Pop stars who missed out on mega hits
A single phone call can completely rewrite music history when a massive track hangs in the balance.
Did you know these pop stars missed out on mega hits...
A single phone call can completely rewrite music history when a massive track hangs in the balance.
As exposed in Jason Lipshutz’s book A Whole Lotta History, Adele set her sights on One Direction’s hit Fool's Gold, calling songwriter Jamie Scott to claim the track for herself. Unfortunately for her, it was already promised to the boy band.
From chart-topping passes to hijacked studio gems, these pop stars missed out on mega hits...
Rihanna: Shape of You
When Ed Sheeran sat down to pen the infectious, marimba-led groove of Shape of You, he wasn't writing it for himself. He openly admits he had Rihanna in mind, picturing her singing the rhythmic verses. Halfway through the session, however, Sheeran and his co-writers realised the lyrical style didn't perfectly align with Rihanna's brand, prompting him to keep the track-which went on to become one of the most-streamed songs in global music history.
Britney Spears: Umbrella
Songwriters Terius "The Dream" Nash and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart explicitly wrote the 2007 smash Umbrella for Britney Spears, feeling it matched her pop energy at the time. The track was officially pitched to Britney's management team, but they summarily passed on it, claiming her album tracklist was already full. It was subsequently passed to Mary J. Blige before finding a home with Rihanna, instantly launching her into vanguard superstardom.
Beyoncé: All About That Bass
Before Meghan Trainor was a household name, she operated strictly behind the scenes as a Nashville-based songwriter. When she co-wrote the retro-pop anthem All About That Bass, she deliberately shopped it around to major artists, with her publishing camp floating the track directly to Beyoncé's team. Believing she didn't have the "pop star look" herself, Trainor was stunned when multiple artists - including icons like Adele - passed, leaving her to record the Diamond-certified track herself.
P!nk: Since U Been Gone
Producers Max Martin and Dr. Luke originally crafted the explosive, pop-punk anthem Since U Been Gone with rock-infused pop stars in mind. They first offered the track to P!nk, who ultimately turned it down. It was then moved to Hilary Duff, who reportedly struggled to hit the track's signature towering high notes. It finally landed in the hands of American Idol champion Kelly Clarkson, who transformed it into a multi-platinum Grammy winner.
Kylie Minogue: Toxic
The slinky, surf-guitar-heavy masterpiece Toxic was originally offered to Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue for her album Body Language. Minogue heard the demo but chose to turn it down, a decision she later admitted she didn't regret because the song was clearly meant to belong to Britney Spears. Spears snapped it up, securing her first-ever Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
