Yesterday it dawned on me that most candy references in songs are not about sweets at all – they are about sex! Somehow, I didn’t quite pick up on that; then again, I am notorious for being oblivious to these things. Now I can’t stop laughing thinking of all the songs that I thought were innnocent - I Want Candy, Christina Aguilera’s Candyman, Katy Perry’s imagery in California Girls…
There is a funny story that involves sugar, dirty references and a good dose of naivete. 18 year old France Gall recorded the song “Les Sucettes” (Lollipops) in 1966, which was written by her songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg. The song contained double-meanings and strong sexual innuendos through and through but, being naive, Gall didn’t take to the double meaning until she’d performed the song all over and it was a huge hit. Gall got really mad at the songwriter and to this day refuses to perform or talk about the song. Regardless, 40 years later, it’s still a catchy tune and the video is oddly amusing. :)
France Gall talks about Les Sucettes
Actually, Serge Gainsbourg was a genius. All of the songs he wrote are awesome.
Ariel Grimm Reply:
June 23, 2010 at 6:35 pm
What do you mean “actually”? Doe never said anything negative about him…
Meru Reply:
June 24, 2010 at 9:55 am
Surprisingly, a person can be more than one thing at a time.
I’m not entirely sure what to think about that video-her naivete was both amusing and annoying at that same time.
Poor girl
And many songs are about masterbation like Cyndi Lauper’s She Bop. :)
That video made me really sad, especially when she was talking about how she felt when she discovered what the song was really about, and how she suddenly saw all the salaciousness hidden in men. It’s really depressing :(
you seriously should listen to 2NE1- Lollipop and Big Bang- Lollipop 2
They have the whole sex-candy thing and the most awesome colourful clothes. It’s Kpop BTW
Let me know if you like it!
K------ Reply:
June 27, 2010 at 10:52 pm
I always thought that song didn’t use lollipop in the “penis” sense. You know, “I’m you lollipop, you’re my lollipop”. It doesn’t have licking or anything!
Tam Reply:
July 3, 2010 at 3:01 pm
in the first song I dont think they mean penis, just sex, but in the second…
‘here she comes she wants some of my lollipop, the way she touch my body makes me wanna rock’ –> am I just perverted? XD
Serge Gainsbourg is a major pervazoid. What a tool.
Gainsbourg was a genius as well as a perv. Just as Phil Spector was a genius while having many publicized personal problems.
Another example, Candyman by Aqua. One of my favorite bands as a young girl was Aqua. It wasn’t until recently when some friends and I were remeniscing about them that we realized how dirty their lyrics are! Oh my stars! (girlish giggle)
Ariel Grimm Reply:
June 23, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Haha Aqua has been my favorite band since 2nd grade, it wasn’t until I was 19 listening to ‘Roses are Red’ that I finally realized why my mom didn’t approve of my listening to them 24/7!!!
Love Gainsbourg, love France Gall.
Poor girl.
I’ve seen my self and friends of mine in that position – being misinterpreted sucks.
I think we should be happy and naive, but still aware of the worse it could get.
I imagine the typical japan guy-who-loves-innocent-sailors drooling wile listening to her. Aw funny.
She’s super cute.
I just heard this song in French class! We were originally listening to Gainsbourgh’s song “Black Trombone” (which was very good!), and as usual, we became sidetracked. Our teacher brought this song up, and, well… it was an interesting class!
I second what Tam said about listening to 2NE1. I’m sure you’ll love their style, if nothing else!
I tend to go the opposite, I hear double meanings in everything :P
The poor girl though, it’s one thing to sing double meanings intentionally, but to have them thrust upon you unknowingly would be terrible
I listen very carefully to song lyrics, so much so that I had to explain a song from Dave Matthew’s Band called Crash into Me. she had no idea what she was singing all the time, far less she wasn’t paying attention! lol
sex sells, unfortunately, not matter how you disguise it, or sweeten it up.
The rumour is that Gainsbourg wrote it to test how naive France Gall was. He’d been writing songs for her for a while, and they were getting progressively dirtier and he thought that there was no way she could be so innocent, so he penned Les Sucettes and was surprised when she sang it so willingly.
I have to disagree with some people saying that Serge was a pervert, he was just a smoking hot guy who like ladies, and having sex, and indulged himself frequently. Histoire De Melody Nelson is one of the best albums ever made, period.
ahahah i’m so happy to see french stuff on here !
I’m a little bit shy and i never comment but i really like you Doe Deer and i love your art (i don’t know if it’s correct to say) and today i want to give you a kiss from France, especially from Paris (where i live) to thank you for this refreshing french song (and lovely story) ♥
Have a magical day ♫
I stop believing in the innocence of the songs about candy, when 50 cent released Candy shop!!!
And I felt sorry for the lady on the video… she was really innocent and the songwriter deceived her!!!
But I still love songs like Candyman, I Want Candy and stuff like that… they’re catchy!!!
I’m not sure it should be called a funny story. :( I guess it’s her own fault for being naive… but I think 18 is still that age where you are still figuring things out… or maybe I just sympathize with her more because I’ve been pretty naive back then also. It doesn’t involve candy, but I think there was also an incident where a photographer asked a naive Princess Diana to pose for a shoot in front of a sun lit window, which she agreed to thinking nothing much about it. What she didn’t know was… the lighting pretty much made her dress see through. Bastard. Should she have known better? Maybe. But sometimes, you can’t think of everything.
I can understand why she was upset she must have felt really used
i felt really bad for her. :(
another candy related (sort of) song is “yummy” by Gwen Stefani…. but it does actually say sex… so im nt sure if it counts :P
Wow!! poor France Gall!!
I LOVE this song, and never suspected anything, until this video! I can’t believe in her music video they had walking penis-like lollipops! That made it a bit more obvious.. When I imagine a lollipop, it’s not that obvious. Yes, a girl with a lollipop has been associated with other things forever, but AHHH!! evil Serge!
Kat V Reply:
June 24, 2010 at 3:39 pm
She is soo adorable. Serge is gross. Notice how he’s touching her in the beginning! and the commentary is “he didn’t know me at all”.
Kat V Reply:
June 24, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Oh god, this video is also pretty messed up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYk1iVEezAg
I wonder if Serge was the mastermind behind this one too?
What Serge Gainsbourg did was wrong. It’s hard to trust men after such dupery.
Did you know that in the 80s he also recorded a song about incest with his then 13 year old daughter? It sounded like Je t’aime moi non plus, his 60s song with breathy vocals supposed to evoke the sexual act.
haha! i work in a sweets shop in a certain nyc toy store i’m not allowed to mention, and we have a playlist of ‘candy’ themed songs which have to be G rated, and honestly, NONE of them are when you actually listen to them. :)
I think it’s disgusting. I have no issue with rude songs at all, but when the person singing it doesn’t have a clue, that’s just awful!
Not to mention that children will be singing song like that Britney’s “If U Seek Amy”. Do we really want more paedophiles in the world? It’s only encouraging young girls to become sexual!
>.<
mess Reply:
June 26, 2010 at 10:51 am
It does appear awful, but more b/c it’s perpetuating the idea that women who know nothing are hot! No being should be kept in the dark just to satisfy a fantasy of “innocence”! It isn’t her fault or his fault – there should not be a market for little girls who’ve been tricked.
It has forever been the case that young, although appearing “lusciously” mature girls are believed to be totally aware of what some dirty old buzzards are thinking. A bit convenient, I think.
Not to say that sometimes it’s that young who are taking advantage of the old and everything inbetween. But this happens the most, esp. considering who is still holding most of the power.