30 Huge Hit Songs That Almost Went To Other Singers

Rihanna-jay-z-umbrella

Mariah-CareyHero

britneyspears003

timberlake-rock-your-body

1811068_Kelly-Clarkson---Since-u-been-gone-(Jason-Nevins-Radio-Mix)

Jennifer+Lopez+-+Let's+Get+Loud+-+5-+CD+SINGLE-494675

MUDD2131

blackeyedpeas-myhumps

5

the-pussycat-dolls-and-busta-rhymes-(pussycat-dolls)

Aerosmith+-+I+Don't+Want+To+Miss+A+Thing+-+5-+CD+SINGLE-115722

bylmplasticbl

Toni-Braxton-Unbreak-My-Heart

ohhellyes-beyonce-halo

Britney-Spears-Hold-It-Against-Me-Cover-Art

Britney-Spears-Im-A-Slave-For-You-Single-Cover

f68f7bbb029325cfd009c439fd91f1f7

toxic

golden_years_art

kelly_clarkson___miss_independent_by_other_covers-d62rj9h

Holiday-1

Milkshake

114163722

rihanna-sos1

Tina-Turner-Whats-Love-Got-To-Do-With-It-album-cover

telephone

The+Weather+Girls+-+It's+Raining+Men+-+7-+RECORD-235327

we-rehab

Whitney+Houston+-+How+Will+I+Know+-+12-+RECORD-MAXI+SINGLE-22808

Olivia-gets-Physical-olivia-newton-john-16350475-467-365

Some songs are so closely associated with their singers that it's difficult to imagine anyone else performing them. That's why it's weird and jarring to hear that MANY monster hits were actually meant to be recorded by other people. It throws our whole music-loving universe into doubt! Can you imagine a world where Rihanna didn't sing "Umbrella," Beyonce didn't sing "Irreplaceable," and Britney Spears didn't sing "Toxic"?! Folks, we don't think we want to live in the world. But it almost happened! 

Sometimes the original artist didn't like the future smash that was submitted to them, or maybe there was some kind of weird music biz politics that prevented them from laying it down. In any event, the number of near misses in music are truly staggering. But let's take a moment and imagine an  alternate universe where TLC danced in a school hallway to "...Baby One More Time," Michael Jackson grooved on "Rock You Body," and Brit Brit teased with "Milkshake." Strange times indeed...

Head up to the gallery above for 30 of the most mind-blowing examples of MONSTER hits very nearly going to completely different artists. Enjoy!