Mike Joyce of The Washington Post wrote "Some rock bands don't attract radio airplay so much as provoke it. Marcy Playground pulled off the trick...with 'Sex and Candy,' a titillating hit single that contained the sure-fire refrain, 'I smell sex and candy.'"
The band Marcy Playground achieved significant radio airplay by employing a deliberate and attention-grabbing strategy, as exemplified by their hit single "Sex and Candy," which featured a provocative lyric that resonated with listeners.