Big in Canada

Before Drake, Swollen Members were the benchmark for commercially successful hip-hop in Canada. Combining hardcore and halloween aesthetics with hip-hop, they won JUNO Awards, MMVAs and were constantly on MuchMusic. But was CanCon ready for rap to be pop? Will it ever be?Also discussed: Canadian Idol vs. BSS, cool words, extreme sports, being Ringo, getting into hip-hop, rapping at parties, Madchild and Prevail being fated, Bad Dreams, Nelly Furtado and much more.

Last week Big in Canada went viral. Well, relatively speaking. In this episode, your hosts react to the reactions from Instagram users about Mac's theory on three word band names and, for all of our new listeners, we lay out the official rules of Three Strong Words. 

soulDecision is probably the most successful Canadian boy band of all-time. Which is somehow not the greatest musical achievement of the band's lead singer Trevor Guthrie. This bland man has it all figured out. Good for him! But also, what the hell is going on? Also discussed: capitalization, the power of sports, 5 people 1 guitar!, Big Shiny Tunes (The Yellow Album), CanCon charity concerts and compilations, marketing, the same old story, songs concerning consent, pop bands and much more.

Billy Hamilton, the bassist and band archivist for Silverstein, dives into Burlington's vibrant hardcore scene during the 2000s. He shares compelling stories of local bands and their influences, revealing how Silverstein navigated the complexities of Canadian content regulations. Hamilton discusses his archival work, capturing the history of the scene on platforms like TikTok. He also recalls surreal experiences touring with stars like Avril Lavigne, while analyzing Burlington's unique music ecosystem and its legacy in the Canadian music industry.

In a surprise and live off the floor episode, Mac and Laura recap all the great CanCon moments of the World Series: Drake. Rufus. Geddy. JP. The cast of Schitt's Creek. National anthem thirstiness and more much.Then, Mac goes over his experience of DJing a wedding while Game 7 unfolded.

Skye Sweetnam crashed onto YTV and the Family Channel under the shadow of Avril, but from the jump, she knew she was no Avril-lite. Through sheer force of will, Skye managed to escape CanCon pop punk princess purgatory and sever into something else entirely.Also discussed: the Big Shiny Tunes 2 controversy, Katy Perry (somehow unrelated to her new boyfriend), the hair salon to major label pipeline, Sumo Cyco, and more.

And the winner is...For this two-part bonus episode of Big in Canada, Mac and Laura listened to over 100 shiny major label CanRock tunes and determined once and for all what the best Big Shiny Tunes compilation is based solely on their Canadian content.Also discussed: the history and legacy of the Big Shiny Tunes franchise, the evolution of the Canadian rock sound, the notable absence of women, who listens to The Tea Party, and much more.

As Rocktober rolls on, another list is born! For this two-part bonus episode of Big in Canada, Mac and Laura listened to over 100 shiny major label CanRock tunes and determined once and for all what the best Big Shiny Tunes compilation is based solely on their Canadian content. Also discussed: the history and legacy of the Big Shiny Tunes franchise, the evolution of the Canadian rock sound, the notable absence of women, who listens to The Tea Party, and much more.

Welcome to Rocktober!They were a Boston-based rock band, until fate intervened.Big Wreck wanted to conquer America, because, well, most of the members were American. But Canada had different plans for Ian Thornley and co. Trapped in Canada after a failed border crossing, the band's not-quite grunge classic rock worship got picked up by Canadian rock radio and the rest is....Nickelback? Also discussed: Thornley, Lilith Fair draft, Dragonette rumours and gossip, Deryck Whibley is...a Jonas brother??, more Nickelback, Berklee College of Music, Big Wreck's long tail and more.

Countless choirs across the country, and across generations, have sung "O Siem" thanks to its uplifting message of oneness. But when Susan Aglukark began recording music, the thought of anyone even hearing her songs seemed improbable if not impossible. We look at how Susan Aglukark became the first Inuk artist to have a top 10 hit in Canada and the unsettling tension underlying her early recordings.Also discussed: Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, songs that insist you have a good time, accidentally becoming a pop star, country music, how phones ruined everything, and much more.