As we all know, the right song can catapult an artist from obscurity to superstardom pretty quickly. With an infectious beat, enticing hook and overall good vibe, a solid tune can instantly become a listener’s go-to soundtrack. But many of our favorite songs almost sounded a lot different because they were originally offered to other artists.
We’ve put together a list of 10 hits that probably would have sounded different if they were recorded by the artists who had first dibs on them.
1. 'How Will I Know'
Famously Recorded By:
Whitney Houston
Originally Offered To:
Janet Jackson
YouTube | Whitney Houston
At the request of A&M Records, George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam penned the bubbly ‘80s hit, “How Will I Know,” for Janet Jackson. At the time, she was in the process of recording her third studio album, Control. Assured that the youngest daughter of the esteemed Jackson family would be perfect for the song, the writing duo sent the demo to Janet’s team. However, the songstress and her people took a hard pass on the track.
Nonetheless, the song became the third single off of Houston’s self-titled debut album, charted at No.1 and made her a recognizable name and face on MTV.
2. 'Nothin’ On You'
Famously Recorded By:
B.o.B
Originally Offered To:
Lupe Fiasco
YouTube | Atlantic Records
Racking up major airtime on Top 40 radio in 2009, “Nothin’ On You” became an instant hit and introduced then-budding artists B.o.B. and Bruno Mars to the scene. However, while their breakout moment seems lighthearted, rapper Lupe Fiasco was snubbed out of adding the track to his roster of successful tunes.
According to The Guardian, the “Kick Push” artist wrote a version of the track for label executives, but apparently they weren’t interested, and instead chose B.o.B’s version as the victor. Fiasco reportedly told the publication that the rejection took a major toll on his mental health and he even considered committing suicide afterward.
B.o.B and Mars’ infectious hit reached No.1 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and UK R&B charts.
3. 'N****s in Paris'
Famously Recorded By:
Jay-Z and Kanye West
Originally Offered To:
Pusha T
YouTube | Kanye West
Pusha T is just one of those rappers whose braggadocious vibe makes a song even hotter. While he’s graced several songs with high-quality features, one song, whose worth he couldn’t see, ended up going three-times platinum — "N****s in Paris.” The energizing track that ended up on Jay-Z and Kanye West’s iconic collaboration album, “Watch the Throne,” originally landed in the lap of King Push who just wasn’t feeling the beat.
“Pusha said, ‘It sounds like a video game. Get that s**t out of here.’” Pusha T’s manager Steven Victor said in an interview with AskMen.
We’re sure it’s still all love within the G.O.O.D. Music family, though.
4. 'Just a Friend 2002'
Famously Recorded By:
Mario
Originally Offered To:
Usher
YouTube | Mario
Now, this one even had me shook. I can only imagine how differently my adolescence would have been if “Just A Friend 2002” didn’t land in the hands of Mario. In 2000, on the heels of his successful sophomore album, My Way, Usher began recording tracks for a highly anticipated project called All About U, but most fans have probably never heard of it because it never got released. Fast forward two years later, Mario released his version of the shelved Warryn Campbell track from Usher’s canceled project.
Though Usher’s version still exists out in the digital universe, Mario’s version wound up becoming his breakout hit, landing him at No.3 on the Billboard charts, and igniting our childhood crushes.
5. 'Happy'
Famously Recorded By:
Pharrell
Originally Offered To:
CeeLo Green
YouTube | Pharrell Williams
Bet you didn’t know “Happy,” the irresistible feel-good record that had everybody and their Mema smiling, clapping and singing back in 2013, was almost popularized by “F**k You” singer Cee Lo Green. In a 2014 Howard Stern Show interview, Skateboard P shared that the former Goodie Mob member had recorded his own version of “Happy” and reportedly sounded “amazing on it.” However, an intervention prevented Green’s rendition from being released.
Luckily, there were no "f**k yous" exchanged afterward, Williams said. “He was one of the most gracious people about it when ['Happy'] came out.”
6. 'Irreplaceable'
Famously Recorded By:
Beyoncé
Originally Written For:
Shania Twain and Faith Hill
YouTube | Beyoncé
Beyoncé has hits for days, and like King Midas, it seems that everything she touches turns to gold. However, one of her more popular global records, “Irreplaceable,” almost didn’t happen. In an interview with MTV News, producers Stargate and singer-songwriter Ne-Yo revealed that the catchy breakup song was not penned with Queen Bey in mind.
As it turns out, Ne-Yo’s first and second choice to record the track was Shania Twain or Faith Hill. But when Beyoncé reportedly heard it, she loved it and jumped at the opportunity to secure the record. “Irreplaceable” rose to the top of four international charts and became one of the best-charting songs of Beyoncé’s career.
7. 'Mercy'
Famously Recorded By:
Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz and Pusha T
Originally Offered To:
Kid Ink
YouTube | Kanye West
One of hip-hop’s most coveted collaborations of the early 2010s is “Mercy,” which shows off the lyrical prowess and unadulterated confidence of Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz and Pusha T in a 5-minute track. But reportedly Mr. West originally offered the beat to Los Angeles rapper-producer, Kid Ink, who passed on the record for integrity reasons.
“I didn’t have a Murcielago, so it didn’t really make sense,” HipHopDX reported the rapper said in a radio interview with KMEL. “I didn’t have a Lambo, so I can’t really rap about this, because the hook was on there. I could’ve probably forced some ideas if I thought about it a little harder. I didn’t have any Lambos, so I just felt like I was faking it.”
Good point, Ink. “Mercy” reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B and Hip-Hop charts.
8. 'Doin' It'
Famously Recorded By:
LL Cool J
Originally Written For:
Notorious B.I.G.
YouTube | djpeia
Hip-hop heartthrob LL Cool J had most women lusting and wondering with his 1995 hit “Doin’ It.” But, the provocative record that we’ve come to love and vibe to was originally meant for the Notorious B.I.G., according to The DJ Booth.
The hip-hop site wrote about an interview between one of the song’s producers and a blogger named Sweeny Kovar. According to producer Rashad “Ringo” Smith “Doin’ It” was the intended first single for Biggie’s Life After Death album, but reportedly Bad Boy CEO P. Diddy was slow to cut the check for the producer’s beats. The “I Need Love” rapper then swooped in, offering double the amount of the Bad Boys mogul —cue the outrage from B.I.G. and Puffy.
So what gave away that the hit single wasn’t originally for LL? Well, the fact that throughout the track, there’s a sample that says “Go Brooklyn” repeatedly, and the “Around The Way Girl” rapper is definitely a native of Hollis Queens. “Doin’ It” made it to No.9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and No. 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list.
9. 'Pretty Hurts'
Famously Recorded By:
Beyoncé
Originally Written For:
Rihanna and Katy Perry
YouTube | Beyoncé
The story behind how Beyoncé got her hands on “Pretty Hurts” for her surprise-released self-titled album is a reminder for us to always keep your phone notifications on. Esteemed songwriter-singer Sia Furler penned the vulnerable track in her Los Angeles apartment and cut the song with producer Ammo. Furler told the New York Times that she then emailed the song to friend Katy Perry, but as fate would have it, the pop star did not see the message hit her inbox.
“When Beyonce heard it, she slid into home base and just closed the deal,” Furler told the NYT.
Eventually, Perry heard Beyonce’s version and instantly loved it. Afterward, she reportedly texted Furler, saying “I’m pretty hurt you never sent me this song,” to which Sia responded, “Check your email.”
Damn. “Pretty Hurts” peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Songs list in the summer of 2014.
10. 'Gold Digger'
Famously Recorded By:
Kanye West and Jamie Foxx
Originally Offered To:
Shawnna
YouTube | Kanye West
Remember during the early 2000s when Kanye and Jamie Foxx teamed up for some major collaborations on songs like “Slow Jamz” with Twista and “Gold Digger”? Well, apparently, the latter was originally offered to Disturbing Tha Peace artist Shawnna. Crazy, right?
Patrick “Plain Pat” Reynolds, West’s A&R rep told MTV News in 2006 that the 808 and Heartbreaks artist created the song from a woman’s point of view and pitched it to the “Gettin’ Some” female emcee.
Reportedly after seeing the Ray Charles biopic starring Jamie Foxx in theaters with fellow musician John Mayer, West was sold on having the singer-comedian included on the track. “Gold Digger” reached No.1 on charts in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S., even going seven-times Platinum on stateside.
Though the exchange of songs within the music industry is definitely commonplace, it’s hard for fans and listeners to wrap their minds around some of their favorite tracks being recorded by other artists. And while most of the final cuts are best for the charts — and frankly our ears— we can’t help but wonder what the lost demos from songs intended for the other artists would have sounded like.
