Big in Canada

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.

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.

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.