1001 Songs Challenge #656: Some Candy Talking (1986)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenge of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post every day (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be… legendary!

 

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Some Candy Talking (1986)

 

 

We’re staying in the UK today, dear reader, but we’re making our way north through England and up into Scotland. Formed by brothers Jim and William Reid, The Jesus and Mary Chain began in 1983 and their debut single came the following year. Their first album – Psychocandy – was well received in 1985 but 1001 Songs are more interested in a track that was overlooked for that record. It appeared on an EP of the same name in 1986 – Some Candy Talking. 

Some Candy Talking raised eyebrows upon release. On the surface the narrator seems to be describing a meeting with a girl with reference to “sparkling eyes.” However, mention of getting a taste of candy left some radio stations in no doubt this track was dealing (no pun intended!) with drugs. The Jesus and Mary Chain denied this at the time of the song’s release but years later would confirm that, yes indeed, this definitely is a drugs song. The narrator conveys a strong desire for the candy of the title, personifying it by it walking and talking, with him simply not being able to get enough.

I am not well versed in the work of The Jesus and Mary Chain though I do love Just Like Honey which played out the final reels of one my favourite films, Lost in Translation (2003). Some Candy Talking has those same distant vocals coming from Jim Reid. The EP would land just outside the UK Top 10, maintaining the group’s strong start. They would disband in 1999 only to reunite 8 years later and continue to perform in the present day.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Doors – The End (1967)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now (1978)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)

Don Henley – The Boys of Summer (1984)

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now? (1984)