English CC by Charles Baluyot
♫ But since you been gone ♫
How lucky we were these songs fell into the right hands!
♫ Hit me baby, one more time! ♫
Welcome to WachMojo.com, and today,
Welcome to WachMojo.com, and today, we're counting down our picks,
for the top 10 hit songs rejected by other artists.
♫ Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth ♫
For this list,
we're considering songs that became major hits after being passed on by other artists.
Were also considering songs that were recorded by other artists,
but for one reason or another went unreleased,
and a different artist swooped in to make a hit.
♫ Now that it's raining more than ever ♫
♫ Now that it's raining more than ever ♫ ♫ Know that we'll still have each other ♫
Number 10:
"Lean On", Major Lazer and DJ snake feat. MØ
offered to Rihanna and Nicki Minaj
♫ Do you recall, not long ago ♫
♫ Do you recall, not long ago ♫ ♫ We would walk on the sidewalk ♫
This electronic collab and club favorite peaked at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100,
and spent ten consecutive weeks inside for the top ten for Major Lazer and crew.
♫ Fire a gun, we need someone to lean on ♫
♫ Fire a gun, we need someone to lean on ♫ ♫ Blow a kiss ♫
Released in March 2015,
it not only became one of the biggest hits of the summer,
but also one of the biggest hits of the year,
as its international appeal made it the 5th best-selling song of 2015 worldwide.
♫ (Eeh ooh, eeh ooh, eeh ooh, eeh ooh) 2x ♫
Who passed on this gold mine?
None other than both Rihanna and Nicki Minaj,
co-writer Diplo first offered Rihanna a slower reggae version,
and then offered the same to Nikki.
Both rejected it,
and instead the world got this amazing version,
when Danish singer, MØ put her creative stamp on it.
♫ All we need is somebody to lean on ♫
♫ (Eeh ooh, eeh ooh, eeh ooh, eeh ooh) 3x ♫
Number 9:
"Whataya Want From Me", Adam Lambert
offered to Pink
♫ Hey, slow it down ♫
♫ Whataya want from me ♫
Though it was already relatively well known from his "American Idol" days,
and he had a controversial moment or two from his first single, "For Your Entertainment",
it was this song that propelled Adam Lambert to stardom.
♫ Just don't give up ♫
♫ I'm workin' it out ♫
♫ Please don't give in ♫
The second single off his debut album,
"Whataya Want From Me" eventually peaked at #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100,
Lambert however, it was lucky to have the song.
♫ Whataya want from me (Whataya want from me) ♫
♫ Whataya want from me (Whataya want from me) ♫ ♫ Whataya want from me ♫
Originally co-written and recorde by Pink for her album, "Fun House"
it didn't make the final cut,
she instead gave it to Lambert,
but released her own original recording on the international version of her "Greatest Hits..." album.
♫ Whataya want from me (Whataya want from me) ♫
♫ Whataya want from me... ♫
Number 8:
"How Will I Know", Whitney Houston
offered to Janet Jackson
♫ There's a boy I know, he's the one I dream of ♫
This hit was originally intended for Janet Jackson,
however, she passed on it,
considering it weaker than her other material,
it was soon given to Houston,
who,with some altered lyrics,
turned "How Will I Know" into a pop crossover smash hit.
♫ How will I know if he really loves me ♫
♫ I say a prayer with every heart beat ♫
Earning Houston her second #1 hit,
it spent two weeks topping The Hot 100.
♫ If he loves me, ♫
♫ If he loves me not ♫
Certified gold in the US,
this jam finished as the #6 song on the Billboard Year-end Chart,
while Jackson did well that year,
compared to Whitney
her chart performance was a bit weak.
♫ What have you done for me lately? ♫
♫ Ooh ooh ooh yeah ♫
Number 7:
"Rock Your Body", Justin Timberlake
offered to Michael Jackson
♫ Don't be so quick to walk away ♫
♫ Dance with me ♫
Written by Neptune's duo Chad Hugo and Pharrell,
this song was originally intended for Michael Jackson's final studio album "Invincible".
However,
he passed on the song,
as well as several others,
all of which were probably sent Timberlake's way.
♫ Just wanna rock you girl ♫
♫ Make a move, but be calm ♫
♫ Let's go, let's give it a whirl ♫
"Rock Your Body", became Timberlake's second solo top 10 hit,
released as the third single off his debut album, "Justified",
"Rock Your Body" peaked at #5 on the US Billboard Top 100
and charted incredibly well internationally.
♫ It's time to take a chance ♫
♫ If love is here on the floor, girl ♫
Meanwhile,
Jackson's most successful sung off "Invincible" only charted at #10.
♫ You rocked my world, you know you did ♫
♫ You rocked my world, you know you did ♫ ♫ And everything I own I give ♫
Of course,
there's no guaranteeing Jackson's version, would have been as smooth as Justin's.
♫ (We could do something) Don't be so quick to walk away ♫
♫ (We could do something) Don't be so quick to walk away ♫ ♫ (I like the way you look right now) Don't be so quick to walk away ♫
♫ Yeah she's a trifling friend indeed ♫
Number 6: "Gold Digger", Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx
Offered to Shawnna
♫ (She gives me money) ♫
♫ Now I ain't sayin' she a gold digger (when I'm in need) ♫
♫ But she ain't messin' with no broke n****s (she gives me money) ♫
It's hard to imagine this song from a female perspective,
but that was Kanye's original intention.
♫ Cutie the bomb ♫
♫ Met her at a beauty salon ♫
♫ With a baby Louis Vuitton ♫
♫ Under her underarm ♫
He first made the beat and wrote the hook for Atlanta rapper Shawnna's 2004 debut album,
"Worth The Wait".
♫ Tryin' to find out where the party at ♫
♫ Got a couple of them stacks finna mix it wit the Co-ni-ac ♫
However, she passed on it,
and not wanting to waste a great beat,
Kanye saved it for himself,
rewriting the chorus reflect a male perspective.
♫ It's something that you need to have ♫
♫ 'Cause when she leave yo a** she gon' leave with half ♫
♫ 18 years, 18 years ♫
♫ And on her 18th birthday he found out it wasn't his ♫
It was it was a great decision,
as "Gold Digger" went on to break the record for most digital downloads in one week,
spent ten weeks atop the Billboard Charts,
and earn a Grammy for "Best Rap Solo Performance".
♫ Get down girl go head get down ♫
♫ (lemme hear that back) ♫
♫ Uh huh, uh huh (Yea Rihanna) ♫
Number 5:
"Umbrella", Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
offered to Britney Spears
♫ No clouds in my stones ♫
♫ Let it rain, I hydroplane in the bank ♫
♫ Let it rain, I hydroplane in the bank ♫ ♫ Coming down with the Dow Jones ♫
Original writers Tricky Stewart, The-Dream and Kuk Harrell
originally had Britney Spears in mind for this hit.
♫ I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous ♫
Tricky, having previously worked with Spears,
hope to help Brittany move past her personal problems to a musical breakthrough.
However,
the song never reached her,
as label execs believe she didn't need more material.
♫ Because ♫
♫ When the sun shines, we'll shine together ♫
♫ Told you I'll be here forever ♫
After being floated around,
a demo of "Umbrella" eventually reached Rihanna,
who immediately love the song.
♫ You can stand under my umbrella ♫
♫ You can stand under my umbrella ♫ ♫ (Ella ella eh eh eh) ♫
It reached the right person,
as her version was not only critically acclaimed,
but was a worldwide chart topper and Grammy winner.
♫ Disturbia ♫
Yes, Chris Brown also rejected "Disturbia",
but that fails in comparison to Spears and "Umbrella".
♫ Under my umbrella ♫
♫ Under my umbrella ♫ ♫ (Ella ella eh eh eh) ♫
Number 4:
"Happy", Pharrell
offered to Cee-Lo Green
♫ It might seem crazy what I'm about to say ♫
In the summer of 2014,
it seems like everyone couldn't help but sing along to this ultra catching number one hit,
and yes, it was one hell of a hit.
As it was the best-selling songs of 2014, with 6.45 million copies sold.
♫ Because I'm happy ♫
♫ Because I'm happy ♫ ♫ Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth ♫
"Happy" was Billboard's Year-end #1 single while earning a Grammy award for "Best Music Video".
♫ Bring me down ♫
♫ My level's too high ♫
♫ (Happy) Bring me down ♫
♫ Can't nothing (Happy) ♫
With such success,
it's hard to imagine, the song may have been bigger in the hands of Cee-Lo Green.
Pharrell originally wrote "Happy" for Green,
and claimed, Cee-Lo's recording is far better.
But we'll never know,
as Green's label scrap the song in favor of his christmas album,
"Cee-Lo's Magic Moment".
♫ Baby, baby, please ♫
♫ All I need is you ♫
♫ Baby, all I need ♫
Number 3:
"Since U Been Gone", Kelly Clarkson
offered to Pink and Hilary Duff
♫ Here's the thing we started out friends ♫
♫ It was cool but it was all pretend ♫
Released as the lead single offers sophomore effort "Breakway",
"Since U Been Gone" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100,
and remained in the top 10 for 20 weeks.
♫ But Since U Been Gone ♫
♫ I can breathe for the first time ♫
More than that however,
it was her most important hit since her (American) "Idol" days
she almost didn't have the song however,
as it had to pass not one,
but two artists to reach her.
♫ Out of mind ♫
♫ Shut your mouth, I just can't take it ♫
Originally written for Pink,
she gave up the song to Hillary Duff,
who also pass as she couldn't get the necessary high notes.
Finally,
in Clarkson's hands,
she added some heavier guitar riffs and made this a signature standout hit.
♫ I can breathe for the first time ♫
♫ I'm so moving on, yeah, yeah ♫
♫ Thanks to you ♫
Number 2:
"...Baby One More Time", Britney Spears
offered to TLC
♫ Oh, baby, baby ♫
♫ How was I supposed to know ♫
This song reached #1 in every country it charted in,
was Billboard's #5 song of the year,
when certified 14 times platinum internationally,
internationally, was nominated for a Grammy...
...and yes, like all the others on this list,
it was also rejected by another artist first.
♫ Hit me, baby, one more time ♫
♫ Oh, baby, baby ♫
It was first offered to hip-hop trio TLC,
but they rejected it,
and pretty hard too,
with T-Boz objecting to the lyrics.
♫ I must confess ♫
♫ That my loneliness ♫
♫ Is killing me now ♫
Instead, this song launch to Britney's career,
who strangely enough, later benefited from another rejected song,
"Toxic" turned down by Kylie Minogue.
♫ Addicted to you, don't you know that you're toxic? ♫
♫ Intoxicate me now ♫
Before we reveal our #1 pick,
here are a few honorable mentions.
"Thinkin Bout You", Frank Ocean offered to Bridget Kelly ♫ Think I don't love you, I just thought you were cute ♫
♫ Think I don't love you, I just thought you were cute ♫ ♫ That's why I kissed you ♫
♫ That's why I kissed you ♫ ♫ Got a fighter jet, I don't get to fly ♫
"Let's Get Loud", Jenifer Lopez offered to Gloria Estefan ♫ Let's get loud, let's get loud ♫
♫ Ain't nobody gotta tell ya ♫
♫ Ain't nobody gotta tell ya ♫ ♫ What you gotta do ♫
"Alive", Sia offered to Adele ♫ I'm alive ♫
♫ I'm alive ♫
"Telephone" Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé offered to Britney Spears ♫ Stop callin', stop callin' ♫
♫ Stop callin', stop callin' ♫ ♫ I don't wanna think anymore ♫
♫ I don't wanna think anymore ♫ ♫ I left my head and my heart on the dancefloor ♫
Number 1:
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", Aerosmith
offered to Céline Dion
♫ I could stay awake just to hear you breathing ♫
When Liv Tyler was casting the Michael Bay film, "Armageddon",
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler,
Liv's dad,
needed a single for the soundtrack,
but struggled to come up with the goods,
instead, he chose this Diane Warren written song.
♫ Don't wanna close my eyes ♫
♫ I don't wanna fall asleep ♫
♫ 'Cause I'd miss you, baby ♫
♫ And I don't wanna miss a thing ♫
Originally intended for Céline Dion,
Tyler swooped in to secure the rights.
The single went on to earn an Academy Award nomination,
but more importantly,
it became Aerosmith's first-ever #1 hit ahead of classics like, "Walk This Way",
ahead of classics like, "Walk This Way", "Dream On", and "Sweet Emotion".
It was this rejected song that finally gave Aerosmith the #1 hit,
the historic band always deserved.
♫ Well, I just wanna be with you ♫
♫ Well, I just wanna be with you ♫ ♫ Right here with you, just like this ♫
So, do you agree with our list?
What do you think is the biggest hit rejected by another artist?
♫ My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard ♫
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♫ I'm addicted to you, don't you know that you're toxic? ♫