[imagesource:ctm]

Old Blue Eyes may have done things his way in New York, but the Frank Sinatra song My Way doesn’t seem to be a hit in the Philippines. Well, not a musical hit.

The “My Way” killings are a social phenomenon in the Philippines and refer to a series of killings that occurred due to the singing of the song My Way, as popularized by Frank Sinatra. Authorities in the karaoke-loving country believe that the number of killings may be more than 12 as of 2022.

Explanations for the killings have ranged from the song being sung ‘one too many times’, as well as the perceived ‘aggressive lyrics’.

Murder is a bit extreme, but we all have experienced an agonizing five minutes of cringe at one time or another. My own experience involves performing a version of a Pearl Jam song at The Quest Club in New Orleans. I had a toothless carnie as backup vocals and an audience of oil-rig workers to contend with, but lucky for me a harsh “Shut the F*** Up!” from the audience was enough rejection to get me off the mic.

Karaoke singing is a popular pastime in the Philippines and most locals take it very seriously. But since 1999, several incidents have occurred during My Way performances which have led the newspapers to dub the incidents The “My Way” killings.

It has gotten so bad that most Filipinos won’t sing the song publicly, and it has even been absent from playlists since 2007.

Roland B. Tolentino, an expert on pop culture at the University of the Philippines Diliman, believes ‘the killings connected to singing the song in karaoke may simply reflect its popularity in a violent environment’. He also notes that the song’s “triumphalist” theme might have an aggravating effect on singers and listeners alike.

“Karaoke rage” is actually quite common in other countries too.

In 2007, someone was viciously attacked in Seatle by a woman who wanted him to stop singing Coldplay’s “Yellow“, and in 2008, a man shot eight people to death, including his brother-in-law, over repeated renditions of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads“.

As further proof that karaoke can be dangerous, there have also been reports of people taking meat cleavers to their families for hogging the mic, as well as stabbings for people who sang specific songs on repeat. In 2008, a man at a Malaysian coffee shop also hogged the karaoke microphone so long he was stabbed to death by other patrons.

Even the unhinged actor, Ezra Miller got into an altercation in 2022 during a karaoke contest when he started freaking out over a song.

It may be best to copy the guy below in this stirring rendition of a popular party anthem:

Karaoke should come with a disclaimer similar to cigarettes.

This song may harm those around you or result in a meat cleaver being lodged in your forehead. Use responsibly.

[source:wikipedia]