What NOT to do during the anthem..

[kimblebee]

Apparently this wasn't shown on US broadcasts but during the singing of the Canadian Anthem last night at the MLB All Star game, one of the members of the group The Tenors decided to change some of the lyrics to fit his own agenda. Boy, did this strike a nerve..

 

[Magpie]

Apparently this wasn't shown on US broadcasts but during the singing of the Canadian Anthem last night at the MLB All Star game, one of the members of the group The Tenors decided to change some of the lyrics to fit his own agenda. Boy, did this strike a nerve..

As a Canadian, I wasn't so much offended as mildly puzzled. I mean, the sentiment is lovely and I'm sure they meant well, but they chose the "all lives matter" slogan, which I've really soured on in recent months.

However, I will always adore the Canadian Tenors. They're brilliant vocalists, and make our country proud!

And, also, most Canadians don't get terribly worked up one way or another about modifications to the anthem. After all, we already get to choose which official language to sing it in (or unofficial, if you feel like tackling the song in Cree). You can sing "all our sons" or if you prefer, the gender neutral "all of us". Non-Christians regularly sub in "Goddess" or "Allah" or even "Oh, Canada, glorious and free" which eliminates reference to God, altogether. There's a fourth stanza, which few people know.

In summary, while you can always find folks willing to get their panties twisted in a knot over anything, this isn't a huge deal, even up here. It got all of about 2 minutes coverage on last night's news.

The National Anthem Act specifies the lyrics and melody of "O Canada", placing both of them in the public domain, allowing the anthem to be freely reproduced or used as a base for derived works, including musical arrangements.[36] There are no regulations governing the performance of "O Canada", leaving citizens to exercise their best judgment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Canada

(Side note, since I mentioned "All lives matter"...

This is the best thing I've ever read on the topic of Black Lives Matter versus All Lives Matter:

"Imagine that you're sitting down to dinner with your family, and while everyone else gets a serving of the meal, you don't get any. So you say "I should get my fair share." And as a direct response to this, your dad corrects you, saying, "everyone should get their fair share." Now, that's a wonderful sentiment -- indeed, everyone should, and that was kinda your point in the first place: that you should be a part of everyone, and you should get your fair share also. However, dad's smart-*** comment just dismissed you and didn't solve the problem that you still haven't gotten any!"

Full text by GeekAesthete is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlik...why_is_it_so_controversial_when_someone_says/)

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

For their part, the tenors say it was a lone member of the group and that the other members of the group are shocked and embarrassed by the shameful act (A paraphrase of their words) and that he is suspended indefinitely. Now we know why the NFL records it and they lip synch it.

 

[kimblebee]

As a Canadian, I wasn't so much offended as mildly puzzled. I mean, the sentiment is lovely and I'm sure they meant well, but they chose the "all lives matter" slogan, which I've really soured on in recent months.

However, I will always adore the Canadian Tenors. They're brilliant vocalists, and make our country proud!

And, also, most Canadians don't get terribly worked up one way or another about modifications to the anthem. After all, we already get to choose which official language to sing it in (or unofficial, if you feel like tackling the song in Cree). You can sing "all our sons" or if you prefer, the gender neutral "all of us". Non-Christians regularly sub in "Goddess" or "Allah" or even "Oh, Canada, glorious and free" which eliminates reference to God, altogether. There's a fourth stanza, which few people know.

In summary, while you can always find folks willing to get their panties twisted in a knot over anything, this isn't a huge deal, even up here. It got all of about 2 minutes coverage on last night's news.



(Side note, since I mentioned "All lives matter"...

This is the best thing I've ever read on the topic of Black Lives Matter versus All Lives Matter:

"Imagine that you're sitting down to dinner with your family, and while everyone else gets a serving of the meal, you don't get any. So you say "I should get my fair share." And as a direct response to this, your dad corrects you, saying, "everyone should get their fair share." Now, that's a wonderful sentiment -- indeed, everyone should, and that was kinda your point in the first place: that you should be a part of everyone, and you should get your fair share also. However, dad's smart-*** comment just dismissed you and didn't solve the problem that you still haven't gotten any!"

Full text by GeekAesthete is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlik...why_is_it_so_controversial_when_someone_says/)

We must have been looking in different places, because I saw a lot of people who were very, very upset. Can you imagine if this had happened to the American anthem? It would be all over every network for a week. I personally feel we should be more upset. A national anthem shouldn't be altered in any way, ever. It's not just a song, it's so much more than that.

 

[King Schultz]

Apparently this wasn't shown on US broadcasts but during the singing of the Canadian Anthem last night at the MLB All Star game, one of the members of the group The Tenors decided to change some of the lyrics to fit his own agenda. Boy, did this strike a nerve..

The other 3 Tenors issued an apology and said they said the one who changed the lyrics is out.

Apparently he also thinks the earth is flat:

http://www.masslive.com/sports/2016/07/remigio_pereira_singer_who_hij.html

 

[CPanther95]

I wish they would stop the practice of bringing anyone in to sing the anthem. Bring in instrumentals if you want, but nothing sounds better than 60,000 people singing an anthem at the top of their lungs.

We may suck individually, but together, it sounds better than any individual, or group, they could find.

 

[kimblebee]

The other 3 Tenors issued an apology and said they said the one who changed the lyrics is out.

Apparently he also thinks the earth is flat:

http://www.masslive.com/sports/2016/07/remigio_pereira_singer_who_hij.html

Yeah, his Facebook posts are quite...interesting.

 

[Magpie]

We must have been looking in different places, because I saw a lot of people who were very, very upset. Can you imagine if this had happened to the American anthem? It would be all over every network for a week. I personally feel we should be more upset. A national anthem shouldn't be altered in any way, ever. It's not just a song, it's so much more than that.

I think Americans, as a whole, take all of their patriotic trappings much more seriously. The Canadian national anthem (as you will notice on its Wikipedia page) has been altered many, many times.

On Canada Day you'll see Canadians walking around wearing the Canadian flag as a cape. I can't imagine an American doing that to their flag!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I wish they would stop the practice of bringing anyone in to sing the anthem. Bring in instrumentals if you want, but nothing sounds better than 60,000 people singing an anthem at the top of their lungs.

We may suck individually, but together, it sounds better than any individual, or group, they could find.

I think nothing sounds worse than 60,000 fans singing an anthem at the top of their lungs. I wish they would shut up, stand at attention and let the band play.

 

[Magpie]

The other 3 Tenors issued an apology and said they said the one who changed the lyrics is out.

Apparently he also thinks the earth is flat:

http://www.masslive.com/sports/2016/07/remigio_pereira_singer_who_hij.html

Yikes!

Yep, I agree, he absolutely needed to go.

Not so much over the changes, but because he went and changed up a song in the middle of a performance without consulting the rest of the group. I don't care if he was singing the Canadian anthem of Itsy Bitsy Spider, it's appallingly unprofessional.

(The fact that he's also apparently a flat earther is hilarious and probably points to a general lack of critical thinking ability and judgment. However, I also sincerely hope it doesn't mean he's suffering a mental illness. And, I think it's sad he's gone and torched his career, because he has a glorious voice and is quite handsome - I always enjoyed watching him. I've seen him live in concert, and I'll miss him.)

 

[Disneylover99]

The other 3 Tenors issued an apology and said they said the one who changed the lyrics is out.

Apparently he also thinks the earth is flat:

http://www.masslive.com/sports/2016/07/remigio_pereira_singer_who_hij.html

He sounds a bit loony to me. I say ship him back to the States where he was born.

 

[CPanther95]

I think nothing sounds worse than 60,000 fans singing an anthem at the top of their lungs. I wish they would shut up, stand at attention and let the band play.

I guess you can't assume everyone has the same good taste.

That's the only explanation for the Kardashians' success.

 

[King Schultz]

I think Americans, as a whole, take all of their patriotic trappings much more seriously. The Canadian national anthem (as you will notice on its Wikipedia page) has been altered many, many times.

On Canada Day you'll see Canadians walking around wearing the Canadian flag as a cape. I can't imagine an American doing that to their flag!

 

[King Schultz]

He sounds a bit loony to me. I say ship him back to the States where he was born.

We'll trade Bieber for him and some beer.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I think Americans, as a whole, take all of their patriotic trappings much more seriously. The Canadian national anthem (as you will notice on its Wikipedia page) has been altered many, many times.

On Canada Day you'll see Canadians walking around wearing the Canadian flag as a cape. I can't imagine an American doing that to their flag!

Watch Olympic track and field. You'll see it. Heck. There are American flag swimsuits these days.

Here's a shirt for sale.

http://www.horsetown.com/Men-s-American-Flag-Shirt-by-Roper-Clothing.html

Shirt, Pants, even the fanny pack.
http://i0.wp.com/americanapparel.cl...s/2014/07/AMERICAN-fanny-pack.jpg?fit=341,393

 

[Disneylover99]

When I first heard about it I thought, who cares. No big deal.
But when I listened, I realized it was a big deal. He didn't just change a word or two. That was a significant change.

Maybe if he incorporated the world being flat into his lyrics, it would have generated more attention though.

 

[Magpie]

Today I learned!

I thought you guys had laws or something, preventing you from doing that sort of thing to your flag.

I do know that when some American protester came up to burn our flag on Parliament Hill, several decades ago, the RCMP officer on site gave them tips on how to do it safely and even offered them his lighter when theirs turned out to be nonfunctional. I think it took some of the wind out of their sails.

 

[Disneylover99]

We'll trade Bieber for him and some beer.

On second thought....

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I guess you can't assume everyone has the same good taste.

That's the only explanation for the Kardashians' success.

I thought the secret to their success was a talented plastic surgeon. But those things have a shelf life.

 

[Magpie]

Watch Olympic track and field. You'll see it. Heck. There are American flag swimsuits these days.

Here's a shirt for sale.

http://www.horsetown.com/Men-s-American-Flag-Shirt-by-Roper-Clothing.html

Shirt, Pants, even the fanny pack.
http://i0.wp.com/americanapparel.clothing/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/AMERICAN-fanny-pack.jpg?fit=341,393

Was it always like this? I'm really wondering how I ever got the idea that you were required to respect the American flag...