Famous songs originally written for other artists

'Don't You (Forget About Me)' - Simple Minds - The iconic anthem from the hit movie 'The Breakfast Club' has an interesting backstory. Songwriter Keith Forsey approached Simple Minds, Billy Idol, and Bryan Ferry to record the song, but they all turned him down. Eventually, Simple Minds agreed but they thought the tune was a departure from their sound, even though it became a number one hit.

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‘Miss Independent’ - Kelly Clarkson - Clarkson's 2003 single was originally meant for Destiny's Child. It was then passed on to Christina Aguilera, who decided not to use it either.

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'Shape of You' - Ed Sheeran - Ed Sheeran was originally writing the song for Rihanna, however halfway through the process he realized the lyrics were better suited to his own style.

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'Since U Been Gone' - Kelly Clarkson - Dr. Luke and Max Martin initially offered the song to both P!nk and Hilary Duff before it was picked up by Clarkson.

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'Happy' - Pharrell Williams - 'Happy' is one of the biggest tunes of the century, but it almost went to Cee Lo Green. He even recorded a version of it, but his team thought he should focus on his album instead.

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'How Will I Know' - Whitney Houston - This was Houston’s number one hit on the Hot 100, but apparently it was first offered to Janet Jackson, whose management declined the song.

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'Lay Lady Lay' - Bob Dylan - One of Dylan's most successful tracks was originally meant for the Everly Brothers. They turned the song down because they assumed it was about lesbians. After Dylan's massive success with it, the Everly Brothers ended up covering the song 15 years later.

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'See You Again' - Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth - The 'Furious 7' song written as a tribute to the late Paul Walker was originally offered to Eminem.

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'S.O.S.' - Rihanna - Rihanna's hit dance track was infamously passed on by Christina Milian. Since the song came out in 2006 and became a huge success, Milian has yet to release new music.

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'Nothin' On You' - B.o.B. - Before B.o.B and Bruno Mars made this hit song famous, it was offered to Lupe Fiasco.

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‘All About That Bass’ - Meghan Trainor - Trainor wrote the chart-topper with Beyoncé in mind, and went as far as pitching it to her team, but fortunately decided to record it herself.

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'Whataya Want From Me' - Adam Lambert - Lambert's biggest hit was actually written by P!nk and songwriter, Max Martin. She ended up covering the track years later.

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'Holiday' - Madonna - The founding member of the Supremes, Mary Wilson, turned down 'Holiday' before it went to Madonna.

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'Thinkin Bout You' - Frank Ocean - The iconic track from Ocean's 'Channel Orange' EP was originally written for Roc Nation artist Bridget Kelly. Ocean leaked his version of the demo on Tumblr, even though Kelly recorded her own version under the title, 'Think Bout Forever.'

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'Black Widow' - Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora - Katy Perry helped write 'Black Widow,' but she decided she didn't want it for herself so Azalea took it and turned it into a monster tune.

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'Pretty Hurts' - Beyoncé -

Queen Bey's 'Pretty Hurts' sounds deeply personal, but she wasn't the first choice. Sia wrote the song with Katy Perry in mind, but she never replied. Bey's team managed to secure the song before Rihanna's, and the rest is history.

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'Hero' - Mariah Carey - Carey's wrote the iconic chart-topper for Gloria Estefan, but ended up keeping it for herself.

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'Breakaway' - Kelly Clarkson - The singer seems to have a thing for turning unwanted leftover songs into massive hits. 'Breakaway' was supposed to be on Avril Lavigne's debut album, but it didn't make the cut.

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'Little Things' - One Direction - If you notice a little "Ed Sheerany vibe" to this record, it's because he was the one who penned it.

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'Come & Get It' - Selena Gomez - Selena Gomez's first smash was originally intended for Rihanna.

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'Chandelier' - Sia - Sia's smash hit was also first pitched to Rihanna.

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'Better Man' - Little Big Town - Whether or not you chose to remember it, Taylor Swift started out as a country artist and penned this classic song for country music group Little Big Town.

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'Closer' - The Chainsmokers and Halsey - The first version of the massive hit was originally recorded by Camila Cabello, but the star decided not to put it out as she was still committed to her former group Fifth Harmony.

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'Forget You' - Cee Lo Green - The iconic Cee Lo Green song was written by none other than Bruno Mars.

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'The Middle' - Maren Morris, Zedd, and Grey - Before country singer Maren Morris was chosen to perform the vocals on the song, 'The Middle' was pitched to over 10 artists, with Demi Lovato even recording the first demo.

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'Milkshake' - Kelis - Kelis's iconic anthem was turned down by Britney Spears back in the day.

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'For You' - Liam Payne and Rita Ora -

The 'Fifty Shades Freed' tune was meant to be recorded by Justin Bieber instead.

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'...Baby One More Time' - Britney Spears - TLC actually turned down this hit song, but that seemed to work in Britney’s favor, huh?

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'Gold Digger' - Kanye West - When Chicago rapper Shawnna passed on this song, Yeezy rewrote the hook to work with a male perspective and rapped the thing himself.

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'Sugar' - Maroon 5 - Did you know this hit song was actually written by Mike Posner? He passed it off to Maroon 5 who turned it into a huge success.

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'We Can't Stop' - Miley Cyrus - The song that momentously changed Miley Cyrus's image was originally meant for Rihanna.

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'Disturbia' - Rihanna - The hit song was first offered to Chris Brown, but he turned it down and gave it to his then-girlfriend Rihanna, who turned it into a number one hit track.

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'Let’s Get Loud' - Jennifer Lopez -

Gloria Estefan and K. Santander originally wrote this song for Estefan to sing, but it ended up going to J.Lo.

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'Boom Clap' - Charlie XCX - The English singer originally wrote her hit single for Hilary Duff, but after it was turned down she decided to take it for herself!

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'Toxic' - Britney Spears - Could you imagine this classic track sung by Kylie Minogue? The pop hit was originally meant for the Australian star but she turned it down.

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‘Just Dance’ - Lady Gaga - Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger claimed the group came across Gaga's hit song back in the day, but passed on it.

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'Get Right' - Jennifer Lopez - Dance floor banger 'Get Right' uses bits of a beat that Usher had created for his album but ended up not using.

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'Physical' - Olivia Newton-John - This song was originally intended to be sung by Rod Stewart.

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'Rock Your Body' - Justin Timberlake - This hit song was actually a hand-me-down from Michael Jackson!

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'Golden Years' - David Bowie - David Bowie originally wrote this song for Elvis Presley. No one is sure why The King turned it down, as it became one of Bowie's greatest hits.

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'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' - Aerosmith - Songwriter Diane Warren explained that when she originally wrote the power ballad it was intended for a female voice, such as Céline Dion's.

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'Don’t Cha' - The Pussycat Dolls - Before this track was offered to the Dolls, it was offered to both the Sugababes and Paris Hilton.

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'I'm A Slave 4 U' - Britney Spears - Britney's hit track was initially offered to Janet Jackson.

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'We Found Love' - Rihanna and Calvin Harris - The duo's hit was actually recorded by Leona Lewis first, before it went to Rihanna.

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'Telephone' - Lady Gaga - Gaga actually wrote this song herself, but originally meant for Britney Spears to sing it. When Spears rejected it, Gaga saved it for her own album instead.

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‘Miss Independent’ - Kelly Clarkson - Clarkson's 2003 single was originally meant for Destiny's Child. It was then passed on to Christina Aguilera, who decided not to use it either.

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'Shape of You' - Ed Sheeran - Ed Sheeran was originally writing the song for Rihanna, however halfway through the process he realized the lyrics were better suited to his own style.

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'Since U Been Gone' - Kelly Clarkson - Dr. Luke and Max Martin initially offered the song to both P!nk and Hilary Duff before it was picked up by Clarkson.

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'How Will I Know' - Whitney Houston - This was Houston’s number one hit on the Hot 100, but apparently it was first offered to Janet Jackson, whose management declined the song.

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'See You Again' - Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth - The 'Furious 7' song written as a tribute to the late Paul Walker was originally offered to Eminem.

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'S.O.S.' - Rihanna - Rihanna's hit dance track was infamously passed on by Christina Milian. Since the song came out in 2006 and became a huge success, Milian has yet to release new music.

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'Nothin' On You' - B.o.B. - Before B.o.B and Bruno Mars made this hit song famous, it was offered to Lupe Fiasco.

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‘All About That Bass’ - Meghan Trainor - Trainor wrote the chart-topper with Beyoncé in mind, and went as far as pitching it to her team, but fortunately decided to record it herself.

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'Whataya Want From Me' - Adam Lambert - Lambert's biggest hit was actually written by P!nk and songwriter, Max Martin. She ended up covering the track years later.

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'Holiday' - Madonna - The founding member of the Supremes, Mary Wilson, turned down 'Holiday' before it went to Madonna.

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'Black Widow' - Iggy Azalea and Rita Ora - Katy Perry helped write 'Black Widow,' but she decided she didn't want it for herself so Azalea took it and turned it into a monster tune.

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'Pretty Hurts' - Beyoncé -

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'Hero' - Mariah Carey - Carey's wrote the iconic chart-topper for Gloria Estefan, but ended up keeping it for herself.

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'Little Things' - One Direction - If you notice a little "Ed Sheerany vibe" to this record, it's because he was the one who penned it.

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'Come & Get It' - Selena Gomez - Selena Gomez's first smash was originally intended for Rihanna.

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'Chandelier' - Sia - Sia's smash hit was also first pitched to Rihanna.

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'Better Man' - Little Big Town - Whether or not you chose to remember it, Taylor Swift started out as a country artist and penned this classic song for country music group Little Big Town.

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'Forget You' - Cee Lo Green - The iconic Cee Lo Green song was written by none other than Bruno Mars.

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'Milkshake' - Kelis - Kelis's iconic anthem was turned down by Britney Spears back in the day.

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'For You' - Liam Payne and Rita Ora -

The 'Fifty Shades Freed' tune was meant to be recorded by Justin Bieber instead.

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Famous songs originally written for other artists

How many of these songs do you know?

11/12/24 | StarsInsider

MUSIC Songs

Many musicians don’t write their own songs. That’s what songwriters are for. These heroes work behind the scenes, often targeting the songs they write for specific artists. But what happens when the intended artist passes on the song? Well, sometimes it gets picked up by a different artist and becomes so iconic that we can’t imagine it was ever intended for someone else. Check out these hits that were originally meant for other singers!