- 5 months ago
From pop anthems to chart-topping hits - these familiar tunes have surprising creators! Join us as we reveal the iconic pop songs secretly penned by rock musicians. Ever wondered who really wrote that catchy radio hit? You might be shocked to discover which guitar heroes moonlighted as pop songwriters!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo!
00:09And today, we're counting down our picks for the best pop songs penned by those known for their contributions to rock.
00:15It's hard to imagine anyone but Beyoncé taking on this iconic track, given what she's done with it.
00:37While she's made it her own, she wasn't the one who came up with the concept.
00:41That honor goes to Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic. Primarily known for their smattering of hits throughout the 2000s,
00:47the song came to fruition shortly after he underwent surgery for a previous injury.
00:59Although he was supposed to be recovering from that, he threw his energy into penning Halo, a gorgeous and heartfelt ballad.
01:05After just a few hours, the Ray LaMontagne-inspired piece had been completed, and after a few tweaks done by the singer herself,
01:12it was transformed into the number we all know and love today.
01:16Baby I can see your halo, you know you're my saving grace
01:22Number 9. Crazy Patsy Cline
01:25One of the greatest thrills of my life, I guess, was when one of the greatest entertainers of our time recorded a song of mine.
01:33The lady's name was Patsy Cline, and the song was Crazy.
01:38Considering how much of an icon he is now, it's hard to believe Willie Nelson got his start behind the scenes.
01:45While working as a songwriter for a record label, Nelson penned Crazy, a classic country track inspired by his mental state at the time.
01:53I'm crazy for crying, and crazy for loving you.
01:59It took less than an hour for him to write, and immediately stood out with its use of several different chords.
02:06Eventually, the song found its way to Patsy Cline, who infused it with her own vocal style.
02:11Crazy for feeling so good.
02:21This led to a perfect storm of country and big band elements, creating a truly unique final product.
02:27The single quickly blew up and peaked at number two on the country charts, giving Nelson the push he needed into the mainstream.
02:42Number 8. Feel Good Time
02:43Pink featuring William Orbit
02:45We go where we like, we got overtime, we get paid to rattle our chains
02:50One last second act of generosity changed the trajectory of his song entirely.
02:55Grammy-winning rock musician Beck initially wrote Feel Good Time for himself.
03:00However, when Pink came into the picture and showed interest in recording a cover, he simply handed it over to her.
03:10After removing his original vocal track and guitars, and having the pop star sing over it instead, it was officially used as the main single for the Charlie's Angels full throttle soundtrack.
03:22The song was then included on Pink's subsequent album.
03:25The next association with the track helped it gain a wider audience and critical recognition.
03:30This led to soaring reviews, and even a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.
03:36Number 7. The Best Damn Thing
03:45Avril Lavigne
03:46While rock stars are primarily known for their grittier sound, some have proven that they can excel at brighter, bubblier songs as well.
03:53This is evidenced by tracks like The Best Damn Thing by Avril Lavigne.
03:57It's sillier elements, such as the spelling of her name and the cheerleader-inspired vocals, were all thanks to Butch Walker of South Gang and Marvelous 3 fame.
04:12He had made his name through his contributions to various rock scenes throughout the 80s and 90s before lending his abilities to Lavigne's number.
04:19Give me an A
04:21Always give me what I want
04:23Give me a B
04:24He's very, very good to me
04:26Walker's experience within the glam scene was instrumental, as elements of the genre come through in the final product.
04:32His involvement in both the lyrics and production were invaluable, helping him become a standout on Lavigne's third album.
04:39Me, I'm a scene, I'm a drama thing
04:42I'm the best damn thing that your heart has ever seen
04:45Number 6. Nothing Compares to You
04:50Sinead O'Connor
04:51Although this song was recorded by the original artist who wrote it, it didn't see any recognition until it was picked up by someone new.
04:58Nothing compares to you
05:03Prince, a star who needs no introduction, crafted Nothing Compares to You for his favorite album.
05:08The Family in the 1980s.
05:11When it was first released, it largely went ignored compared to the others on the album.
05:17I said nothing can take away these blues
05:21Less than a decade later, it was covered and transformed by Sinead O'Connor, who helped turn it into a global phenomenon.
05:28She updated the key, giving it an even more emotional tone in the process.
05:33The success inspired Prince to re-release the number, creating several rousing renditions that helped remind the world exactly who penned the masterful ballad.
05:42Nothing compares to you
05:47Number 5. Wake Me Up, Avicii
05:50This has to be one of the most unexpected collaborations in recent history. Avicii was already a household name, but his 2013 single Wake Me Up took his career to even higher heights.
06:01While the production stood out, that isn't the only element that added to its pop perfection. A litany of artists across various genres pitched in to help add to the piece.
06:17The acoustic guitar heard throughout was written and performed by Mike Einziger, the guitarist for Incubus.
06:32He had a hand in creating the progression and melody, two aspects that immediately stood out in the final product.
06:38The combination of different genres helped its success even more, cementing it as one of the most successful and interesting dance songs in recent history.
06:57Some songs are so far removed from one's original genre that it's hard to believe they had any involvement at all.
07:04Sam Endicott, primarily known for his work with post-punk group The Bravery, proved that he excelled at much more than just rock.
07:19He had a huge hand in composing the instrumental for She-Wolf, one of Shakita's most successful singles to date.
07:25Sitting across a bar, staring right at her place It's going well so far, she's gonna get her way
07:32Although Endicott didn't initially create it with Shakira in mind, as soon as she asked, he sent it over without any hesitation.
07:40The singer added her own lyrics to it, and the rest, as they say, is history.
07:44Endicott later gave his seal of approval, praising it for how far it went outside the box compared to other pop music.
07:51There's a she-wolf in your closet Let it out so it can please
07:58Number 3 Get the Party Started, Pink
08:03Get this party started on a Saturday night Everybody's waiting for me to arrive
08:10Some artists are still learning new talents, well into adulthood.
08:14Linda Perry, known as the frontwoman of Four Non-Blondes, has found more recent success writing ditties for young stars.
08:21She's been successful with rock-adjacent hits with songs like What You Waiting For by Gwen Stefani becoming instant classics.
08:28Take a chance cause you might grow
08:35Perry's first pop creation was 2001's Get the Party Started, which emerged after she began experimenting with production tools.
08:42She then did the same with the lyrics, peppering in several popular phrases at the time.
08:47After realizing she'd accidentally created the perfect dance track, Perry offered it to Madonna, who turned it down.
09:07The song eventually found its way to pink, earning her another top 5 single on the Billboard Hot 100.
09:13We'll open up the volume with this brand new beat
09:17Everybody's dancing and they're dancing for me
09:20Number 2 Manic Monday, The Bangles
09:24Sometimes a crush can lead to so much more than a potential relationship
09:28He tells me in his bedroom voice
09:31Come on honey, let's go make some noise
09:35Although it's now primarily associated with the Bangles, Manic Monday was actually written by Prince in 1984 for another group, Apollonia 6.
09:44While it ended up falling through for them, it still saw the light of day just a couple of years later.
09:50The star had been a fan of the Bangles up to that point, and a supposed crush on one of their members led to him offering them the track under a pen name.
10:06The group eagerly accepted, and after putting their own spin on it, it was finally released.
10:11It soon rocketed to the top of the charts, giving the Bangles their first hit single.
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10:39Number 1 Beautiful, Christina Aguilera
10:43Now and then I get insecure from all the pain
10:50Although Linda Perry's previously mentioned work with rock-adjacent stars helped her find her footing in pop,
10:56this track cemented her status with the broader genre.
10:59Her most notable contribution in that field was with Christina Aguilera's heartfelt ballad Beautiful.
11:05Cause you are beautiful, no matter what they say, yeah!
11:11While it was originally written with the intention of being a solo piece for Perry herself,
11:15all it took was hearing Aguilera sing it once to hand it over to her instead.
11:20She was impressed by the star's vulnerability and raw vocals, which are featured on the final version.
11:25It ended up becoming one of her signature hits, securing both her place as one of her generation's best rising stars
11:32and Perry's place as an invaluable contributor to the art form.
11:40Which pop song were you most surprised to learn was crafted by a rock star?
11:43Let us know in the comments below!
11:45She sits there and her friend comes in and the song starts and she looks at her friend and she says,
11:51Don't look at me. And I knew, I got shivers, and I knew this is her song.
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