Encore: The Stories Behind The Songs You Love

There is no mistaking Alanis Morisette for anyone else. She is the one and only Alanis - Can you even think of anyone else out there named Alanis?

Ms. Morissette also has one of the most recognizable singing voices of her generation, one that helped her sell more than 33 million copies of her album, Jagged Little Pill. Only Shania Twain’s Come On Over has sold more copies than Jagged Little Pill, making it the second best selling album by any Canadian ever. That list includes Celine Dion, Drake, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Rush and Nickelback. In fact, no Canadian male or Canadian band has sold more copies of an album than Alanis. She is that awesome.

Jagged Little Pill reinvented the female singer-songwriter in pop music, and gave women the confidence and strength to express themselves authentically.

Rolling Stone called it “a landmark moment for the music industry and the soundtrack of a generation.” And it didn’t take long for that new generation of self-assured female singer-songwriters to emerge in the wake of Alanis’s success. 

This is the story of its massive single Ironic, with newly unearthed audio from Alanis Morissette herself. 

Written by Cam Lindsay for iHeartRadio.

This week on Encore, we're going to talk about a bonafide sleeper hit of an album, with bonafide sleeper hit singles; a charmingly upbeat and wholesome record by a guy who surfed his way into our hearts some 20 years ago; with songs that equally resonate as much with a trip to the grocery store as a trip to the beach. But like - in a good way.

I am of course talking about Jack Johnson’s 2005 effort In Between Dreams - and its heartwarming first track - Better Together.

Son of surfer Jeff Johnson, Jack’s first love was of course: surfing. He was an avid surfer by the age of 5 - and by 17, he was the youngest invitee to make the finals of the lauded Pipeline Masters event in Hawaii.

Things went sideways for young Jack though, as he was involved in a serious surfing accident at the very same event; with Johnson needing over 100 stitches in his forehead and the removal of some teeth.

Soon after the accident, Jack would trade the surfboard for the director’s chair, and enrolled himself in film school, as well as joining a local band called Soil and playing the University of California, Santa Barbara campus’ party scene.

Ever the polymath; Jack Johnson also successfully put his film studies degree he earned at USCB to good use by combining his love of Surfing, Film, and music to direct the surfer-documentary Thicker Than Water with his pals Chris and Emmett Malloy in the year 2000.

It was around this time Johnson met stoner-soul-rock-funk musician G. Love of the band G. Love and Special Sauce. The fun-loving G. Love met Johnson through his surf-documentary circles, and invited Jack to collaborate on a song called Rodeo Clowns.

With his foot now in the door in a variety of artistic circles - Johnson then caught the attention of travelling bluesman Ben Harper and his producer JP Plunier. Plunier was a fan of Johnson’s Demo Tape, and offered to produce his debut album, eventually titled Brushfire Fairytales and released in February 2001.

Jack Johnson would open for Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals throughout 2001 - and by late 2002, Brushfire Fairytales officially became his first platinum-selling album.

After a less successful second album - Jack Johnson would hit it big with his classic third album In Between Dreams. This is the story of its biggest single, Better Together.

Written by Clayton Taylor for iHeartRadio.

For 15 years, (and up until recently) Oasis were officially not a band.

In 2009, Noel quit just hours before they were set to play a festival in France. But back then, everyone just assumed Oasis would return the next week, hatchet buried, ready to pick up where they left off; If there’s one thing Oasis were known for it was regularly being on the brink of imploding.

From the very start, Liam and Noel were always squabbling over something. Very public spats were just something they did. 

Fast forward to 2025, Oasis are back playing live shows again, heading across the world on a reunion tour that includes two shows in Toronto.

Of course, Oasis were known for writing big rock anthems in the ‘90s and 2000s - but there is one song of theirs that was bigger than the rest: A ballad that has become customary to learn for everyone that owns an acoustic guitar. I’m talking about “Wonderwall,” a song Noel Gallagher wrote about his imaginary friend.

This is the true story of Oasis's Wonderwall with newly unearthed audio from Noel and Liam Gallagher themselves.

Written by Cam Lindsay for iHeartRadio.

This week on Encore, Ruby Carr has chosen some of her favourite episodes from seasons 1-6 ft. Myles Galloway! Hear the stories behind 'Call Me Maybe' 'Hey Ya!' 'Steal My Sunshine' and 'Dancing on My Own'!

New Episodes of Encore return August 7!

Check out our FULL Unedited interview with the wonderful Chuck Comeau of Simple Plan! Chuck and Ruby look back at the incredible period of time that was Simple Plan's 2003-2005 and the creation and success of 'Still Not Getting Any'.

Chuck tells ruby stories about the album, it's hit single 'Welcome to My Life', working with Bob Rock, shooting the video for 'Welcome to My Life' and why Tom Delonge is an absolute sweetheart!

This episode of Encore is brought to you by All Your Friends Fest - June 28 and 29 in Burl's Creek, ON - Get Your Tickets

Formed when they were just thirteen years old by lead vocalist and guitarist Pierre Bouvier and Drummer Chuck Comeau in 1993 - it’s hard to believe that just 8 short years later Simple Plan would be signed by Major Label Atlantic Records in late 2001 - and by early 2002, their first single - the aptly named ‘I’m Just A Kid’ would make huge waves on both Canadian and American radio - fitting in perfectly with the sound of the Holy Trinity of Pop Punk: Blink 182, Sum 41, and Good Charlotte.

After the success and exposure of I’m Just A Kid, Simple Plan was in pole position to become Canada’s new pop-punk sweethearts. Pop Punk was evolving, you see; the band’s stock was high, and it was a case of staying relevant, or being left behind. 

This is the story of Simple Plan's Welcome to My Life - as told to Ruby Carr by Simple Plan's own Chuck Comeau!

Written by Clayton Taylor for iHeartRadio

TLC are one of the most commercially successful GROUPS of all time. 

TLC came from out of nowhere in the early ‘90s to dominate R&B, hip-hop and pop simultaneously. They won a bunch of Grammys, had multiple #1 hits, and completely changed music in the 1990s. But unfortunately, with all of that came A LOT of drama and heartbreaking tragedy. 

This is the true story of TLC's No Scrubs, with newly unearthed audio from the band themselves!

Written by Cam Lindsay for iHeartRadio Canada

If there’s one thing you learn about hit songs while doing this podcast it’s to ‘never underestimate the power of a good hook - at any cost’ 

From songs in our archive like LEN’s Steal My Sunshine, to Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend, and even songs we’ve covered this season like Backstreet Boys’ I want it That Way or Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit; It’s proven time and time again that intelligible lyrics are quite simply not one of the key components of a good pop song - as long as some combination of words sound good on a beat - who cares what they are!? 

Reminder - Howie D LITERALLY told our host Ruby Carr to her face that Backstreet Boys purposely kept lyrics in I Want It That Way that didn’t make any sense. Why? For the vibes, duh.

And it’s certainly not just lucidity of thought that can be sacrificed at the altar of catchy hooks and anthemic refrains - and warning - I’m about to sound like a total grandma right now - But Have You Heard Some of Those Lyrics?

Yes, I know I’m not really telling you anything you don’t already know, but it’s actually kind of perversely funny to think about so much of the subject matter across all genres of music that we will happily sing or hum along and vibe to, thanks to the power of the killer hook.

One such example is of course the topic of today’s episode - Snoop Dogg and Pharrell’s 2004 Hit ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ - A Number 1 hit on the hot 100 pop songs for three of its outstanding 30 weeks - with lyrical content so questionable - it has not one but TWO radio edits - a normal one which cuts out swears - and an Extra Clean version for everything else… but we’ll get into that. This is the story of Snoop Dogg and Pharrell's Drop it Like It's Hot!

Written by Clayton Taylor for iHeartRadio Canada

 

In early 1990, Nirvana were ready to start working on their second album. Their label Sub Pop recommended a producer named Butch Vig, who had produced heavier underground bands like Laughing Hyenas and Killdozer. They met up with Butch at his Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin to begin recording, laying down eight tracks before they had to head out on tour for six weeks. When they returned home, they made the difficult decision to fire their drummer Chad Channing.

Around the same time, Kurt and Krist were thinking of leaving Sub Pop, as the label was facing some financial trouble. When it came up that Sub Pop had begun talking to major labels about some kind of deal, Kurt and Krist felt they might be better off just signing directly to a major label. 

While in L.A. for label meetings they caught a gig by a punk band called Scream. Kurt and Krist were impressed with their drummer Dave Grohl and they kept in touch. When Scream broke up, not long after, they called up Dave to fly out to Seattle and jam with them. Within two minutes of playing, they knew Nirvana had found their new drummer.

Gary Gersh at Geffen Records was one of the record executives looking to sign Nirvana. He had seen them play in New York with Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, who Gersh had signed to the label. Thanks to their encouragement, Geffen signed Nirvana to a deal on April 30, 1991. 

Nirvana managed to convince their new label that Butch Vig was still the best producer for the next album, and with a budget of $65,000, they headed to Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California to make it. 

This is the story of lead single Smells Like Teen Spirit, with newly unearthed audio from the band!

Written by Cam Lindsay for iHeartRadio Canada.