9 9 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁re le asing ▁their ▁sole ▁full - length ▁album ▁through ▁the ▁major ▁label ▁Universal ▁Music ▁and ▁Republic ▁Records . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Early ▁days ▁( 1 9 9 9 – 2 0 0 0 ) ▁The ▁group ▁originally ▁formed ▁as ▁Str angers ▁with ▁C andy ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁having ▁acquired ▁the ▁name ▁after ▁a ▁girl ▁at ▁a ▁party ▁suggested ▁it ▁to ▁them . ▁They ▁were ▁initially ▁known ▁for ▁performing ▁covers ▁of ▁modern ▁acts , ▁including ▁Co al ▁Chamber , ▁Cy press ▁Hill , ▁De ft ones , ▁House ▁of ▁P ain , ▁K orn , ▁L imp ▁B iz kit , ▁Red ▁Hot ▁Ch ili ▁Pe ppers , ▁Sub lime ▁and ▁Tool . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁Str angers ▁with ▁C andy ▁entered ▁MTV ' s ▁Ult imate ▁Cover ▁Band ▁Cont est , ▁quickly ▁becoming ▁a ▁fan - f avor ite ▁with ▁covers ▁of ▁" Take ▁On ▁Me " ▁( by ▁A - ha ), ▁" G uer r illa ▁Radio " ▁( by ▁R age ▁Again st ▁the ▁Machine ) ▁and ▁" N ook ie " ▁( by ▁L imp ▁B iz kit ). ▁▁ ▁The ▁MTV ▁expos ure ▁helped ▁the ▁band ▁gain ▁fans ▁all ▁over ▁the ▁world , ▁and ▁also ▁caught ▁the ▁attention ▁of ▁the ▁music ▁industry . ▁On ▁July ▁ 1 0 ▁of ▁that ▁year , ▁they ▁signed ▁a ▁six - record ▁contract ▁with ▁Universal ▁Music ▁and ▁Republic ▁Records . ▁V ocal ist ▁Nick