Q&A > REMIGIO PEREIRA Rogue Tenor: ‘It did what it was intended to do’
Former Tenors member Remigio Pereira is still trying to undo damage to his reputation for altering the lyrics to the national anthem during baseball’s all-star game in July, but he believes he took a stand for humanity.
As he held a sign reading “all lives matter” on one side and “united we stand” on the other, the lyrics “With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the true north strong and free,” became “We’re all brothers and sisters, all lives matter to the great.”
“It upset everybody,” Pereira said. “It got people talking, which is what it was intended to do.”
The singer, who lives in St. Catharines, spoke about the negative reaction around the incident ahead of several concerts with flamenco guitarist Pavlo.
Did you get the reaction that you anticipated?
It’s about people talking and understanding each other’s issues and the problems we’re all facing, specifically certain minority groups in the past who have not been treated equally. The backlash shows where we are at still as a society living in a politically correct world where there should be no politics when it comes to someone’s life.
Since your protest we’ve seen NFL player Colin Kaepernick refuse to stand for the U.S. anthem. What do you think about the backlash he’s received?
People have a right to speak their minds, so we should be scrutinizing opinions and ideas as opposed to people themselves.
Do you foresee yourself being involved with the group in the future?
I haven’t heard from them since it happened. I understand their position. They send a message of peace and love. I want that message to continue going out. So I support them as a trio, if that’s what they decide to do.
Why are you speaking again now?
I’ve remained silent as I agreed to (with) the Tenors, to allow them to decide what they had to do . . . people still think I’m a racist. It’s damaging not only to me, but to people around me. I don’t have a racist bone in my body. I am sorry it divided people, that it divided fans, and the Tenors from me . . . There’s a much bigger picture we need to look at.