National anthem shouldn’t be a solo act
Re Theo Moudakis: National Anthem, July 13 In June, I attended a Queen’s Plate race at the Woodbine Racetrack. Before the race, the military band played the Canadian national anthem accompanied by a female singer.
Even though there were many people in attendance, you could have heard a pin drop during the performance. No one was singing the national anthem.
I was standing beside a nice couple. She was of Irish descent, he was of Italian and I am Maltese. We were amazed that no one was singing. I told the couple that these people are not proud to sing the anthem and that it is a disgrace.
The three of us started singing the anthem loudly. All of a sudden a young, woman who was standing below me looked up and said “why don’t go back where you came from?”
I was very upset and hurt at her derogatory remark, but did not say anything to her.
I wanted to tell her that I came from the island of Malta, and am proud to sing the Maltese anthem and, being a Canadian citizen, just as proud to sing the Canadian anthem. F. Attard, Etobicoke Re Anthem giggle by Canadian singer gets Justin
Smoak’s attention before all-star game, July 11 We have had a few issues at public events involving the performance of the national anthem.
We do well to remember that it is an anthem not a solo. Singing of it by soloists increases the chance for them to experiment with changing music and diction with voices that warble off key. It belongs to us all.
Let it be sung by all backed up with an instrumental version.
Let the people sing (or drone it together.) That way we all remember the words.
Some of the damage done by these soloists/groups has been worse than changing the words to be gender neutral. Anthony Jemmott, Oshawa