Singer alters Canada’s anthem
The Tenors’ Remigio Pereira causes stir using words ‘All lives matter’ in verse
SAN DIEGO — A member of a Canadian singing quartet changed a lyric in his country’s national anthem and held up a sign proclaiming “All lives matter” during a pregame performance at Major League Baseball’s 87th all-star game.
The Tenors, a group based in British Columbia, caused a stir at Petco Park with Remigio Pereira’s actions while singing “O Canada.”
In a statement issued during Tuesday’s game, the group blamed the changes solely on Pereira, who held up the sign and sang the altered lyrics while the other three singers wordlessly harmonized.
The band said Pereira won’t perform with The Tenors “until further notice,” calling his actions “disrespectful” and “shameful.”
The change happened during the middle portion of the anthem, which is often sung in French at sporting events.
Pereira unexpectedly sang: “We’re all brothers and sisters. All lives matter to the great.”
The normal lyric is “With glowing hearts we see thee rise. The True North strong and free.”
“United We Stand” was written on the back of his sign.
“The Tenors are deeply sorry for the disrespectful and misguided lack of judgment by one member of the group acting as a ‘lone wolf ’ today,” the Tenors said in a statement posted on their official Twitter page.
Major League Baseball also had no idea Pereira intended to make a political statement, spokesperson Matt Bourne said.
Although the audio wasn’t crystal-clear at the park, many fans reacted with surprise when they saw the sign on the ballpark video scoreboard.
The Canadian anthem wasn’t shown live on U.S. television, but it aired in Canada, where the decisions lit up social media with overwhelming criticism of the change.
The Tenors are Pereira, Clifton Murray, Fraser Walters and Victor Micallef. They are a Juno Awardwinning group.
“All lives matter” has become a common online response in recent months to the “Black Lives Matter” movement, particularly after the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.