Big in Canada

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In the late 90s, tens of Canadian men banded together to sing, dance, gel their hair and try to make it big with their songs of fantasy and insecurity. These are the ones you DON'T remember.
Plus, some Xav, Rush and Alexisonfire t-shirt talk.

In the late 70s, Carole Pope and Rough Trade's campy, sexy and provocative live show made them a Toronto staple. But when "High School Confidential" took over the airwaves with its at-the-time shocking line about jean-creaming, they broke nationally and paved the way for generations of queer artists. We dive into the legacy of Rough Trade and review the new documentary Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions.
Also discussed: uncomfortable funkiness, the JUNOS in the 80s, Peaches, Jann Arden, kd lang, sketchy documentary timelines, David Bowie, Xav's big soon-to-be hit, stomp clap history, nostalgia, dissatisfaction and much more.

In this special Big in Canada Big Book Club episode, Laura is joined by Edmonton-based professor and author Brian Fauteux to discuss his latest book, Music in Orbit: Satellite Radio in the Streaming Space Age. Laura and Brian explore the cosmos and chat about satellite radio's arrival in Canada, its impact on the Canadian music landscape, the current state of Sirius XM Canada, and much more.
Music in Orbit is out now via the University of California Press.

Now that we've done episodes on each of the most infamous Y2K Canadian boy bands, it's time to RANK them. We consider the look, the song, the talent, and the legacy of B4-4, soulDecision, Wave, Sky, McMaster & James, and The Moffatts. Which band of boys will capture the heart of Big in Canada? 

Also discussed: The Tragically Chip ice cream, Weighty Ghost as the first stomp-clap song, Angine de Poitrine (again!), and more.

It's hot! And to celebrate, we have a gab about Shania Twain's retreat to the Horseshoe Tavern and the arms of Canadian music critics, Mac's experience seeing Angine de Poitrine open for Jack White at the Bud and finally we react to the Polaris Prize Short List (the PPSL) and the change in how the winner will be chosen this year.