7 K-pop Songs Originally Produced for Other Artists
Picture this: Red Velvet singing Chewing Gum by NCT Dream while on hoverboards. Crazy, right? Did you know that song was written with them in mind? There’s an entire discography of songs that could’ve ended up in different hands, and we’re here to give you the inside scoop!
Press Your Number by Taemin
“Press Your Number” was initially written and recorded by American artist Bruno Mars under “Press It.” He had written it years before SM Entertainment bought the rights, and even though Taemin had yet to work with the artist himself, he was thankful.
Appearing as a guest on MBC FM4U’s “2 O’Clock Date With Park Kyung Lim,” he stated, “Bruno Mars is an artist I like very much…it was an honor.”
Watch Bruno Mar’s version of “Press Your Number” below:
Dwlwrma by IU
Talented singer-songwriter IU wrote this cheerful tune to gift it to the K-pop girl group Oh My Girl.
Initially feeling it might not align with her style, she had a change of heart, realizing it was a chance to explore a brighter tune she hadn’t tried before.
Fast forward to 2021, on an episode of Weekly Idol, Oh My Girl ended up singing a cover of the song, and it’s everything we could have dreamed of and more! Watch the full video below:
Ko Ko Bop by EXO
As one of EXO’s most iconic title tracks, producer Styalz Fuego confirmed the song was written with Red Velvet in mind, and it was three notes higher than the current bop we all know and love.
While there’s no existing demo of Red Velvet singing the song, thanks to AI, we can now hear what it’d be like if they did sing it! Watch it below:
More and More by Twice
Did you know Swedish powerhouse Zara Larsson had plans to release this song on her second album, “So Good?”
Originally titled “Back and Forth,” she decided not to include it in her album, so she sold it to JYP Entertainment who changed the lyrics to fit TWICE’s style.
It wasn’t a complete loss because the song found a new home with TWICE, and when Larsson found out the K-pop girl group would be singing her music, she headed to Twitter to tweet all about it!
I’m sooo proud to be a part of @JYPETWICE lead single more & more. And that’s on what? That’s on the song being a SMASH!!!!!
— Zara Larsson (@zaralarsson) May 18, 2020
Like Larsson, this song is sure to leave you singing, “I wanna have more more more.” Watch her gush all about it below:
Your Eyes Tell by BTS
Meant for his debut album, Jungkook is the genius behind “Your Eyes Tell.”
As the first foreign artist to compose an OST for a Japanese movie of the same name, BitHit Entertainment decided the song was better suited for BTS.
Thankfully, we never have to wonder what it would have been like for Jungkook to sing this song because he just so happens to be a part of BTS.
Electric Hearts by WayV
Fans have said that WayV is the lovechild of SHINee and EXO. That’s why it’s no wonder this song is so SHINee-coded.
shawols which song isn’t a shinee song but FEELS like one?
— elsa🌸 (@jjongsmoon_) November 12, 2020
it’s wayv’s electric hearts for me
Initially meant for them back in 2016, they even recorded Electric Hearts, but under a different name.
And even though it never saw the light of day until 2016, you can’t help but wonder what it would have been like if this electrifying beat found its way into their discography.
Love Dive by IVE
This track was designed with the enchanting Sunmi in mind. But she decided it wasn’t destined for her, but a group instead.
Passing it on, it ended up in the lap of then rookie group, IVE. There, it solidified IVE's future in K-pop.
Watch Sunmi sing a snippet of Love Dive below:
Conclusion
Isn't it wild how a song, originally meant for one artist, ends up hitting just the right notes with someone unexpected? The music world is this cool mix of amazing 'what-ifs' and connections you'd never imagine, and it proves just how endless the possibilities truly are.
Now that you’ve caught a glimpse of the ‘what-ifs’, are you ready to discover the next hidden gem?
Check out these 7 underrated Stray Kids songs that’ll make you ‘Stay’ for more!
What popular K-pop song was sampled from another song?
IVE’s song “After Like” was sampled from Gloria Gaynor’s iconic song “I Will Survive.”
Which K-pop song was inspired by Girls’ Generation’s “I Got A Boy?”
Following their work on “I Got A Boy,” Swedish producers Caesar and Loui created “Zimzalabim” as a follow-up single for Girls’ Generation. However, the song was shelved until 2019 and then given to Red Velvet.
What was the first K-pop song in history?
In 1992, Seo Taiji and Boys performed their song “I Know” for the first time on MBC, paving the way for K-pop to emerge.
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