Lucky Daye - “Candy Drip” Album Review
David Debrandon Brown, known in the music industry as Lucky Daye, is a contemporary R&B singer.
The vocalist competed on American Idol in 2005. The decision for him to move on was unanimous as Brown received a “yes” from all four judges.
He was eliminated after reaching the Top 20. However, the national singing competition was only a pit stop in Brown’s career.
David Brown faced many obstacles and felt as though his luck was running out. After reading that being lucky was the result of preparation and opportunity, he changed his stage name to Lucky Daye.
He added an “e” at the end of his name is reminiscent of the famous Marvin Gaye.
Lucky Daye began topping charts with the release of his debut single, “Roll Some Mo,” in 2018. The single later appeared on his first album, Painted.
In 2019, his luck became apparent when his first project earned him four Grammy nominations.
The singer-songwriter is credited with writing songs for Mary J. Blige, Ella Mai, Trey Songz, and more. He has also collaborated with artists such as Kehlani, VanJess, Kiana Ledé, and Tiana Major9.
Lucky Daye’s success continues with the release of his latest album Candy Drip in early March. The project comprises 17 tracks.
The “Intro” sets the premise of the project. It explains Daye’s affection towards a woman that he is seeing.
The relationship is not healthy and will probably end soon, but he loves her and refuses to let go, despite the harm that it brings. He does not want to explore other options and continues his pursuit of maintaining a relationship with this particular woman.
“God Body” expresses trouble in a relationship, as his partner likes to draw false conclusions and assume the worst. The pair’s connection is problematic, yet they cannot help getting lost in each other.
The sex and his partner’s “God Body” are a distraction from addressing the issues the two face as a couple. Daye is afraid that is all she wants as he leaves his heart open, but she has yet to take it.
“Candy Drip” further delves into Lucky Daye’s obsession with his partner. She causes him to act like a different person.
The relationship is purely sexual, but she is a candy that he is addicted to. She is compared to an IV needle filled with a “candy drip” that causes him to see her as a divine being in a pretty white dress: a beautiful daydream.
Although this image only displays the woman’s exterior, he cannot shake her suffocating force over him.
“Over” was the first song Lucky Daye released from the album. The song describes a toxic relationship in which a woman he likes draws him in while maintaining her distance.
In other words, she wanted to end the relationship but reconnected with the artist when it pleased her. Towards the end of the song, Daye sorts through his confusion and finally “declines” her efforts.
In “F***kin Sound,” Lucky Daye chooses to pursue intimacy once again. However, he’s afraid the relationship will not last as too much attention is given elsewhere.
Attempting to ease the mind of his partner, he encourages her to ignore those around them, for only the pair matter at that very moment. He is eager for love to blossom and expresses his interest in engaging in sexual practices.
In “Ego,” Lucky Daye explains that his selfish nature has caused him to pay attention to his partner’s body over her heart. However, he doesn’t take all the blame as he asks his partner not to break his heart when he adopts a selfless state of mind.
He expresses the importance of “calling it out” or admitting where the damages lay in the relationship. However, the idea of addressing such issues makes Daye want to remain “stuck” so he doesn’t have to admit the two would be better off apart.
He believes there is no one to save him from the mental prison he has placed himself in.
Candy Drip combines spirituality and sexuality. Despite entailing such harsh and toxic scenarios, the songs on the project are smooth, calm, and strangely uplifting.
Lucky Daye seems to stab all his listeners with a candy drip IV as he sends them off into a fantasy, false heaven, that covers dark truths with glitters and gold.
In other words, the R&B vocalist beautifully shares the hallucination he succumbed to.
Rating: 7/10
Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Over,” “Candy Drip,” “Fever,” and “Used to Be”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Songs: N/A
Jah-Preece Landrum is a third-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email jahpreecelandrum@gmail.com.
