“Oh Canada” 2019 NBA Finals Performances

Whether you live in Toronto or not there’s a good chance your life has been consumed by the 2019 NBA finals; while this is the first time the Raptors have made it to the finals since the launch of the team in 1995, it’s also the first time Canadian artist’s have had the chance to perform their home’s national anthem before an NBA finals game. As we all root for the Raptors to bring home an NBA title we also want to pay homage to the Canadian artists helping make history with their renditions of O’Canada ahead of these games for the first time ever. No matter which part of the country you live in or who’s side team your cheering for, if there’s one thing that unites all Canadians, it’s our national anthem and there’s been some pretty great versions over the last six games.

In game one of the finals held at Scotia Bank arena the country’s national anthem was performed by  Fraser Walters, Victor Micallef, and Clifton Murray of The Tenors from Victoria, British Columbia.

While Toronto also hosted game two of the series we saw Alessia Cara perform a traditional version of O’Canada.

Heading over to the bay area for game three in Oakland, Saskatchewan’s Tenille Arts made the trip over to sing her own rendition of the national anthem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixs2zQmnK48

Game four saw a version of O’Canada that we hadn’t yet seen during the finals performed by Walk Off The Earth.

The Raptors having the opportunity to take the NBA championship while in Toronto, prompted the decision to give the fans at Scotia Bank Arena a shot at being the ones to perform the country’s anthem being led by Doug Tranquada for game five.

Although, the NBA all star game isn’t a part of the final’s we had to include an honorable mention for Carly Rea Jepsons performance of O’Canada where Raptors members Kawai Leonard and Kyle Lowry participated in the game.

Tonight, the Raptors have another opportunity to bring home the NBA championship during game six where Sarah McLachlan is set to perform O’Canada hopefully for the last time during the 2019 NBA season. Go Raptors!