The singer who presented the Canadian anthem prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game on Thursday night made a significant change to the lyrics of “O Canada.” In response to the repeated comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump about incorporating the country as the 51st state, publicist Adam Gonshor confirmed in an email to The Associated Press that Chantal Kreviazuk altered the lyric from “in all of us command” to “that only us command.” During Canada’s thrilling 3-2 overtime victory, Kreviazuk explained to the AP that she chose to make this change “because I believe in democracy, and a sovereign nation should not have to defend itself against tyranny and fascism.”
Reflecting on her upbringing with music that deeply resonated with her, Kreviazuk emphasized how it influenced her as a songwriter and as an individual, stating, “I don’t think it would be authentic to me to be given a world stage and not express myself and be true to myself.” Additionally, the singer from Winnipeg, Manitoba, inscribed the phrase “that only us command” on her left hand using mascara. She shared a photo of this on her Instagram account alongside Canadian flag and flexed muscle emojis.
Kreviazuk explained her rationale behind writing on her hand, saying, “I just put it on there so if I ever had a moment and I kind of froze, I would be able to look at my hand and see it.” Encouraging others to infuse their art with sincerity, she expressed, “Sometimes you just got to speak the truth in your art and it’s awesome. That’s what it should be about.” The NHL opted not to comment on the unfolding situation.
Some fans in Boston lightly booed the altered rendition of the anthem, although their reaction was soon eclipsed by Kreviazuk’s powerful performance. Conversely, the audience in Montreal loudly expressed their disapproval by booing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before U.S. tournament games at Bell Centre the previous week, particularly before matches against Canada.
Tensions between the neighboring countries and longstanding allies have escalated in recent weeks, fueled by Trump’s suggestions post-inauguration that Canada should become the 51st state due to trade disputes and tariff threats. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unequivocally stated that such an annexation would never come to pass.
The notion of Canada potentially joining the United States was raised during a news conference on Thursday with David McGuinty, Canada’s Public Safety Minister. McGuinty retorted, “Sounds like President Trump is worried about the outcome of the hockey game. Canada is a sovereign and independent country. It has been for over 150 years and will remain so. This discussion of 51st state is a non-starter.”
Before the game, Trump phoned the U.S. team to extend his best wishes. Players
