Rejected Songs that became Hits
Can’t Get You Out of My Head (2001)
Sophie Ellis-Bextor => Kylie Minogue
Originally intended for her debut album “Read My Lips”. Sophie Ellis-Bextor turned down “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” which was a worldwide (and biggest hit to date) for Kylie Minogue.
La Isla Bonita (1986)
Michael Jackson => Madonna
Produced for Michael Jackson's Bad album by Patrick Leonard. According to Bruce Gaitsch, co-writer of La Isla, when the song was given to MJ for consideration it was just the instrumental track. It was Madonna who came in and wrote the lyrics and top line melody. Madonna described the song as her tribute to the beauty and mystery of Latin American people.
Open Your Heart (1986)
Cyndi Lauper => Madonna
Written by Gardner Cole and Peter Rafelson, intended for Cyndi Lauper, recorded by Madonna. According to Peter Rafelson, the song was originally written for Cyndi, but it was never actually presented to her and very nearly didn't even get into Madonna's hands.
…Baby One More Time (1999)
TLC => Britney Spears
Originally entitled “Hit Me Baby One More Time”, the song was offered to TLC but the group turned it down because they had already completed their album FanMail. The song was then given to Britney Spears and we all know it launched her career.
I’m a Slave 4 U (2001)
Janet Jackson => Jennifer Lopez => Britney Spears
“I’m a Slave 4 U” was intended for Janet Jackson who disliked it and passed it to Jennifer Lopez, who passed it to Britney Spears.
Boys (2002)
Janet Jackson => Britney Spears
Toxic (2004)
Kylie Minogue => Britney Spears
“Toxic” was written by Cathy Dennis for Kylie Minogue and was intended for her 9th studio album “Body Language” but she passed and it was given to Britney Spears afterwards.
Alive (2015)
Adele => Sia
The song was originally written for Adele, who rejected it last-minute, according to Billboard. "It's about [Adele's] life, so I now sing a song from her perspective," Sia said in a recent interview. And it's clearly Adele's loss, Sia's gain.
He Loves U Not (2000)
Britney Spears => Dream
Originally intended for her “Oops! …I Did It Again” album, it was later decided not to be included on the final album tracklist. The song was later recorded by the girl-band “Dream” and debuted #2 on Billboard Hot 100.
Milkshake (2003)
Britney Spears => Kelis
Umbrella (2007)
Britney Spears => Rihanna
Spears’ streak ended when her label’s execs stopped accepting songs for her album. The heavens opened instead for Rihanna, who made “Umbrella” the biggest single in the world. It’s one of three trash-picked tracks she has taken to No. 1, along with “S.O.S” (passed on by Christina Milian) and “Disturbia”.
Telephone (2009)
Britney Spears => Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga wrote the song and gave it to Britney Spears, who never ended up using it for her album. Gaga took the song back and made it a duet with Beyoncé Knowles, which turned out to be a monster smash for the both of them.
Let’s Get Loud (2000)
Gloria Estefan => Jennifer Lopez
The song was originally written for Gloria Estefan, but feeling it was a little too similar to many of her previous songs, she decided that Lopez could put a new spin on it and would have more fun with it.
Play (2001)
Christina Milian => Jennifer Lopez
Intended for Christina Milian’s debut album (Milian did write the track and do backing vocals).
Spinning Around (2000)
Paula Abdul => Kylie Minogue
The song was originally intended for Abdul to record for her then "comeback album". Abdul had said that she wrote the song about her divorce to second husband, clothing designer Brad Beckerman. But, she did not, and Minogue later recorded the song for her seventh studio album "Light Years" (2000).
Get Right (2005)
Usher => Jennifer Lopez
It was originally recorded by Usher and called “Ride”.
Sweet Dreams My LA Ex (2003)
Britney Spears => Rachel Stevens
This song was written for Britney as an answer song to "Cry Me a River".
Holiday (1983)
Phyllis Hyman => Mary Wilson => Madonna
This was originally offered to Phyllis Hyman and then Mary Wilson, but both turned it down. The song has since become known as a classic Madonna track and helped boost her popularity when she was just breaking into the business.
Miss Independent (2003)
Destiny’s Child => Christina Aguilera => Kelly Clarkson
When Destiny’s Child refused ‘Miss Independent,’ producer Rhett Lawrence brought it to Aguilera, who had a go at it but gave it up. It then fell into the lap of Clarkson, who turned it into a smash. Aguilera was naturally miffed about letting the song slip away, but she admitted that Clarkson nailed it.
Since U Been Gone (2004)
P!nk => Hilary Duff => Kelly Clarkson
Clarkson was America’s first “American Idol”, but she was third in line for this song. After Pink and Duff both gave it the thumbs down, Clarkson scooped it up and landed a No. 2 smash, proving she had staying power beyond reality TV.
I Do Not Hook Up (2009)
Katy Perry => Kelly Clarkson
Originally intended (and recorded) for Perry’s debut album (“Katy Perry”, meant to be released back in 2005), it was later passed to Kelly Clarkson.
I’m Just Here for the Music (2009)
Kylie Minogue => Paula Abdul
The song was originally an unreleased, yet recorded song cut from Kylie Minogue’s ninth album “Body Language”.
Disturbia (2008)
Chris Brown => Rihanna
Brown wrote this song for a rerelease of his “Exclusive” album. Then Rihanna heard it, and when Brown agreed that it would work better as a female-oriented song, she took it — to No. 1. In light of recent events, perhaps Brown’s allowing his girlfriend to have “Disturbia” was a hint that he might have a hidden dark side.
Don’t Cha (2006)
Paris Hilton => The Pussycat Dolls
Rock Your Body (2002)
Michael Jackson => Justin Timberlake
Superstar producers the Neptunes created this track for Michael Jackson’s comeback album, “Invincible”, but it didn’t make the cut. Instead, Timberlake snared it and took it to the Top 5. Ironically, this was the song JT performed with Janet Jackson at Super Bowl XXXVIII during her infamous wardrobe malfunction.
Beautiful (2002)
Linda Perry => Christina Aguilera
“Beautiful” was meant to be Linda Perry’s comeback single and P!nk wanted it. Linda explained that under no circumstance that she would give it up to anyone. While working on “Stripped”, Linda decided to give it to X-Tina which resulted in the feud between the two “Lady Marmalade” singers.
DJ (2004)
Samantha Mumba => Jamelia
Glamorous (2007)
Gwen Stefani => Fergie
If I Were a Boy (2008)
BC Jean => Beyoncé
Halo (2009)
Leona Lewis => Beyoncé
Simon Cowell takes Lewis’ career so seriously that the “Idol” curmudgeon had this song composed expressly for his protegee. However, Lewis was too busy to record “Halo”, so it wound up in the hands of Beyoncé. Cowell was surely less than his usual jolly self when Beyoncé hit big with it.
Break Your Heart (2009)
Cheryl Cole => Taio Cruz
Scars (2010)
Coldplay => Natalie Imbruglia
Coldplay’s Chris Martin has revealed his dismay at giving Natalie Imbruglia a track that he claims could have been the “best Coldplay song ever”.
Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (1998)
Céline Dion => Aerosmith
What could Aerosmith possibly have in common with Dion, aside from big hair? The raucous rockers took this schmaltzy Diane Warren tune — originally intended for the big-voiced pop balladeer — and turned it into gold. Ten years after they hit big with “Dude Looks Like a Lady”, they were singing like one themselves.
Un-Break My Heart (1996)
Céline Dion => Toni Braxton
Don´t Wake Me Up (2012)
Madonna => Chris Brown
Intended for Madonna's twelfth studio album MDNA however, she could not record the song because of her tight schedule so William Orbit gave the song to Brown.
What’s Love Got to Do with It (1984)
Donna Summer => Phyllis Hyman => Tina Turner
It was offered to Donna Summer and Phyllis Hyman, but it was Tina Turner who decided to record it.
It’s Raining Men
Donna Summer => Diana Ross => The Weather Girls
It was offered to Donna Summer, then to Diana Ross but they both rejected it. The Weather Girls recorded it.
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