Candies, fragile like a flower, ran through like a spring breeze (1970s)

Candies, fragile like a flower, ran through like a spring breeze (1970s)

Candy's was a female idol group representing the 1970s, consisting of Ran Ito (Ran), Yoshiko Tanaka (Sue), and Miki Fujimura (Miki). It exploded in popularity on TV and radio, and captured the hearts of young people all over Japan. In an era of rapid economic growth, when color televisions were becoming commonplace in homes, the girls became symbols of the music scene's transition from songs to pop music, bringing brightness and familiarity to people's lives.

Their representative songs are numerous. The song "Younger Boy" with its bright and catchy melody made Candy's a national idol. Haruichiban" (Haru No. 1), which combines the arrival of spring with the brightness of youth, has become a classic song that has been sung down through the ages. The song "Shochu Omojimasimasen Dasai" (I wish you a happy summer) reflected the openness of summer and clarified the image of idols as well as the sense of the season. The song "Sansho gaeshi," released just before the breakup of the group, struck a chord with fans with lyrics that seemed to sum up the activities of Candies, and reached No. 1 on the Oricon charts. These songs were more than just hit songs; they became cultural memories that colored the pages of their youth.

What made the Candies stand out was their "life-sized girlishness. Compared to female idols of the same era, while Hibari Misora was timeless as a national diva with her overwhelming singing ability, Candy's simple and friendly character came to the fore. Also, while Pink Lady created a social phenomenon with their overwhelming performance ability and choreography, Candy's were loved by many fans for their family-like and relatable presence. While solo idols of the same generation, such as Masako Mori and Momoe Yamaguchi, expressed the "anguish of youth" and "transition to adulthood" in their songs, Candy's expressed the youth of the 1970s with "cheerfulness and solidarity.

In 1977, at the height of their popularity, the group announced their breakup with the words "I want to be a normal girl again," and left the stage after their breakup concert at Korakuen Stadium the following year in 1978. This abrupt end came as a great shock, and the Candies became legendary. After the breakup, Ran Ito became an actress, and Yoshiko Tanaka made her presence felt in movies and TV dramas. Fujimura Miki also continued her music career as a solo artist. Yoshiko Tanaka, in particular, remained a beloved national actress until her death in 2011.

As the prototype of the female idol group, Candy's influence continues to be felt in Seiko Matsuda and the idol culture of the 1980s and beyond, as well as in contemporary J-pop idol groups. Their voices still blow through people's hearts like a spring breeze, and they are still talked about along with the youth of the 1970s.