Notable Canadian singer-songwriter Jully Black discovered how a small word change in a song could have a big impact.
When singing Canada’s national anthem at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Black changed one word to acknowledge indigenous people.
The first line from Canada’s national anthem in 1880 reads: “O Canada! Our home and native land!”
Black changed the words to “O Canada! Our home on native land.”
The music artist’s lyric change has largely been met with high praise.
Black has had a remarkable music career. The Toronto native has collaborated with Nas, Destiny’s Child, and Sean Paul on various projects — several of her records have achieved CRIA Certified Gold or CRIA Certified Platinum status.
In commenting about the lyric change, Black told TSN’s, The Shift:
“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. 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.”
Black added: “I really dissected the lyrics to really sing it with intention because I know it like my name.”
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