[4] "I Want Candy" was written by Bert Berns, Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer in 1965.

Some reports suggest that the song was written after the producers saw dancer Candy Johnson performing at the 1964 World's Fair.

[5] As writers/producers, Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer had already scored big hits for other artists, including "My Boyfriend's Back" by the Angels.

Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer dressed up in shaggy wigs and exotic clothing for publicity photos as the Strangeloves.

For many in America, "I Want Candy" was their first introduction to young lead singer Annabella Lwin and the band, who partnered with producer Kenny Laguna to record the song at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida.

[14] The Bow Wow Wow recording appeared on two VH1 countdowns: British duo Candy Girls, consisting of Rachel Auburn and Paul Masterson, released a cover of "I Want Candy" featuring singer Valerie Malcolm.

On Music Week's UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart, the song hit number-one.

"[26] Daisy & Havoc from the magazine's RM Dance Update gave it four out of five, writing, "The next booming Candy Girls outing is probably their best yet.

It's really amusing, with the so-suitable 'I want candy' vocal and the all-round Nineties pop meets Fifties kitsch feel, and it's positively rabble-rousing in its enormous piano breaks.

[35] The music video for this version features Carter going on a date with Candy while three boys constantly harass him.

[47] The song was also the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, and the video featured Melanie dancing for the first time since the Spice Girls.

A music video for "I Want Candy", directed by Tim Royes, depicts Melanie C in a skin-tight catsuit, featuring a sexually suggestive dance routine with half-naked bodybuilders in crowd-controller uniforms.