Song Rejection Quotes

I must have written 15 lyrics for 'The Lion King,' and only five or six were used. Some were scenes that disappeared, some were earlier versions of songs that didn't work, or else the characters changed.

'Black Skinhead' almost got deaded because it was too much like a soccer song.

For me to create an album of 12 songs, I've got to write about 80 songs. Half of those are totally weird and rubbish. But I get to some really good stuff after a while.

I had written the song 'aaza aaza Shamiyane ke tale... ' for Ghai's film 'Yuvvraj' but he felt the song did not suit his film and Rahman suggested that the track should be used in 'Slumdog' and it fitted well with the movie.

When I put out 'Same Thing In Reverse,' I was told categorically that this will never get played in America.

To create an album of 12 songs, I've got to write about 80 songs. Half of those are totally weird and rubbish.

I'm one of those people that I make a song... then I write another song and then I'm like, 'But this song is so much better than this song,' and then I kind of ditch that song. It's a long process.

I couldn't do "What's Love Got To Do With It", Tina Turner because it wasn't the right tempo; so I scratched it from the record. I wanted to do it about a year ago, but something happened.

I originally passed on 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head' in 1969, so they gave it to B.J. Thomas.

I had this talent for these stupid little teenage songs. I just couldn't get anyone to sing my songs, so I had to sing my own tunes.

It's pretty amazing to write under any circumstances when someone gives you an assignment to write a song, even if it doesn't get accepted. I've written songs a couple of times, some for Disney, that haven't actually ended up in their films, but then you're left with a song forever.

We actually have some pretty good songs. But if they come out too serious, then we have to scrap them.

But also there are all the famous stories about the songs that have been rejected, but then went on to become hits.

There's never been a song that I just wrote and tried to send to an artist.

'Time Rolls On' is my most political piece so far. It's not on my album because people didn't support it.

Some songs are dead easy, and others can be quite challenging. Other times, you just have to put it in the bin.