My Way killings

The "My Way" killings were a social phenomenon in the Philippines, referring to a number of fatal disputes which arose from the singing of the song "My Way", popularized by Frank Sinatra,^[1] in karaoke bars (more commonly known as "videoke" in the Philippines). A New York Times article estimated the number of killings to be at least six as of 2010. Between 2002 and 2012, numerous people were killed for singing this song.^[2]

Explanations for these incidents differ, from the song being simply frequently sung among the nation's karaoke bars, where violence is common, to perceived aggression in the lyrics of the song.^[3]

Background and history

Karaoke singing is a widespread, popular pastime in the Philippines, including among those with a low income. Many were earning about $2 a day in 2007 and could purchase time on a "videoke" machine at a rate of ₱5 per song (about 10¢ in US currency).^[4] Filipinos who can afford to do so often get private rooms at karaoke bars.

Since January 16, 1998,^[5] about a dozen incidents occurred in connection with strenuous complaints over the singing of the song "My Way", prompting Filipino newspapers to name the phenomenon the "'My Way' killings".^[3]

Attention to these killings peaked on May 29, 2007, when 25-year-old John Mark Arimbuyutan was shot dead by bouncer guard, Nico Palapar, at a bar in San Mateo, Rizal.^[6] The bouncer had stated that he was prompted to kill Romy using his service weapon, a .38 caliber pistol, when Romy accidentally went off key while singing "My Way"^{[citation needed]} and struggled to get back on track.^[7]

The phenomenon continued in the 2010s and gained much more attention when a chairman of a Tondo barangay was shot alongside his aide/driver by motorcycle-riding gunmen, while singing the song during a Christmas party; the chairman died on the spot while the aide survived in critical condition. In leads to the case, authorities suspect the motive to be allegations of the chairman being a protector of drug peddlers and small-time kingpins, which residents of the village as well as the chairman's friends, acquaintances, and relatives vehemently deny, believing the crime to be politically motivated.

The last known incident was in June 2018, when Jose Bosmion Jr. was stabbed to death by his neighbor, Rolando Cañeso, during a birthday party in Dipolog City. Bosmion grabbed the microphone from Cañeso right as he was about to sing the song, leading to a fist fight that turned into a stabbing.^[8]

Responses

Some Filipinos—even those who love the song—will not sing it in public, in order to avoid trouble or out of superstitious fear.^[2]

As of 2007, the song reportedly had been taken off the playlists of karaoke machines in many bars in Manila, after complaints about out-of-tune renditions of the song, resulting in violent fights and murders.^[7]

As a reference to the phenomenon, Japanese rock band Kishidan released an uptempo rock cover of "My Way" as their 10th anniversary single, with a promotional music video featured lead singer (Ayonocozey Show) being shot numerous times while singing the song. Ayonocozey is then shot once more in the back while walking away after the song is concluded, collapsing in a heap on the stairs with a wry grin. A shortened version was used as a commercial.^[9]

Explanations

New York Times writer Norimitsu Onishi argued that the killings might be "the natural byproduct of the country's culture of violence, drinking and machismo".^[2] Violent attacks occur frequently in Philippine karaoke bars, with fights often sparked over breaches of karaoke etiquette – such as laughing at other performers, performing the same song twice, or hogging the microphone.^[10]

According to Roland B. Tolentino, an expert in pop culture at the University of the Philippines Diliman, the killings connected to singing the song in karaoke may simply reflect its popularity in a violent environment. He also noted that the song's "triumphalist" theme might have an aggravating effect on singers and listeners alike.^[2] Other tunes, just as popular in the Philippines, have not resulted in murder.

Butch Albarracin, the owner of "Center for Pop", a Manila-based singing school, also believes the lyrics of "My Way" increase the violence. The lyrics, as he explained, "evoke feelings of pride and arrogance in the singer, as if you're somebody when you're really nobody. It covers up your failures. That's why it leads to fights."^[2]

"Karaoke rage" in other countries

Cases of karaoke rage, where singers have been harassed, assaulted or killed mid-performance have been reported all over East and Southeast Asia. Incidents of "karaoke rage" outside of Asia have also been documented.

• In August 2007, a karaoke singer in Seattle, Washington, was attacked by a woman who wanted him to stop singing Coldplay's "Yellow".^[11]
• In March 2008, a man was arrested in Thailand for shooting eight people to death, including his brother-in-law, in a dispute stemming from several karaoke offerings, including repeated renditions of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads".^[12]
• In December 2008, a man at a Malaysian coffee shop hogged the karaoke microphone for so long he was stabbed to death by other patrons.^[13]
• In August 2012, a fight over the microphone broke out in a Chinese karaoke parlor, with a man killing two relatives with a meat cleaver.^[14]
• In July 2013, an American was stabbed to death for refusing to stop singing in a karaoke bar in Krabi, Thailand.^[15]
• In March 2022, American actor Ezra Miller was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and harassment after getting into altercations with attendees of a karaoke bar in Hawaii. Miller was at a karaoke bar when they suddenly began "yelling obscenities and became agitated when people began singing karaoke". Miller allegedly lunged at a man who was playing darts and grabbed a microphone out of a woman's hand as she was mid-song.^[16][17]