The roar of the crowd at Dodger Stadium swelled as Rufus Wainwright prepared to sing “O Canada” before Game 5 of the World Series. The Montreal-born singer began the anthem in both English and French, a moment of national pride for Canadian fans in attendance and watching worldwide.
But just moments into the familiar lyrics, a subtle yet significant shift occurred. Wainwright replaced the traditional phrase “true patriot love in all of us command” with a revised version: “True patriot love that only us command.” The alteration, though seemingly small, immediately sparked a wave of reaction.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Earlier in the year, fellow Canadian artist Chantal Kreviazuk made the exact same lyrical change during a hockey final in Boston. She defended her version as a statement of Canadian identity, a response to comments suggesting Canada might become a “51st state” of the United States.
The response to Wainwright’s rendition was swift and largely negative. Canadian social media erupted with criticism, with many expressing disappointment and frustration over the altered lyrics. Fans questioned why the anthem was being personalized during such a significant event.
“Can we please get someone who can get our National Anthem right?” one fan wrote, voicing a common sentiment. Another compared the performance to a child attempting a foreign language, stumbling over the words and losing the original meaning. The desire for a faithful rendition was palpable.
The controversy extended beyond Wainwright’s performance. Just two days prior, Toronto singer JP Saxe faced similar criticism for his rendition of “O Canada” at Game 3. The American anthem, sung by Keith Williams Jr., also drew mixed reactions, with some praising his vocal range while others found the performance jarring.
Despite the anthem drama, the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t falter. They launched into the game with a powerful start, hitting back-to-back home runs from Davis Schneider and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The team ultimately dominated, defeating the Dodgers 6-1 in a decisive victory fueled by a historic performance from rookie Trey Yasavage.
For many fans, the questionable anthem performances were quickly overshadowed by the Blue Jays’ impressive win. A 3-2 lead in the Fall Classic felt like a worthy trade-off for a slightly off-key, and altered, national anthem. The series now shifts to Toronto for Games 6 and 7, with the fate of the championship hanging in the balance.
The focus now turns to Rogers Centre, where the energy will be electric. While the debate over anthem accuracy may continue, one thing is certain: the Blue Jays are playing with a confidence that could carry them to a championship title, regardless of the pre-game musical offerings.
