'Was it a dream?': Drake, Shania Twain and more Canadian musicians react to Raptors win
All of Canada was watching on Thursday night, including the country's biggest artists
The Toronto Raptors made history last night as they took home their first NBA championship in franchise history. It was a big moment not just for the team though — it was a nationwide celebration. That, of course, includes some of Canada's biggest musicians who were glued to their screens, watching with anticipation on Thursday night.
As basketball fans took to the streets in cities across the country, some of those artists took to social media to share their excitement. Below are some of those reactions:
Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan reported live from Oakland's Oracle Arena, sticking around to catch the action after she performed the Canadian national anthem earlier that evening.
As expected, the Raptors' global ambassador Drake was very emotional last night as he took in the game at Toronto's Jurassic Park with thousands of fans.
Drake actin’ like he just walked off the court too 😂😂<a href="https://t.co/enCleTR1Ry">pic.twitter.com/enCleTR1Ry</a>
—@XXLHe later took to Instagram Live to address those long-running theories that he's a curse to sports teams and capped it off by announcing two new singles slated to be released today.
Shania Twain was in disbelief.
Was it a dream? Edge of my seat last night! We The North! 🇨🇦😘 <a href="https://t.co/iKOaIEIBvq">pic.twitter.com/iKOaIEIBvq</a>
—@ShaniaTwainLights was experiencing "sportsy things" that she's never felt before.
First Canadian basketball championship making me feel sportsy things i never felt 😳
—@lightsJann Arden, Bryan Adams and k.d. Lang congratulated everyone.
Congrats to a team that brought all of Canada together! It felt so good! <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Raptors</a>
—@jannardenCongratulations to the Toronto <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Raptors</a> for winning the NBA title!
—@bryanadams🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀congrats <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/raptors?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#raptors</a>!!!!!!!!
—@kdlangShawn Mendes' message was short and simple.
TORONTOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
—@ShawnMendesSame with Pup.
THIS CITY. THIS TEAM. GO <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RAPTORS</a>
—@pupthebandThe Toronto Symphony traded in their formal attire for lots of We the North gear.
WE DID IT! GO RAPS GO! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheNorth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheNorth</a> <a href="https://t.co/vuvvfp7xF6">pic.twitter.com/vuvvfp7xF6</a>
—@TorontoSymphonyPianist Stewart Goodyear celebrated abroad.
Sending huge hugs to everyone in Toronto, and celebrating the Raptors' huge NBA win in spirit with all of you! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheNorth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheNorth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoRaptorsGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoRaptorsGo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Chineke4Change?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chineke4Change</a> and I are off to Basingstoke to perform at <a href="https://twitter.com/AnvilArts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnvilArts</a> tonight! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Callaloo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Callaloo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/piano?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#piano</a> <a href="https://t.co/UzCbvYyW9U">https://t.co/UzCbvYyW9U</a>
—@StewartgoodyearBass-baritone Stephen Hegedus put a bilingual spin to the Raptors slogan.
Oui, the North!!!!!!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/raptors?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#raptors</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheNorth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheNorth</a>
—@HegedusStephenCadence Weapon was at a viewing party in the middle of the 6.
<a href="https://t.co/gEGmNLy8mI">pic.twitter.com/gEGmNLy8mI</a>
—@cadenceweaponAnd Kardinal Offishall joined the festivities at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square with fellow artists Rich Kidd and Jessie Reyez (whose birthday coincided with Raptors' big win.)