It’s not as easy to write a hit song as it looks. The truth is, many of our favorite songs by our favorite singer or band were recorded by someone else, and that artist made it a hit. In the music business, we call that a ‘cover.’ Check out these ‘covers’ and you’ll be surprised about the backstory…
“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper was actually written by unknown Robert Hazard in 1979 about a man obsessed with his girlfriends. Cyndi re-wrote the song to fit her needs.
“Betty Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes was originally written and sung by the powerful 60s diva Jackie DeShannon in 1975, six years before Kim made it a hit.
“Don’t Cha” by the Pussycat Dolls was written by Tori Alamaze, an unsuccessful singer who released it the year before, but became a worldwide smash by the Dolls.
“I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts was written and recorded by a group called the Arrows in 1976. Joan recorded the song with another band before forming the Blackhearts a year earlier than her eventual hit.
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