I thought it would be cool to find out about some of the songs that were turned down by the original artist they were offered to, only to become big hits for other artists?

I can think of 4 examples off the top of my head. I'm sure with all the knowledge here at the org, the list will grow quite a bit

-1972 "Ben". Originally written for Donny Osmond, the song went to Michael Jackson because Osmond was on tour and wasn't available to record it. This song became Jackson's first solo #1 hit.

-1983 "Holiday". 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.

-1998 "...Baby One More Time". 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

-2008 or earlier (not sure about the date) "Telephone". 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 Beyonce Knowles, which turned out to be a monster smash for the both of them.

looking forward to what the rest of y'all have to add

'Umbrella'- MJB passed, Rihanna sung it and it became an international hit.

^ Britney Spears turned down that song too.

'How Will I Know' was orginally written for Janet Jackson in 1985 but she turned it down and Whitney Houston recorded it. The song hit #1.

[Edited 6/25/10 18:24pm]

''Waiting For A Star To Fall'', written by Boy Meets World, intended for Whitney Houston. She rejected, so Boy Meets World released it themselves and had a hit.

"I Wanna Be Your Lover" - P wrote it for Patrice Rushen (he was diggin' her) but she turned it down and the rest is history.

Most of Toni Braxton's debut album was originally written for Anita Baker but she turned it down. That's why she sounds so much like Anita on her debut.

One Bad Apple - J5 to the Osmonds (acyually kept Mama's Pearl from being their 5th consecutive #1.)

Ain't Nobody was written for MJ for the Thriller album but given to Chaka

Toxic was written by Cathy Dennis for Kylie Minogue who passed and it was given to Britney Spears. Ironically Kylie's self penned Slow was nominated for Dance Single of the year with Toxic and the grammy went to Toxic.

Prince passed on 'Pleasure Principle' by Janet

Fantasia passed on 'Irreplaceable' by Beyonce

midiscover said:

Prince passed on 'Pleasure Principle' by Janet

Fantasia passed on 'Irreplaceable' by Beyonce

monte moir wrote Pleasure Principle and Ne-Yo wrote Irreplacable

ehuffnsd said:

midiscover said:

Prince passed on 'Pleasure Principle' by Janet

Fantasia passed on 'Irreplaceable' by Beyonce

monte moir wrote Pleasure Principle and Ne-Yo wrote Irreplacable

Yea, I know but they didn't perform it.

wow some of these really shocked me, like aint nobody being for michael!!! I knew there was a reason I couldn't stop singing that song when I discovered it years ago and imagining him singing it

and that's funny about one bad apple

and now that I think about it, how will I know has a melody that is very janet jackson though I remember thinking that a long time ago

Never knew "How will i know" was written for janet. Glad she didin't record that song, i really hate it

Dudes had a beat disc with a beat based on "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles, which they were saving for Michael Jackson. But Sisqo heard the early version of the beat and it turned into "Thong Song" There is a page-long write up about it in this month's Vibe.

robertlove said:

Never knew "How will i know" was written for janet. Glad she didin't record that song, i really hate it

Really? I'm on the opposite end. I'm glad she didn't record it cause you kinda need a voice to sing it.

johnart said:

robertlove said:

Never knew "How will i know" was written for janet. Glad she didin't record that song, i really hate it

Really? I'm on the opposite end. I'm glad she didn't record it cause you kinda need a voice to sing it.

"These Dreams" was written for Stevie Nicks, but ended up being recorded by Heart.

[Edited 6/26/10 1:11am]

Deborah Cox- Nobody Supposed to be Here - Intended for Patti Labelle

Mary J Blige - Rainy Dayz - Intended for TLC

Jennifer Lopez - Play - Intended for Christina Milian (Milian did write the track and do backing vocals)

Rihanna - S.O.S - Intended for Christina Milian

Britney Spears - Boys - Intended for Janet

Britney Spears - Slave 4 U - Intended for Janet

Rihanna - Disturbia - Intended for Chris Brown (he wrote it and does backing vocals)

Just to name a few

I Feel Good All Over - Stephanie Mills, originally written for Patti LaBelle.

And a HEAP load of (hits) that she turned down that I can't remember for the moment, we discussed those songs last year in a thread(I'm sure Timmy remembers some of them).

SoulAlive said:

****""What's Love Got To Do With It" was offered to Donna Summer and Phyllis Hyman,but it was Tina Turner who decided to record it.

Tina resisted alot from using it though she hated the song, but under a strong persuasion from her manager(the Aussie guy, can't remember his) she gave in.

Hell, even when it was released, it took a strong dive at first.

Hard Luck Woman -> written by Paul Stanley & Sean Delaney; intended for Rod Stewart; top15 hit for Kiss in 1976 (sung by Peter Criss)

Golden Years -> written by Bowie, originally intended for Elvis (who couldn't stand Bowie and his antics); top10 hit for Bowie in the late 1975...

Hungry Heart -> written by Springsteen, the Ramones turned it down (sort of) and Jon Landau (Bruce's manager) convinced him to keep the song to himself; top10 hit for Bruce in 1980...

Spinning Around -> originally intended for Paula Abdul for her comeback; it was Kylie's big comeback in Europe instead (2000)...

nm

[Edited 6/26/10 4:45am]

Harlepolis said:

I Feel Good All Over - Stephanie Mills, originally written for Patti LaBelle.

And a HEAP load of (hits) that she turned down that I can't remember for the moment, we discussed those songs last year in a thread(I'm sure Timmy remembers some of them).

a couple of them are

Paula Abdul - Rush Rush

Whitney Houston - All the Man That I Need

Don't think she would have had hits with them though.

SOURCE

Milkshake was originally intended for Britney Spears, but after turning it down, The Neptunes gave it to their resident songstress, Kelis.

I love this thread.......................

Harlepolis said:

bboy87 said:

Ain't Nobody was written for MJ for the Thriller album but given to Chaka

Yeah, i recently read that story in "The Billboard Book of Number One R&B Hits".

A quote referring to composer David "Hawk" Wolinski (Rufus) :

...Wolinski played the finished song for his friend Glenn Frey. The former Eagle, a big R&B fan, proclaimed it a Number One record. "Quincy [Jones] heard that record and wanted to do it on Thriller with Michael Jackson," says Wolinski. "Except that i promised [Russ] Titleman, who produced it, that i would keep it for Rufus. I could have been greedy, but i wasn't. Which is probably why i'm not living in Beverly Hills."...