June 19th 2024.
Back in 2003, a little-known British singer named Rachel Stevens burst onto the music scene with her catchy hit single, Sweet Dreams My LA Ex. It was her very first solo venture and it quickly climbed to number two on the UK Singles Chart. But what many people didn't know was that the song was actually inspired by none other than Justin Timberlake, the famous American singer who was making headlines at the time for his arrest and split from Britney Spears.
The song, written by British singer-songwriter Cathy Dennis, was originally meant for Britney herself. Dennis had been struck by Timberlake's hit single, Cry Me A River, which was rumored to be directed at Britney. In response, she wrote Sweet Dreams My LA Ex from a woman's perspective, scolding a former lover for publicly bashing her after a bitter breakup - a situation that was all too familiar to Britney.
Despite its success, Rachel Stevens was not the intended singer of the song. It was offered to Britney first, but she turned it down. Instead, she released her own song, Mona Lisa, two years later as a surprise announcement during an appearance on Kiss FM. The track was meant to be part of her album Original Doll, but it was never released and was replaced by her comeback album Blackout in 2007.
The split between Britney and Justin was a hot topic in the pop world, with fans speculating about the reasons behind their breakup. Sweet Dreams My LA Ex and Mona Lisa were both seen as responses to each other, with Rachel reclaiming her narrative and Britney taking a jab at Justin in her own song. However, Mona Lisa was eventually released with softened lyrics and has since been largely forgotten by the charts.
It's interesting to note that the lyrics of Mona Lisa were changed from the original demo version, which had darker, more direct references to Britney. Lines like "She was a legend though, it's kind of pitiful that she's gone" and "It's time to let her go, cause she's gone" were softened to be less harsh and confrontational. It's possible that Britney's team wanted to avoid further controversy and keep the peace between her and Justin.
In the end, both Rachel Stevens and Britney Spears found success with their respective songs, even if they were initially intended for each other. Justin Timberlake's role in inspiring these songs may have been unexpected, but it certainly added to the drama and intrigue surrounding the already infamous Britney-Justin split. And as for Rachel Stevens, she can definitely thank Justin for helping her make a splash in the music industry with her breakout hit, Sweet Dreams My LA Ex.
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