Wednesday, April 4, 2018

10 Hit Songs That Were Almost Sung By Someone Else

Did you know that a lot of your favorite pop songs were almost sung by another artist? It’s true: these 10 hit songs were almost sung by someone else—and I’m pretty sure the world would be a different place if they were.
1. “We Found Love” – Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris

Rejected By: Nicole Scherzinger
Before the Rihanna’s catchy collaboration with Calvin Harris would hit number one (and become the longest-running number one song of 2011), the single was originally offered to former Pussycat Dolls lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger. She claimed a few years later that they sent her the demo but she was too busy at the time, and was also looking to get away from mainstream dance tracks at the time. Scherzinger also claims she was offered “Just Dance,” Lady Gaga’s debut single, but she turned that down too.
2. “How Will I Know” – Whitney Houston

Rejected By: Janet Jackson

It turns out one of Whitney’s best known hits was first offered to the one and only Miss-Jackson-If-You’re-Nasty. Janet’s management passed on the song, feeling it was too weak in comparison to her other singles.
3. “Don’t Cha” – The Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes

Rejected By: Paris Hilton

Quite possibly the Pussycat Dolls’ breakout hit was originally offered to Hilton heiress and socialite-turned-singer Paris Hilton and she declined, but said later that she had heard a demo version of the song—not the version the world fell in love with—and didn’t find it had enough substance for it to record it. She was wrong.
4. “Umbrella” – Rihanna feat. Jay-Z

Rejected By: Britney Spears

Rihanna’s smash hit from 2007 was actually written with Britney in mind but her management turned it down, as it was not the musical direction the Pop Princess was going for at the time—Spears released Blackout later that year, which continues to be hailed as her magnum opus. Her loss was Rihanna’s gain, as “Umbrella” would propel her to significant mainstream success thereafter.
5. “Since U Been Gone” – Kelly Clarkson

Rejected By: P!nk & Hilary Duff

Dr. Luke and Max Martin originally penned the future chart-topper with P!nk in mind in 2004, who was in an awkward in-between stage following the commercial underperformance of her third studio album Try This, but she turned it down (she would return back and better than ever in 2006 with I’m Not Dead). They offered the song to Hilary Duff next, but she too turned it down as she felt she wouldn’t be able to hit the high notes properly. It was Clive Davis who convinced the pair to give the song to Kelly Clarkson despite their reluctance, because they wanted to produce rock songs and felt Clarkson was too pop for the job. But once they heard the rest of Breakaway—her second studio album from which the song in question would later become the lead single—they knew she had a pop rock edge to her and was just the woman they were looking for.

6. “Toxic” – Britney Spears

Rejected By: Kylie Minogue

Perhaps the most shocking on this list is the thought that Britney Spears’ most loved hit (and also for which she won her first and only Grammy) was almost recorded by Australian pop queen Kylie Minogue. The song was first offered to Minogue for her ninth studio album Body Language (2003), but she turned it down. She has since stated that she does regret rejecting the future smash hit but doesn’t harbor a grudge against Spears: “I wasn’t at all angry when it worked for her. It’s like the fish that got away. You just have to accept it.”
7. “Come & Get It” – Selena Gomez

Rejected By: Rihanna

Selena Gomez’s breakout solo hit from 2013 was originally intended for Rihanna’s sixth studio album Talk That Talk (2011), but she thought it wasn’t right for her. I wouldn’t say “Come & Get It” was exactly the best sound for Gomez, either, but commercial success trumped the critics. While we’re talking about songs Rihanna has rejected, legend has it that she also turned down Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop,” Sia’s “Chandelier” and “Cheap Thrills” (I guess she likes low-maintenance lamps and expensive thrills instead) and—hold onto your hats—Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.”
8. “Telephone” – Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé

Rejected By: Britney Spears

Lady Gaga wrote “Telephone” with Britney in mind for her sixth studio album Circus (2008), but after recording a demo, Brit and her management didn’t think it was the right song for her, so Gaga kept it for herself and later got Beyoncé to do it with her. Gaga initially invited Spears to be the guest vocalist, but she turned that job down too. Britney’s demo version was leaked in 2010 and is less than stellar—she was right, it just wasn’t the song for her—so Gaga made the right choice in keeping the future hit for herself. There’s also a version of the song done by Gaga and Britney together which is a horribly auto-tuned mess, but still somehow entertaining.
9. “All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor

Rejected By: Adele & Beyoncé 

I am truly struggling to not gag as I write this, but Meghan Trainor’s (terrible) breakout single was also offered to Adele. Trainor explained that the song was offered to a large amount of artists before her, including Beyoncé, but they all turned it down. The singer also said that the producers thought Adele was the only one other than Trainor who could pull it off, but she wasn’t into sassy pop songs with swearing in them. Really? Adele isn’t into horrible bubblegum pop songs about boys liking them curves? I’m shocked. Also a little disgusting since I’m sure the producers considered the fact that Adele isn’t a size zero rather than her voice and style of music in that thought process.
10. “I’m a Slave 4 U” – Britney Spears

Rejected By: Janet Jackson
It turns out Janet rejected a lot of early 2000s pop songs that were later given to The Legendary Miss Britney Spears, most namely “I’m a Slave 4 U,” the song that singlehandedly established Spears with an infamous girl-next-door image. Brit’s song “Boys” was also intended for Janet and she reportedly recorded demos of both songs before turning them down, neither of which have been leaked.

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