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Canadian singer Jully Black sang the national anthem to open the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night, but made a notable change to the lyrics.
Black changed the phrase "our home and native land" to "our home on native land," looking directly at the camera while singing the change.
Black is native to Toronto and has worked with a number of high-profile artists like Sean Paul and Nas over the course of her career.
"We’ve been singing this anthem since kindergarten. And now, in the last three years, especially with indigenous rights and what’s going on in our country and the history and the learning, I too am learning," Black said to TSN. "So, I reached out to some indigenous friends and said, ‘First of all, how do you feel about me doing this anthem?’ And I got some feedback."
"I really dissected the lyrics to really sing it with intention because I know it like my name."
In an interview with CBC's the National on Monday, Black defended her performance and said that she "sang the facts."
"We are walking, breathing, living, experiencing life on native land. On Indigenous land." Speaking about an Indigenous friend of hers, she said that she received a positive reaction. "I didn't know how much this would mean to him. But now I do. And to every person who has lived generationally through being Indigenous, and just want the world to know that their lived experience matters."
Black's performance was praised by the likes of Public Enemy's Chuck D, who tweeted, "my girl [Jully Black] just kicked the most soulful O Canada [I] have ever heard at 2023 #NBAAllStar game."
Others directly praised the lyrical change. One comment said that they have been singing the anthem with this change since 2018. Another commenter said, "Remove the reference to god next. It has no business in our anthem," in reference to the line which reads, "God keep our land glorious and free."
Another said, "I am okay with that change. Would go a long way toward reconciliation," to which another replied, "Lol no it won't."
Some were more critical. One commenter noted that they were born in Canada and not of Indigenous ancestry. "While Canada was established 'on' native land, the previous 'and' was also correct. Canada is my native land, I was born here," the Twitter user wrote.
"Leaving it as 'our home and native land' could be interpreted in a similar manner. It's our home and it's also native land," another said.
"The original lyrics do double duty: they express the concept of native land and as a bonus, it's far less 'shamey.'"
Another noted, "For the Canadians incl 2nd generation, where can they call home. The anthem is supposed to unite us. Changing the anthem was not part of the 95 calls to action which was thoughtfully deliberated for years. Let’s unite not divide."
Canada's national anthem has undergone official changes in the past. In 2018, lyrics were changed in the anthem to make it gender-neutral. The wording of the anthem changed from "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command."
Black changed the phrase "our home and native land" to "our home on native land," looking directly at the camera while singing the change.
Black is native to Toronto and has worked with a number of high-profile artists like Sean Paul and Nas over the course of her career.
"We’ve been singing this anthem since kindergarten. And now, in the last three years, especially with indigenous rights and what’s going on in our country and the history and the learning, I too am learning," Black said to TSN. "So, I reached out to some indigenous friends and said, ‘First of all, how do you feel about me doing this anthem?’ And I got some feedback."
"I really dissected the lyrics to really sing it with intention because I know it like my name."
In an interview with CBC's the National on Monday, Black defended her performance and said that she "sang the facts."
"We are walking, breathing, living, experiencing life on native land. On Indigenous land." Speaking about an Indigenous friend of hers, she said that she received a positive reaction. "I didn't know how much this would mean to him. But now I do. And to every person who has lived generationally through being Indigenous, and just want the world to know that their lived experience matters."
Black's performance was praised by the likes of Public Enemy's Chuck D, who tweeted, "my girl [Jully Black] just kicked the most soulful O Canada [I] have ever heard at 2023 #NBAAllStar game."
Others directly praised the lyrical change. One comment said that they have been singing the anthem with this change since 2018. Another commenter said, "Remove the reference to god next. It has no business in our anthem," in reference to the line which reads, "God keep our land glorious and free."
Another said, "I am okay with that change. Would go a long way toward reconciliation," to which another replied, "Lol no it won't."
Some were more critical. One commenter noted that they were born in Canada and not of Indigenous ancestry. "While Canada was established 'on' native land, the previous 'and' was also correct. Canada is my native land, I was born here," the Twitter user wrote.
"Leaving it as 'our home and native land' could be interpreted in a similar manner. It's our home and it's also native land," another said.
"The original lyrics do double duty: they express the concept of native land and as a bonus, it's far less 'shamey.'"
Another noted, "For the Canadians incl 2nd generation, where can they call home. The anthem is supposed to unite us. Changing the anthem was not part of the 95 calls to action which was thoughtfully deliberated for years. Let’s unite not divide."
Canada's national anthem has undergone official changes in the past. In 2018, lyrics were changed in the anthem to make it gender-neutral. The wording of the anthem changed from "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command."
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