7 iconic songs that were almost never released
Could you imagine a world without Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”? Or Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”? Well, we almost missed out on a number of fantastic songs that went on to become chart-topping hits. Here are seven of our favourite tunes that almost never hit the airwaves.
1. “Kiss” by Prince
Originally written for another band, Prince told the group’s producer it was “too good” for them, so decided to take it back. Prince’s record label weren’t keen on the song, but he just knew it would be a hit – and it was, going on to reach number one on the charts and earn Prince a Grammy.
2. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones
It’s one of the most famous riffs in music history, but Keith Richards (who wrote it) hated the song, believing it was too similar to “Dancing in the Street” by Martha & the Vandellas – a big hit at the time. Fortunately, the rest of the band pushed forward, and it became an instant chart-topper.
3. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
Cohen’s perfectionism made it difficult to get the song down to a four-and-a-half-minute single. At one point, he thought he’d never finish it. Finally, after three years and over 70 verses of lyrics, he completed his masterpiece, which went on to become one of the most covered songs ever.
4. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
The King of Pop loved this song, but producer Quincy Jones thought it might be “too weak” to be included on the now-iconic Thriller album. He hated the intro and especially the bassline, but MJ wouldn’t budge – “that’s the jelly!” he reportedly told Jones. “That’s what makes me want to dance.”
5. “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2
It’s one of their most popular songs, but the path to completion wasn’t easy. The Edge had written a beginning and an end but no middle, so the band spent hours trying to piece the two parts together. They almost stopped working on it altogether, but luckily they didn’t, and its music video went on to win a Grammy.
6. “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan
Rolling Stone labelled it the greatest song of all time, but it almost never hit the airwaves. The sales and marketing department of Dylan’s record label weren’t keen on rock ‘n’ roll, plus they objected to the six-minute runtime and wanted to cut it in half. Fortunately, one of the higher-ups played the song at a trendy New York club where everyone loved it, so the record label finally released it.
7. “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics
Before they hit the big time, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart were struggling musos who had been dropped by their label. After a fight one night, Stewart started mindlessly playing his synthesiser when a bassline (that later turned into that iconic riff) emerged. Lennox improvised some chords, wrote some lyrics, and a new wave classic was born.