Saturday, November 3 2007, 10:37 GMT

By Beth Hilton
Blige: 'Umbrella' was meant for me

Mary J Blige has claimed that Rihanna's hit single 'Umbrella' was meant for her.

The song stayed at the top of the UK charts for ten consecutive weeks earlier this year, making it the longest-running number one single of the decade.

But Blige said the track was initially offered to her, telling MTV: "They did the song for me. And it was during the Grammy time and I was really, really busy, and I heard it. I was like: 'Oh my goodness, that's a smash. I love this song.' And it was like: 'It's yours'. So in the midst of it being mine, they were probably telling Rihanna it was hers."

But she insisted that she feels no bitterness about missing out on the single, saying: "[Rihanna] is such a beautiful lady, and I love her to death. I was so glad that she caught it and knocked it out of the park, and it's still one of my favourite songs to date."

It was reported in August that 'Umbrella' was originally written for Britney Spears.

Last month Blige claimed that Gone with the wind was given to Vivien Leigh because she wasn't yet available, and that she should have had I wanna hold your hand, in 1964, but, John Lennon had more "pull" with record producers, than a singer who hadnt been born yet. :rolleyes:

I love Mary, but let Rihanna have her time in the spotlight. Rihanna has had a good run of hit songs that appeal as much to pop fans as they do r&b fans (which is a nice ingredient that a lot of r&b producers don't want, the ability to appeal to people who don't like rap as much as it appeals to people that are hardcore into hip hop culture), but I think she won't be anything more than Ashanti in the long run, she'll run her course. Mary's already been here for 15 years and won't be going away anytime soon while I doubt Rihanna will be doing much in five years time

How about writing your own songs. :p

How about writing your own songs. :p
I am surprised as a Mariah fan, you're not a Mary fan also? Mariah has been trying like hell to be Mary J. ever since Butterfly IMO.

LMAO!

I love Mary, but let Rihanna have her time in the spotlight. Rihanna has had a good run of hit songs that appeal as much to pop fans as they do r&b fans (which is a nice ingredient that a lot of r&b producers don't want, the ability to appeal to people who don't like rap as much as it appeals to people that are hardcore into hip hop culture), but I think she won't be anything more than Ashanti in the long run, she'll run her course. Mary's already been here for 15 years and won't be going away anytime soon while I doubt Rihanna will be doing much in five years time

well, for starters dean, rihanna is a much better singer than ashanti- no offence to her or her fans and she has the better songs. ashanti was like a one-hit wonder and after that she dissapeared from the music scene altogether. secondly, to compare rihanna to someone as good as mary j blige is a bit far fetched. she has only been in the music business for a short while, whilst mary is arguably the queen of r'n'b and more experienced. as for rihanna's longevity, it depends how long she can sustain a successful career but if she keeps releasing and producing songs that cater not just for people who love r'n'b but pop especially, then she'd be doing a huge favour to herself and her fans, in regards to her career.

well, for starters dean, rihanna is a much better singer than ashanti- no offence to her or her fans and she has the better songs. ashanti was like a one-hit wonder and after that she dissapeared from the music scene altogether. secondly, to compare rihanna to someone as good as mary j blige is a bit far fetched. she has only been in the music business for a short while, whilst mary is arguably the queen of r'n'b and more experienced. as for rihanna's longevity, it depends how long she can sustain a successful career but if she keeps releasing and producing songs that cater not just for people who love r'n'b but pop especially, then she'd be doing a huge favour to herself and her fans, in regards to her career.
no offense, but I think you're getting a little defensive. I compile a personal top 30 list every week, and Rihanna has had five songs that made my #1 (SOS, Unfaithful, Umbrella, Shut Up and Drive and Don't Stop The Music). I am eight years older than her but still bought Good Girl Gone Bad on the day of release. There are a lot of r&b females out there I think suck and are unmemorable that you can defend to me about, but telling me that Rihanna sings good pop songs is preaching to the choir, and preaching to the choir is something that I hate. However, I have followed music for over 20 years and know that types like Rihanna come and go after so long, I think she's good for having a string of hit songs but know in the long run she won't be anything more than Ashanti, SWV or other female r&b acts who had a really big year or two and faded from view. It doesn't make her bad, it's just what I think. I mean, Taylor Dayne for instance was a flash in the pan who had a number of good hits but once they ended, her number was up. I still like those songs, but can accept what she was. Rihanna has her share of good songs, but she lacks the star power that will carry her past a few years after the initial string of hits wears thin. Beyonce has star power for instance, Ashanti didn't. Beyonce's still here, Ashanti's a hasbeen.

Ashanti was NOT a one hit wonder, she had a string of six or seven top 10 hits in her day, 2002-2003. Offhand I can think of Foolish, Happy, Always On Time, Baby, Rock With You and one or two others. She was not a one hit wonder, she just didn't have what it took to be a long-lasting star.

Has mary released anything new recently?? When people mouth off like that you tend not to believe them and they just seem jealous.:)

Last month Blige claimed that Gone with the wind was given to Vivien Leigh because she wasn't yet available, and that she should have had I wanna hold your hand, in 1964, but, John Lennon had more "pull" with record producers, than a singer who hadnt been born yet. :rolleyes:
OUCH. :lol:

Has mary released anything new recently??
lol, check out my signature sometime before asking that. Her new cd "Growing Pains" will be out next month.

lol, check out my signature sometime before asking that. Her new cd "Growing Pains" will be out next month.

Well she has never been very popular here in the uk.
I like some of her old stuff though. :)

no offense, but I think you're getting a little defensive. I compile a personal top 30 list every week, and Rihanna has had five songs that made my #1 (SOS, Unfaithful, Umbrella, Shut Up and Drive and Don't Stop The Music). I am eight years older than her but still bought Good Girl Gone Bad on the day of release. There are a lot of r&b females out there I think suck and are unmemorable that you can defend to me about, but telling me that Rihanna sings good pop songs is preaching to the choir, and preaching to the choir is something that I hate. However, I have followed music for over 20 years and know that types like Rihanna come and go after so long, I think she's good for having a string of hit songs but know in the long run she won't be anything more than Ashanti, SWV or other female r&b acts who had a really big year or two and faded from view. It doesn't make her bad, it's just what I think. I mean, Taylor Dayne for instance was a flash in the pan who had a number of good hits but once they ended, her number was up. I still like those songs, but can accept what she was. Rihanna has her share of good songs, but she lacks the star power that will carry her past a few years after the initial string of hits wears thin. Beyonce has star power for instance, Ashanti didn't. Beyonce's still here, Ashanti's a hasbeen.

Ashanti was NOT a one hit wonder, she had a string of six or seven top 10 hits in her day, 2002-2003. Offhand I can think of Foolish, Happy, Always On Time, Baby, Rock With You and one or two others. She was not a one hit wonder, she just didn't have what it took to be a long-lasting star.

oh okay, my mistake dean!:lol: i wouldn't count 'always on time' though as that was credited as a ja-rule track that featured ashanti. if i am correct, it was originally released as ja-rule's single, not ashanti's. rock with you was okay though but i wasn't keen on her other songs. as for beyonce, yes she has star power but that's mainly through her association with destiny's child. she was the leader of that group but she also has a quality that makes her easily accessible to pop fans as well. beyonce's cool though and she has done well for herself as a solo artist

Yeah, well, Rihana probably did it better than you, mofo.

I am surprised as a Mariah fan, you're not a Mary fan also? Mariah has been trying like hell to be Mary J. ever since Butterfly IMO.

Oh don't get me wrong I love Mary J. Blige. Im just sayin that if people would write their own songs they wouldn't have this problem.

Yeah, well, Rihana probably did it better than you, mofo.

:lol: