Pop Songs You Didn’t Know Were Written for the Oboe

A list of pop songs you probably didn’t know were written for the oboe.

“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor

“All About That Bass” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor for her 2014 debut EP and her 2014 studio album, Title. The song was co-written by Trainor and Kevin Kadish, and produced by Kadish. The song’s instrumentation uses bass guitar and drum machine. It is an uptempo doo-wop song with minimal R&B influences, having a vintage 1950s production style. Lyrically, it is an ode to large buttocks.

The song became a sleeper hit, reaching number one in 58 countries after premiering in June 2014. The single has been certified six times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 4.5 million copies in the United States as of November 2014. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and remained in the top 10 until January 2015, making it Trainor’s longest running single on the chart at that time. Globally, it was the second best selling single of 2014, behind Pharrell Williams’ “Happy”, selling 14.6 million copies that year alone.

“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran

Did you know that “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran was originally written for the oboe? The song was released in 2017 and quickly became a global hit, reaching number one in several countries. Sheeran has said that he wrote the song with the oboe in mind, but it was ultimately recorded with a different instrument.

“Shape of You” is just one of many pop songs that were written for the oboe. Other examples include “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel, “Boys” by Charli XCX, and “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga.

If you’re a fan of pop music, be sure to keep an ear out for the oboe next time you’re listening to your favorite songs. You might be surprised to learn that some of your favorites were originally written for this unique instrument.

“Havana” by Camila Cabello

“Havana” by Camila Cabello is a pop song that was written for the oboe. The song was originally pitched to Cabello as a ballad, but she decided to turn it into a dance track. The oboe melody is played throughout the song, and the instrument is also featured in the music video.

“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi

“Despacito” was originally written with the oboe in mind, but the song eventually became a global pop sensation without featuring the instrument at all. The original version of the track, which was composed by Luis Fonsi and Erika Ender, included an oboe solo during the bridge. However, when Fonsi began working on the English-language version of the song with Daddy Yankee, they decided to omit the oboe and focus on other instruments instead.

“Attention” by Charlie Puth

Charlie Puth’s “Attention” was originally written for Rihanna, but she turned it down. The song was then given to Puth, who recorded it himself.