Chantal Kreviazuk, the Grammy-award winning singer from Winnipeg, changed the lyrics to O Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off game against the United States on Thursday to sing “that only us command” instead of “in all of us command.”
A representative confirmed in an email to CBC News that the switch was intentional in response to the annexation rhetoric coming from the U.S.
Kreviazuk, 50, posted a photo of the adjusted lyrics written on her hand to her Instagram story.
The anthem was booed loudly ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off final at TD Garden in Boston, despite a request by the arena’s public announcer for respect.
The Star-Spangled Banner was then sung in full voice by the sold-out building for the championship game of an event that’s a table-setter for the NHL’s Olympic return in 2026.
Singer Chantal Kreviazuk performed Canada’s national anthem at Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off final against the United States in Boston. But instead of ‘in all of us command,’ she sang, ‘that only us command.’
The boos for O Canada were in response to the U.S. anthem getting similar treatment at professional sporting events and before 4 Nations games north of the border that started after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against one of his country’s closest allies.
Trump has also continued to muse — including Thursday morning on social media — that America’s neighbour and close ally should become the “51st state.”
The president spoke with the U.S. team by phone for five minutes before the team’s pre-game stake.
Boos filled the Bell Centre in Montreal both times the American national anthem was played ahead of the country’s games earlier in the tournament. Those jeers reached a crescendo Saturday before the U.S. topped Canada 3-1 to qualify for Thursday’s final.
O Canada was tepidly booed by some fans Monday at the same Boston arena before a 5-3 victory over Finland that booked Canada a spot in the championship game.
