Abdelrahman
Before the highly anticipated puck drop at Boston’s inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off championship, tensions flared between supporters of Team USA and Team Canada, with several altercations breaking out over the weekend. On the night leading up to the final, emotions ran high as singer Chantal Kreviazuk stepped onto the ice to perform Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada.”
Astute listeners might have noticed a noticeable change in Kreviazuk’s rendition of the anthem. Rather than the traditional opening line, “True patriot love, in all of us command,” she passionately sang, “that only us command.” Discussing her decision with the Associated Press, Kreviazuk explained that she altered the lyrics “because I believe in democracy, and a sovereign nation should not have to defend itself against tyranny and fascism.”
“I wouldn’t feel right having a world stage and not being true to myself and sharing my beliefs,” Kreviazuk added.
In a statement via email, publicist Adam Gonshor confirmed that Kreviazuk’s alteration was a reaction to remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that Canada could become the 51st state. Kreviazuk even shared a post on her Instagram Stories, showcasing the phrase “that only us command” on her hand, accompanied by emojis of the Canadian flag and a flexed arm.
Trump has repeatedly voiced his aspirations for U.S. territorial expansion, often mocking Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and calling him the “Governor” of Canada. In response, Trudeau labeled Trump’s comments as a “non-starter,” asserting that should the U.S. president proceed with his threats, Canada “will respond equally unequivocally.”
After her performance, as the two nations entered sudden-death overtime—which ultimately saw Canada take home the championship—Kreviazuk took to social media to express her feelings. “I apologize if my rendition of our national anthem upset you,” she wrote, “and I’m sorry if you believe we’d be better off annexed. The reality is that art is an expression of our truth. In this odd yet pivotal moment, I firmly believe it’s crucial to raise our voices and defend ourselves… we must express our outrage in response to any misuse of power.”
Kreviazuk continued, “Canada, similar to Ukraine, is a sovereign nation. Period. We have a unique culture. We unite around our shared values. We care for one another. We are compassionate. We are resilient.”
Following Connor McDavid’s decisive overtime goal that secured a 3-2 victory for Canada, Trudeau delivered a powerful message on X in both French and English: “You can’t take our country—and you can’t take our game.”
