![Britney Spears, 'Toxic' - originally offered to Kylie Minogue: 'Toxic' was offered to Kylie for her 2003 album Body Language, but she passed on it. Big mistake - Britney Spears recorded it and it was a massive hit for the singer in 2004 and even earned her her first Grammy. There's no hard feelings from Kylie, however, who later commented:]()
Britney Spears, 'Toxic' - originally offered to Kylie Minogue: 'Toxic' was offered to Kylie for her 2003 album Body Language, but she passed on it. Big mistake - Britney Spears recorded it and it was a massive hit for the singer in 2004 and even earned her her first Grammy. There's no hard feelings from Kylie, however, who later commented: "I wasn't at all angry when it worked for her. It's like the fish that got away. You just have to accept it."
![Grimes, 'Go' - 'Go' was originally written for Rihanna, who is a multiple offender in this list as both the rejector and the stealer. This one she rejected, and so Grimes decided to keep it for herself instead. Good decision. Absolute banger.]()
Grimes, 'Go' - 'Go' was originally written for Rihanna, who is a multiple offender in this list as both the rejector and the stealer. This one she rejected, and so Grimes decided to keep it for herself instead. Good decision. Absolute banger.
![Pharrell, 'Happy' - originally offered to Cee Lo Green: The musician and producer sent the song to Cee Lo, who rejected it, before recording it himself and sending his career stratospheric. It does indeed sound like a Cee Lo song, but we've very glad Pharrell ended up recording it.]()
Pharrell, 'Happy' - originally offered to Cee Lo Green: The musician and producer sent the song to Cee Lo, who rejected it, before recording it himself and sending his career stratospheric. It does indeed sound like a Cee Lo song, but we've very glad Pharrell ended up recording it.
![Beyonce, 'Pretty Hurts' - originally offered to Katy Perry and Rihanna: Sia sent her power ballad-with-a-message in an email to Katy Perry, who never saw it. She then passed it onto Rihanna, whose team liked it but ultimately never paid the money needed to secure the track. Beyonce then swooped in, took it, and it ended up opening her eponymous surprise album, released in December 2013.]()
Beyonce, 'Pretty Hurts' - originally offered to Katy Perry and Rihanna: Sia sent her power ballad-with-a-message in an email to Katy Perry, who never saw it. She then passed it onto Rihanna, whose team liked it but ultimately never paid the money needed to secure the track. Beyonce then swooped in, took it, and it ended up opening her eponymous surprise album, released in December 2013.
![Kelis, 'Milkshake' - originally offered to Britney Spears: Poor Britney. The Neptunes wrote the provocative R&B jam in the early 2000s and suggested it for Britney, but her label didn't want it. It was then recorded by Neptunes affiliate Kelis for her third LP Tasty, and was the singer's first commercial hit. It was nominated for a Grammy and certified Gold in the US. It's still Kelis' biggest hit to date - and we can't imagine Britney singing it.]()
Kelis, 'Milkshake' - originally offered to Britney Spears: Poor Britney. The Neptunes wrote the provocative R&B jam in the early 2000s and suggested it for Britney, but her label didn't want it. It was then recorded by Neptunes affiliate Kelis for her third LP Tasty, and was the singer's first commercial hit. It was nominated for a Grammy and certified Gold in the US. It's still Kelis' biggest hit to date - and we can't imagine Britney singing it.
![Calvin Harris ft Rihanna, 'We Found Love' - originally offered to Nicole Scherzinger: The Scottish producer passed his future smash to the former Pussycat Dolls vocalist, but she was too busy to take it on. Rihanna then lent her vocals to the track, and the rest is history. Scherzinger now admits she]()
Calvin Harris ft Rihanna, 'We Found Love' - originally offered to Nicole Scherzinger: The Scottish producer passed his future smash to the former Pussycat Dolls vocalist, but she was too busy to take it on. Rihanna then lent her vocals to the track, and the rest is history. Scherzinger now admits she "slept on" the track. Indeed.
![Beyonce, 'Halo' - originally offered to Leona Lewis: Well, sort of. Songwriter Ryan Tedder wrote the song specifically for Beyonce, but the superstar kept Tedder on his toes for too long. In order to hurry Bey up, Tedder offered it to Leona Lewis' team, who loved it - prompting Beyonce to finally secure it. The power ballad went on to become one of Beyonce's biggest hits.]()
Beyonce, 'Halo' - originally offered to Leona Lewis: Well, sort of. Songwriter Ryan Tedder wrote the song specifically for Beyonce, but the superstar kept Tedder on his toes for too long. In order to hurry Bey up, Tedder offered it to Leona Lewis' team, who loved it - prompting Beyonce to finally secure it. The power ballad went on to become one of Beyonce's biggest hits.
![Rihanna, 'Umbrella' - originally offered to Britney Spears: Rihanna's biggest hit to date nearly wasn't hers. The track was written with Spears in mind, but her label rejected it. Rihanna then recorded it in 2007, with a verse from label boss Jay Z. It won a Grammy, has sold over 4 million copies to date, and was even blamed for the UK's extreme flooding and rainfall in the summer of 2007.]()
Rihanna, 'Umbrella' - originally offered to Britney Spears: Rihanna's biggest hit to date nearly wasn't hers. The track was written with Spears in mind, but her label rejected it. Rihanna then recorded it in 2007, with a verse from label boss Jay Z. It won a Grammy, has sold over 4 million copies to date, and was even blamed for the UK's extreme flooding and rainfall in the summer of 2007.
![Justin Timberlake - 'Rock Your Body' - originally offered to Michael Jackson: The Neptunes originally crafted the futuristic disco jam for Jackson's final album, Invincible, but the superstar passed on the track along with several other songs the production duo had made with him in mind. 'Rock Your Body', and the other songs, would eventually be recorded by former N Sync member Justin Timberlake, and helped launched his career as a massive solo artist.]()
Justin Timberlake - 'Rock Your Body' - originally offered to Michael Jackson: The Neptunes originally crafted the futuristic disco jam for Jackson's final album, Invincible, but the superstar passed on the track along with several other songs the production duo had made with him in mind. 'Rock Your Body', and the other songs, would eventually be recorded by former N Sync member Justin Timberlake, and helped launched his career as a massive solo artist.
![Jay Z and Kanye West, 'N****s in Paris' - originally offered to Pusha T: Signed to Kanye's GOOD Music label in 2010, former Clipse member Pusha T had a large array of beats to choose from for his debut solo album. One particular beat, produced by Hit-Boy, didn't take his fancy at all.]()
Jay Z and Kanye West, 'N****s in Paris' - originally offered to Pusha T: Signed to Kanye's GOOD Music label in 2010, former Clipse member Pusha T had a large array of beats to choose from for his debut solo album. One particular beat, produced by Hit-Boy, didn't take his fancy at all. "It sounds like a video game. Get that shit out of here!" was Pusha's reaction, according to his manager. Jay Z and Kanye took it for their collaborative LP Watch The Throne, and it was a mega hit.
![Lady Gaga, 'Telephone' - originally offered to Britney Spears: Gaga originally wrote the empowering electro-pop banger for Britney's 2008 collection Circus, but Spears didn't want it. Gaga then recorded the song alongside Beyonce for The Fame Monster, and the track received critical acclaim. There was also an amazing, Kill Bill-themed video to accompany it. We're glad Britney didn't take this one, although if you're interested there are a number of her demos floating around online.]()
Lady Gaga, 'Telephone' - originally offered to Britney Spears: Gaga originally wrote the empowering electro-pop banger for Britney's 2008 collection Circus, but Spears didn't want it. Gaga then recorded the song alongside Beyonce for The Fame Monster, and the track received critical acclaim. There was also an amazing, Kill Bill-themed video to accompany it. We're glad Britney didn't take this one, although if you're interested there are a number of her demos floating around online.
![Miley Cyrus, 'We Can't Stop' - originally offered to Rihanna: Producer Mike WiLL Made It wrote the party anthem with Rihanna in mind, but the Bajan singer was more interested in 'Pour It Up', which then appeared on her 2012 album Unapologetic. Mike WiLL Made It then offered it to Miley. 'We Can't Stop' would serve as the introduction to her new, provocative persona.]()
Miley Cyrus, 'We Can't Stop' - originally offered to Rihanna: Producer Mike WiLL Made It wrote the party anthem with Rihanna in mind, but the Bajan singer was more interested in 'Pour It Up', which then appeared on her 2012 album Unapologetic. Mike WiLL Made It then offered it to Miley. 'We Can't Stop' would serve as the introduction to her new, provocative persona.