Singer butchers "O Canada" lyrics at Leafs game in New York
The Toronto Maple Leafs were on the road Monday night with a game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.
And as is common with every NHL matchup that features both a Canadian and American team, two national anthems were sung before puck drop. Unfortunately, only one of them was up to par.
Despite performing the anthem(s) regularly at Islanders games, singer and Broadway actress Sholanty Taylor’s recent rendition of “O Canada” was a little all over the place during the Leafs’ latest visit.
Firstly, there was the tempo. Perhaps nervous, Taylor began the Canadian anthem in a rush. Sure, speed will differ from singer to singer, especially with no backing track, but this was unusually fast.
So fast, that it was over in less than 60 seconds
“Our national anthem performed in under a minute. Oh, and it was butchered,” X user Steve Woolridge wrote in a post with a clip of the performance attached.
Our national anthem performed in under a minute. Oh, and it was butchered.@NYIslanders @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/D0DCIKlVGz
— Steve Woolridge (@CoachWooly) December 12, 2023
To make matters worse, Taylor forgot to include the entire second verse of the song. As Leafs fans in the crowd sported looks of confusion, she headed back to the refrain before awkwardly concluding it with the usual “we stand on guard for thee.”
While she certainly isn’t the first (or the last) to botch the national anthem, hockey fans on social media were not very forgiving of the blunder.
One Leafs fan called the moment an “embarrassment” to the Islanders organization and NHL at large.
As a professional sports team there is zero excuse for the @NYIslanders to not have an Anthem singer that knows the words for the visiting country. It is an embarrassment to the organization and the @NHL
ā Leafguy99 (@Leafguy991) December 12, 2023
Meanwhile, an Islanders fan pointed out that this isn’t Taylor’s first offence.
Nothing against Sholanty Taylor, but thatās twice in a week she butchered the anthems and I think itās time for the #Isles to make a change.
— CordUp šš (@CordUpTime) December 12, 2023
Another even suggested the league go as far as fining teams when singers mess up the lyrics of a national anthem.
Teams should be fined for not having someone that knows how to sing the national anthems.
ā Thefuneone (@Thefuneone) December 12, 2023
Some came to Taylor’s defence, though, chalking up the gaffe to a classic case of nerves.
She was obviously nervous. Who wouldnāt be. Iām not sure a song should cause this much negativity. Iām sure she didnāt intend on getting the words wrong. I donno. Just my opinion.
ā James Fitzgerald (@jaycrazay) December 12, 2023
Luckily, Taylor will have plenty of time to practice ahead of the next time New York hosts a Canadian team when the Edmonton Oilers come to visit next Tuesday.
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