The funk band that recruited Michael Brecker!
Formed back in 1974, Cameo is considered one of the greatest funk bands of all time.
Despite being active for such a long time, their two best-known tracks—Word Up! and Candy—were both released in 1986.
By then, the band was on their 12th album and already well established. They’d had chart success before, but nothing quite like this.
Word Up! became a top ten hit in both the U.S. and the U.K., as well as several other countries, finally bringing the band proper fame and even earning them awards.
Candy followed shortly after. It didn’t chart as well, although arguably it has had better longevity.
Just like Get Ready and The Macarena, this is down to audience participation—Candy has a dance routine I keep seeing performed at parties almost 40 years later!
It resembles a kind of ethnic line dancing and even has a name: the Electric Slide.
It’s even become part of the Black Lives Matter movement, with people performing the dance at protests.
I’ve included an instructional video for how to do it in the playlist above. Apparently, the dance originally started with a different tune, but Candy is the one that stuck. I don’t dance, but I’ll happily play the riff when you do!
Anyway, my favourite part of Candy isn’t the dance, or the awesome syncopated riff, or even the guitar solo.
It’s the sax solo—played by none other than Michael Brecker. And one day, when I work out how to play it on guitar, you’ll be the first to know.
Cameo Tunes | Related Pages
Candy | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Candy by Cameo using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, and the original recording. Sax solo video transcription included!
| G | G |
It’s like candy, I can feel it when you walk…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Candy (Cameo) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Cameo on the web
