Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/8-songs-written-for-one-artist-that-someone-else-made-famous/
Some of the most iconic songs in music history almost belonged to someone else entirely. A songwriter pens a tune with a specific voice in mind, the original version comes and goes without much notice, and then, sometimes years later, another artist picks it up and turns it into a cultural touchstone. These stories reveal just how much interpretation matters in music, and how a great song can wait patiently for the right performer to finally unlock its potential.
What follows are eight songs that were written or originally recorded for one artist, only to become forever associated with someone else. Each one carries its own quirky backstory of missed opportunities, quiet coincidences, and second chances.
1. Nothing Compares 2 U
Prince wrote this haunting ballad in 1984 and gave it to his side project The Family, who wrote it for his project, The Family, featured on its 1985 debut album. The track barely registered with audiences at the time, and the album containing it sold poorly, leaving the song essentially forgotten for half a decade.
Everything changed in 1990 when Sinéad O’Connor recorded her own stripped-down version for her sophomore album. It was her version that turned “Nothing Compares 2 U” into a massive global hit, with the song soaring to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1990. The song has since been ranked among Rolling Stone’s greatest songs of all time, and O’Connor’s raw,…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-09-18 12:39:00
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