One interesting phenomenon often overlooked in the careers of famous musicians likeBritney Spearsis that they might have achieved even greater success if they had not passed on songs that ultimately became major hits for other artists. Indeed, this is no random occurrence. Several top music stars have turned down songs that could have catapulted their careers or amplified their existing success. A notable example is Prince’s decision not to fully release “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a song he penned himself. Sinead O’Connor later recorded the track, transforming it into one of the most globally recognized songs ever.
Interestingly, Spears has been on the receiving end of this phenomenon. Notably, “I’m a Slave 4 U” - a standout track from her 2001 third studio album,Britney- was originally written by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo for Janet Jackson. The song not only became one of the year’s biggest hits, according to Billboard, but also marked Spears’ first major dance single success. Spears, however, has also been on the other end of this dilemma, especially in these two notable examples.
Britney Spears Turned Down Rihanna’s Umbrella
Spears' Management Passed On A Song That Could Have Delivered Her Through Troubled Times
As the saying goes in the music world, what goes around, comes around. Just as Spears' musical “yoink” added another hit to her library and helped define the beginnings of her creative expansion into a grittier vibe, her passing on a song gave another artist a coveted break. According to Jacob Uitti ofAmerican Songwriter, back in 2007, songwriters Chris Stewart, Terius Nash, and Kuk Harrell crafted “Umbrella” while Spears was working on herBlackoutalbum. Stewart, having collaborated with Spears previously, thought the song was tailor-made for her at that moment. However, Spears' management team saw things differently.
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Believing Spears had enough tracks forBlackout,her team rejected Stewart’s offer without even giving her a chance to hear the demo. The song then landed in the hands of Def Jam head Antonio “L.A.” Reid, a Stewart collaborator, who was working with Rihanna on herGood Girl Gone Badalbum. Recognizing its fit with the album’s style, Rihanna eagerly accepted the song. The rest, as they say, is history. Featuring Jay-Z,Rihanna’s “Umbrella"soared to No. 1, cementing her status as a global music icon.
Spears Also Rejected Lady Gaga’s Telephone
Oops, She Did It Again! The One Song Considered Redundant For Spears' Album Ended Up Being A Blockbuster
A year later, a similar situation unfolded with Lady Gaga, then an up-and-coming songwriter soon to become a musical icon. At the time, Gaga was earning a living by writing songs - many of which unexpectedly became hits - for pop stars seeking musical content to complete an album or, more likely, to achieve a hit during a “musical slump.” It turns out that Gaga specifically wrote the song “Telephone” for Britney Spears to include on herCircusalbum.
According to Kelli Boyle ofShowbiz CheatSheet, Spears recorded the song and planned to include it on the album. However, once again, her management intervened, believing that the album already contained a “telephone-themed” track, making the inclusion of “Telephone” redundant. After the rejection, Lady Gaga decided to keep the song for herself rather than offer it to other artists. She attempted to negotiate with Spears' management to feature the singer on the track, but these efforts were unsuccessful.
The song ultimately appeared onThe Fame Monster, Gaga’s 2009 reissue of her debut albumThe Fame. This proved to be a fortunate decision, as the track, which featured a collaboration with Beyoncé, garnered critical acclaim and is widely considered one of Lady Gaga’s finest works. While Spears did not necessarily need help making popular music adored by millions of fans, these two incidents nevertheless point out two incidents where perhaps a little more foresight might have nettedBritney Spearseven more fame, fortune, and glory.
