Relations between the US and Canada aren’t the best right now, and one Canadian national anthem singer has made that pretty clear.
Trump has been quite forward with his comments about Canada of late, claiming that it should become the 51st state.
Trump had previously imposed tariffs on Canadian imports and floated the idea that Canada could join the U.S. to bypass trade restrictions.
The proposal was widely rejected in Canada, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau firmly dismissing the notion.
While relations between the two countries aren’t at their best, Canadians have been using their sporting events to hit out at their neighbors.
While many opted to boo the US national anthem during an ice hockey game, one Canadian woman took things to a new level.
Chantal Kreviazuk performed at the 4 Nations Face-Off final, where Canada emerged victorious over the United States. However, her rendition of “O Canada” sparked controversy, drawing boos from American hockey fans in attendance.
During her performance, the Grammy Award-winning singer altered the lyrics, singing “that only us command” instead of the official “in all of us command.”
The change was reportedly a protest against former U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments suggesting Canada should become the 51st state of the United States.
Following the backlash, Kreviazuk took to Instagram to explain her decision and apologize for any offense caused. She shared a photo of the revised lyrics written on the palm of her hand and addressed the controversy in a statement.
“I am sorry if my performance of our national anthem rubbed you the wrong way,” she wrote.
Recommended Article
“If I was a little off pitch or if it wasn’t perfect in its tone. I am sorry if I messed up the French line I inserted to bring some balance to our nation’s history without losing those words ‘glorious and free’ in English… I am sorry if you think that we’d be better off annexed.”
Kreviazuk defended her artistic choice, emphasizing the importance of using one’s voice to challenge power.
“We should express our outrage in the face of any abuses of power,” she continued. “Art is an expression of truth, and we must stand up, use our voices, and try to protect ourselves.”
Some viewers praised her for using her artistic license to change the lyrics, while others criticized her performance, with some claiming she just didn’t know the words.
