[News] George Canyon the New Flames Anthem Singer

[The Fonz]

The fake deep twang he throws into his singing is cringeworthy. Isn't he a Newfie?

Just need to get someone with a real voice, that can actually sing passionately. The 2014/15 anthems were boring and gimmicky.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Scary Eloranta

And maybe hire someone who can play something other than the Chicken Dance.

You need to give your head a shake because whoever does the organ music for the Flames is one of the best in the league. There is always talk across the league about the gems he slips in there during breaks.

Upgrade the actual organ, leave the player alone. He's aces.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

You need to give your head a shake because whoever does the organ music for the Flames is one of the best in the league. There is always talk across the league about the gems he slips in there during breaks.

Upgrade the actual organ, leave the player alone. He's aces.

Agreed. Where else can you hear "Sit on my face" by Monty Python at a game? He's got some chops for sure.

[Red Menace]

The Flames have never had an anthem singer who was anything more than serviceable.
It would be nice if that changed for the better one day.

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

The Flames have never had an anthem singer who was anything more than serviceable.
It would be nice if that changed for the better one day.

What would be more than serviceable for you, out of curiosity

Do you require an opera singer?
heavy vibrato singer?
a military type performer?


serviceable is such a generic term and without a reference it easy to use, as it doesn't lead why one is serviceable and what would be better

[Red Menace]

I'm not really sure to be honest, but when one thinks of the great anthem singers in NHL history, I guarantee you no Flame singers are mentioned.
They have all been kind of bland, just OK singers. I'd like to see something more dynamic, and certainly less twangy.

An opera singer might be good now that you mention. It....you get a good singer with a flare for dramatics.

[jayswin]

Yeah but try and name all the famous anthems singers in the NHL's history, though. There's only a handful, so it's not like it's easy to just find a historic, memorable anthem singer.

The thing fans have to remember when it comes to anthem singer expectations is that it's a very unique position in that it's very public and well known, yet usually isn't very high paying relative to how well known you become.

It's also the same thing every night, so it's not like the top crop of singers in the world are beating down sports teams doors to apply. Some use it to become known in their city if they have singing aspirations, but typically it's a tough position to fill to the high expectations fans have.

[jayswin]

It's a 2 minute gig at the beginning of each game, and yet fans expect top level talent to agree to complicate actual singing/touring careers, so they can be available 2 - 3 nights a week to drive to a hockey arena, sing a quick anthem and then leave.

The nature of singing/performing careers is that once you reach a decent level of talent/success you're on the road spreading your talent/voice. Which makes it a very awkward, tough position to fill for sports teams.

If anything we were super blessed with Heather Liscano. She had a very nice singing voice that was perfectly suited for anthem singing (don't make it your own, but still give it passion/feeling). But if you're looking to someone like Heather and stating "The Flames have never had anyone more than serviceable" I'd say your expectations of an anthem singer are way out of whack, especially in a medium sized city like Calgary.

I guess you could move to a mega city like New York, Boston or Chicago and get a top level anthem singer, but good lord that's some pretty hefty expectations you're putting on a 1.3mil population city in the Canadian prairies, and just isn't realistic relative to the industry you're talking about.

[JiriHrdina]

I like how he does it.

[To Be Quite Honest]

The anthems should just disappear. They are completely useless to a sport where the players are world wide.

[Gaskal]

Canadian anthem sounds twangy. But he makes Star Spangled Banner sound more americany.

Brad Treliving should explore trade options!

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I'm not really sure to be honest, but when one thinks of the great anthem singers in NHL history, I guarantee you no Flame singers are mentioned.
They have all been kind of bland, just OK singers. I'd like to see something more dynamic, and certainly less twangy.

An opera singer might be good now that you mention. It....you get a good singer with a flare for dramatics.

Heather Liscano was one of the best in the league, period.

Wanna be opera singers are frankly, embarrassing. Is there any better way to alert the world that you have failed in your career aspirations than to be a guy like Vancouver's singer?

George Canyon can't even remotely sing in tune. I can very objectively say that his rendition is unlistenable. It's probably about 99% likely that you could pull someone from the crowd at random, and have them do a better job.

[Stormchaser]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

The anthems should just disappear. They are completely useless to a sport where the players are world wide.

I love the anthems. Love them! Just the 2, only the 2 because its right here in North America that the best of the best play.

[Stormchaser]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

George Canyon can't even remotely sing in tune. I can very objectively say that his rendition is unlistenable. It's probably about 99% likely that you could pull someone from the crowd at random, and have them do a better job.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Heather Liscano was one of the best in the league, period.

Wanna be opera singers are frankly, embarrassing. Is there any better way to alert the world that you have failed in your career aspirations than to be a guy like Vancouver's singer?

I don't mind Canyon but completely agree with your other two points. The opera style anthem singers are the absolute worst.

[drtory]

How about a Musical Theatre singer? Those guys are awesome (Phantom, Les Mis, any show I'm doing...

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by stormchaser

I'm sorry, I likely underestimated the percentage.

[CroFlames]

George Canyon is a good singer, which is why it's weird his anthem renditions are so bad. It's very weird.

[GioforPM]

It's funny - I like the organist in-game, but I've never liked his O Canada accompaniment (both with Canyon and Liscano). He chooses an odd synthy sound and puts in a weird minor chord in a couple places.

As for singers, I like it when talented kids do it, and there's a bunch out there who could handle it. They never go over the top opera-style, they don't over-pop the anthem either.

[codynw]

Put me down as another that would prefer no anthems at NHL games.