14 songs that were originally turned down by major artists

Some just didn't make the cut!

Author: Alex RossPublished 10th Aug 2020
Last updated 2nd Sep 2020

Some of the biggest songs by artists like Rihanna, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga were actually originally turned down by other major artists!

Although we can't imagine hits like 'Happy', 'Umbrella' and 'Toxic' being performed by anybody else, things in the music charts could have been VERY different if these songs were taken up by the original artists.

Here are some massive hits which were originally offered to someone completely different:

1) 'Black Widow' by Iggy Azalea...


Was originally turned down by Katy Perry


2) 'We Found Love' by Rihanna...


Was originally turned down by Nicole Scherzinger


3) 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams...


Was originally turned down by Cee Lo Green


4) 'We Can't Stop' by Miley Cyrus...


Was originally turned down by Rihanna


5) 'Telephone' by Lady Gaga...


Was originally turned down by Britney Spears


6) 'Since U Been Gone' by Kelly Clarkson...


Was originally turned down by P!nk


7) 'Disturbia' by Rihanna...


Was originally turned down by Chris Brown


8) '...Baby One More Time' by Britney Spears...


Was originally turned down by The Backstreet Boys and TLC


9) 'Toxic' by Britney Spears...


Was originally turned down by Kylie Minogue


10) 'SOS' by Rihanna...


Was originally turned by Christina Milian


11) 'I'm a Slave 4 U' by Britney Spears...


Was originally turned by Janet Jackson


12) 'Don't Cha' by The Pussycat Dolls...


Was originally turned by The Sugababes and Paris Hilton


13) 'Umbrella' by Rihanna...


Was originally turned by Britney Spears


14) 'Titanium' by Sia...


Was originally turned down by Katy Perry


Imagine?!

Turn it up with Hits Radio! Home of Fleur East, Sam Thompson and Gemma Atkinson playing the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks, alongside the biggest laughs and life-changing competitions. Tune in on FM, DAB, online, ask your Smart Speaker to 'Play Hits Radio' and download the Rayo app.