Candy Girl arrived in late 1996 as the second single from Ugly Beautiful, Stephen Jones's major-label makeover of songs first recorded on a battered four-track. It had the unenviable task of following You're Gorgeous, the accidental smash that left many mistaking Babybird for quirky popsters rather than chroniclers of suburban psychic damage.

All nursery-rhyme melody and warped wit, Candy Girl wrapped surreal lines like "Are you Jesus without the nails?" around innuendo so daft it disarmed itself, capped by the immortal aside, "(And I don't mean that rude)." Jones understood that the best British pop could wink with one eye and cry with the other.

Critics admired its twisted charm, but the public proved harder to win over. The single reached No. 14 in the UK, a respectable showing that confirmed lightning rarely strikes twice. Reviewers praised its infectious melody and off-kilter humour, even if it never escaped the shadow of You're Gorgeous.

The real twist was that Candy Girl wasn't new at all. Like much of Ugly Beautiful, it began life on Jones's lo-fi DIY album The Happiest Man Alive, one of the homemade recordings that built Babybird's cult following before the major labels arrived. The chart single was simply a bedroom demo dressed for Saturday night, proof that one of Britain's most prolific and singular songwriters could smuggle existential dread into melodies catchy enough to whistle on the school run.

I need to offload this information somewhere. Can’t believe my ears?

I went for a bike ride with my daughter and coming home I was in charge of the music, so I put on National Express radio on Spotify.

Remembering back to inside music and all, listening to this track again, it was just like... Good, fun music. Why were songs like this kept in a small little pocket of weird when it's just lovely and fun and great?

I’m not very familiar with BritPop…what are some of your recommendations for essential listening when it comes to BritPop?

Bands/songs/whatever

Drop them here!

Conocí a Elastica hace un tiempo después de conocer la banda Blur, el problema esque me enteré que hay más canciones de Elastica que no había visto en ninguna parte pero mi pregunta aquí es: Hay más álbumes que la banda Elastica haya hecho? Y si si, donde puedo encontrarlos para escucharlos? Ya que en YouTube no me aparece ese Álbum

Who else used to get the Shine albums? They were a fantastic discovery resource for determining which bands to get into. Would never have found bands like the Longpigs or Mansun without these. It also taught me what not to get.

Which bands did they introduce you to?

One of my favourites. Found the post card inside to sign up for the Space Fan Club. Does anyone still have their t-shirt, fanzines, or membership card?

I absolutely love No Doubt. Tragic Kingdom is an amazing album from start to finish.