"You know who you are,
Your love is as sweet as candy,
I'll be forever yours,
Love always, Mandy."
So states the spoken portion of Mandy Moore's first and biggest single, 1999's 'Candy.' One taste of this delectibly sweet pop anthem, and the country was craving the song like, well....candy. Sure, the lyrics are cutesy and contrived, but how else can one express the feelings of an inexperienced teen crush. Ms. Moore was only 16 when the single became a hit and boosted her to the ranks of pop princess; a current trend of singers which included Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson. With a voice that exceeded her age, and a video that fit snugly into the mold of late-90s pop music, Moore achieved widespread success and fame.
Like the video for Britney's '...Baby One More Time' before it, 'Candy' was oddly appealing. Oddly to the extent that legions of grown men were finding a sixteen year-old girl attractive - something that is generally frowned upon in society. Of course, looking back at it now, Moore looks younger than ever. Which makes it all the more humorous.
The video depicts a typical day in upper-middle-class suburbia. Teens dressing in the latest trends, cruising down the street in their VW Beetles and mopeds, hanging at the local burger joint, and most of all, choreographing dance routines in the middle of a skate park. All of the things that 98% of the world wishes it had the resources to do. Bubbly and upbeat, it's no wonder the track was like sugar to the hearts of so many.
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