Brooke Martin
16 Candles is a song by the Crests, written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent. It was originally released in 1958 and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also reached No. 4 on the US R&B chart, where it remained for 21 weeks in 1959. The lyrics tell a story of a birthday celebration, with references to sixteen candles and wishes coming true. The song has been featured in several films, including the 1984 movie Sixteen Candles, which shares its name with the song. The film, written and directed by John Hughes, stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha Baker, a 16-year-old girl navigating crushes and family dynamics in suburban Chicago.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | 16 Candles |
| Performers | The Crests |
| Writers | Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent |
| Year of Release | 1958 |
| Record Label | Coed Records |
| Chart Performance | No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 4 on the US R&B chart, No. 5 in Canada |
| Notable Covers | Jerry Lee Lewis, The Jackson 5 |
| Appearances in Media | Movies: American Graffiti (1973), Sixteen Candles (1984) |
| Themes | Birthday, Love, Adolescence |
| Mentioned in Lyrics | Candles, Wishes, Teenage Love, Eyes |
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What You'll Learn
The song's peak on music charts
The song "16 Candles", written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent, was performed by The Crests and released in 1958 on Coed Records. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while also reaching No. 4 on the US R&B chart for 21 weeks in 1959. In Canada, it reached No. 5. The song also appeared in Hollywood films, including American Graffiti (1973) and Sixteen Candles (1984), which helped boost its popularity.
A cover of the song by Jerry Lee Lewis was released and peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1986. The Jackson 5 also covered "16 Candles" for their album, Maybe Tomorrow, which has been re-released with their greatest hits albums.
The song's lyrics celebrate a 16th birthday and express love for someone who has just turned sixteen:
> "Happy birthday, happy birthday, baby. Oh, I love you so. Sixteen candles make a lovely light, but not as bright as your eyes tonight. Blow out the candles, make a wish come true, for I'll be wishing that you love me, too. You're only sixteen, but you're my teenage queen. You're the prettiest, loveliest girl I've ever seen."
The song "16 Candles" is not to be confused with the 1984 film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. The film features an extensive selection of over 30 songs, including the titular "Sixteen Candles" written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent and performed by The Stray Cats.
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Appearances in media
"16 Candles" is a song by the Crests, written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent. It was originally released in 1958 on Coed Records and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has appeared in several films, including American Graffiti (1973) and Sixteen Candles (1984), the latter of which includes the song on its soundtrack.
The song "16 Candles" had a prominent role in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes. The film is a coming-of-age comedy that follows 16-year-old Samantha "Sam" Baker (Molly Ringwald), who deals with a crush on a high school senior while also being pursued by a freshman. The song "16 Candles" is featured in the film's soundtrack, which included over 30 songs. The soundtrack was released as a specially priced mini-album with only 5 songs from the film.
The film Sixteen Candles has had several releases since its original theatrical release in 1984. In 2003, the film was released on DVD with the original theatrical soundtrack, remixed in 5.1 surround sound. In 2008, a "Flashback Edition" DVD was released, including a new featurette titled "Celebrating Sixteen Candles". The film was released on Blu-ray for the first time in 2012 as part of Universal's 100th Anniversary, and again in 2019 for the film's 35th anniversary.
The song "16 Candles" has also been covered by several artists. A cover by Jerry Lee Lewis peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1986. The Jackson 5 also covered the song for their album, Maybe Tomorrow.
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Covers of the song
"16 Candles" is a popular song by the Crests, released in 1958 on Coed Records. The song was written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent and performed by the Crests, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has since been covered by several notable artists, including:
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis' cover of "16 Candles" peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1986. This version added a unique twist to the classic song, showcasing Lewis' distinctive style and vocals.
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5, the famous family group that launched Michael Jackson's career, covered "16 Candles" for their album "Maybe Tomorrow." Their version has been re-released multiple times, including on their greatest hits albums, exposing the song to a new generation of fans.
The Stray Cats
The Stray Cats, a rockabilly band formed in the early 1980s, also recorded a version of "16 Candles." This cover was featured in the 1984 movie "Sixteen Candles," an American coming-of-age teen comedy film written and directed by John Hughes. The movie stars Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall, and the song's appearance in the film helped to showcase the song to a wide audience.
The song "16 Candles" has endured as a beloved classic, with its appearance in various Hollywood productions and covers by renowned artists, ensuring its place in popular culture.
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The movie 'Sixteen Candles'
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 American coming-of-age teen comedy-romance film written and directed by John Hughes in his directorial debut. It stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha Baker, a 16-year-old girl whose family forgets her birthday, whose high school crush doesn't know she exists, and who is pursued by a geeky freshman she tries to shove off. The film also stars Michael Schoeffling as Jake Ryan, the object of Samantha's affections, and Anthony Michael Hall as Ted "The Geek" Farmer, her pursuer.
The film is known for its portrayal of teenage life in the 1980s and is considered a classic of the teen comedy genre. It has been praised for its humour, satire, and likeable characters, with Ringwald's performance receiving particular acclaim. The film has also been criticised for its portrayal of certain ethnic and cultural stereotypes, with some viewers finding it insensitive and dated. However, others have defended the film, arguing that it satirises these stereotypes rather than endorses them.
Sixteen Candles was Hughes' first film in a string of movies centring on teenage life, including The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It is considered a cult favourite and has achieved positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. The film has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, with the original theatrical soundtrack remixed in 5.1.
The film's impact is evident in its various releases and the development of a sequel and reimagining. The sequel was initially pursued by Ringwald in 2005, but it did not come to fruition due to Hughes' disinterest. In 2022, a comedy series titled 15 Candles was announced, focusing on Latina leads while paying homage to Sixteen Candles.
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Lyrics
"16 Candles" is a song by The Crests, written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent, and released in 1958. The song is about a boy who is in love with his "teenage queen" on her 16th birthday, and he is hoping she loves him too. The song's lyrics reflect this theme of young love and birthday wishes.
The song begins with well wishes for the birthday girl:
> "Happy birthday, happy birthday, baby
Oh, I love you so
Sixteen candles make a lovely light
But not as bright as your eyes tonight (as your eyes tonight, oh)
Blow out the candles, make your wish come true
For I'll be wishing that you love me, too (that you love me, too)"
The singer then expresses his deep affection for the girl, calling her his "teenage queen" and describing her as the "prettiest, loveliest girl" he has ever seen. He promises that his love will shine forever, just like the glow of the sixteen candles:
> "You're only sixteen (sixteen)
But you're my teenage queen (you're my queen)
You're the prettiest, loveliest girl I've ever seen (I've ever seen) (OH)
Sixteen candles in my heart will glow
For ever and ever for I love you so (for I love you so)
You're only sixteen (sixteen)
But you're my teenage queen (you're my queen)
Oh, you're the prettiest, loveliest girl I've ever seen (I've ever seen) (OH)
Sixteen candles in my heart will glow
For ever and ever for I love you so (for I love you so)
For I love you so"
The song gained prominence when it was featured in the 1984 coming-of-age film "Sixteen Candles," directed by John Hughes and starring Molly Ringwald. It also appeared in the 1973 movie "American Graffiti" as an example of a typical doo-wop song. The song's lyrics and theme fit well with the storyline of young love and birthday celebrations in the film "Sixteen Candles."
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Frequently asked questions
The song "16 Candles" is a birthday song about a 16-year-old girl, calling her a “teenage queen" and describing her as the "prettiest, loveliest girl I've ever seen".
The song was written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent.
The song was performed by The Crests.
The song was originally released in 1958 on Coed Records.
Yes, the song appeared in the 1973 movie "American Graffiti" and had a ‘title role’ in the 1984 movie "Sixteen Candles".
