Frank Sinatra's "My Way" was linked to at least a dozen murders in the Philippines between 1998 and 2018 — a phenomenon so deadly that bars across the country eventually banned the song entirely.

Evidence Locker True Crime

Evidence Locker True Crime

256: The ‘My Way’ Karaoke Killings | The Philippines

APR 12, 202618 MIN
Evidence Locker True Crime

256: The ‘My Way’ Karaoke Killings | The Philippines

APR 12, 202618 MIN

Description

<div> <p>Frank Sinatra's "My Way" became one of the deadliest songs in history — not on a battlefield, but in the karaoke bars of the Philippines. Between 1998 and 2018, at least a dozen people were killed in disputes linked to the song, in incidents dubbed the "My Way Killings." Victims were shot for singing off-key, stabbed over microphone disputes, and killed for daring to claim the song as theirs. The killings prompted bar owners to ban the song outright, drew international media attention, and sparked debate about karaoke culture, Filipino identity, and the role of pride and alcohol in public violence.</p><p><strong>Books:</strong> Read collections of <a href="https://evidencelockerpodcast.com/books">The Evidence Locker Files</a>, available in print and digital editions.<br><strong>Follow us on:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc-3vROB1gpEWM1YoEr9vLA">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/evidencelockerpodcast/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/evidencelockerpodcast/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://x.com/EvLockPodcast">X</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@evidencelockerpodcast">TikTok</a><br><strong>For more information, visit:</strong> <a href="https://apple.co/3td9ivp">Evidence Locker Website</a><br><strong>Listen ad-free:</strong> Visit our page at <a href="https://www.patreon.com/evidencelocker">Patreon</a><br><strong>25% of Evidence Locker Patreon proceeds are donated to support the </strong><a href="https://www.doenetwork.org/"><strong>Doe Network</strong></a><strong>, solving international cold cases. To learn more, visit: </strong><a href="https://www.doenetwork.org/">https://www.doenetwork.org/<br></a><br><strong>Resources</strong><br><strong>Web</strong><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way_killings">Wikipedia – My Way Killings</a><br><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way">Wikipedia – My Way</a><br><strong>Articles</strong><br><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100106000922/http:/www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/02/world/main2877951.shtml">Karaoke fan killed for singing out of tune</a><br><a href="https://coconuts.co/manila/news/man-kills-friend-fighting-karaoke/">Man kills friend after fighting over karaoke</a><br><a href="https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/971359/man-killed-by-drinking-buddy-inside-lucena-bar">Man killed by drinking buddy inside Lucena bar</a><br><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/world/asia/07karaoke.html">Sinatra song often strikes a deadly chord</a><br><a href="https://coconuts.co/manila/news/not-filipino-man-killed-fight-song-way-karaoke-session/">Not again: Filipino man killed in fight over song ‘My Way’ during karaoke session</a><br><a href="https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/149716/my-way-karoake-killings-explained">12 shot dead in random killings while all singing the same karaoke song</a><br><strong>Music</strong><br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w22haP4hgsQ">Comme D'Habitude – Claude Francois</a><br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq97CWuT0dw">Kishidan – My Way<br></a><br><em>Created &amp; Produced by Sonya Lowe</em><br><em>Narrated by Noel Vinson</em><br><em>Music: "Nordic Medieval" by Marcus Bressler</em><br><em>Background track: Doblado Studios: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/DobladoStudios">https://www.youtube.com/c/DobladoStudios</a><br></em><br><em>This True Crime Podcast was researched using open-source or archival materials.<br></em><br></p></div>