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Candy Says

"Candy Says" is a song written by for the American band , appearing as the opening track on their self-titled third studio album released in March 1969. The track features lead vocals by bassist , as Reed declined to sing it himself owing to discomfort with the subject matter. Lyrically, it channels sentiments expressed by —born James L. Slattery—a male performer and associate who adopted a female persona through and hormone use, voicing hatred for his biological male body and a desire to experience female physiology and social roles. Notable for its acoustic gentleness amid the band's typically abrasive sound, the song has been covered by Reed himself and others, including Antony Hegarty, and remains a poignant exploration of and identity in the context of 1960s underground culture.

Background

Inspiration and context

"Candy Says" was written by as a portrait of , a actress and frequent presence in Andy Warhol's circle, whom Reed encountered during the band's scene affiliations in the mid-1960s. The lyrics adopt Darling's perspective, articulating her aversion to her physical form—"I've come to hate my body / And all that it requires in this world"—and her longing to comprehend the attractions that drive others, reflecting reported conversations and observations of her personal struggles with . Reed later characterized the song's essence as confronting an undesired self-image in the mirror, underscoring its introspective core without romanticization. The track emerged during a transitional phase for The Velvet Underground, following co-founder John Cale's departure on September 1968 amid escalating creative tensions with , who sought greater control over the band's direction and rejected Cale's inclinations, such as proposals for unconventional recording techniques. With bassist —recruited earlier that year—elevated to multi-instrumentalist duties, the group relocated to for sessions at in October 1968, yielding a more restrained, folk-leaning aesthetic that contrasted their prior noise experiments on albums like (1968). Yule's soft, whisper-like delivery on "Candy Says" exemplified this pivot toward emotional vulnerability over abrasion, aligning with Reed's intent for subdued introspection amid the band's commercial pressures from .

Composition and recording

"Candy Says" was composed by Lou Reed as one of several character studies featured on The Velvet Underground's self-titled third album. The track was recorded during the album's sessions, which took place in November and December 1968 at TTG Studios in Hollywood, California. Engineering duties were handled by Val Valentin, with the band overseeing production. Reed played lead and as well as on the song, while Doug delivered the lead vocals at Reed's direction, as his naive, innocent delivery complemented the composition's introspective quality. also contributed bass, and Maureen provided percussion, maintaining the band's characteristic sparse arrangement.

Musical and lyrical analysis

Musical structure

"Candy Says" is composed in the key of and maintains a steady of 79 beats per minute in 4/4 time. The track employs a straightforward verse-chorus form without an introductory section, beginning directly with the first . It consists of two 16-bar verses, each followed by a 12-bar and a one-bar pause, concluding with a 44-bar outro that fades out, totaling 102 bars. The progression features a sequence of D–F♯m–F–B–Em–A–D–A, incorporating a cycle-of-fifths motion (B–Em–A–D) and an imperfect resolving to V (). The shifts to D–G–E–A followed by C–G–A–C, introducing the (G major) and a borrowed flat-VII (C major) for harmonic color. The outro simplifies to oscillating D and G , emphasizing the before fading. One per bar supports the song's deliberate, ballad-like rhythm, with instrumentation including guitars by and , bass and organ by , by Reed, and percussion by Maureen Tucker. This arrangement contributes to the track's sparse, introspective .

Lyrics and themes

"Candy Says" consists of lyrics written from the perspective of its titular character, articulating profound dissatisfaction with her physical form and existential longings. The opening verse states: "Candy says, 'I've come to hate my / And all that it requires in this world' / Candy says, 'I'd like to know completely / What others so discretely talk about.'" Subsequent lines express a desire for from bodily demands and about intimate experiences typically reserved for those without such conflicts. The song progresses to reflections on through , with Candy aspiring to emulate glamorous figures: "Candy says, 'I think I look all right / For a girl my age / But then she talks about her / As if it were something else.'" Central to the lyrics is an exploration of as a pathway to idealized and freedom, encapsulated in the : "Candy says, 'Would I have to die? / To see all those beautiful things?'" This recurs, underscoring a perceived incompatibility between her current existence and the feminine archetypes she idolizes, such as blonde movie stars. The structure employs repetitive phrasing—"Candy says"—to mimic confessional monologue, building a of internal turmoil without resolution. Thematically, the song delves into and the dissonance between biological sex and self-perceived identity, drawing directly from conversations had with , a biological male who presented as female and served as an associate. composed the piece to convey Darling's expressed hatred for her male anatomy and yearning for a female existence unburdened by it, framing her body as an alienating prison. This is evident in lines lamenting physical requirements and the appeal of death as a transformative release, reflecting Darling's real-life struggles with identity and societal marginalization in the 1960s underground scene. Broader themes include alienation from normative and the seductive illusion of media-driven , where television and offer vicarious fulfillment unavailable in reality. Reed's portrayal avoids romanticization, presenting dysphoria as a raw, causal torment rooted in immutable rather than social constructs, with posed as a literal mechanism rather than metaphor. Critics have interpreted these elements as an early, unflinching depiction of experience, predating widespread cultural discourse on the topic, though Reed emphasized the song's basis in Darling's verbatim sentiments about mirror reflections revealing undesired truths.

Release and commercial performance

Album context

The Velvet Underground's self-titled third studio album, on which "Candy Says" appears as the opening track, represented a pivotal shift in the band's lineup and artistic direction following the acrimonious departure of founding member in September 1968. Cale's exit, driven by Lou Reed's desire to steer the group toward more conventional song structures away from Cale's influences, led to bassist —previously a roadie and multi-instrumentalist—assuming Cale's role on bass and contributing lead vocals to several tracks, including "Candy Says." This personnel change softened the album's overall sonic palette, emphasizing acoustic elements, harmonies, and Reed's narrative-driven compositions over the noise and dissonance of prior releases like (1968). Recording sessions occurred in late 1968, shortly after Cale's firing, with self-producing the material at studios in under Reed's creative control. The group had transitioned from to its parent label via a two-album , reflecting ongoing tensions with their previous amid persistent low despite critical acclaim. MGM's involvement aimed to broaden 's appeal, but the album's introspective tone—featuring tracks like "" and ""—signaled Reed's intent to explore personal and subdued themes, diverging from scene's excesses that defined earlier work. The album was released in March 1969, coinciding with live performances such as a three-night stand at the , as the band navigated internal dynamics and external indifference from mainstream outlets. This timing positioned it as a bridge between the Velvet Underground's experimental roots and a more radio-friendly aesthetic, though commercial expectations remained tempered by the group's history of niche reception; initial pressings totaled around 100,000 copies, underscoring MGM's cautious investment. "Candy Says," penned by about transgender performer , encapsulated this evolution, with Yule's gentle delivery highlighting the album's vulnerable, confessional core.

Chart performance and initial sales

The song "Candy Says" was not released as a commercial single and accordingly did not chart on major music charts such as the Billboard Hot 100. The parent album, The Velvet Underground, peaked at No. 197 on the Billboard 200 upon its release in March 1969, marking the band's highest initial chart position. This modest performance aligned with broader commercial challenges, including limited radio airplay due to the band's experimental style and internal changes following John Cale's departure. Initial figures for the are sparsely documented, but its brief chart appearance and low peak indicate sales in the low tens of thousands of units during the first year, far below mainstream contemporaries amid ' waning promotion efforts. The track's gentle balladry offered a more accessible entry point than prior releases, yet failed to drive broader uptake, reflecting the group's niche audience in an era dominated by psychedelic and pop acts. Over time, reissues propelled cumulative , but contemporaneous metrics underscored persistent underperformance relative to critical potential.

Critical reception and interpretations

Contemporary reviews

Lenny Kaye, reviewing the album for Rolling Stone on March 29, 1969, described "Candy Says" as the opener portraying a young girl's curiosity about "what the others so discreetly talk about," observing that several songs, including this one, adopt a woman's viewpoint to lend the record an additional dimension, while praising the overall shift toward themes of love and freedom over prior elements. The review positioned the track within the album's more melodic and accessible style, contrasting it with the band's earlier noise-oriented work. Other contemporaneous critics highlighted the song's role in showcasing Doug Yule's soft vocals and the band's evolving restraint, with magazine noting the album's gentle ballads like "Candy Says" as evidence of maturation beyond underground provocation, though sales remained modest at under 100,000 copies in the first year despite radio airplay for tracks including it. Reviews in outlets like and the Village Voice generally lauded the record's country-tinged warmth but rarely isolated "Candy Says" beyond acknowledging its tender lyricism about personal dissatisfaction, interpreting the themes through a lens of youthful alienation rather than explicit struggles prevalent in modern analyses.

Retrospective assessments

In retrospective analyses, "Candy Says" has been lauded for its unflinching yet compassionate depiction of 's personal struggles, particularly her expressed dissatisfaction with her physical form and societal role. Critics have highlighted the song's rarity in for addressing such intimate themes through a direct, observational lens drawn from Reed's conversations with Darling, portraying her ambivalence toward surgical interventions and the desire for a different existence without romanticizing or pathologizing it unduly. For instance, a 2021 ranking of Underground's top songs positioned "Candy Says" at number 15, describing it as "a stunning, tender pen portrait of the Warhol superstar ," emphasizing that "no one else in was writing songs remotely like" it. Similarly, in 2014 characterized it as a "remarkably sympathetic portrait of trans woman Warhol Superstar ," noting its emotional depth amid the band's evolving sound post-John Cale. The track's melodic simplicity and Doug Yule's soft, vocals—marking his debut as lead singer—have been credited with broadening The Velvet Underground's appeal beyond their earlier abrasive style, influencing perceptions of the band's versatility. uDiscover Music's overview of the group's legacy identifies "Candy Says" as among Lou Reed's "most romantic" compositions, underscoring its lyrical focus on quiet despair and fleeting hope as a to the album's louder tracks. Louder Sound, in a guide to the band's studio albums, praised it as "an enduring song laced with and self-loathing," affirming its status as one of Reed's strongest works for blending with raw . Its lasting influence is evident in subsequent covers and references, such as R.E.M.'s rendition, which Goldmine Magazine in 2025 noted as "memorable," signaling the song's resonance in alternative rock circles decades later. Classic Rock History included it in a top 10 list of Velvet Underground songs, arguing that its version on the 1969 self-titled album represents the "finest" iteration of a piece Reed refined over time, due to Yule's delivery enhancing its vulnerability. These assessments collectively elevate "Candy Says" as a pivotal, empathetic outlier in the band's catalog, valued for its empirical grounding in Darling's own words rather than abstract ideology.

Controversies and debates

The lyrics of "Candy Says," written by and inspired by actress , have prompted critical analysis of their depiction of , particularly the expressed hatred of one's biological body in lines such as "I've come to hate my body / And all that it requires in this world." This portrayal, based on Reed's interactions with Darling in the late , captures her reported internal turmoil without externalizing blame, an approach described by reviewers as an "achingly poignant evocation of " in of the era. The song's hypothetical query—"What do you think you'd do if you were ?"—extends to contemplation of as a response to unrelenting bodily discord, aligning with empirical observations of elevated suicide risk in . Longitudinal studies report lifetime suicide attempt rates of 30% or higher among affected individuals, often linked to persistent distress over sex characteristics. herself died of on March 21, 1974, at age 29, not by , though her struggles informed the track's themes. Interpretive debates center on the song's : some analyses commend its challenge to 1960s gender norms by voicing unfiltered aspiration and doubt from a first-person , humanizing dysphoria's causal roots in biological incongruence over purely social factors. Others question whether its focus on tragedy and escape overlooks resilience, though such views remain marginal amid broader acclaim for presaging visibility in media. No major public controversies have arisen, with the track largely regarded as empathetic rather than exploitative.

Performances and versions

Live performances

"Candy Says" entered The Velvet Underground's live repertoire in late 1969, coinciding with the release of their self-titled third album, and remained a setlist staple through 1970. Early performances included shows at venues like the Boston Tea Party in March 1969, though the song's debut aligned more closely with post-recording tours featuring Doug Yule on lead vocals, as on the studio version. A documented rendition from April 17, 1970, at the Paramount Theatre in Springfield, Massachusetts, captured the band in a transitional phase, with footage later featured in Todd Haynes' 2021 documentary The Velvet Underground. The song's most prominent Velvet Underground live recording derives from their August 23, 1970, engagement at in , marking Lou Reed's final performance with the group before his departure. Recorded informally by Factory scene associate on a cassette, this version—characterized by raw energy and audience proximity—appears on the 1972 double album , with Yule handling vocals amid the band's stripped-down lineup. Following Reed's exit, the Yule-led incarnation continued performing it, including during their 1972 European tour, as preserved on the 2014 archival release . Lou Reed reintroduced "Candy Says" in his solo career, incorporating it into select concerts across decades, appearing in approximately 5.5% of his documented shows from onward. Notable recordings include the 2004 live album , where Antony (formerly Hegarty) delivered lead vocals during Reed's 2003 tour stop, emphasizing the song's introspective themes. Reed also performed it at St. Ann's Warehouse in in 2008, released as part of The Creation of the Universe. His final public appearance singing the track occurred on March 6, 2013, joining Antony and the Johnsons onstage in for a poignant , seven months before Reed's death.

Alternate studio versions

During the recording sessions for The Velvet Underground's self-titled third album at TTG Studios in Hollywood between October and November 1968, "Candy Says" was tracked with Doug Yule providing lead vocals, as Lou Reed declined to sing the track himself due to personal discomfort with its subject matter. The initial mixes, engineered by Val Valentin, featured a drier sound but were rejected by Reed for lacking depth; in response, the band produced "closet mixes" in the studio's engineering booth, incorporating additional reverb, echo effects, and subtle overdubs to enhance the atmospheric quality. These closet mixes, including one of "Candy Says," appeared on early UK pressings of the album and were later prioritized in reissues such as the 1995 box set , where the track runs 4:04 with Yule's prominent, layered vocals amid echoing instrumentation. The Val Valentin mix, by contrast, presents a more straightforward take at similar length but with reduced ambient effects, and both variants stem from the same core without vocal substitutions. Further alternate mixes from earlier sessions, such as those referenced in archival tapes dated July 5, remain unreleased officially but indicate ongoing experimentation during pre-production. The 2014 The Velvet Underground 1969: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition compiles multiple variants, including stereo closet mixes and mono alternates of "Candy Says," highlighting differences in balance—such as foregrounded bass and guitar in the mono version—while preserving Yule's delivery as the definitive studio vocal performance. No released studio takes feature Reed's lead vocals, distinguishing these from subsequent live renditions where he occasionally performed the song.

Notable covers

Anohni (formerly known as Antony Hegarty), lead singer of Antony and the Johnsons, delivered a rendition of "Candy Says" that featured on guitar during a live performance at on October 24, 2005, as part of Anohni's show; , the song's , publicly endorsed the for its emotional depth. This version, characterized by its sparse arrangement and Anohni's falsetto vocals, has been highlighted in retrospectives on tributes for capturing the song's introspective themes. Martin L. Gore, bassist and songwriter of , included a studio cover on his 2003 solo album , released November 11, 2003, by ; the track employs electronic elements and Gore's baritone delivery, diverging from the original's acoustic folk-rock style while retaining lyrical fidelity. Garbage recorded a version as the B-side to their single "Breaking Up the Girl," released October 1, 2001, through ; featuring Shirley Manson's vocals over grunge-influenced instrumentation, it appeared on compilations like beautiful garbage (20th Anniversary Edition) in remastered form on November 5, 2021. Blind Melon performed a live cover during the 2 Meter Sessies radio session in Hilversum, Netherlands, on November 16, 1993, shortly before frontman Shannon Hoon's death; the rendition, emphasizing raw guitar work, was later archived and praised for its fidelity to the Velvet Underground's sound. Hot Chip released a synth-pop reinterpretation on September 3, 2020, as part of online tributes following Lou Reed's influence; the cover incorporates pulsating electronics, reflecting the band's electronic style while nodding to the song's origins.

Legacy and influence

Cultural references

The song "Candy Says" appears in the 2010 documentary Beautiful Darling, which chronicles the life of transgender actress Candy Darling, the figure who inspired Lou Reed's lyrics; the film's use of the track highlights themes of body dysmorphia and self-perception drawn from Darling's experiences. It is also featured in the soundtrack of Todd Haynes' 2021 documentary The Velvet Underground, where it illustrates the band's shift toward introspective songwriting on their self-titled third album. References to the song in often emphasize its empathetic portrayal of -related distress, as noted in analyses connecting it to Reed's broader exploration of marginalized identities in .

Impact on transgender representation in media

"Candy Says," the opening track of Underground's self-titled third studio released on March 17, 1969, articulated the perspective of actress through lyrics expressing dissatisfaction with one's physical form and a longing for transformation, including the lines "Candy says, I've come to hate my body / And all that it requires of me" and reflections on escaping constraints. This depiction stood out in late-1960s by humanizing experiences without resorting to caricature or moral judgment, at a time when media portrayals of gender-variant individuals were predominantly marginal or , such as in exploitation films or tabloid . The song's release predated widespread transgender visibility in popular culture, offering a subdued, introspective counterpoint within the avant-garde New York scene influenced by , yet its underground distribution—amid the album's failure to achieve significant sales or airplay—curtailed immediate broader media ripple effects. Cultural commentator Johnny Marrero noted that while "Candy Says" represented a "marvelous celebration of trans culture" by , "nothing changed" in societal or representational landscapes upon its 1969 debut, reflecting the era's entrenched gender norms and limited access to non-normative narratives. Retrospectively, the track has been recognized in music historiography as an early artifact fostering sympathetic engagement with themes, indirectly shaping artistic expressions and archival references to figures like in later works, including Lou Reed's 1972 hit "Walk on the Wild Side," which recycled elements of her story for a wider audience. Nonetheless, empirical evidence linking it directly to transformations in , television, or other visual media portrayals remains anecdotal, with substantive shifts toward complex characters emerging primarily in the late 20th and 21st centuries, driven by activist movements and legal changes rather than isolated songs.

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