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Would Kylie’s recent smash hit Padam Padam have been quite as successful if it had been sung by Rita Ora? That’s the question being asked by Ora herself, after admitting she nearly sang it.
The 2023 track, penned by Lostboy, was initially considered for Rita Ora before it ultimately became Kylie Minogue's much-lauded comeback hit. Despite this, the 34-year-old singer has expressed no ill will about not recording the song.
Speaking to the Daily Star, the British singer revealed that there were no hard feelings that the Australian pop icon ended up performing the song instead: “I've always grown up with this saying, 'What's for you won't pass you'. And that's always how I've lived my life. And it's Kylie Minogue - she's the queen of the world, in my opinion. So, of course, Kylie's going to get it and kill it and do a great job.
“And in the pop industry, that happens every day to a lot of big artists - you just don't know about it."
But Rita Ora isn’t the only musician who either turned down, or was passed over, a song that went on to become a smash hit for another pop culture icon. Check out 13 of the near hits that could have occurred if the butterfly effect had been different.
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5. Happy (Pharrell Williams)
This global phenomenon was first offered to CeeLo Green, who even recorded a version. However, CeeLo's label wanted him to focus on a Christmas album, so Pharrell kept it for himself. Happy became one of the best-selling singles of all time, topping charts worldwide. It spent 10 weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and was a number 1 hit in the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and countless other nations. | Getty Images
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6. Irreplaceable (Beyoncé)
Co-written by Ne-Yo, this powerful ballad was initially envisioned as a country song, potentially for an artist like Shania Twain. Beyoncé's team got hold of the demo, and she made it her own. Irreplaceable became a huge success for Beyoncé, her fourth US Billboard Hot 100 number 1, spending 10 consecutive weeks at the top. It also topped the charts in Australia, Hungary, Ireland, and New Zealand, and reached the top 10 in many other countries. | Getty Images
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7. Love Yourself (Justin Bieber)
This stripped-down hit was co-written by Ed Sheeran, who considered putting it on his own album. However, he felt it didn't fit his sound at the time and offered it to Justin Bieber. Love Yourself became a global chart-topper for Justin Bieber, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, and topping the charts in the UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, among others. | Getty Images
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8. Pretty Hurts (Beyoncé)
Written by Sia, this emotional ballad was initially offered to Katy Perry. When Perry's team didn't respond, Sia then sent it to Rihanna and Beyoncé. Beyoncé ultimately recorded it. While not as massive a chart hit as some of Beyoncé's other singles, Pretty Hurts peaked at number 1 on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart and reached number 63 on the UK Singles Chart, demonstrating its impact within specific music scenes. | Getty Images