DAILY DIRT: How much of a song’s success is dependent on the artist?

I just shook my head when I read that Celine Dion might have recorded “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,056 of The Daily Dirt

1. Have you ever wondered about what kind of success some songs may — or may not — have had if another artist than the one you are familiar with had recorded it?

For example, what if Frank Sinatra had recorded “Maggie May” instead of Rod Stewart? Just wouldn’t have been the same, right?

Or how about Dean Martin doing “Satisfaction” instead of the Rolling Stones? I’m sure Dino’s version would have been interesting, but …

OK, I think you get the idea. So with that in mind, did you realize that:

• “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds was originally intended for Billy Idol. (I’m certain Mr. Idol could have put a unique spin on that effort, but the Simple Minds’ version is almost iconic due to its use in the film “The Breakfast Club”.
• “Golden Years” by David Bowie was originally written for Elvis Presley. (Can’t see that one working at all. Bowie was perfect.)
• “Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith was originally designed for Celine Dion. (Nope. No way. Steven Tyler’s take on this song is perfect. Celine would have turned it into a mini-opera.)
• “Call Me” by Blondie was originally supposed to be recorded by Stevie Nicks. (While Nicks definitely had the voice, her best tunes were always of the ballad genre. Debbie Harry and Blondie were a perfect match for this up-tempo chart-topper.)
• Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time” was originally written for TLC. (Actually, that might have worked out quite well.)

2. Did you know (Part 119)

• That starring roles in “Schindler’s List,” “Boogie Nights,” “The Godfather,” “The Graduate,” “Superman,” “Wall Street,” “Misery” and “Kill Bill” were all turned down by Warren Beatty.
• That the lead role in the cult classic “The Warriors” was first offered to Tony Danza before Michael Beck agreed to play “Swan”..
• That Robert DeNiro was the original choice to play Jerry Lee Lewis in the film “Great Balls of Fire”. Dennis Quaid eventually signed up for the role.
• That the Peter Gabriel song “In Your Eyes” was written about actress Rosanna Arquette.
• That the Rick James song “Cold Blooded” was written about actress Linda Blair.

3. The best of this week’s “Found on Facebook”:

• “On this date in music history, Ozzy Osbourne was probably high.”
• “How to politely tell someone they are stupid: ‘Wisdom has been chasing you, but you have always been faster’.”
• “Some of my friends exercise every day, meanwhile I’m watching a show I don’t like because the remote fell on the floor.”
• “Age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying you.”
• “Running feels great, unless you compare it to not running.”

Steve Thought O’ The Day — I just saw a pic of some old brands of Oscar Mayer cold cuts that featured the likes of olive loaf, pickled pimento loaf, old-fashioned loaf and picnic loaf, all from the ’60s and ’70s. How did we eat that stuff, and why did our parents give it to us?!

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. The Breakfast Club sits on the Mount Rushmore of teen movies.