You know your favorite song that you can’t get out of your head? Well, it may not have been written by the artist’s voice you hear singing it. Sometimes, an artist writes a song with a specific artist in mind. Other times an artist may hear a song and want to record it. A lot of the time it is a well-known artist that passes the song to another well-known artist. For example, did you know Ed Sheeran actually wrote Justin Bieber’s hit, “Love Yourself?” Charli XCX penned “Senorita” before handing it off to Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, and Shawn Mendes thought up “Chances” then gave it to the Backstreet Boys. Ok, those ones are pretty well known, but here are 5 other songs you may not know were written by other artists.
Songs Written By Other Artists – “If I Were a Boy”
Sung by: Beyonce
Written by: BC Jean
This song was one of the singles off Beyonce’s third studio album, I am…. Sasha Fierce. “If I Were a Boy” was inspired by a difficult breakup BC Jean encountered. Her record company rejected the song and Beyonce recorded her own version of it. They eventually came to an agreement and it was released as a single. Their agreement was that Beyonce recorded a duet with Jean for her debut album. The song achieved worldwide commercial success.
BC Jean is ½ of the band Alexander Jean, with husband Mark Ballas (“Dancing with the Stars”), a singer/songwriter with amazing vocals.
Songs Written By Other Artists – “Bleeding Love”
Sung by: Leona Lewis
Written by: Jesse McCartney
The debut single from Lewis became the best-selling single of 2008 and achieved international success, reaching number one in 35 countries. It is the second song in history to achieve this, Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind” was the first. What most people don’t know is that Jesse McCartney and Ryan Tedder actually wrote “Bleeding Love,” but his record rejected it.
“Bleeding Love” remains Lewis’ most successful single to date and is her only song to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Songs Written By Other Artists – “Whataya Want From Me”
Sung by: Adam Lambert
Written by: P!nk
The song was the second single, from the American Idol star, off his debut album, For Your Entertainment. It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his highest charting single. The tune was actually written by P!nk (credited as Alecia Moore), Max Martin, and Shellback, for P!nk’s fifth studio album, Funhouse, but did not make the cut.
“Breakaway”
Sung by: Kelly Clarkson
Written by: Avril Lavigne
One of Kelly Clarkson’s most popular hits almost wasn’t recorded by her. Avril Lavigne intended “Breakaway” for her debut album, Let Go, but once it was deemed unsuitable for it, it was passed on to Clarkson. Originally recorded for the soundtrack to The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement, the hit became so popular that she released it as her own single and even named her second studio album.
Lavigne’s demo of the song leaked in 2014 and let’s just say both pop queens sound amazing singing it.
“Little Things”
Sung by: One Direction
Written By: Ed Sheeran
Sheeran has penned many hits for numerous artists over the years. One song you may not know that he has written is “Little Things” by one of the biggest boy bands in the world. One Direction recorded the hit after working with Sheeran in the studio for their second album, Take Me Home.
Sheeran had written it when he was 17 and forgot about it until his co-writers Fiona Bevan brought it up to him while in the studio. The band heard and loved it.
There are hundreds of songs written by other artists, but we broke down 5 that you may not have known. Which song is your favorite?