Troy Devolld Fave5 YTunes Shuffle Song Facts

Troy Devolld is a writer, producer, fine arts lover and most interestingly, a vintage TV remote collector.

He wrote the book, "Reality TV" which is considered the bible of writing for reality television. He started on MTV's show "Fear" and eventually worked on "The Osbornes."

These are the songs that tell the story of his life!

BUGGLES "Video Killed The Radio Star"

First video played on MTV. Buggles were unknown in the USA. But this song was an early indicator of how much influence MTV had...and was going to have. Trevor Horn wrote this song after 4 years of producing crap records for even crappier artists. He was so tired of not being successful that he thought,  "If I couldn't find a good artist and a good song, then I'd write it myself and becomme the artist."

EARTH WIND & FIRE "September"

Maurice White got the idea for the song while in a hotel room in Washington DC while there was some sort of protest going on outside. There was screaming and throwing things and this tune just evolved he told "songfacts."

JERRY FIELDING "McMillian and Wife"

McMillian and Wife is a police/crime drama tv show from the 70's with Rock Hudson! Norrie Paramore and his Orchestra released the theme song on Contour Records in 1974, but the label co-credited the theme to five people including composer Jerry Fielding, as well as Luchi De Jesus, (CHiPs) Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Paul Mason (Welcome Back Kotter and Matlock) and Henry Mancini (Pink Panther).

ELAINE STRITCH "I'm Still Here"

Sondheim wrote this song during an out of town tryout for the music "Follies." He decided that another song on the line up (Can That Boy Foxtrot) just wasn't working in the musical. Elain says that an actress has only earned the right to perform the song once they reach 80. otherwise, performing this in your 40s or 50s she wants to know "where have they been?"

SAMMY DAVIS JR "I'm Gonna Build A Mountain"

Served in WWII after being drafted at 18 years old. Was abused by white soldiers from the South and was in fights almost every two days. He was eventually reassigned the the Special Services branch and put on performances for the troops...and even performed in front of soldiers who had previously racially abused him. Later he said "My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man's thinking."

Check out Troy's book "Reality TV" at realitytvbook.com and follow him on Twitter!

Dia Morgan Fave 5 YTunes Shuffle Nuggets

Dia Morgan is a Chicago native, Florida-trained creative person now making her way through the beginning stages of being a pop starin Los Angeles. She has graced many comedy stages before channeling her energy into writing and collaborating in music studios. Here are her Fave5 songs and a few nuggets about each!

Dia Morgan---I Can Make It Rain In Malibu

Dia explains this song in our episode about working in Malibu and doing a rain dance...and eventually it REALLY rains in Malibu. A phenomenon that rarely happens in the California coastal town.

Glee Girls---”Halo/Walking On Sunshine”

This song comes in Season One Episode Six of the hit tv show, Glee. This is the first released mash-up performed on the show and the first time the girls of the group sing together.

Kelly Clarkson—Since You've Been Gone

This was originally written as an indie rock hit. Then when the big chorus was written, the new pop song was offered to Pink who turned it down, then Hilary Duff, who couldn't hit the high notes. Producers had to be convinced Kelly could do it. And she nailed it! Won a Grammy for it!

Mika-Big Girl, You Are Beautiful

This song was written at 2am when Mika was watching a documentary about fat people in the US. He was learning about a place called “The Butterfly Lounge” where only larger women were allowed in. Mika says “the women were amazing and I absolutely felt as if I had to write about them.” He muted the tv and got busy working. This is one of his favorite songs to perform live.

Myylo “I Can't Help But Look”

Myylo is an LGBTQIA+ icon and works in both California and Nashville. He's been in the same writing session with Mike Posner and Baby Face, and is a good friend and confident to our guest, Dia Morgan!

Keep up with Dia and find all her info at diamorgan.com

Martin Gooch YTunes Shuffle Song Nuggets

Martin Gooch is a director, writer, producer and everything behind the camera man. Over 2,000 hours of experience working on projects like Harry Potter, Judge Dredd and the Muppets. Over 20 short films….two of those won BBC Best New Director awards. Plus, he directed Spooks Interactive which won a BAFTA and was nominated for an EMMY!

Here are the songs that Martin brought to the show and a few nuggets about the artsists who sang them!

GOLDEN BROWN by The Stranglers

You hear this in the 2000 Film “Snatch” The band spent years denying this song is about heroin use. It wouldn’t be until 2001 when guitarist/vocalist Hugh Cornwell finally fessed up and said “its about heroin and a girl.” The girl in question is Cornwell’s then girlfriend, a Meditteranean woman.

KISS THEM FOR ME by Siouxsie and the Banshees

This song is a tribute to Jayne Mansfield. The title is the same as a 1957 film the pinup model starred in alongside Carey Grant.

A KIND OF MAGIC by Queen

Roger Taylor wrote this song for the Highlander film; then while he was away on holiday, Freddie Mercury wrote a new bass line, added a few more instruments and changed the order...produced a new mix. Roger Taylor’s version is heard in the movie, and Freddie Mercury’s is heard on the album. Taylor is the only one with the writing credit! 

ELOISE by The Damned

The Damned were the first British Punk band to release a full length disc: “Damned Damned Damned” in 1976

RAMBLINE MAN by Lemon Jelly

This is a duo made up of friends Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen. They came up with the name of their band when Nick came over to Fred’s house and said “It smells like lemon jelly in here.”

More questions about the music or the show? Please contact us at ytunesshuffle@gmail.com!

Calipso Aranda Fave5 YTunes Shuffle Song Nuggets

Meet Calipso Aranda, a model, actress, radio personality and business woman (CEO/founder) of Calipso Cosmetics. She is a Mexican born, yet native English speaker who was bitten by the entertainment bug at the young age of 13 years old. She regularly hosts the Whittier Dias De Los Muertos Festival every year in October.

These are the songs that influence her life...and these the are nuggets behind the artists.

Maggi Mayfield, Calipso Aranada, David Earl Waterman

SELENA “Como La Flor”

This was her cross over smash that got her signed in the US. As of 2015, she has sold over 65 million albums worldwide, making her the best-selling female artist in Latin Music history.

SADE “By Your Side”

Jennie Garth & Peter Facinelli as well as Dave Navarro & Carmen Electra used this as their first dance during their wedding receptions.

NINA SKY “Move Ya Body”

This is an identical twin duo, born in Puerto Rico. Their father was a DJ and as a result, the two were exposed to a lot of music. They wrote their first song, called “Sisters” at age 7. But 10 they decided they would become singers and by 15 they were playing concerts as Djs in clubs. Both have had guitar and drum lessons.

BEEGEES “Stayin' Alive”

The band recorded this album in a French Studio called the Chateau D'Herouville. The group didn't realize until after they finished that many porn films were shot in those studios. The Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack was the best selling soundtrack until “The Bodyguard” was released.

FLEETWOOD MAC “Dreams”

This was the band's only #1 hit in the US. The line “Players only love you when they're playin'” was directed at Lindsey Buckinham because Stevie Nicks (writer) hated “Go Your Own Way,” which was Lindsey's song about her.

Keep up with Calipso Aranda on Facebook, and her cosmetic line on Instagram.

Raquel Pomplun YTunes Shuffle Song Facts

Raquel Pomplun is a model, actress, writer, host and comedian living in Los Angeles. She is the first Mexican American PlayBoy PlayMate of the Year and hosts a radio show on DASH Radio. Her Fave 5 Songs take us through her dual country upbringing, the best summer she's had after a heart break, vision boards and finding her husband.

Maggi Mayfield, Raquel Pomplun, David Earl Waterman

These are her Fave 5 songs and the "Nuggets" behind them!

REDBONE "Come And Get Your Love"
Redbone is a Native American Band from California. When they performed this song live, they would wear traditional Native American garb and introduced it with chanting and dancing.

TIESTO "In The Dark"
Tiesto is a Dutch DJ, named the "Greatest DJ of All Time" by MIX Magazine (a honor voted on by fans!). He performed live at the 2004 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Athens. He was the first DJ to play live on stage at an Olympics.

WISIN & YANDEL "Abusadora"

Wisin y Yandel are the first and only reggaeton artists to win a Grammy. They won in 2009!

DON OMAR "Danza Kuduro"

Don Omar plays the role of Rico Santos in the Fast & Furious series.

SUBLIME "What I Got"

This song is based on at 1986 song called "Loving" by Jamaican dancehall singer Half Pint. When this was released in 1996, Half Point got no credit. But, once the song took off (selling over 5 million copies making it the best selling album in 1997), Half Pint was listed as a co-writer and awarded royalties.

Raquel Pomplun performs stand up comedy all over Los Angeles. Keep up with her on Facebook or on her website and www.officialraquelpomplun.com

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Margo Bateman YTunes Shuffle Song Nuggets

MARGO BATEMAN is a Philadelphia born and raised woman who moved to Los Angeles after both of her parents passed away really young. She tells the story of going to Catholic School, getting her heart broken, and the best road trip adventure...EVER!

Maggi Mayfield, Margo Bateman, David Earl Waterman

These are the Fave5 songs that Margo brought to the show. Loved 'em and want to know more about em? Here are a few nuggets about the artists' and their music.

Changed The Locks---Lucinda Williams

Lucinda was born with a condition called Spina Bifida...some are paralyzed by it. Lucinda finds that its difficult to stand for long periods of time. John Mellencamp and Hank Williams also have the condition.

Her favorite place to write is in the kitchen. Allegedly, if you go to her house, there are decades worth of ideas and notes and lyrics on her kitchen table. SHe says “when you go to someone’s house, you always wind up in the kitchen. That’s where I feel  most comfortable.’ She does her best writing in the morning and makes her tea or coffee and just sits and writes.

Theresa’s Sound World---Sonic Youth

Each member has a solo or side project. In 1985, they created a separate band called Ciccone Youth to glorify their love for Madonna. Ciccone is Madonna’s surname. They released one album, The Whitney Album, but never toured.

The Joker---Steve Miller Band

THis song was written by accident on the hood of his car under the stars at a party just north of San Francisco. He played this little riff, and just out came the chorus, “I’m a joker, im a smoker, I’m a midnight toker.” THen the rest of it was just lines from previous songs, “SOme call me a SPace Cowboy, some call me the gangster of love. Some call me Maurice…and the pompetous of love.” All the titles and lines from other songs he previously wrote.

Party Police---Alvvays

Their first album, self-titled, Alvvays, debuted in 2014 and went number one on the US College Charts. Who knew that was a chart!

Elton John---Philidelphia Freedom

Elton was one of the first white performers on the show “Soul Train” in 1976 and performed this and “Bennie and The Jets” on the show.

YTunes Shuffle Doug Burch's Song Nuggets

Doug Burch is a voice over actor and actor have graced projects like Massacre on Aisle 12, The Grinch, Sing!, and Finding Dory. He was born into a military family, traveling the world at a young age before his parents settled down in Central Texas. Through his music, we learn about ALL of his art, staining glass, theater, and how his kids introduce him to new music.

Here are the songs of his life: 

JANIS JOPLIN---Piece Of My Heart

The Van Morrison producer, Bert Berns wrote this song…and Aretha Franklin’s little sister Erma sang the original. Janis’ is a cover.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN---Elmer Bernstein

This song was selected for the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

DAVE BRUBECK---Take 5

It is called take 5 because it’s time signature is 5/4…as opposed to the usual 4/4 in jazz. Plus, Brubeck used a different time signature for each track.  You hear this in movies like “Mighty Aphrodite”, “Pleasantville” and “Constantine”

MORT SHUMAN---Port of Amsterdam

Mort is most famous for writing “Viva Las Vegas” “A teenager in Love” “This Magic Moment”

PHIL OCHS---When I’m Gone

Phil Ochs is a political and parody songwriter. Bob Dylan once said of him “I just can’t keep up with Phil. And he just keeps getting better and better and better” One time Ochs was criticizing Dylan's song “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window"….Dylan threw Ochs out of his limo and said “You’re not a folksinger. You’re a journalist.”