London, Sept 08: Singing sensation Rihanna nearly missed out on the opportunity to record her summer smash hit "Umbrella" as it was originally intended for Mary J Blige or Britney Spears.

Tricky Stewart, the producer behind the track, told a magazine that the song was composed with Britney in mind, but she declined as the singer had already filled her latest album, reports contactmusic.com.

The song was then sent to Mary J Blige and the head of Rihanna`s Island Def Jam label.

"In a two-day period, we were in the bidding war of our lives," Stewart told the music magazine.

Rihanna won the battle as Blige was busy with the Grammy Awards.

Meanwhile, the "Please Don`t Stop The Music" singer recently designed her own range of umbrellas in collaboration with Tote.

The Barbados-born singer unveiled the collection at Macy`s Herald Square store in New York.

IANS