What Is The Song In The Apple 12 'Mmmmm, Purple' Commercial?

There are some songs you've heard so many times that the lyrics are embedded in your brain without you even knowing who the artist is. When an advertisement uses one of these songs, it can get stuck in your head for days. If you don't know who's singing, it can put you in a tailspin until you find it. Apple might have done this for a few people with their latest "Mmmmm, purple" commercial.

This commercial features a production line of new iPhone 12s, all being blasted by the color purple. The vibrant hue fills the screen in every shade imaginable, instantly attracting the viewer. By the end of the clip, you realize it's an advertisement for Apple's new purple iPhone 12. Apple taking an old product and adding a new color is nothing new, and neither is the song they use in the ad. Despite hearing it many times in commercials, TV shows, and movies, there's a chance some of you might have difficulty figuring out who performed the tune.

So what is the song in the Apple 12 "Mmmmm, purple" commercial?

Most of you instantly recognize this classic and where it's from but probably don't know who's singing it. That's because the song from Apple's "Mmmmm, purple" ad is "The Candy Man" by Aubrey Woods, who originally sung it in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." While Woods may not be a household name, many fans will recognize him as the candy store owner in the classic 1971 film, where he sang this song to all the kids looking for the golden ticket. Apple uses this same version for their new commercial, and it's a perfect fit for the ad. The vibrant colors enhance the joyful music to create a sweet display of Apple's newest color.

Although most people recognize "The Candy Man" from the movie, it has been featured over a dozen times in other forms of media. The first instance of this came in the 1980s when the tune was used for a Sunshine Biscuits commercial, per The New York Times. After that, the tune was used in several TV shows, including "The Simpsons," "My Name is Earl," and "Malcolm in the Middle." The gold-certified track has also been used in other movies, including "Madagascar" and "Ice Age: Continental Drift."

When the song was recorded in 1971 by Woods, lyricist Anthony Newley didn't approve, according to the New York Post. As a result, he enlisted Sammy Davis Jr. to record a new version the following year, which would end up peaking at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In 2016, German-Russian producer Zedd remade "The Candy Man" again, and it peaked at No. 12 on the U.S. Hot Dance/Electric Songs chart. This version has been criticized by other DJs for being a ripoff of Flume.