Chantal Kreviazuk, the Grammy-award winning singer from Winnipeg, changed the lyrics to The 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 The 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.
The 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.