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May 23, 2025 33 mins

In this episode, Marty and Al dive into the fascinating world of famous songs that were initially turned down by well-known artists, revealing surprising backstories behind hits from Kylie Minogue, John Denver, Aerosmith, and Tina Turner. They explore quirky celebrity pseudonyms, bizarre historical coincidences, and fun facts about the British royal family. The duo also shares a hilarious personal anecdote about a musical bike performance at the 1988 Brisbane Expo. Tune in for a mix of music trivia, royal insights, and laugh-out-loud moments.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Banter

01:09 The One That Got Away: Iconic Songs Rejected by Artists

02:36 Unexpected Song Origins and Artist Stories

08:31 Celebrity Hotel Aliases

10:42 Crazy Coincidences in History

15:44 Random Facts and Trivia

16:54 Reflecting on Elvis and Austin Powers

17:32 The Story of the Traveling Wilburys

19:08 Fast Facts About Royalty

22:58 Bicycle Fun Facts and History

26:47 The Mobile Piano Player at Expo 88

33:11 Wrapping Up with Final Thoughts

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: funfactsandsidetracks@gmail.com or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.


The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

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