October's Candy-Coated Playlist

11 songs about sugar that aren't actually about sugar at all

I love making mixtapes. I mean, I’m a product of the '80s, of course I love making mixtapes. And what good is having my very own newsletter if I don’t use it to indulge in my personal interests, right? So, inspired by my lifelong love of digging through thousands of songs to find the perfect addition to a personalized mix, I will be putting together a Snack and Destroy playlist every month.

A new installment will drop the first Wednesday for paid subscribers, and each playlist will be devoted to a specific snack or food-related theme.

October’s theme is… sugar!

While that may feel like an uninspired introductory topic, consider this: There are hundreds — thousands? — of songs that make a mention of sugar, but very few of those tunes are actually about the crystalized remains of processed sugar cane.

Innuendoes abound!

“Sugar” is what Marvin Gaye lovingly calls the receiver of his affection in his steamy 1976 hit “I Want You,” and “Suga Mama” is what Beyoncé calls herself in her funky 2006…