Big in Canada

Is this quintessential CanCon summer song bad? Or are we suffering from an extreme case of Patio Lanterns Exhaustion? We trace Kim Mitchell's journey from his days in Max Webster to the zenith of Canadian musical fame: beating Bryan Adams for album of the year at the Juno's. Look what you made him do, Kim.Also discussed: our Patreon (click here to subscribe wooo), being good enough, becoming the circuit, having a lyric writer, Sarnia, M.A.D.D., that hat and much more.

May 10th! Live Show! Tickets here!⁠John Batt, the man behind the Instagram account @canada.gov.ca, has lived in Quebec for years, but the Atlantic Ocean is never far from his Maritimer heart. This week, John gets alllllllllll fired up with Mac and Laura to talk about The Rankin Family, what they mean to the Maritimes, family bands, regional differences and much more.

As the 00s drew to a close and all meaning was lost to an endless sea of vibe and aesthetics, one final Avril-lite managed to break through to tween Bluenotes shoppers around the country.We look at Shiloh's ska-infused "Operator", which made her one of the final almost-stars of the MuchMusic-era, only for the rug to be pulled out from under her ascendant Canadian fame. Also discussed: phones, post-iPhone anxiety, Maestro lately, stickers, campus-core, Toronto suburb hierarchy update, our own personal JUNOs controversy, Bryan Adams' Canadian tour, Angine de Poitrine and more.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR FULL EPISODEFor this month's bonus episode we are diving into the Canadian songs on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart for the week of February 28th, 2026. Find out what's changed since 2004 (not much), what's good (not much), what's bad (most!) and what it all means.Also discussed: our impending live show in Toronto, the difference between Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock and (very briefly) politics (yuck!).Listen to this episode's playlist via Spotify here and via Apple Music here.Tickets to our out live show at Departure Festival.

LIVE SHOW SHOW TICKETS! MAY 10 AT BURDOCK MUSIC HALL!On a cold February day in 1985, some of Canada's biggest music stars answered the vehement pleas of manager Bruce Allen and gathered in a Toronto studio to record the charity single, "Tears Are Not Enough". As the fate of Ethiopia rests on the shoulders of producer David Foster, the studio's air is thick with cigarette smoke and the uncomfortable energy of a workplace Christmas party. But egos are being checked at the door. In this special episode of Big in Canada, we rank the performances of all of the soloists heard on Northern Lights' "Tears are Not Enough". Who comes out on top? Who's a little flat? And who shows up in a white limo?Also discussed: The Tears Are Not Enough documentary, kissing fans on the lips, Waiting for Guffman, Neil Young's steez, and much more.

As the first Canadian rapper to break into the mainstream, Maestro Fresh Wes broke down barriers and changed the Canadian music industry. From his platinum selling debut smash Symphony in Effect to a more recent release that can only be described as the most CanCon album of all-time, Maestro stuck to his vision to become the Godfather of Canadian Rap. Also discussed: Trate McRae, the ukification of Canada, Halifax potholes, Big Milk, Drake, rap in Canada, and more. 

SIGN UP FOR OUR PATREON, THAT'S WHAT I KNOWPopular music in the 1980s was defined by the Video Star: Madonna, Michael Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Prince. But in Canada, it was Lawrence "Larry" Gowan, whose music videos, hair and musical prowess captured the imagination of a nation who needed their own version of these icons. Gowan is now known as one of the key members of Styx, but his story also finds him crossing paths with the Beatles, Yes, Ronnie Hawkins, Kim Mitchell and a man named Tickle. Also discussed: Scarborough, prog pasts, The Weeknd, Queen Street West, drama, keyboard rigs, criminal minds, music videos and much more.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON!Born unto a family of musicians, it was predestined that Halifax singer-songwriter, actor, and educator Melanie Doane would join the family business. Fitting in perfectly with the folk-rock sound of "women's music", Melanie released two good records, one really great song, played Lilith Fair, and was crowned the Best New Solo Artist at the 1999 JUNOs. But was her heart ever really in it? Also discussed: Tate ‘The Traitor’ McRae and other CanCon betrayals, other Frosh-Week Core bands, The October Game and Sarah McLachlan, MuchMoreMusic, the ukification of Canada, the Doane Music School, and more.

HEY! EVERYBODY! SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON!We're going to Mac's memory palace to discuss the brief but potent popularity of Mississauga reggae-rock-ska-punk band illScarlett. Hit the bong and find out how Canada's Sublime became a brief major label success story.Also discussed: big to you bands, street signs, theft, Warped Tour afterparties, Supernova, Brad Rubens: Philadelphia lawyer, the One-A video shoot, rerecording your songs over and over, being let down by bands, becoming an influencer and more.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR THE FULL EPSIODE We breakdown the various performances from 2010 Vancouver Olympics closing ceremony and then give our instant reactions to the 2026 JUNO nominations. Who are these awards for? What are sales? Is it still 2005? Things are strange out there. NOTE: This episode was recorded before Tate McRae defected to Team USA...more to come on that.

I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON!During the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Canada was in the palm of Nikki Yanofsky’s hand. At just 16 years old, this child star captured the heart of a nation by singing the official Olympic anthem, “I Believe.” But this undeniable power ballad is an anomaly in Nikki’s career which is otherwise filled with all that jazz.Also discussed: Dad Rap, 2010 Olympic memories, scatting, “child prodigies”, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, being rizz-less, and much more.  

PLEASE, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON!After nearly fifteen years of grinding, Classified finally reached the summit of CanCon when he unleashed his Inner Ninja. But, when the industry wants him to start his next climb (towards the top of the whole world), Class chose to stay grounded, be Dad, smoke weed and revel in his accomplishments at home. On this episode we examine how Classified's commitment to Canada has earned him a venerated place among this country's hip-hop success stories.Also discussed: Much Video Dance Parties, "Off the Beat 'N Path", Patio Lanterns, "genre dysphoria", acoustic guitars, Snoop, being addicted to weed and much more.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON! It's as unlikely a story as any: a white boy from Enfield, Nova Scotia becomes one of the greatest Canadian rappers of all time. And yet, by some combination of hard work, lack of international ambition, and weed, Luke Boyd aka Classified made it happen. In part one of a two-part exploration of "Class", Mac and Laura discuss the early days of his career including his major breakthrough: a song that samples the fucking national anthem. Also discussed: the national anthem, white people embracing hip-hop, JUNO albums of the year, Kim Mitchell's shirt, loving weed, Maestro Fresh Wes, grindin' and more.

TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE AND ACCESS EXCLUSIVE BIG IN CANADA CONTENT SUBSCRIBE HERE. In Big in Canada's first Patreon subscriber only bonus episode, we discuss Heated Rivalry, the hottest show on TV when the CanCon is as plentiful as the hockey and the sex. Plus, we discuss Ashley MacIsaac's recent run-in with Google AI and why the New Years Eve concert is a shit gig.Thanks for supporting Big in Canada and Happy New Year!

On part two of Big in Canada's special year-end wrap up episode, we count down our favourite albums from 4-1.Also discussed: Bryan Adams' A Great Big Holiday Jam, other Bryan Adams Christmas songs, Three Strong Words, fatherhood, the location of Pho No Café and more. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

Because yeah, we're a music podcast too. On the first of two special year-end wrap up episodes, we count down our favourite albums from 10-5. Next week, we go 4-1. The suspense is getting you killed. CanCon laws ARE in effect. Also discussed: Three Strong Words, the Toronto (Still) Loves Jacksoul Map, Christmas music contradictions and mistakes, Tate "Cars" McRae, the band "Christmas" and more.

While Michael Bublé and Céline Dion may be the king and queen of CanCon Christmas, the system churns out an endless stream of MAPL-safe Christmas music to ensure the most wonderful time of the year is distinctly Canadian. We dig into our personal Christmas music preferences, check out some Big in Canada-favourites' contributions to the canon and count down our Top 5 Canadian Christmas songs.Also discussed: Chantal Kreviazuk's upcoming album of "her" songs, Christmasy artists, shopping, the birth of Jesus Christ, blue christmases and much more.

His vestige haunts the bathrooms of several Toronto bars years after his death, but the music Haydain Neale made with jacksoul and the impact he had on CanCon will never die. Had Neale lived, he would be Canada's king of soul. Even in death, he may still be. Also discussed: slow jams, sex jams, being a live band, the Philosopher King to hit-maker pipeline, cover songs, Ashlee Simpson, more Three Strong Words, the rule of three, "Les", Mac "CanCon Nostradamus" Cameron and much more.

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.