[1] The song features a prominent guitar solo by Elliot Easton and lead vocals by bassist Benjamin Orr.
The chorus is minimal, with only one line ("Candy-O / I need you so"), leading to loud guitar and drum fills dividing the rhythm less evenly.
"[1] Rolling Stone critic Tom Carson wrote that the song is "very nice, with some terse, churning guitar and a vocal just attenuated and yearning enough to make the heroine's coolness appear authentically felt instead of being merely presented.
"[5] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as the Cars' 4th greatest song, praising its originality and stating that "The way [lead guitarist] Elliot Easton and [keyboardist] Greg Hawkes bounced off each other with their licks and fills was mesmerizing.
"[9] "Candy-O" has been covered by such bands as the Melvins, whose 1989 album Ozma included a version of the song, described as a "random what-the-hell moment" that "shouldn't work, but actually does" by AllMusic reviewer Ned Raggett.