Marcy Playground, Sex and Candy | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 40th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we highlight “Sex and Candy” performed by Marcy Playground. 

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the 40^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we dive into “Sex and Candy”,  the one-hit wonder by Marcy Playground.

What made “Sex and Candy” the sugar honey iced tea? The sound of the record is a pro.  The rock groove is undeniable. The alternative vibe vibes hard. Wozniak sings well, bringing tuneful melodies and most of all, memorable lyrics to life.  It’s not often you hear “there she was, in platform double suede” or “she was, like disco lemonade.” Disco lemonade? According to a Songfacts interview with Wozniak, “It (“Sex and Candy”) means so many different things, and so many different parts of it came from so many different places.” He adds:

It’s just about seeing some sexy girl and then falling in love… I’m telling you, when I was very young I experimented with drugs, but when I was writing these songs, I wasn’t high. But it sounds like I was high.

Word. Of course, the song’s biggest claim to fame is the unforgettable chorus:

“I smell sex and candy here, mmhmmm

Who’s that lounging in my chair? Mhm

Who’s that casting devious stares in my direction?

Momma, this is surely a dream…”

Interestingly, “Sex and Candy” was composed in only an hour.  That’s almost unbelievable given the unique, colorful lyrics. While Marcy Playground never struck gold again, the brilliance and enigma of their 1997 classic, “Sex and Candy” is sufficient.  Pardon my French but Tsss 🤘 (this shit still rocks)! In 2014, Maroon 5 covered it in their album, V.

Marcy Playground // Marcy Playground // Capitol Catalog // 1997

Marcy Playground, Sex and Candy: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 40 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol Catalog; Elias Souza from Pexels; OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]