top of the countdown four times. The video has since gone on to retire at number three, making it Aguilera's ninth video to retire. "Candyman" has garnered Aguilera a MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Director with co-director Mathew Rolston.
The video has become Aguilera's second most viewed clip on YouTube so far, being watched by over 18 million people.
Critical response
Most critics reserved high-praise for the single, while commenting on its highly-sexualized lyrics. Billboard magazine called the single "right raunchy", but praised it, saying that "Few popular vocalists could pull off such a laudable feat," and that it has such an "irresistible tempo that radio will have no choice but to sweeten airwaves with 'Candyman.The one problem was that radio didn't play the song as it was requested and that's what kept it from rising to the top of the USA charts.'" Bill Lame with About.com found that "listeners may want to be alerted to the sexual content," but concluded "Aguilera continues to demonstrate she is one of the top female artists in the business." Yahoo! Music called the song "a good-time 1940's big band romp," and gave it eight out of ten stars.
The 1940's The Andrews Sisters inspired track 'Candyman' is a far cry from the singer's 'Dirrty' days – it was co-written and produced by Linda Perry who created the 2003 chart-topper 'Beautiful'. The now-married Christina is sporting a much more sophisticated image on her latest album 'Back To Basics'.
Candy Man
Christina Aguilera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Candy man, candy man
(Sippin' from a bottle of vodka double wine)
Sweet, sugar, candy man
I met him out for dinner on a Friday night
He really got me working up an appetite
There's nothing more dangerous than a boy with charm
He's a one stop shop, makes the panties drop
He's a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
A sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
He took me to the Spider club on Hollywood and Vine
We drank champagne, and we danced all night
We shook the paparazzi for a big surprise (a big surprise)
The gossip tonight will be tommorow's headlines
He's a one stop shop, makes my cherry pop
He's a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man (oh yeah)
A sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
He's a one stop shop, makes my cherry pop
He's a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man (oh)
A sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
Well, by now I'm getting all bothered and hot
When he kissed my mouth, he really hit the spot
He had lips like sugar cane, oh
Good things come for boys who wait
(Tarzan and Jane were swingin' on a vine)
Candy man, candy man
(Sippin' from a bottle of vodka double wine)
Candy man, candy man
(Sweet, sugar, candy man)
He's a one stop, gotcha hot, makin' all the panties drop
(Sweet, sugar, candy man)
He's a one stop, got me hot, makin' my (uh) pop
(Sweet, sugar, candy man)
He's a one stop, get it while it's hot, baby, don't stop
(Sweet, sugar)
He got those lips like sugar cane
Good things come for boys who wait
He's a one stop shop with a real big (uh)
He's a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
(Say what) a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
(Say) a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man, woo
A sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
Candy man, candy man
Candy man, candy man
Candy man, candy man
(Tarzan and Jane were swingin' on a vine
Tarzan and Jane were swingin' on a vine
Sippin' from a bottle of vodka double wine
Sippin' from a bottle of vodka double wine
Jane lost her grip and down she fell
Jane lost her grip and down she fell
Squared herself away as she let out a yell
Squared herself away as she let out a yell)
The song "Candyman" by Christina Aguilera is an upbeat and playful song that tells a story of a woman being charmed and seduced by a man who is referred to as the "Candyman." The lyrics reference Tarzan and Jane swinging on a vine, which could suggest the idea of adventure and thrill seeking. As the lyrics continue, it becomes clear that the Candyman is a risky and dangerous man that the singer cannot resist. The lines "He really got me working up an appetite" and "He's a one stop shop, makes the panties drop" show how the Candyman has a powerful effect on the woman and is able to fulfill her desires.
The references to Hollywood and paparazzi suggest that the Candyman may also have a certain level of fame or status, which adds to his allure. The hook of the song repeats the phrase "Candyman, candyman" in a catchy and repetitive chorus. The lyrics also mention the Candyman's lips as being "like sugar cane," which further emphasize his sweet and addictive qualities. Overall, the song presents a playful and flirtatious story about the power of attraction and desire.
Line by Line Meaning
(Tarzan and Jane were swingin' on a vine) Candy man, candy man
Just like Tarzan and Jane were having fun on a vine, the Candyman is a fun, enjoyable person to be around.
(Sippin' from a bottle of vodka double wine) Sweet, sugar, candy man
Like drinking vodka mixed with wine, the Candyman is enticing and addictive like sweet candy.
I met him out for dinner on a Friday night
He really got me working up an appetite
He had tattoos up and down his arm
There's nothing more dangerous than a boy with charm
He's a one stop shop, makes the panties drop
He's a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
A sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
The singer went to dinner with the Candyman and found him attractive, dangerous, and charming. He's a smooth-talking guy who can charm any woman and make them weak in the knees.
He took me to the Spider club on Hollywood and Vine
We drank champagne, and we danced all night
We shook the paparazzi for a big surprise (a big surprise)
The gossip tonight will be tomorrow's headlines
He's a one stop shop, makes my cherry pop
He's a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man (oh yeah)
A sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
The Candyman took the artist to a glamorous party in Hollywood and they had a great time dancing and drinking champagne. The Candyman was able to avoid the paparazzi, which will make for an exciting headline the following day. He's a guy who can make the artist's heart race and fill her with desire.
He had lips like sugar cane, oh
Good things come for boys who wait
Because the Candyman has sweet sugar cane lips, men who wait for him will be rewarded with good things.
(Tarzan and Jane were swingin' on a vine) Candy man, candy man
(Sippin' from a bottle of vodka double wine) Candy man, candy man
(Sweet, sugar, candy man) He's a one stop, gotcha hot, makin' all the panties drop
(Sweet, sugar, candy man) He's a one stop, got me hot, makin' my (uh) pop
(Sweet, sugar, candy man) He's a one stop, get it while it's hot, baby, don't stop
(Sweet, sugar)
The closing lines repeat the idea that the Candyman is irresistible and seductive, with his sweetness and charm making women melt. He's the perfect one-stop shop for everything a woman desires, and the singer wants to continue indulging in his delights.
He got those lips like sugar cane
Good things come for boys who wait
He's a one stop shop with a real big (uh)
He's a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
(Say what) a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
(Say) a sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man, woo
A sweet talkin' sugar coated candy man
The singer again describes the Candyman's sweet lips and the promise of good things for those who wait for him. He's a one-stop shop for all things exciting and pleasurable, and he knows just what to say to make women fall for him. The Candyman is the perfect fantasy figure, represented by the repetition of his name.
Candy man, candy man
Candy man, candy man
Candy man, candy man
(Tarzan and Jane were swingin' on a vine
Tarzan and Jane were swingin' on a vine
Sippin' from a bottle of vodka double wine
Sippin' from a bottle of vodka double wine
Jane lost her grip and down she fell
Jane lost her grip and down she fell
Squared herself away as she let out a yell
Squared herself away as she let out a yell)
The song concludes with the repetition of the Candyman's name, and a callback to the opening lines about Tarzan and Jane swinging and drinking alcohol. The rhyme also includes a fictional mishap featuring Jane falling from a vine and yelling out in surprise, possibly as a metaphorical way of saying that the Candyman can be both exciting and dangerous.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRISTINA AGUILERA, LINDA PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@melodylupine13
Remember when Christina Aguilera and Christina Aguilera sang backup for Christina Aguilera?
@TheItalspan
Chloe Dennison 😂😂👍🏻
@lethumthiyane5245
Chloe Dennison
I never saw that lol 😂😂😂
@alyciacayemberg2162
I wish i knew how she did it! she was perfectly in time with herself in everything from exact hand placement to timing.it looks flawless!
@lillysadler995
Chloe Dennison XD i was wondering who those two were i was like "does she have sisters that look exactly like her but with different hair colors" XD lol
@hollielane2409
Chloe Dennison lol i just realised they where all her and was thinking to myself wow they all look the same!😂😂
@crunchgirl6787
Why is no one talking about the fact that she ROCKED every hair color?!?
@akmalhisyam9829
Yeah i tottaly agreed
@AlejandroFlores-jn4es
Yup
@ramonvilaverdefernandez8704
Wigs