Britney Spears‘ debut hit  …Baby One More Time and its iconic video has become synonymous with the record-breaking artist – but the track was nearly recorded by two other legendary groups.

The 1998 single, released by a then 16-year-Spears – who will release tell-all memoir The Woman In Me on October 24 – and written by Max Martin, shot the star to fame, topped the charts for 32 weeks, in 22 countries and became one of the best-selling songs in history with more than 10 million copies sold.

But the track only fell into then aspiring popstar Spears’ lap when TLC and The Backstreet Boys failed to bite on the track.

The track – originally called Hit Me Baby One More Time – was initially intended for Martin’s longtime collaborators BSB, who he had already written Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) for.

However, they declined the song before TLC were offered the chance to record the track.

Wow: Britney Spears’ debut hit …Baby One More Time and its iconic video has become synonymous with the record-breaking artist – but the track was nearly recorded by two other legendary groups

T-Boz said back in 2013 of the decision to turn down the song: ‘I was like, I like the song but do I think it’s a hit? Do I think it’s TLC? I’m not saying “hit me baby.” No disrespect to Britney. It’s good for her. But was I going to say “hit me baby one more time’? Hell no!”

‘That’s not even my subject of conversation, so you know, it worked for her, I’m happy for her, I like Britney.

‘Every song isn’t good for each artist, and when you’re a real artist you know what you believe in and what you really want to sing. So, I’m clear that it was a hit, but I’m also clear that it wasn’t for TLC.’

Simon Cowell has also revealed he wanted his British band 5ive to record the song calling Martin and attempting to bribe the hitmaker with a Mercedes-Benz.

He told the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast last year: ‘The guy plays it down the phone to me, this song Hit Me Baby One More Time’ I’m like, “My God, I’ve got to have this song.”‘

‘So I phoned up Max, and I said, “Max. Please, please give me this song.” And he went, “No, I’ve promised it to someone else.” And I said, “Well, I’ll send you a Mercedes – literally a Mercedes 500 SL if I can have this song.”‘

Martin declined to offer the song to Cowell and told Cowell a brand new artist was due to record the song, with Cowell recounting: ‘I went, “Who?” And he went, “Britney Spears.” I went, “Max, let me give you some advice. No one is going to have a hit with a name called Britney Spears.”‘

Cowell was left eating his words shortly afterwards when Spears skyrocketed to fame and became one of the best-selling artists of all time – even landing a judging spot on his show, The X Factor USA years later.

I (Don’t) Want It That Way: The track – originally called Hit Me Baby One More Time – was initially intended for Martin’s longtime collaborators Backstreet Boys  – but they said no (pictured 1999)

No (scrubs): TLC were offered the chance to record the track but decided it wasn’t appropriate for them as a group (pictured 1995)

Not for them: Simon Cowell has also revealed he wanted his British band 5ive to record the song calling Martin and attempting to bribe the hitmaker with a Mercedes-Benz

Lol: Martin declined to offer the song to Cowell with Cowell recounting: ‘ I went, “Who?” And he went, “Britney Spears.” I went, “Max, let me give you some advice. No one is going to have a hit with a name called Britney Spears.”‘(seen with Spears in 2012 on The X Factor USA)

Britney Spears shows off gorgeous dress that she made herself

The concept for the iconic music video was Spears’ idea. She shopped her entire midriff-baring school-girl outfit from K-Mart.

By locking eyes with the camera while she danced through the hallways of a high school, while striking every move with expert precision, Spears won the hearts of millennial pre-teen girls everywhere.

Her debut album, also named …Baby One More Time, was released in January 1999 and sold 25 million copies, while spawning the hit singles Sometimes, You Drive Me Crazy and Born To Make You Happy. It is the best-selling debut album by any artist.