The smash hit songs that were REJECTED by the stars: From Britney being offered Rihanna’s Umbrella (despite never hearing it!) to her hit Toxic being written for Janet Jackson to Madonna’s near Holiday miss

Rihanna‘s Umbrella, Britney Spears‘ Toxic and Madonna‘s Holiday are all iconic hit songs – but the tracks were shocking rejected by other stars beforehand.

Britney was originally offered 2007 smash hit Umbrella but her management rejected it before the star even heard the track – leading the chart-topper to fall into Rihanna’s hands.

Madonna’s iconic 1983 track Holiday – which propelled her into pop stardom – was first presented to The Supremes member Mary Wilson who chose to pass on the track.

While Britney’s famed 2003 hit Toxic didn’t fall into her lap – it was originally written with Janet Jackson in mind and offered to Kylie Minogue – who turned down the future monster pop hit.

DailyMail.com looks back at the smash-hit songs that were rejected by the stars…    

TOXIC

Icon: Britney’s 2003 mega hit Toxic – which was penned by a team of writers including the iconic Cathy Dennis – was initially written for Janet Jackson

Not to be: Jackson did not end up recording the iconic track

What could have been: The song was then offered to Kylie Minogue first who turned down the track (Kylie pictured last month)

Britney’s 2003 mega hit Toxic – which was penned by a team of writers including the iconic Cathy Dennis – was initially written for Janet Jackson.

The song was then offered to Kylie Minogue first who turned down the track.

Spears then recorded the track in Sweden and Los Angeles – and even fought for it to be the second track off  In The Zone – after Outrageous and (I Got That) Boom Boom were touted as the next single.

Spears said: ‘It’s really different, that’s why I like it so much’.

The track ended up topping charts all over the world and won Spears her first Grammy. 

HOLIDAY

Birth of a pop icon: 1983 track Holiday made Madonna an international star and saw her firmly on her way to becoming a pop icon

But the track was offered to several artists including former The Supremes singer Mary Wilson (pictured) – but was turned down.

Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of band Pure Energy began shopping the track demo around after their own label rejected it.

It was offered to several artists including former The Supremes singer Mary Wilson – but was turned down.

Producer John ‘Jellybean’ Benitez who was working with Madonna on her album approached the songwriters and Madonna ended up recording the track in NYC.

The 1983  track made Madonna an international star and saw her firmly on her way to becoming a pop icon. 

UMBRELLA 

Anthem: Umbrella writers Terius ‘The-Dream’ Nash and Tricky Stewart intended for the 2007 hit track to go to Britney Spears – who was recording comeback album Blackout – but the track went to Rihanna

Big fan: Mary J.Blige was also keen to procure the track

Umbrella writers  Terius ‘The-Dream’ Nash and Tricky Stewart intended for the 2007 hit track to go to Britney Spears – who was recording comeback album Blackout.

Stewart had previously worked with Britney on 2003’s  Me Against the Music and said Britney ‘who had “her personal life … a little out of control at the time, needed a hit as a musical comeback.’

The track was sent to her management who rejected it without Spears even hearing the track. 

It was then offered to Taio Cruz – who failed to convince his record company to let him record it – and Mary J.Blige and Rihanna, who both loved the song.

Although Blige and Rihanna’s teams warred over rights to the track – mogul L.A. Reid eventually procured the track for Rihanna.

The song became a worldwide hit, topping the charts in 17 countries. 

…BABY ONE MORE TIME 

Wow: Britney Spears’ debut hit …Baby One More Time and its iconic video has become synonymous with the record-breaking artist – but the track was nearly recorded by two other legendary groups

I (Don’t) Want It That Way: The track – originally called Hit Me Baby One More Time – was initially intended for Martin’s longtime collaborators Backstreet Boys  – but they said no (pictured 1999)

No (scrubs): TLC were offered the chance to record the track but decided it wasn’t appropriate for them as a group (pictured 1995)

Britney’s debut hit …Baby One More Time and its iconic video has become synonymous with the record-breaking artist – but the track was nearly recorded by two other legendary groups.

The 1998 single, released by a then 16-year-Spears  and written by Max Martin, shot the star to fame, topped the charts for 32 weeks, in 22 countries and became one of the best-selling songs in history with more than 10 million copies sold. 

But the track only fell into then aspiring popstar Spears’ lap when TLC and The Backstreet Boys failed to bite on the track.

The track – originally called Hit Me Baby One More Time – was initially intended for Martin’s longtime collaborators BSB, who he had already written Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) for.

However, they declined the song before TLC were offered the chance to record the track.

Not for them: Simon Cowell has also revealed he wanted his British band 5ive to record the song calling Martin and attempting to bribe the hitmaker with a Mercedes-Benz

T-Boz said back in 2013 of the decision to turn down the song: ‘I was like, I like the song but do I think it’s a hit? Do I think it’s TLC? I’m not saying ‘hit me baby.’ No disrespect to Britney. It’s good for her. But was I going to say ‘hit me baby one more time’? Hell no!’

‘That’s not even my subject of conversation, so you know, it worked for her, I’m happy for her, I like Britney. 

‘Every song isn’t good for each artist, and when you’re a real artist you know what you believe in and what you really want to sing. So, I’m clear that it was a hit, but I’m also clear that it wasn’t for TLC.’

Simon Cowell has also revealed he wanted his British band 5ive to record the song calling Martin and attempting to bribe the hitmaker with a Mercedes-Benz.

He told the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast last year: ‘The guy plays it down the phone to me, this song Hit Me Baby One More Time’ I’m like, ‘My God, I’ve got to have this song.”

‘So I phoned up Max, and I said, ‘Max. Please, please give me this song.’ And he went, ‘No, I’ve promised it to someone else.’ And I said, ‘Well, I’ll send you a Mercedes – literally a Mercedes 500 SL if I can have this song.”

Martin declined to offer the song to Cowell and told Cowell a brand new artist was due to record the song, with Cowell recounting: ‘I went, ‘Who?’ And he went, ‘Britney Spears.’ I went, ‘Max, let me give you some advice. No one is going to have a hit with a name called Britney Spears.”

Cowell was left eating his words shortly afterwards when Spears skyrocketed to fame and became one of the best-selling artists of all time – even landing a judging spot on his show, The X Factor USA years later. 

HOW WILL I KNOW

Her song: The 1985 single is one of Houston’s (pictured) most iconic tracks – but it was originally written for Janet Jackson

The 1985 single is one of Houston’s most iconic tracks – but it was originally written for Janet Jackson.

Songwriters George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam wrote the track for Jackson’s Control album – but her management passed on the song feeling it was ‘too weak’ compared to her other tracks.

Their publisher sent it to  A&R exec Gerry Griffith – who was gathering songs for the then-unknown Houston.

Music mogul Clive Davis immediately requested the song – which became Houston’s second US number one.  

I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING

The 1998 Diane Warren chart-topper from film Armageddon was originally intended to be sung by none other than Celine Dion.

However, the track – which was also floated to U2 – ended up becoming a number one hit for Aerosmith – with frontman Steven Tyler’s daughter Liv Tyler starring in the film.

Warren said: ‘I remember being at the Sunset Marquis Hotel, and sitting at the piano with [Tyler] and teaching him the song and just having chills all over my body as I heard the song come to life with his voice and knowing what it was going to be. It was an amazing experience. I’d written with Aerosmith before, and they’d never done the songs we wrote.

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT

Nearly not hers: 1984 track What’s Love Got To Do With It is synonymous with Tina Turner – cementing her comeback after years away from the music industry

Potential: The track was originally offered it to Cliff Richard, but it was rejected before Donna Summer

1984 track What’s Love Got To Do With It is synonymous with Tina Turner – cementing her comeback after years away from the music industry.

But the song passed through multiple artists before Turner.

The track was originally offered it to Cliff Richard, but it was rejected. 

It was then given to Phyllis Hyman, who wanted to do the song, but Arista Records head Clive Davis would not allow her.

Donna Summer was then offered the song – but ‘sat with it for a couple of years but never recorded it.’

British band Bucks Fizz also recorded the track for inclusion on their next album – but this was shelved when Turner released her version. 

The track was met with much praise upon its initial release and topped the US Billboard 100 chart at the time.

What’s Love Got To Do With It was named as both the Song and Record Of The Year during the 27th Annual Grammy Awards.

Turner also received the award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance during the ceremony.

What’s Love Got To Do With It was later inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2012.

ROCK YOUR BODY

Not to be: Justin Timberlake wrote the 2002 track with Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams – and intended it to be recorded by Michael Jackson 

Icon: Jackson was recording his album, Invincible but passed on the track – which became a huge hit for Timberlake instead

Justin Timberlake wrote the 2002 track with  Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams – and intended it to be recorded by Michael Jackson – who was then recording his album, Invincible.

It was rejected by MJ with Timberlake including the track on his first solo album, Justified. It would become an international hit, peaking within the top five in the US. 

IT’S RAINING MEN

Their song: The iconic 1982 song by The Weather Girls (pictured) was offered to superstars Diana Ross Cher, Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand first

The iconic 1982 song by The Weather Girls was offered to superstars Diana Ross Cher, Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand first. 

Born-again Christian Summer turned the track down and branded it ‘blasphemous’ – with Ross, Summer and Streisand all rejecting the anthem.

The Weather Girls initially hated the track but recorded it – becoming one of the most successful and recognizable songs of all time.  

SINCE U BEEN GONE

No: Kelly Clarkson’s 2004 hit was rejected by Pink (seen together in March) before falling into her lap

Single: Hilary Duff was offered the track (pictured 2003) but felt it was not the right fit

The 2004 track which is Kelly Clarkson’s best known track  was rejected by two artists before falling in her lap.

Max Martin and Dr.Luke originally intended for Pink to have the song but when she passed on it, Hilary Duff was offered the track.

The song was not the right fit for Duff’s vocals with Clarkson landing the song and turning it into a rock anthem. 

CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD

Wow: Kylie Minogue’s legendary 2001 hit was penned by Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis – but the Australian pop icon nearly didn’t get the song

Not for them: It was first offered to S Club 7 for their Sunshine album but was not accepted

Kylie Minogue’s legendary 2001 hit was penned by Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis – but the Australian pop icon nearly didn’t get the song.

It was first offered to S Club 7 for their Sunshine album but was not accepted.

The song sold five million copies by 2018 and was a number one hit in 21 countries. 

TELEPHONE

What? 2010 Lady Gaga and Beyonce collaboration Telephone was originally intended for Britney Spears

Not to be: Gaga wrote the track for Spears’ album Circus but the star rejected it. She later wanted Spears to feature on the track (picture together 2011)

2010 Lady Gaga and Beyonce collaboration Telephone was originally intended for Britney Spears.

Gaga wrote the track for Spears’ album Circus but the star rejected it. She later wanted Spears to feature on the track, but ultimately Beyonce was the featured artist.

The song became an international hit and 2010’s fourth bestselling single. 

SOS

Iconic: The 2006 track – which sampled Soft Cell’s 1981 recording Tainted Love – became Rihanna’s first US number one – but was intended for Christina Milian

Not for her: Milian – who was recording her third album So Amazin’- passed on SOS with music mogul L.A. Reid sending the track to Rihanna

The 2006 track – which sampled Soft Cell’s 1981 recording Tainted Love – became Rihanna’s first US number one – but was intended for Christina Milian.

Milian – who was recording her third album So Amazin’- passed on SOS with music mogul L.A. Reid sending the track to Rihanna. 

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