Know The Hits? Answer Which Pop Stars Wrote These Songs For Other Singers!
- by Fabio_M
- – on
- in Entertainment
A hit song is what every singer wants to have when launching a single. Whether they dominate the chart or become critically acclaimed, it's not always easy to achieve such success. With the pressure of always trying to out-do their previous work, some artists get other musicians and pop stars to help them out. Some artists even steal songs off others! But maybe that's a quiz for another time...
However, some songs are purposely written by another famous face for that artist and had every intention of giving that song to them when in the process of writing it. Or maybe that artist just decided that the song wasn't right for their album or musical direction and kindly passed it onto someone else who might want it.
Throughout the decades of music, you might have been thinking that your favourite singer, band or even song was written by them entirely, but that isn't the case a lot of the time. Record labels get talented stars together sometimes in the studio to create the new banger to dominate the radio waves or in today's world, the streaming charts to then have an impact on the main charts worldwide!
Consider yourself a music nerd? Let's go ahead and press play on this quiz...
Who wrote on The Monster?
Eminem who fans call the "Rap God" teamed up with Rihanna on the huge hit The Monster back in 2013 which became a global number one smash hit topping the charts in 12 countries. The song was taken from The Marshall Mathers LP 2 and has become a signature single from his back catalogue. The song won the pair a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration but which female star also wrote the song that isn't featured on the track?
Who wrote on Sorry?
When releasing music in 2015, it was was very clear to say that Justin Bieber had re-peaked. After a mini break from releasing songs, Justin had come back with his EDM Skrillex and Diplo collab Where Are U Now which was followed up with What Do You Mean?. Both tracks were very successful and cemented him back to the top of the charts. 'Sorry' was the next single released and was another number one smash for the Biebs. But who wrote the song with him?
Who wrote on I Do Not Hook Up?
Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever American Idol winner. Who doesn't love her? Since the show, she has sold over 25 million albums and 45 million singles worldwide and even bagged herself two Grammy awards! When releasing her fourth studio album All I Ever Wanted, Clarkson had an American female pop star write her two songs for the album including I Do Not Hook Up which became the albums second worldwide single. But who was it that gave the song to Kelly?
Who wrote on Irreplaceable?
I mean, even Beyoncé has people help her write a song! When releasing her second studio album B'Day, Beyonce made sure she was working with the best to live up to everyone's expectations after her massive debut Dangerously In Love. The third single released from the album, Irreplaceable became the albums biggest worldwide single and was a chart topper in multiple countries including the US Billboard Hot 100. But who did Bey get to help her create a massive R&B classic?
Who wrote on Ain't It Funny?
In 2002, Jennifer Lopez released a remix of her hit Ain't It Funny which gave her another number one in America. At that time, Jennifer was royalty on the music and movie screen so she could get anyone she wanted on a track. Ja Rule, who features on the song has a writing credit on the song, however, Miss Lopez doesn't. The song has a few contributors but which was another fellow singer that had been on the scene a hot minute?
Who wrote on Justify My Love?
Taken from her iconic greatest hits collection The Immaculate Collection, Justify My Love was the first single released from it in 1990. It has remained one of Madonna's most controversial singles to date and as a result of all the controversy the video received, the single was released as a video-single and went on to become the highest selling video single of all time going 4x platinum. However, who helped the queen of pop achieve such success on the track?
Who wrote on 2002?
Anne-Marie is one of 2018's biggest breakout singers. With the success of her debut album Speak Your Mind and collaborations with Clean Bandit and Marshmello, she has had some pretty successful moments on the charts already. Her current successful single is 2002 which is a nostalgia anthem about tracks we all used to love back in the day from Nelly to Britney Spears. Which fellow Brit musician couldn't wait for her to release the song and helped her write the tune?
Who wrote on Party In The USA?
Miley Cyrus must feel so great every time Party In The USA re-enters the iTunes chart every 4th of July, right? The party anthem went on to sell over 6 million records in her home country alone and was the seventh best-selling digital single of 2009 in the United States. A lot of people might be surprised to read this but Cyrus does not have a writing credit on the single at all. Which young female pop star does?
Who wrote on Bad Liar?
Bad Liar was not only Selena Gomez's most acclaimed song of her career, but it became of the most acclaimed songs of 2017. Billboard ranked it number one on their end of year list calling the track "one of the best and most refreshing pop songs". The music video has achieved over 250 million YouTube views. Gomez can proudly say she wrote the song, but she didn't write it all alone. Who else is responsible for writing one of her most talked about songs?
Who wrote on Sledgehammer?
Sledgehammer is a single taken from Fifth Harmony's debut album Reflection which went on to go platinum in the US. Fifth Harmony performed the song live at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards and on a bunch of US TV shows like The Talk, Today Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Despite the single also going receiving a Gold certification in both Canada and Sweden, Idolator claimed in an article that the single was "underrated". Which singer wrote the song for the girls?
Who wrote on OMG?
OMG was a promotional single released by Camila Cabello that went on to have commercial success on the charts. The song charted on the US Billboard 200 and was certified Gold in Canada and Australia. The track was supposed to be on Cabello's debut album but didn't make the cut in the end. The single features Quavo who has a songwriting credit on the song with Camila, but which one of her musical friends helped her make the song complete?
Who wrote on Bleeding Love?
When Leona Lewis won The X Factor UK in 2006, there was a lot of pressure for her first proper solo single to do well. The single was Bleeding Love and what a hit it was! It became number one in the UK and US and she became the most successful winner from the show at the time. Her debut album Spirit was a huge worldwide success and gave her a lot of big award nominations. Who helped her achieve success on this track though?
Who wrote on All Hands On Deck?
All Hands On Deck was taken from Tinashe's debut album Aquarius which was released in 2014. Prior to her debut album, Tinashe had dropped three mixtapes. The music video has 59 million YouTube views and was praised by Kanye West on Twitter when it first dropped. The single went Gold in Australia and has its own version featuring Iggy Azalea. Iggy has a writing credit with Tinashe on the track, but what other familiar name also wrote on the banger?
Who wrote on Breakaway?
Breakaway but was a single released from Kelly Clarkson's second studio album with the same name. The song was first released by Walt Disney Records as the first single from The Princess Diaries 2 soundtrack in 2004, but was later re-released as a worldwide single two years later as the fifth and final single from Clarkson's huge album campaign. The song was supposed to be for another artists debut album but they gave it to Kelly. Which artist was this?
Who wrote on Play?
Play comes from Jennifer Lopez's second studio album J.Lo and was the second single released. Critics compared the song to some of Madonna's previous work and even won Best Dance Track at the 2001 Teen Music Awards. The following year, it got nominated for Latin Dance Club Play Track Of The Year at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. For this single, Lopez does not have a writing credit but another singer does who also features on backing vocals. But who is it?
Who wrote on Bedtime Story?
Bedtime Story was the third single released from Madonna's studio album Bedtime Stories. Praised for the song's hypnotic and electronic style, Madonna received critical success from the single. The song went to number one on the US Dance Club Songs Billboard chart and top five in the UK, Finland and Australia. A certain artist who wrote the song for Madge re-wrote a demo version of the track and gave her the current version to record. But which artist was this?
Who wrote on Pretty Girls?
Pretty Girls was a collaboration recorded by Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea that was released May 2015. The single went top 20 in the United Kingdom, Canada, Hungary, Scotland, and South Korea as well as the top 30 in the United States, France, and Australia. The two time Teen Choice Award nominated single was performed on Britney's iconic Las Vegas residency Britney: Piece of Me. The song came about when a girl band wrote it for their upcoming album but decided to give it to Britney. Which group was this?
Who wrote on Milkshake?
Milkshake is by far one of Kelis' most well known singles. Originally given to Britney Spears for her fourth studio album In The Zone, Spears declined taking the song. No worries there, Kelis scooped the song up and made it a worldwide hit! Taken from her 2003 third studio album Tasty, the track was the debut single released. It even got nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2004. Kelis and Britney both don't have writing credits on the song, but which famous face does?
Who wrote on Halo?
Beyoncé Knowles recorded Halo for her third studio album I Am... Sasha Fierce. The single and album were both a huge worldwide success on the charts throughout 2008 and 2009. The single went on to become a top 5 in many countries including the US, UK and Australia. There was media speculation that the single was intended to be written for Leona Lewis originally. Queen Bey has a writing credit on the ballad but what other musician helped her create a classic?
Who wrote I Will Always Love You?
I Will Always Love You is a cover Whitney Houston did that made the song well known. It was released in 1992 for The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack which Whitney starred in too, The song became a signature single for her and has gone down as one of the most legendary ballads. The cover earned Houston six Billboard Music Awards and two Grammys including Song of the Year which was presented by the artist she covered the song from. But which legendary singer was it?
Who wrote on Love Me Like You Do?
Ellie Goulding released Love Me Like You Do in 2015 for the Fifty Shades of Grey: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Like the movie, the song became a global success going to number one in many countries including the UK and Australia. It went top 3 in both the US and Canada. The song earned her two Grammy Award nominations and a BRIT nomination for British Single of the Year. Ellie Goulding does not have a writing credit on the smash, but which other singer does?
Who wrote on R.I.P.?
R.I.P. is a song recorded by Rita Ora that features British rapper Tinie Tempah. It became her second number one in the UK. It went Gold in Denmark and the UK and platinum in Australia. The single also topped the charts on the US Hot Dance Club Songs. The song was intended for Rihanna's Loud era allegedly, but she decided not to take the song. Rita took interest in it and snatched it for her debut album. Which artist wrote the track, though?
Who wrote on Sparks?
Sparks is a single released by Hilary Duff that was released on her fifth studio album Breathe In. Breathe Out. The song became her seventh single to chart on the US Billboard 100 and her fourth top ten hit on the US dance chart following three consecutive number ones from 2007 to 2008 during the Dignity and Best of era. Sparks was more of a return to her dance-pop sound, but which fellow pop star helped her with it?
Who wrote on Diamonds?
Diamonds is a hit single recorded by Rihanna released in 2012. The song topped the charts in over 20 countries and became her 12th in the US. By 2013, it had sold over 7.5 million copies worldwide and was listed as one of the best-selling singles of all-time. Unfortunately for Rihanna, she doesn't have a writing credit on the song but another pop star does and has probably made quite a penny from this track alone! But who are they?
Who wrote on Forget You?
Forget You was a global hit by CeeLo Green released back in August 2010. The single went 7x platinum in the US peaking at number two and peaking at #1 in the UK going platinum. Forget You was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys but won Best Urban/Alternative Performance. CeeLo has a writing credit on the single but another very famous face contributed to it too. Can you guess who they are?
Who wrote on Spinning Around?
Spinning Around is the number one single from Australian pop star Kylie Minogue. Released back in June 2000, the single was originally written for someone else's comeback single but they never ended up using it. The single won Best Pop Release at the ARIA Music Awards and has been performed on every Kylie tour since its release with the exception of one tour where she only performed b-sides, demos and rare tracks. So which star wrote this as their comeback single?
Who wrote on This Is What You Came For?
This Is What You Came For, released by Calvin Harris and Rihanna was a 2016 summer banger. Calvin had previously worked with RiRi together on her 2011 studio album Talk That Talk which included the mega hit We Found Love. This Is What You Came For in its own right was still just as successful. The single went 7x platinum in Australia, 4x platinum in the US and double platinum in the UK. Calvin has a writing credit on the tune, but what other pop star does too?
Who wrote on One Kiss?
One Kiss is 2018's summer anthem. Calvin Harris once again and also Dua Lipa teamed up together on the track and it has become one of the biggest records of the year. The single went to number one in the UK and stayed there for eight weeks! It became the longest-running number one by a lead female artist in the UK this decade, and the second longest-running number one of the century by a female artist behind Rihanna's iconic Umbrella released in 2007. Calvin and Dua both have a writing credit on the single. Who is the other?
Who wrote on You Don't Know My Name?
You Don't Know My Name is a song released by Alicia Keys, which is the debut single from her second studio album The Diary of Alicia Keys. The track became her third single to enter the top 10 on the US Billboard 100 singles chart at the time and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for eight consecutive weeks. The song won a Soul Train Music Award and a Grammy Award in 2004 and 2005. Keys produced and wrote the song with a particular rapper. But who was it?
Who wrote on Ordinary People?
Ordinary People is a single released by John Legend taken from his debut album Get Lifted. The song peaked at number 24 in the US, number four in the UK and number 19 in Ireland. The song earned him two Grammy nominations with him taking home the trophy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance becoming his second win of 10 (to date). John produced the song himself, but wrote it with another talented producer and songwriter. Do you know who it is?
Who wrote on No Scrubs?
No Scrubs is a '90s classic recorded by girl group, TLC. The single was the debut from their third studio album FanMail which was released in 1999. The song gave them their second Grammy nomination for Record of the Year and was the second best selling song in the US the year it was released behind Cher's Believe. The song became their third number one in the US and their eighth top 10 in total. Lisa from the group has a writing credit on the song, but what other singer does too?
Who wrote on I'm a Slave 4 U?
I'm a Slave 4 U is a song recorded by pop princess Britney Spears way back in 2001. Britney performed it at the MTV Video Music Awards that same year and became one of the most iconic performances in pop culture. Since the singles release, the song has been performed on every single one of her tours. This track is taken from Spears' self titled album Britney which went 4x platinum in the US. Who wrote the song for her though?
Who wrote on Why Don't You Love Me?
Why Don't You Love Me is a single Beyoncé released from her I Am... Sasha Fierce record which was her third studio album. Bey performed the song during her iconic Glastonbury headline set and topped the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart for one week. Why Don't You Love Me was the ninth music video shot for the I Am... Sasha Fierce era and was filmed in Los Angeles. Beyoncé has a writing credit on the song but so does another name she's close to. Who are they?
Who wrote on Honey?
Honey is a single released by Mariah Carey. It was taken from her sixth studio album Butterfly and was released as the first single. It was her 12th number one single and her third to debut straight to the top spot within its first week. To this day, Mariah still holds the record for the most debut number ones in the States. The song was nominated for two Grammys in 1998 for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. Carey wrote and produced it with a legendary artist. Who are they?
Who wrote on Upside Down?
In 1980, Diana Ross sang the hit disco anthem Upside Down, which topped the charts across Europe, the US and Australia. It became one of the biggest sellers that year in the US. One of the writers of the song said "Diana Ross was the first big star we ever worked with and we took it very seriously". The writer of the song went on to write, produce and create some of the biggest disco classics that still live on today. But who is that person...
Who wrote on Party Monster?
Canadian singer The Weeknd released Party Monster from his third studio album Starboy in 2016. The single peaked in the top 10 in Canada and top 20 in the US and UK. It sold over one million copies in the United States being certified platinum. The music video has over 90 million YouTube views to date. In 2018, Starboy won The Weeknd a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album making it his third win. The same artist who has a writing credit on the song also features on backing vocals. Do you know who they are?
Who wrote on Love Yourself?
Canadian singer Justin Bieber released Love Yourself in November 2015 as the third single from his album Purpose. The single became his third chart topper from the album and was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the Grammys. Justin took the album on a 162 date world tour and performed the song during the huge world tour. A Brit musician helped Biebs write the hit song, but do you know who they are?
Who wrote Nothing Compares 2 U?
Nothing Compares 2 U is a single released by Sinead O'Connor in 1990. Taken from her second studio album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, the single became her signature hit. The single topped the charts in over 10 countries including her home country Ireland, US and UK. Its iconic music video won Sinead three MTV Video Music Awards, which were Video of the Year, Best Female Video and Best Post-Modern Video. The worldwide single was written by one artist whose version of the song was released a couple years later as a live version. Who is that artist?
Who wrote on The Light Is Coming?
The Light Is Coming is taken from Ariana Grande's fourth studio album Sweetener which features rap artist Nicki Minaj. Released on June 20th 2018, Ariana had already previewed the track at Wango Tango on June 2, 2018. Taken from the same album, the singles No Tears Left To Cry and God Is A Woman has been a commercial success for Grande. Ariana and Nicki Minaj both have writing credits on the song but who else gave them a helping hand and also produced it?
Who wrote on So Good?
So Good is a single released by Swedish pop star Zara Larsson which features american rapper Ty Dollar $ign on the track. Released in January 2017, the single was named after the album which is her second studio album but her first worldwide release. The album includes other hits such as Never Forget You with MNEK, Lush Life, Ain't My Fault and Symphony with Clean Bandit. Zara does not have a writing credit on the song, but a male pop star does. Do you know?