Calvin Harris explains why he ditched Leona Lewis for Rihanna on Number One hit 'We Found Love'
Superstar DJ says no-one else could have made the hit a success
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Calvin Harris has defended recording his Number One hit 'We Found Love' with Rihanna despite originally teaming up with former X Factor winner Leona Lewis on the hit.
The superstar DJ took to Twitter to clarify to a follower his reasons for ditching Lewis' version in favour of Riri's, writing:
As previously reported on NME, Lewis revealed that she recorded 'We Found Love' before Rihanna, and said her version is better.
The X Factor winner provided vocals to the Calvin Harris produced track first, but the song was later given to Rihanna after Lewis wanted to release a different track as the lead single off her third album.
She said: "I worked with Calvin and we recorded 'We Found Love'. But he went touring with Rihanna and she ended up releasing it. I didn't commit to it because I wanted 'Trouble' to be my first single so I think that was another reason they went with Rihanna. It was the same version and production but mine's better.”
Rihanna's 'We Found Love' became a Number One hit in 25 countries and is one of the biggest selling singles of all time, shifting a whopping 10.5million copies, but Lewis thinks it might not have been so successful had her version been released instead.
"There are so many songs I've recorded, only to hear other people singing them," she said.
"It happens all the time. It was a bit annoying to see how big a hit it was around the world but if I'd released it maybe it wouldn't have done as well."
The superstar DJ took to Twitter to clarify to a follower his reasons for ditching Lewis' version in favour of Riri's, writing:
Wouldn't have been a hit if anyone else had sung it tho https://t.co/WXir05vjBx
— Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) April 20, 2015As previously reported on NME, Lewis revealed that she recorded 'We Found Love' before Rihanna, and said her version is better.
The X Factor winner provided vocals to the Calvin Harris produced track first, but the song was later given to Rihanna after Lewis wanted to release a different track as the lead single off her third album.She said: "I worked with Calvin and we recorded 'We Found Love'. But he went touring with Rihanna and she ended up releasing it. I didn't commit to it because I wanted 'Trouble' to be my first single so I think that was another reason they went with Rihanna. It was the same version and production but mine's better.”
Rihanna's 'We Found Love' became a Number One hit in 25 countries and is one of the biggest selling singles of all time, shifting a whopping 10.5million copies, but Lewis thinks it might not have been so successful had her version been released instead.
"There are so many songs I've recorded, only to hear other people singing them," she said.
"It happens all the time. It was a bit annoying to see how big a hit it was around the world but if I'd released it maybe it wouldn't have done as well."
