Big in Canada

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.

You've heard it. On the radio, in the club, the gym, the mall and in commercials. It is ubiquitous. And yet, who the hell are Dragonette? We trace the many sounds of Martina Sorbara and her band/moniker to try and figure out when CanCon became the realm of anonymous, uncontroversial mega successes.Also discussed: The Big in Canada Movement, "indie sleaze", late stage-Myspace Music, "music for tampon commercials", Girls, Gossip Girl, fake bands, DJ x Pop Singer CanCon collabs, being the CanCon version of other CanCon artists and much more.

On Big in Canada’s first trip out East, Laura and Mac discuss bad boy fiddler, Ashley MacIsaac. Blending traditional fiddle music with alt-rock and a punk attitude, Ashley MacIsaac was plucked from Cape Breton and found mainstream success with his surprising smash hit “Sleepy Maggie”. But as the age-old story goes, this too-fast-fame took its toll. After all, he just wants to be known as “Ashley MacIsaac, from Cape Breton, playing the fiddle.”Also discussed: the newly rebranded Great Big in Canada Concert Experience, Canadian rock operas, Jully Black on the Amazing Race Canada, the “poisoned” Canadian music atmosphere, indexes, and much more.

In America, Snow was a novelty. "Informer" was considered a one-hit wonder and a joke that everyone seemed to really like. But around the world, Snow continued to pump out hits post-"Informer" and he finally made his way back to the Canadian charts with the poppy patois of "Everybody Wants to Be Like You." Given all this, we had to talk about the Super Notorious Outrageous Whiteboy aka the Snowman aka Daddy Snow aka Darrin O'Brien aka Snow.Also discussed: the Jully Blackout, Laura's interview with Sarah McLachlan, the latest on The Great Big in Canada Singalong, woah woahs, the end of the Family Channel, being Big in Jamaica and Japan, "Imposter" and much more.

Jully Black is a foundational figure in Canadian R&B, a mainstay on your television, an incredible singer, the winner of Big in Canada’s Young Artists for Haiti RANKED Special, and the list goes on and on. Even if you can’t name a single Jully Black song, you know who Jully Black is.Also discussed: the Power of Music, the intellectual launch of the Great Big in Canada Singalong, Artists for Feel Out Loud, Snow Job (again!), the (bad) vibes, and much more. Note: This episode contains mention of suicide.