Even prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers seizing an early lead against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, Canadian baseball enthusiasts were vocal with criticisms regarding the rendition of the national anthem that kickstarted Game 3 of the World Series.
A Facebook user in a public Blue Jays fan group expressed discontent, stating, “Who is this guy singing O Canada? They said he was Grammy-nominated.” The Canadian singer, JP Saxe, delivered a solo acapella performance of O Canada at Dodger Stadium, which led to a wave of negative feedback on social media.
Critiques centered mainly on the quality of Saxe’s singing, with some Blue Jays fans disapproving of his alteration of the anthem’s lyrics. Instead of “our home and native land,” he sang “our home on native land.” This adjustment, though controversial, is not unprecedented as Canadian R&B singer Jully Black also made a similar change during the NBA All-Star game in Salt Lake City in 2023 to highlight issues of colonialism and Indigenous mistreatment in Canada.
While Saxe faced online backlash, there were supporters who defended his rendition, emphasizing his pride in performing the anthem. Despite attempts to reach out for comment, CBC News did not receive a response from Saxe.
In a twist of events, following his tour cancellation due to ticket sales struggles, Saxe was invited by the Jonas Brothers to perform his hit song “If the World Was Ending” during their tour stop in Toronto.
Deborah Cox is scheduled to perform the Canadian national anthem during Game 4, while Rufus Wainwright will take the stage for Game 5 of the World Series, continuing the lineup of renowned artists participating in the event.