Celeb News: TLC Explains Why They Turned Down "...Baby One More Time"

Stepfon

The R&B group were offered the song before Britney Spears, who would release it as her debut single in 1999 and score a massive Number One hit on both sides of the Atlantic. According to the Official Charts Company, Spears's '...Baby One More Time' is currently the 28th biggest-selling single of all-time in the UK with sales of 1.52 million.

Recalling her thought process when the group got offered the song, TLC's T-Boz told MTV News: "I was like, I like the song but do I think it's a hit? Do I think it's TLC? I'm not saying 'hit me baby'. No disrespect to Britney. It's good for her. But was I going to say 'hit me baby one more time'? Hell no!"

Explaining that the song's famous hook felt wrong for the group, T-Boz continued: "That's not even my subject of conversation, so you know, it worked for her, I'm happy for her, I like Britney. Every song isn't good for each artist, and when you're a real artist you know what you believe in and what you really want to sing. So, I'm clear that it was a hit, but I'm also clear that it wasn't for TLC."

Back in July TLC played live for the first time in four years at the Mixtape Festival in Hershey, Pennsylvania and brought out rapper Lil Mama to perform Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes's verse and choreography during 'No Scrubs'.

Lil Mama plays Left Eye in CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, a TV biopic of the group set to premiere on US network VH1 this Monday (October 21). Click here to watch the trailer. Meanwhile, TLC have recently unveiled a brand new song called 'Meant To Be' which features on the group's latest greatest hits compilation '20'.

http://www.nme.com/news/tlc/73307#fdTABsrRt0XaFkUC.99

Aphrodite

'who would release it as her debut single in 1999'

People still do this?

Nɑɑji.. ©

Which is true. I do not think them singing that song would have did good it was too cheesy for them.

MohammadMonster

thank god they turned it down

Musickid203

At least they gave us a good reason.

Nait Phoenix

I could really hear how it could've been if it was TLC's! I would've absolutely loved it!

Aatthew

Very interesting trivia.

MohammadMonster

i ran here thinking this about cutting off posh life

simon

Yea the song would have been BAD for them as it comes across as promoting domestic violence, and it stands against the empowerment message TLC promoted.

It worked for Britney because it added to the controversial young "virgin" message she promoted.

Callum

Quote:

Originally posted by Aphrodite

'who would release it as her debut single in 1999'

People still do this?

Well the source of this interview and the news sites which are reposting it are all based in the UK, and here the single was released for sale in January of 1999 so technically it isn't incorrect even though it was released a little earlier in the US.

Bie

That song would never for them I agree :

Ryan

Quote:

Originally posted by simon

Yea the song would have been BAD for them as it comes across as promoting domestic violence, and it stands against the empowerment message TLC promoted.

It worked for Britney because it added to the controversial young "virgin" message she promoted.

The "hit me" is a metaphor for being hit by the guy's love. It's not a song that promotes domestic violence.

unbothered

I could def see T-Boz's voice on the song, but it was better for Britney.

Mast

Quote:

Originally posted by Ryan

The "hit me" is a metaphor for being hit by the guy's love. It's not a song that promotes domestic violence.

He wasn't saying that it did, he was saying it could have come across like that.

Fireman25

I agree with her. The song does not scream TLC.

Paparazzaid

Quote:

Originally posted by MohammadMonster

i ran here thinking this about cutting off posh life

same

RichyRich

I agree with them. So not for them. Not like they don't have enough hit songs.

Mannequin.Dummy

While I definitely agree that this song doesn't work for TLC, I can definitely hear T-Boz's voice on this track.

simon

Quote:

Originally posted by Ryan

The "hit me" is a metaphor for being hit by the guy's love. It's not a song that promotes domestic violence.

Obviously it doesn't, but it's even more obvious how someone can take it as such.

slw84

Quote:

Which is true. I do not think them singing that song would have did good it was too cheesy for them.

But Unpretty wasn't

Quote:

Originally posted by simon

Yea the song would have been BAD for them as it comes across as promoting domestic violence, and it stands against the empowerment message TLC promoted.

It worked for Britney because it added to the controversial young "virgin" message she promoted.

Funny because she wasn't promoting young 'virgin' message until 2000 during her Oops era not in late 1998/99. You tried though.

Well, didn't Tboz get messed up by her then hubby like 10 years ago so for her to say that now was interesting because unfortunately she married a bad dude. Left eye had a left eye from that dude she was with before she burned the house down...literally.

I do agree that it stands against the empowerment message as they were more like I don't need a man type than please give me a sign...that's true.

Quote:

Originally posted by Mast

He wasn't saying that it did, he was saying it could have come across like that.

It came across that way back in 1998/9 which is why they titled it ...Baby one more time and I remember brief controversy because people were stupid enough to actually think someone would have a teenage singer sing about being hit violently by a boyfriend. I laugh at how comprehension skills is a gift that everyone doesn't own.