O Canada at the Olympics

Here at the National Anthem Key Signature Research Bureau, we maintain our commitment to observing minute errors in O Canada.

You might recall that we have previously discovered Bugs in the National Anthem, including in the National Anthem Act, which have at least been partially fixed.

Today though, as the 2026 Winter Olympics get underway, we have a new irritant.

For Paris 2024. the IOC re-recorded all the national anthems, with brand new arrangements. That was a pretty huge project and I admire the effort.

It’s my understanding that they’re using these Paris 2024 recordings in Milan/Cortina 2026.

BUT

Here’s a video of the official Olympic version of O Canada. That’s the whole anthem.

But.

I want you to listen to just the last bit, right here. Listen for the last two bars. Does that sound right to you?

THE LAST THREE NOTES ARE AT LEAST TWICE AS LONG AS THEY SHOULD BE. Grrrr.

Doesn’t somebody from Canada have to approve this? Why are we letting them drag out the ending like this? We want to sing along!

I will give them credit for performing it in E♭ though, the National Time Signature