{{Short description|1972 single by Sammy Davis Jr.}} {{About|the song from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory|other uses|Candyman (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=September 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox song | name = The Candy Man | cover = <!--just the file name--> | alt = | type = song | artist = Aubrey Woods | album = Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | released = 1971 | recorded = | studio = | genre = Musical | length = 2:31 | label = Paramount | writer = {{hlist|Leslie Bricusse|Anthony Newley}} | producer = }} "'''The Candy Man'''" (or alternatively, "'''The Candy Man Can'''") is a song that originally appeared in the 1971 film ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory''.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Deaton | first1 = Jim | title = I Didn't Know That | date = March 2005 | publisher = Jim Deaton | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=yQ5sdv0pYQgC | access-date = 26 July 2013 | isbn = 978-1591136996}}</ref> It was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley specifically for the film. Although the original 1964 book by Roald Dahl (''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'') contains lyrics adapted for other songs in the film, the lyrics to "The Candy Man" do not appear in the book. The soundtrack version of the song was sung by Aubrey Woods, who played candy store owner Bill in the film. Newley recorded the song on his 1971 album ''Pure Imagination''.
==Attempt at replacing the Woods vocal== Lyricist Anthony Newley has said in interviews{{which|date=March 2024}} that upon hearing Woods's rendition for the first time, he was appalled at the lack of commerciality in the performance – worrying that it would possibly be depriving the duo of not only a hit record, but an Oscar nomination as well.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
Newley's distaste for the performance became so intense that he was willing to forgo his own performance fee if he were to be allowed to re-arrange and re-record the song himself as well as pay for the session. When denied by producer David L. Wolper due to contractual stipulations by film composer Walter Scharf, Newley tried another tactic: lobbying to be allowed to at least re-dub his own vocal, possibly becoming the ghost voice for Woods; however, Woods's contract forbade that as well. Anthony Newley recorded his own version for MGM Records in 1971 before Sammy Davis Jr.'s hit.
== Sammy Davis Jr. version == {{Infobox song | name = The Candy Man | cover = The Candy Man Sammy Davis Jr.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Sammy Davis Jr. | album = Sammy Davis Jr. Now | B-side = I Want to Be Happy | released = April 1972 | recorded = August 19, 1971<ref>[http://sammydavisjr.info/music/session-based-discography/1970-88/ Sammy Davis Jr.'s website]</ref> | studio = Los Angeles, California | venue = | genre = Easy listening<ref name="Breithaupt 1996">{{cite book|title= Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s|first1=Don|last1=Breithaupt|first2= Jeff|last2= Breithaupt|date= October 15, 1996|chapter= The Energy Crisis: MOR|page= 158|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|isbn=031214704X|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RMPCAwAAQBAJ}}</ref> | length = 3:10 | label = MGM | writer = Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley | producer = Don Costa, Michael Viner, Mike Curb | prev_title = I Have One but One Life to Live | prev_year = 1969 | next_title = The People Tree | next_year = 1972 | misc = {{External music video|header = Official audio|{{YouTube|qz1syhcU39U|"The Candy Man"}}}} }}
Sammy Davis Jr.'s version appears on the ''Sammy Davis Jr. Now'' album. It became his only number-one hit, spending three weeks at the top of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart starting 10 June 1972, and two weeks at the top of the easy-listening chart.<ref name="auto">{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=72}}</ref> ''Billboard'' ranked it as the No. 5 song for 1972. The track featured backing vocals by the Mike Curb Congregation, who earlier released an unsuccessful version of the song. It is recognized as one of Davis's signature songs, and "The Candy Man" came to be his moniker later in his career. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards.
Despite the record's commercial success, Davis himself disliked it, telling his manager “It’s horrible. It’s a timmy-two-shoes, it’s white bread, cute-ums, there’s no romance. Blechhh!”<ref name= "Breihan 2019">{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Sammy Davis Jr.'s "The Candy Man|website= Stereogum |date= February 28, 2019|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2033849/the-number-ones-sammy-davis-jr-s-the-candy-man/columns/the-number-ones/ |accessdate= October 20, 2023}}</ref> After hastily recording it in two takes at a studio session, he also reportedly said “This record is going straight into the toilet. Not just around the rim but into the bowl, and it may just pull my whole career down with it."<ref name= "Mojo 2022">{{cite web|first= Fred|last= Dellar |title= MOJO Time Machine: Sammy Davis Jr Strikes Candy Man Gold|website= MOJO |date= September 6, 2022|url=https://www.mojo4music.com/time-machine/1970s/mojo-time-machine-sammy-davis-jr-strikes-candy-man-gold/ |accessdate= October 20, 2023}}</ref>
In 2014, Sammy Davis Jr.'s lead vocals from the original 1972 recording were sampled to create a "virtual duet" with singer Barry Manilow, which appeared on Manilow's album ''My Dream Duets''.
===Chart history===
====Weekly charts==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1972) !Peak<br />position |- |Australia Kent Music Report | style="text-align:center;"|3 |- |Canada ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.7649&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.7649.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.7649|title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- |Canada ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.7693&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.7693.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.7693|title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|3 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' – {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |US ''Billboard'' Easy Listening<ref name="auto"/> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720610.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 6/10/72|website=Tropicalglen.com|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424085305/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720610.html|archive-date=24 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |}
====Year-end charts==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1972) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |Australia | style="text-align:center;"|24 |- |Canada | style="text-align:center;"|15 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972 |access-date=23 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427223218/http://musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm |archive-date=27 April 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|5 |- |US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972|website=Tropicalglen.com|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928150812/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html|archive-date=28 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|23 |- |}
===Certifications=== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Sammy Davis, Jr. / Mike Curb Congregation|title=Candy Man|award=Gold|relyear=1972|certyear=1972|refname=single}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
==Zedd version== {{Infobox song | name = Candyman | cover = Zedd - Candyman.png | alt = | type = single | artist = Zedd featuring Aloe Blacc | album = Stay + | released = {{Start date|2016|2|26}} | recorded = | studio = | genre = Future bass<ref name="musictimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/66154/20160225/zedd-aloe-blacc-reimagine-mms-theme-song-candyman.htm|title=Zedd, Aloe Blacc Re-Imagine M&M's Theme Song 'Candyman'|last=Middleton|first=Ryan|date=February 25, 2016|publisher=Music Times}}</ref><ref name="dancingastro">{{cite news|url=https://www.dancingastronaut.com/2016/02/zedd-aloe-blacc-candyman-original-mix/|last=Reyes|first=Kim|title=Zedd and Aloe Blacc team up for 'Candyman'|date=February 25, 2016|publisher=Dancing Astronaut}}</ref> | length = {{Duration|m=2|s=58}} | label = Interscope | writer = Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley | producer = Zedd, Grey, Joseph Trapanese | chronology = Zedd | prev_title = Papercut | prev_year = 2015 | next_title = True Colors | next_year = 2016 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = Aloe Blacc | type = singles | prev_title = Verge | prev_year = 2015 | title = Candyman | year = 2016 | next_title = Carry You Home | next_year = 2016 }} }}
"Candyman" was covered by German-Russian producer Zedd featuring American singer Aloe Blacc and released as a single on February 26, 2016, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of M&M's.<ref name="forbes">{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2016/03/10/zedd-and-aloe-blacc-talk-recreating-a-classic-hit-for-mms-75th-birthday/#612bdf892b67|last=McIntyre|first=Hugh|title=Zedd and Aloe Blacc Talk Recreating a Classic Hit for M&M's 75th Birthday|work=Forbes|date=March 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="musictimes"/>
===Production=== The song was recorded by Zedd with help from Grey and Joseph Trapanese.<ref name="dancingastro"/>
===Critical reception=== The track received generally positive reviews. Hugh McIntyre wrote that the song is catchy and fun.<ref name="forbes"/> Aloe Blacc's vocals were praised by Ryan Middleton, who thought that they fit well with Zedd's music.<ref name="musictimes"/> The song was criticized by Diplo, saying that the song was a "rip-off" of Flume.<ref name="Diploripoff">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7264028/diplo-zedd-deadmau5-mms-song-flume-rip-off-twitter-beef|last=Stutz|first=Colin|title=Diplo Calls Zedd a Flume Rip-Off Over M&Ms Song: 'Don't be Such a Pompous Cornball Loser'|date=March 21, 2016|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
===Charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2016-03-25|title=NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=March 28, 2016|access-date=March 3, 2019}}</ref> | 9 |- {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|18|artist=Zedd|rowheader=true|access-date=March 3, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboarddanceelectronic|12|artist=Zedd|rowheader=true|access-date=March 3, 2019}} |}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-dance-electronic--songs|title=Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2016|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref> | 35 |}
===Certifications=== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|artist=Zedd feat. Aloe Blacc|title=Candyman|award=Gold|relyear=2016|certyear=2026|source=radioscope|access-date=May 22, 2026}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Zedd|title=Candyman|award=Gold|relyear=2016|certyear=2018|access-date=August 15, 2022}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
==Other uses== "The Candy Man" has been featured in a number of radio, films and TV shows after its introduction in ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory''. * Danny Baker used the song extensively as a theme during his breakfast show for BBC London 94.9.<ref>{{cite web |title=Danny Baker's BBC London Breakfast Show |url=https://shows.acast.com/danny-bakers-bbc-london-breakfast-show-1 |website=Acast Podcasts |date=6 February 2021 }}</ref> He would reward listeners who phoned into the show and greeted him as ''Candy Man''. During his time on the show, he amassed a large number of existing versions of the song, commissioned guests such as Ray Gelato to produce new versions, and Baker performed it himself with the BBC Concert Orchestra in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Danny Baker - The Candyman live in concert - BBC Radio London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00j7t4s |website=BBC |date=August 1, 2011}}</ref> He continued to use the song as a theme tune for his afternoon show on BBC London 94.9 until its cancellation.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Ian Burrell |title=Baker in his prime as he returns to radio after cancer struggle |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/baker-in-his-prime-as-he-returns-to-radio-after-cancer-struggle-2269933.html |work=The Independent |date=April 19, 2011}}</ref> * Chris Evans initially played the song on his drive time BBC Radio 2 show every Friday afternoon. When he replaced Terry Wogan on the breakfast show in January 2010, he continued to play the song every Friday morning.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC Radio 2 - The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Friday - It's Candy Man Day! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tq03d |website=BBC |date=September 17, 2010}}</ref> * The Broadway and U.S. tour production of ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' features Willy Wonka singing this song at the top of the show, just as he disguises himself as a candy store owner.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} * Sammy Davis Jr's recording is heard in the intro for the 2021 film ''Candyman''.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Jenny Desborough |title='Candyman' Soundtrack: Every Song Featured in the 2021 Movie |work=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/candyman-soundtrack-every-song-featured-2021-movie-1623588y |date=Aug 27, 2021}}</ref>
==In popular culture== * In the 1980s, the tune was adapted as a commercial jingle ("The Sunshine Baker Man", sung by Davis) for Sunshine Biscuits.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Philip H. Dougherty |title=Advertising; Sunshine Biscuits Campaign |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/16/business/advertising-sunshine-biscuits-campaign.html |work=The New York Times |date=January 16, 1985}}</ref> * The Simpsons parodied the song as "The Garbage Man Can" in the 1998 episode "Trash of the Titans", performed by Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson with U2. * Comedian Tim Hawkins released a parody of the song, "The Government Can", in 2009.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.elyrics.net/read/t/tim-hawkins-lyrics/the-government-can-lyrics.html | title = The Government Can Lyrics |website=Elyrics.net| access-date = 26 July 2013}}</ref> The video for the song went viral and has garnered over 7.6 million views on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2eh6f5Go0 | title = Tim Hawkins – The Government Can | date = 25 August 2009 | access-date = 26 July 2013 | publisher = Tim Hawkins}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=June 2025}} * M&M Mars used the song from time to time as a jingle for "The M&M's Man". EDM artist Zedd later released his single "Candyman", which samples the original song, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of M&M's candy.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.complex.com/music/2016/02/zedd-and-aloe-blacc-new-song-candyman | title = Zedd and Aloe Blacc Put an Unexpected Spin on 'Candyman' | website = Complex | access-date = 27 February 2016 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}{{Charlie and the Chocolate Factory}} {{Sammy Davis Jr.}} {{Zedd}} {{Aloe Blacc}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Candy Man, The}} Category:Songs about salespeople Category:1971 songs Category:1972 singles Category:Aloe Blacc songs Category:Sammy Davis Jr. songs Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Category:Cashbox number-one singles Category:Songs written by Anthony Newley Category:Songs written by Leslie Bricusse Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Curb Category:Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Category:Songs written for films Category:2016 singles Category:Interscope Records singles Category:Zedd songs Category:MGM Records singles Category:Vocal jazz songs Category:Music based on works by Roald Dahl