14 Hit Songs Originally Written For Other Singers
It’s not uncommon in the music world to hear many iconic pop songs which were originally intended for someone else to perform. Still, it would be a strange world with Britney Spears singing 'Umbrella,' considering how it is strongly identified with Rihanna, or imagine Britney Spears NOT singing 'Baby One More Time!'
We’ve collected 14 hit songs meant for others singers, and some of them were actually turned down by them!
1. "We Found Love" - Performed by Lady Gaga, turned down by Nicole Scherzinger.
Scherzinger says, 'I've got the demo of that song and I was busy at the time.'
2. "Irreplaceable" - Performed by Beyoncé, originally meant for Faith Hill or Shania Twain.
The song was written by Ne-Yo, and was originally a country song. It was re-arranged as a mid-tempo ballad with pop and R&B influences by modifying the vocal arrangements and instrumentation.
3. "...Baby One More Time" - Performed by Britney Spears, turned down by TLC.
Max Martin's pop track was originally offered to TLC for their 'Fan Mail' album, but the R&B group rejected the song, which later made Britney world famous.
4. "Rock Your Body" - Performed by Justin Timberlake, turned down by Michael Jackson.
Imagine the world with Michael Jackson singing Neptunes-produced bangers like 'Rock Your Body' instead of the uneven fare of 1999's 'Invincible.' And imagine that Justin Timberlake's solo debut didn't include tracks like this ubiquitous dance-starter.
5. "Since U Been Gone" - Performed by Kelly Clarkson, meant for P!nk or Hilary Duff.
Dr. Luke and Max Martin teamed up to give P!nk another hit, and after she turned it down, they called Hillary Duff. But the story goes that Clive Davis convinced the producers to give the song to Clarkson.
6. "We Can't Stop"- Performed by Miley Cyrus, meant for Rihanna.
The song's producer, Mike WiLL Made-It, has confirmed that the party track was first intended for his 'Pour It Up' collaborator, Rihanna.
7. "Ni**as In Paris," performed by Jay-Z & Kanye West, intended for Pusha T.
'I tell people all the time that I don't know if I would've attacked it that way,' he said in a 2011 interview, 'which means the record might not have been as special once I got on it.'
8. "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" - Performed by Aerosmith, intended for Celine Dion.
When Armageddon was being shot , Steven Tyler was supposed to author a sentimental song with his band for the film. After the band went into the studio and found it difficult to come up with an appropriate song, they found a track by Diane Warren, originally intended for Celine Dion.
9. "Toxic" - Performed by Britney Spears, turned down by Kylie Minogue.
'I listened to a snippet of it in the record company offices and decided against it,' Minogue said in a 2008 interview. 'It's like the fish that got away. You just have to accept it.'
10. "Whataya Want From Me" - Performed by Adam Lambert, intended for P!nk.
P!nk eventually recorded her own version of the song, complete with the exact same arrangement, and placed it on her 'Greatest Hits… So Far!!!' compilation in 2010.
A little too late, don't you think?
11. "Don't Cha" - Performed by Pussycat Dolls, intended for Paris Hilton.
The single was originally offered to both the Sugababes and Paris Hilton before ending up with the Pussycat Dolls, who used the track as the lead single from their 2005 debut album 'PCD.'
12. "Breakaway" - Performed by Kelly Clarkson, intended for Avril Lavigne.
One of the co-writers of the song was Avril Lavigne and she was considering putting the song on one of her own albums.
13. "I'm a Slave 4 U" - Performed by Britney Spears, turned down by Janet Jackson.
The Neptunes' slinky pop track was almost given a completely different context. If Janet took the song, maybe Britney could NEVER dance with a python on the VMAs stage!
14. "Disturbia" - Performed by Rihanna, meant for Chris Brown.
Brown thought it was more suitable for a female singer.
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