Imagine a world where your favorite song was sung by someone completely different. Would it still be a great song? Would it still be as popular as it is today? Who knows! But these five famous rock songs came close to being sung by someone completely different from the musicians and bands that turned them into hits.
1. “Hungry Heart” by Bruce Springsteen
“Hungry Heart” is one of Bruce Springsteen’s most loved songs. Surprisingly, he didn’t intend to record it himself. Springsteen originally wrote the song for The Ramones.
“I saw the Ramones in Asbury Park,” said Springsteen in an interview with Jimmy Fallon. “And we were talking for a while, and I was like, ‘Man I’ve got to write the Ramones a song.’ So I went home and I sat at my table and I wrote it in about the time it took me to sing it. ”
According to the Boss, Johnny Ramone told him to keep the song, which was a generous and smart move. “Hungry Heart” was a substantial hit for him.
2. “I’m A Believer” by The Monkees
Anyone under the age of 50 probably thinks of Smash Mouth when they think of this song, but “I’m A Believer” was originally a hit for The Monkees. And it is one of many great rock songs out there that was almost sung by someone completely different.
Neil Diamond was actually the brain behind “I’m A Believer” and wrote it for The Monkees. According to Diamond, the head of his record company “freaked” because he thought Diamond was just giving away hits to other artists, and he wanted Diamond to record the song for himself. But rent was due, Diamond wasn’t getting paid much for his own records, and the track was a hit for The Monkees.
3. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds is one of the most famous songs in the world, partly due to its use in the iconic 80s film The Breakfast Club. Before the song was passed to Simple Minds, it was offered to none other than Billy Idol.
Idol decided not to record it, and it was given to the Scottish rock outfit. They almost rejected it, too. Luckily, after meeting The Breakfast Club’s director John Hughes, they changed their minds.
4. “Call Me” by Blondie
“Call Me” was written for Fleetwood Mac’s iconic singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks. She decided to pass on the tune because her schedule was a bit crazy at the time. This presented an opportunity for Blondie’s Debbie Harry to take on the song.
However, there were no lyrics written for it yet; just the instrumentals and melody. The band drafted up some words and Harry demoed it, and the song’s composer Giorgio Moroder said he “knew we had a hit.”
5. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
When it comes to famous songs that were almost sung by someone completely different, this hit would have sounded great regardless. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is a karaoke classic and a beautiful celebration of the United States’ natural beauty. It’s probably John Denver’s most revered song.
According to writers Bill Danoff and Taggy Nivert, the classic country tune was written for Johnny Cash. Denver caught wind of it and insisted that he sing it instead.
“John’s incredible energy was what made it happen,” said Danoff.
Photo by Tony Russell/Redferns
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