how lucky we were these songs fell into
the right hands
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
hit songs rejected by other artists this
list we’re considering songs that became
major hits after being passed on by
other artists we’re also considering
songs that were recorded by other
artists but for one reason or another
went unreleased and a different artist
swooped in to make a hit number ten lean
on Major Lazer & DJ snake featuring moe
offered to Rihanna and Nicki Minaj this
electronic collab and club favorite
peaked at number four on the US
Billboard Hot 100 and spent ten
consecutive weeks inside the top ten for
Major Lazer and Cru released in March
2015 it not only became one of the
biggest hits of the summer but also one
of the biggest hits of the year as its
international appeal made it the fifth
best-selling song of 2015 worldwide
who passed on this goldmine none other
than both Rihanna and Nicki Minaj
co-writer Diplo first offered Rihanna a
slower reggae version and then offered
the same to Nicki both rejected it and
instead the world got this amazing
version one Danish singer mo put her
creative stamp on it
number nine what do you want from me
Adam Lambert offered to pink though II
was already relatively well known from
his American Idol days and he’d had a
controversial moment or two from his
first single for your entertainment it
was this song that propelled Adam
Lambert to stardom
the second single off his debut album
what do you want from me eventually
peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard
Hot 100 Lambert however was lucky to
have the soft
originally co-written and recorded by
pink for her album funhouse it didn’t
make the final cut she instead gave it
to Lambert but released her own original
recording on the international version
of her greatest hits album
number eight how will I know Whitney
Houston offered to Janet Jackson this
hit was originally intended for Janet
Jackson
however she passed on it considering it
weaker than her other material it was
soon given to Houston who with some
altered lyrics turned how will I know
into a pop crossover smash hit
earning newson her second number-one hit
it spent two weeks topping the Hot 100
certified gold in the US this jam
finished as the number six song on the
Billboard year-end chart while Jackson
did well that year compared to Whitney
her chart performance was a bit weak
number seven rock your body Justin
Timberlake offered to Michael Jackson
written by Neptune’s duo Chad Hugo and
Pharrell this song was originally
intended for Michael Jackson’s final
studio album invincible however he
passed on the song as well as several
others all of which were promptly sent
Timberlake sway rock your body became
Timberlake second solo top-ten hit
released as the third single off his
debut album justified rock your body
peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard
top 100 and charted incredibly well
internationally
meanwhile Jackson’s most successful song
off invincible only charted at number 10
of course there’s no guarantee in
Jackson’s version would have been as
smooth as Justin’s – friend indeed
oh she’s a golden number six gold digger
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx offered
to Shana nice ECU go diggin machine
missing window broke bro it’s hard to
imagine this song from a female
perspective but that was Kanye’s
original intention Judah mom Etta and a
beauty salon when a baby was makanda hun
aha he first made the beat I’d wrote the
hook for Atlanta rapper Shauna’s 2004
debut album worth the wait however she
passed on it and not wanting to waste a
great beat
Kanye saved it for himself rewriting the
chorus to reflect a male perspective I
started to need the help and wish you
leo
Teague only would have 18
two years and on an 18th birthday found
out it wouldn’t he
it was a great decision as gold digger
went on to break the record for most
digital downloads in one week spend ten
weeks atop the Billboard charts and earn
a Grammy for Best Rap solo performance
number five umbrella Rihanna featuring
jay-z offered to Britney Spears no
clouds in my stones
let it rain a hydroplaning a frank
mcgunn original riders Tricky Stewart
the dream and cook Harrell originally
had Britney Spears in mind for this hint
tricky having previously worked with
Spears hope to help Britney move past
her personal problems to a musical
breakthrough however the song never
reached her as label execs believed she
didn’t need more material
after being floated around a demo of
umbrella eventually reached Rihanna who
immediately loved the song it reached
the right person as her version was not
only critically acclaimed but was a
worldwide chart topper and Grammy winner
yes Chris Brown also rejected disturbia
but that pales in comparison to Spears
and umbrella
number four happy
Pharrell offered to CeeLo green in my
face crazy in the summer of 2014 it
seemed like everyone couldn’t help but
sing along to this ultra catchy number
one hit and yes it was one hell of a hit
as it was the best-selling song of 2014
with six point four five million copies
sold happy was billboards year and
number one single while earning a Grammy
Award for best music video with such
success it’s hard to imagine the song
may have been bigger in the hands of Cee
Lo Green Pharrell originally wrote happy
for green and claimed Cee Lo’s recording
is far better but we’ll never know as
greens label scrapped the song in favor
of his Christmas album Cee Lo’s magic
moment
number three since you’ve been gone
Kelly Clarkson offered to pink and
Hilary Duff here’s the thing started out
friends it was cool so pretend released
as the lead single off her sophomore
effort break away since you’ve been gone
peaked at number two on the Billboard
Hot 100 had remained in the top ten for
20 weeks
more than that however it was her most
important hit since her idle days she
almost didn’t have the song however as
it had to pass not one but two artists
to reach her originally written for pink
she gave up the song to Hilary Duff who
also passed as she couldn’t hit the
necessary high notes
finally in Clarkson’s hands she added
some heavier guitar riffs and made this
a signature standout hit
number two baby one more time Britney
Spears offered to TLC this song reached
number one in every country it charted
in was billboards number five song of
the year when certified 14 times
platinum internationally was nominated
for a Grammy and yes like all the others
on this list it was also rejected by
another artist first it was first
offered to hip hop trio TLC but they
rejected it and pretty hard to with
t-boz objecting to the lyrics
instead this song launched Britney’s
career who strangely enough later
benefitted from another rejected song
toxic turned down by Kylie Minogue
before we reveal our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions think
I don’t love you I just thought you look
cute that’s why I kissed you
fighter jets out of it
Oh
number one I don’t want to miss a thing
Arrowsmith offered to Celine Dion could
stay awake just to hear breathing when
Liv Tyler was cast in the Michael Bay
film Armageddon Aerosmith frontman
Steven Tyler lives dad needed a single
for the soundtrack but struggled to come
up with the goods instead he chose this
Diane Warren written song
and a dog
originally intended for Silencio Tyler
swooped in to secure the rights the
single went on to earn an Academy Award
nomination but more importantly it
became Aerosmith’s first ever number-one
hit ahead of classics like Walk This Way
dream on and sweet emotion
it was this rejected song that finally
gave Aerosmith the number-one hit the
historic band always deserved
so do you agree with our list what do
you think is the biggest hit rejected by
another artist shake brings all the boys
to God and for more fascinating top tens
published daily be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
the right hands
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
hit songs rejected by other artists this
list we’re considering songs that became
major hits after being passed on by
other artists we’re also considering
songs that were recorded by other
artists but for one reason or another
went unreleased and a different artist
swooped in to make a hit number ten lean
on Major Lazer & DJ snake featuring moe
offered to Rihanna and Nicki Minaj this
electronic collab and club favorite
peaked at number four on the US
Billboard Hot 100 and spent ten
consecutive weeks inside the top ten for
Major Lazer and Cru released in March
2015 it not only became one of the
biggest hits of the summer but also one
of the biggest hits of the year as its
international appeal made it the fifth
best-selling song of 2015 worldwide
who passed on this goldmine none other
than both Rihanna and Nicki Minaj
co-writer Diplo first offered Rihanna a
slower reggae version and then offered
the same to Nicki both rejected it and
instead the world got this amazing
version one Danish singer mo put her
creative stamp on it
number nine what do you want from me
Adam Lambert offered to pink though II
was already relatively well known from
his American Idol days and he’d had a
controversial moment or two from his
first single for your entertainment it
was this song that propelled Adam
Lambert to stardom
the second single off his debut album
what do you want from me eventually
peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard
Hot 100 Lambert however was lucky to
have the soft
originally co-written and recorded by
pink for her album funhouse it didn’t
make the final cut she instead gave it
to Lambert but released her own original
recording on the international version
of her greatest hits album
number eight how will I know Whitney
Houston offered to Janet Jackson this
hit was originally intended for Janet
Jackson
however she passed on it considering it
weaker than her other material it was
soon given to Houston who with some
altered lyrics turned how will I know
into a pop crossover smash hit
earning newson her second number-one hit
it spent two weeks topping the Hot 100
certified gold in the US this jam
finished as the number six song on the
Billboard year-end chart while Jackson
did well that year compared to Whitney
her chart performance was a bit weak
number seven rock your body Justin
Timberlake offered to Michael Jackson
written by Neptune’s duo Chad Hugo and
Pharrell this song was originally
intended for Michael Jackson’s final
studio album invincible however he
passed on the song as well as several
others all of which were promptly sent
Timberlake sway rock your body became
Timberlake second solo top-ten hit
released as the third single off his
debut album justified rock your body
peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard
top 100 and charted incredibly well
internationally
meanwhile Jackson’s most successful song
off invincible only charted at number 10
of course there’s no guarantee in
Jackson’s version would have been as
smooth as Justin’s – friend indeed
oh she’s a golden number six gold digger
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx offered
to Shana nice ECU go diggin machine
missing window broke bro it’s hard to
imagine this song from a female
perspective but that was Kanye’s
original intention Judah mom Etta and a
beauty salon when a baby was makanda hun
aha he first made the beat I’d wrote the
hook for Atlanta rapper Shauna’s 2004
debut album worth the wait however she
passed on it and not wanting to waste a
great beat
Kanye saved it for himself rewriting the
chorus to reflect a male perspective I
started to need the help and wish you
leo
Teague only would have 18
two years and on an 18th birthday found
out it wouldn’t he
it was a great decision as gold digger
went on to break the record for most
digital downloads in one week spend ten
weeks atop the Billboard charts and earn
a Grammy for Best Rap solo performance
number five umbrella Rihanna featuring
jay-z offered to Britney Spears no
clouds in my stones
let it rain a hydroplaning a frank
mcgunn original riders Tricky Stewart
the dream and cook Harrell originally
had Britney Spears in mind for this hint
tricky having previously worked with
Spears hope to help Britney move past
her personal problems to a musical
breakthrough however the song never
reached her as label execs believed she
didn’t need more material
after being floated around a demo of
umbrella eventually reached Rihanna who
immediately loved the song it reached
the right person as her version was not
only critically acclaimed but was a
worldwide chart topper and Grammy winner
yes Chris Brown also rejected disturbia
but that pales in comparison to Spears
and umbrella
number four happy
Pharrell offered to CeeLo green in my
face crazy in the summer of 2014 it
seemed like everyone couldn’t help but
sing along to this ultra catchy number
one hit and yes it was one hell of a hit
as it was the best-selling song of 2014
with six point four five million copies
sold happy was billboards year and
number one single while earning a Grammy
Award for best music video with such
success it’s hard to imagine the song
may have been bigger in the hands of Cee
Lo Green Pharrell originally wrote happy
for green and claimed Cee Lo’s recording
is far better but we’ll never know as
greens label scrapped the song in favor
of his Christmas album Cee Lo’s magic
moment
number three since you’ve been gone
Kelly Clarkson offered to pink and
Hilary Duff here’s the thing started out
friends it was cool so pretend released
as the lead single off her sophomore
effort break away since you’ve been gone
peaked at number two on the Billboard
Hot 100 had remained in the top ten for
20 weeks
more than that however it was her most
important hit since her idle days she
almost didn’t have the song however as
it had to pass not one but two artists
to reach her originally written for pink
she gave up the song to Hilary Duff who
also passed as she couldn’t hit the
necessary high notes
finally in Clarkson’s hands she added
some heavier guitar riffs and made this
a signature standout hit
number two baby one more time Britney
Spears offered to TLC this song reached
number one in every country it charted
in was billboards number five song of
the year when certified 14 times
platinum internationally was nominated
for a Grammy and yes like all the others
on this list it was also rejected by
another artist first it was first
offered to hip hop trio TLC but they
rejected it and pretty hard to with
t-boz objecting to the lyrics
instead this song launched Britney’s
career who strangely enough later
benefitted from another rejected song
toxic turned down by Kylie Minogue
before we reveal our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions think
I don’t love you I just thought you look
cute that’s why I kissed you
fighter jets out of it
Oh
number one I don’t want to miss a thing
Arrowsmith offered to Celine Dion could
stay awake just to hear breathing when
Liv Tyler was cast in the Michael Bay
film Armageddon Aerosmith frontman
Steven Tyler lives dad needed a single
for the soundtrack but struggled to come
up with the goods instead he chose this
Diane Warren written song
and a dog
originally intended for Silencio Tyler
swooped in to secure the rights the
single went on to earn an Academy Award
nomination but more importantly it
became Aerosmith’s first ever number-one
hit ahead of classics like Walk This Way
dream on and sweet emotion
it was this rejected song that finally
gave Aerosmith the number-one hit the
historic band always deserved
so do you agree with our list what do
you think is the biggest hit rejected by
another artist shake brings all the boys
to God and for more fascinating top tens
published daily be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
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