Before the Los Angeles Dodgers established an early lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of the World Series, Canadian baseball enthusiasts were already voicing their discontent about the rendition of the national anthem that kicked off the match.
Criticism arose on social media following Canadian singer JP Saxe’s solo a cappella performance of “O Canada” at Dodger Stadium. Many fans expressed dissatisfaction with Saxe’s vocal delivery, with one user stating, “JP Saxe was not it.”
Not only were fans critical of Saxe’s singing ability, but some also took offense at his alteration of the anthem’s lyrics. Instead of singing “our home and native land,” Saxe sang “our home on native land.”
While Saxe faced backlash for his performance, it’s worth noting that this alteration to the anthem’s lyrics is not unprecedented. Canadian R&B singer Jully Black made a similar change during a previous event to shed light on colonialism’s impact on Indigenous communities in Canada.
Despite the online criticism, there were individuals who defended Saxe, emphasizing that he should not be judged harshly for his rendition of the anthem.
Deborah Cox is set to perform the Canadian national anthem in Game 4 of the World Series, while Rufus Wainwright will take the stage for Game 5. Cox, known for hits like “Beautiful U R,” and Wainwright, a Canadian-American Juno winner and Grammy nominee, bring their own unique styles to the performance lineup for the upcoming games.