Rihanna's 'Umbrella' was meant for Britney Spears, but She Turned it Down, Y'all!

August 29, 2007

Britney, Britney, Britney! Just when you thought you couldn't possibly think less of Britney Spears' judgment skills comes word that she turned down the chance to record the biggest song of the year, "Umbrella."

The track, which shot Rihanna straight to No. 1 and stayed there for a staggering 10 weeks, was originally earmarked for Spears, who, as always, completely dropped the ball. Music producer Tricky Stewart, who wrote the track, told singer-songwriter Taio Cruz that the troubled pop tart was his first choice for the song.

"I was working with Tricky in his studio the day he finished 'Umbrella.' As soon as I heard it I said, 'That is a smash, I have to have it,' but he told me it was on hold for Britney," Cruz says, the Daily Star reports. "I told him I didn't think Britney would be able to sing it – she hasn't got the right accent – but he said he was keeping it for her anyway. He waited but Britney's people never called him back."

Soon after, Tricky had a session with Rihanna, who snapped up the track, leaving Spears to wallow in her white trash squalor.

But it seems the world will finally be hearing what exactly Spears did choose for her comeback album as early as next week, according to Entertainment Weekly. The magazine says previously leaked tracks that showed upon perezhilton.com and youtube.com were fakes and the real first single is an up-tempo club banger called "Gimmie More."

"People are going to love [the new single],'' a source told EW. ''It's like when Justin came back [with FutureSex/LoveSounds] — she's got a whole new sound. She's funky.''

Call us crazy, but we're still skeptical.