Many songs are so well-known that it’s difficult to envision them being performed by someone else. However, some of the biggest songs in the music industry could have turned out differently from what we taught to listen to and sing along to. These singers were fortunate enough to end up with these songs, which turned out to be total hits, whether by fate, chance, or luck.
1. Shape of You
Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You was the most-played song on Spotify in 2019, with over 5 billion views on YouTube. However, the singer-songwriter stated in an interview with BBC Radio 1 that this popular song was initially written for Rihanna. However, because of some of the lyrics, such as “…putting Van The Man on the jukebox…”, it was later agreed that he should just sing the song instead.
2. Rock Your Body
Rock Your Body was the song that propelled Justin Timberlake to stardom as a solo R&B/pop singer. Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, better known as The Neptunes in the 1990s, wrote the song. The team had written the song for Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, but when he didn’t use it, they chose to pass it up and work with Justin Timberlake instead.
3. I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing
This smash single by Aerosmith was first published as part of the original Armageddon soundtrack. I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing was penned by popular ballad writer Dianne Warren, who claimed that she originally pictured Celine Dion as the singer.
4. Telephone
Telephone was written for Britney Spears by Stefani Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga. Gaga took the song and teamed with Beyoncé to transform it into a successful song with over 400 million views on YouTube after it was rejected by the pop superstar.
5. Cheap Thrills
Sia focused on songwriting for huge stars like Madonna, Rihanna, and Beyoncé when she took a vacation from singing and performing. Sia wrote Cheap Thrills for Rihanna, but she declined to record it. She later collaborated on the song with Sean Paul, earning her three Grammy nominations in 2016.
6. All About That Bass
Meghan Trainer worked as a composer before becoming a Grammy-winning pop vocalist, penning songs for singers such as Rascall Flatts, Fifth Harmony, and JLo. She first pitched All About That Bass to famous stars like Beyoncé and Adele, but when no one took up the song, she opted to perform it herself. It was her first big track, and it earned her a Grammy nomination.
7. Let’s Get Loud
Let’s Get Loud is one of Jennifer Lopez’s most well-known songs and musical performances. Despite its success, the hit song was originally written for Gloria Estefan, the song’s co-writer. However, Estefan believed the song was too similar to her other songs, so she chose to give it to Jennifer Lopez in the hopes that she would “make it more exciting” and add her own spin to it.
8. Miss Independent
Miss Independent’s songwriters first pitched the song to Destiny’s Child, who turned it down. The song was passed on to Christina Aguilera, who altered the lyrics and worked on it for her Stripped album. The song was never included on the album and was instead given to Kelly Clarkson, the winner of American Idol, who included it on her debut solo album, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2003.
9. Halo
Beyoncé’s song Halo received many Grammy nominations and awards in 2009 and 2010. Ryan Tedder, One Republic’s lead vocalist and one of the song’s authors, claimed that the song was originally intended for X Factor winner Leona Lewis, but Queen B won it instead.
10. Umbrella
Britney Spears also turned down the song that helped Rihanna win a Grammy Award in 2008. Umbrella was first pitched Britney Spears, who declined it, only for the R&B singer to turn it into a huge hit single.
Do you believe these music ended up in the hands of the correct people?
