Pop history is full of surprises, and today’s daily trending topic is one of the best: some of the biggest hits in music were actually written by different famous singers and songwriters than the stars who made them iconic. From Beyoncé and Rihanna to Justin Bieber and Britney Spears, these behind-the-scenes credits reveal just how collaborative the music industry really is.
Songwriting has always been a quiet engine of pop success. While many artists do write or co-write their own material, plenty of era-defining singles started life in another singer’s notebook, demo session, or studio pitch meeting.
Daily Trending Topic: 19 Huge Hits Written by Other Famous Artists
1. Justin Bieber – “Love Yourself”
Ed Sheeran co-wrote this global smash with Benny Blanco and Justin Bieber. Sheeran had considered keeping it, but Bieber’s version ultimately became the definitive release.
2. Selena Gomez – “Same Old Love”
This breakout hit was written by Charli XCX with Ross Golan, Benny Blanco, and Stargate. Rihanna reportedly recorded a demo before Gomez released the song.
3. Jennifer Lopez – “Ain’t Your Mama”
Meghan Trainor helped write the track and recorded the original demo, making this one of the more recognisable examples of a songwriter shaping another star’s comeback hit.
4. Beyoncé – “I Miss You”
Frank Ocean co-wrote and co-produced the song with Beyoncé and Shea Taylor, adding his early creative stamp to one of her standout tracks.
5. Rihanna – “We Found Love”
Calvin Harris wrote and produced the club anthem that became one of Rihanna’s signature songs and a massive chart success worldwide.
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6. Beyoncé – “Pretty Hurts”
Sia wrote this powerful ballad. The song famously attracted interest from multiple major artists before Beyoncé secured it.
7. Britney Spears – “Till the World Ends”
Kesha wrote the track specifically with Britney Spears in mind, later even appearing on a remix of the song.
8. Beyoncé – “Irreplaceable”
Ne-Yo wrote the song and initially thought about recording it himself, but felt its message worked better from a woman’s perspective.
9. Miley Cyrus – “Party in the U.S.A.”
Jessie J co-wrote the feel-good pop hit with Dr. Luke and Claude Kelly. It became one of Miley’s defining songs despite not being written by her.
10. One Direction – “Little Things”
Ed Sheeran and Fiona Bevan wrote the ballad years earlier before it resurfaced during a studio session with One Direction.
11. CeeLo Green – “Forget You”
Bruno Mars and Philip Lawrence wrote the infectious single that ended up becoming one of the most memorable radio hits of its year.
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12. Whitney Houston – “I Will Always Love You”
Originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton, the song later became one of the most famous vocal performances in pop culture through Houston’s version.
13. Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
The Motown classic was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong before becoming closely associated with Marvin Gaye.
14. Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time”
Max Martin and Rami Yacoub wrote the song that launched Britney into superstardom and changed late-90s pop.
15. Madonna – “Material Girl”
Peter Brown and Robert Rans wrote the song, even though Madonna became forever linked with its title and imagery.
16. Celine Dion – “My Heart Will Go On”
James Horner composed the music and Will Jennings wrote the lyrics for the Titanic theme, which became inseparable from Dion’s career.
17. Beyoncé – “Halo”
Ryan Tedder and Evan Bogart co-wrote the soaring ballad, later turned into one of Beyoncé’s most beloved modern classics.
18. Rihanna – “Diamonds”
Sia once again proved her songwriting power by penning this sleek, emotional anthem for Rihanna.
19. Kelly Clarkson – “Miss Independent”
The track has long been associated with Christina Aguilera’s songwriting sessions before evolving into a major hit for Clarkson.
Why These Hidden Songwriting Credits Matter
This daily trending topic highlights a key truth about pop music: star power may sell the song, but great writing gives it staying power. Many of these tracks became cultural landmarks because the right voice met the right lyric at the right moment.
- Songwriters often craft tracks with another artist in mind
- Demo recordings can circulate for months before release
- A different performer can completely transform a song’s meaning
- Behind-the-scenes writers help shape entire pop eras
Final Takeaway
If there’s one lesson from this daily trending topic, it’s that hit songs rarely have a simple origin story. Some of the biggest anthems of the last few decades were written by artists you’d never expect, proving that pop’s magic often starts long before the public hears the final version. For fans of music trivia, celebrity culture, and behind-the-scenes entertainment stories, these songwriting twists make every playlist a little more fascinating.
