I move that we translate 'Oh Canada" into American English. Maybe Ebonics.....:D

Seriously though- as was stated earlier, a national anthem should be sung in the language of the country that it represents, plain and simple. These people are just getting silly and hurting their cause in the process.

OK...so the lyrics were written during the War of 1812. When you are as old as I am, historical events become blurry. (OK, ISM - I meant if I recall my history correctly, not recall the actual event.:p )

If you consider it to be just a song then it probably shouldn't be translated. It is pretty much impossible to translate a song into a foreign language, even with the best of intentions, without the effect being comedic. A recent example of this for me is Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart in which a Japanese version of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" plays an important role.

If you consider the song a sacred text (based on the reaction of some I predict an amendment proposal banning desecration of the national anthem within days) then it should be translated. If the Catholic Church eventually decided that vulgar editions of the bible are ok then we can cope with a Spanish version of the Star Spangled Banner (assuming the intent is literal and not political as in the version I heard with altered lyrics).

I agree, Alex, and that's really a very good (to my mind, anyway) analysis of the situation. I consider it a song, one that is mangled on a regular basis and one that I dearly love, but not sacred in the slightest. I think the words have been changed a bit more than mere translation difficulties can explain, and so I think this is just very silly. Childish on the 'artist's' part and it would equally childish of us to respond in any reactionary way. Which, of course, we will.