Candies (group)
Candies (キャンディーズ, Kyandīzu) was a Japanese idol trio formed in 1973, their first single being "Anata ni Muchū" (あなたに夢中, "Crazy For You"). Candies was composed of three girls: Ran (ラン) (Ran Itō (伊藤蘭, Itō Ran)), Sue (スー, Sū) (Yoshiko Tanaka (田中好子, Tanaka Yoshiko)), and Miki (ミキ) (Miki Fujimura (藤村美樹, Fujimura Miki). Songwriters included Michio Yamagami, Kōichi Morita, Yūsuke Hoguchi, and Kazuya Senka.[1] The group was popular among young Japanese people.
Candies キャンディーズ | |
---|---|
Origin | Japan |
Genres | |
Years active | 1973-1978 |
Labels | CBS Sony |
Website | Sony Music/candies |
Past members | Ran Sue Miki |
History
Biography
The Candies had eight top 10 songs: "Toshishita no Otokonoko (年下の男の子, "The Younger Boy"), "Haru Ichiban" (春一番, "Spring's First Breeze"), "Natsu ga Kita!" (夏が来た!, "Summer Has Come!"), "Yasashii Akuma" (やさしい悪魔, Yasashī Akuma, "My Sweet Devil"), "Shochū Omimai Mōshiagemasu" (暑中お見舞い申し上げます, "Midsummer's Greetings"), "Un, Deux, Trois" (アン・ドゥ・トロワ, An Du Torowa), "Wana" (わな, "The Trap"), and "Hohoemi Gaeshi" (微笑がえし, "Return of a Smile"). They were a representative idol group of Japan in the 1970s along with Pink Lady.
In 1977, at the height of their popularity, they dropped out of the music business with the famous phrase of "Futsū no on'nanoko ni modoritai" (普通の女の子に戻りたい, "We want to return to being ordinary girls.") Their farewell concert was held at the Korakuen Stadium on April 4, 1978.
A few years after leaving the industry, Ran and Sue came back as actresses. Miki returned to singing, but quit shortly after getting married.
In 2008, there were plans for a Candies reunion tour to celebrate 35 years since their debut and 30 years since their epic farewell concert. The tour never came about, mainly due to Sue's acting schedule and Miki's desire to remain out of the public eye for the sake of her family. However, the trio contributed pictures and essays to release a commemoration "Time Capsule" best-of album instead and did not meet during production.
Sue died from breast cancer in April 2011.[2] Ran and Miki delivered the eulogy at her funeral. Sue also left behind a recording of her final thoughts. In this recording (as well as in Miki's eulogy), it was revealed that all three members never again had the chance to reunite, yet have always desired to perform again.
In 2011, the Japanese music program Music Station listed them in their Top 50 Idols of All-time based on their sales figures. They were placed no. 32, with sales exceeding 5,000,000.[3]
Discography
Singles
# | Title | Oricon peak position | Release date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Anata ni Muchū (あなたに夢中, "Crazy for You") First single to feature Sue as main vocalist. | 36 | 1973 September 1 |
2 | Soyokaze no Kuchizuke (そよ風のくちづけ, "Kiss of the Gentle Breeze") | 39 | 1974 January 21 |
3 | Abunai Doyōbi (危い土曜日, "Dangerous Saturday") | 46 | 1974 April 21 |
4 | Namida no Kisetsu (なみだの季節, "Season of Tears") | 40 | 1974 September 21 |
5 | Toshishita no Otokonoko (年下の男の子, "The Younger Boy") First single to feature Ran as main vocalist. | 9 | 1975 February 21 |
6 | Uchiki na Aitsu (内気なあいつ, "The Shy Guy") | 18 | 1975 June 1 |
7 | Sono Ki ni Sasenaide (その気にさせないで, "Don't Come On to Me") | 17 | 1975 September 1 |
8 | Heart no Ace ga Detekonai (ハートのエースが出てこない, Hāto no Ēsu ga Detekonai, "Show the Ace of Hearts") | 11 | 1975 December 5 |
9 | Haru Ichiban (春一番, "Spring's First Breeze") Became the group's trademark song. | 3 | 1976 March 1 |
10 | Natsu ga Kita! (夏が来た!, "Summer Has Come!") | 5 | 1976 May 31 |
11 | Heart Dorobō (ハート泥棒, Hāto Dorobō, "Thief of Hearts") | 17 | 1976 September 1 |
12 | Aishū no Symphony (哀愁のシンフォニー, Aishū no Shinfonī, "A Symphony of Sorrow") | 12 | 1976 November 21 |
13 | Yasashii Akuma (やさしい悪魔, Yasashī Akuma, "My Sweet Devil") | 4 | 1977 March 1 |
14 | Shochū Omimai Mōshiagemasu (暑中お見舞い申し上げます, "Midsummer's Greetings") | 5 | 1977 June 21 |
15 | Un, Deux, Trois (アン・ドゥ・トロワ, An Du Torowa, "One, Two, Three") | 7 | 1977 September 21 |
16 | Wana (わな, "The Trap") First and only single to feature Miki as lead vocalist. | 3 | 1977 December 5 |
17 | Hohoemi Gaeshi (微笑がえし, "Smiling Back") | 1 | 1978 February 25 |
18 | Tsubasa (つばさ, "Wings") Written by Ran for the final concert as a farewell song. Released after the group's disbandment. | 16 | 1978 November 21 |
Studio albums
# | Title | Songs included | Release date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Anata ni Muchū ~Uchiki na Candies~ (あなたに夢中〜内気なキャンディーズ〜, Crazy for You ~Shy Candies~) | 12 | 1973 December 5 |
2 | Abunai Doyōbi ~Candies no Sekai~ (危ない土曜日〜キャンディーズの世界〜, Dangerous Saturday ~The World of Candies~) | 12 | 1974 June 21 |
3 | Namida no Kisetsu (なみだの季節, Season of Tears) | 12 | 1974 December 10 |
4 | Toshishita no Otokonoko (年下の男の子, The Younger Boy) | 12 | 1975 April 21 |
5 | Sono Ki ni Sasenaide (その気にさせないで, Don't Come On to Me) | 12 | 1975 October 1 |
6 | Haru Ichiban (春一番, Spring's First Breeze) | 12 | 1976 April 1 |
7 | Natsu ga Kita! (夏が来た!, Summer Has Come!) | 12 | 1976 July 21 |
8 | Candies 1½ Yasashii Akuma (キャンディーズ 1 1/2 やさしい悪魔, Candies 1½ My Sweet Devil) | 18 | 1977 April 21 |
9 | Candy Label | 16 | 1977 September 1 |
10 | Candies 1676 Days (〜キャンディーズ1676日〜) | 58 | 1977 December 5 |
11 | Sōshunfu (早春譜, Early Spring Music) | 20 | 1978 March 21 |
Live albums
# | Title | Songs included | Release date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Candies' Carnival for 10,000 People (キャンディーズ10,000人カーニバル, Kyandīzu 10,000-ri Kānibaru) | 10 | 1975 December 21 |
2 | Kuramae Kokugikan Carnival for 10,000 People Vol. 2: Candies Live (蔵前国技館10,000人カーニバルVol.2 キャンディーズ・ライブ, Kuramae Kokugikan 10,000-ri Kānibaru Vol. 2 Kyandīzu Raibu) | 18 | 1976 December 5 |
3 | Candies Final Carnival Plus One (キャンディーズ ファイナルカーニバル プラス・ワン, Kyandīzu Fainaru Kānibaru Purasu Wan) | 39 | 1978 May 21 |
Compilations
# | Title | Songs included | Release date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Candies Complete Hits -1974 Edition- (キャンディーズ・ヒット全曲集 -1974年版-, Kyandīzu Hitto Zenkyoku-shū -1974-nenban-) | 12 | 1974 November 1 |
2 | Candies Deluxe (キャンディーズ・デラックス, Kyandīzu Derakkusu) | 24 | 1975 June 1 |
3 | Candies Complete Hits -1975 Edition- (キャンディーズ・ヒット全曲集 -1975年版-, Kyandīzu Hitto Zenkyoku-shū -1975-nenban-) | 12 | 1975 November 1 |
4 | Best of Best: All Candies (Best of Best キャンディーズのすべて, Besuto obu Besuto Kyandīzu no Subete) | 24 | 1976 June 1 |
5 | Candies Complete Hits -1976 Edition- (キャンディーズ・ヒット全曲集 -1976年版-, Kyandīzu Hitto Zenkyoku-shū -1976-nenban-) | 12 | 1976 November 1 |
6 | Candies Decision Board (決定盤 キャンディーズ, Kettei-ban Kyandīzu) | 30 | 1977 June 1 |
7 | The Best: Candies' Shop | 14 | 1977 November 1 |
8 | The Best: Hohoemi Gaeshi (THE BEST/微笑がえし, Za Besuto/Hohoemi Gaeshi, The Best: Smiling Back) | 30 | 1978 June 1 |
9 | The Best: Candies -November 1978 Edition- (THE BEST/キャンディーズ -1978年11月版-, Za Besuto/Kyandīzu -1978-nen 11-gatsu-ban-) | 14 | 1978 November 1 |
10 | The Best: Candies -1979 Edition- (THE BEST/キャンディーズ -1979年版-, Za Besuto/Kyandīzu -1979-nenban-) | 14 | 1979 June 1 |
11 | The Best: Candies -1980 Edition- (THE BEST/キャンディーズ -1980年版-, Za Besuto/Kyandīzu -1980-nenban-) | 30 | 1980 November 1 |
12 | The Best Again: Candies (THE BEST again/キャンディーズ, Za Besuto Agein/Kyandīzu) | 14 | 1981 November 1 (LP) 1983 November 5 (CD) |
13 | The Best: Candies -1982 Edition- (THE BEST/キャンディーズ -1982年版-, Za Besuto/Kyandīzu -1982-nenban-) | 12 | 1982 November 1 |
14 | Candies Best Collection (キャンディーズ・ベスト・コレクション, Kyandīzu Besuto Korekushon) | 15 | 1985 April 1 |
15 | Golden J-pop: The Best - Candies (GOLDEN J-POP/THE BEST キャンディーズ, Gōruden Jei Poppu/Za Besuto Kyandīzu) | 38 | 1997 November 21 |
16 | 2000 Best: Candies (2000 BEST キャンディーズ, 2000 Besuto Kyandīzu) | 18 | 2000 June 21 |
17 | Dream Price 1000: Candies - Toshishita no Otokonoko (DREAM PRICE 1000 キャンディーズ 年下の男の子, Dorīmu Puraisu 1000 Kyandīzu Toshishita no Otokonoko, Dream Price 1000: Candies - The Younger Boy) | 6 | 2001 October 11 |
18 | Dream Price 1000: Candies - Haru Ichiban (DREAM PRICE 1000 キャンディーズ 春一番, Dorīmu Puraisu 1000 Kyandīzu Haru Ichiban, Dream Price 1000: Candies - Spring's First Breeze) | 6 | 2001 October 11 |
19 | Golden Best: Candies (GOLDEN☆BEST キャンディーズ, Gōruden Besuto Kyandīzu) | 38 | 2002 June 19 |
20 | Candies Super Best (キャンディーズ・スーパー・ベスト, Kyandīzu Sūpā Besuto) | 16 | 2006 July 21 |
21 | Candies Best of Best (キャンディーズ BEST OF BEST, Kyandīzu Besuto obu Besuto) | 12 | 2006 September 21 |
22 | Candies Complete Hits -1974 Edition- (キャンディーズ・ヒット全曲集 -1974年版-, Kyandīzu Hitto Zenkyoku-shū -1974-nenban-) | 13 | 2008 September 3 |
23 | Golden Best: Candies Complete Single Collection (GOLDEN☆BEST キャンディーズ コンプリート・シングルコレクション, Gōruden Besuto Kyandīzu Konpurīto Shinguru Korekushon) | 18 | 2011 June 8 |
24 | Golden Idol: Candies (ゴールデン☆アイドル キャンディーズ, Gōruden Aidoru Kyandīzu) | 36 | 2015 April 4 |
Boxed sets
# | Title | Songs included | Release date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Candies Bible (キャンディーズ・バイブル, Kyandīzu Baiburu) | 88 | 1994 May 1 |
2 | Candies History ~Best Selection Box 1973-1978~ | - | 1998 September 9 |
3 | Candies Premium ~All Songs CD Box~ | - | 2004 June 30 |
4 | Candies Time Capsule (キャンディーズ・タイムカプセル, Kyandīzu Taimu Kapuseru) | - | 2008 September 3 |
4 | Candies Densetsu CD-Box (キャンディーズ伝説 CD-BOX, The Legend of Candies CD-Box) | 96 | 2008 December 11 |
Videos
Title | Mode | |
---|---|---|
1 | Candies Forever (1978 Final Carnival) | |
2 | Candies Treasure (1977-1978 Live) | |
3 | Candies Treasure VOL.1 (1977 Live) | Blu-ray |
4 | Candies Treasure VOL.2 (1977 Live) | Blu-ray |
5 | Candies Treasure VOL.3 (1978 Live) | Blu-ray |
6 | Candies Treasure VOL.4 (TV Live) | Blu-ray |
7 | The Final Carnival (The Complete Version) |
References
- Martin, Ian F. (2016). Quit Your Band: Musical Notes From the Japanese Underground. Awai Books. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-937220-05-1.
- Japan Today
- "Music Station announces their Top 50 Idols of All time". Tokyo Hive. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
External links
- Official website
- Candies discography at MusicBrainz
- Candies discography at Discogs
- Candies at Oricon
- Candies at Idol.ne.jp