Singer Jully Black makes small change to ‘O Canada’ lyrics at NBA All-Star Game

Article content

It’s a subtle change, but one noticed by many Canadians.

Article content

Toronto R&B singer Jully Black is known for her memorable performances on stage. Add Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game to the list.

Article content

While singing the country’s anthem, ‘O Canada’, Black changed one word of the lyrics, belting out “our home on native land” instead of “our home and native land,” a reference to the country’s history of expropriation of Indigenous people.

Article content

Many took to social media to praise Black for the subtle lyric change.

Article content

“Love it. let’s make it a permanent and official change,” one person tweeted. 

“A land acknowledgment in the national anthem, here for it! I’ll be singing this rendition from now on,” another chimed in. 

“(Jully Black) understood the assignment. She represented the language in which we should be speaking. This is walking in truth. This is allyship. The lands we have come to know as Canada, although many of us call it home, it is ON NATIVE LAND,” one proudly tweeted.

When asked by TSN’s Kayla Grey about the change, the Seven Day Fool singer said she had reached out to some Indigenous friends and asked them about changing that aspect of ‘O Canada.’

Article content

“And I got some feedback, and so I really dissected the lyrics, to really sing it with intention,” said Black. “Now I’m singing it in a whole other meaningful way.”

Not everyone was happy with the lyric change, however. They also turned to social media to voice their displeasure.

“Not HERS to change. Period! Disrespectful,” said one critic. 

“They always make it about themselves. Just sing the dam song as written,” another weighed in.

“She needs to be cancelled. Absolutely disgraceful to change the words of a national anthem,” another stated.