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

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

From Evidence Locker True Crime by Evidence Locker True Crime

April 12, 2026 · 19 min · Episode 256

About this episode

This episode explores the deadly incidents linked to Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' in karaoke bars across the Philippines.

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. Books: Read collections of The Evidence Locker Files , available in print and digital editions. Follow us on: YouTube , Facebook , Instagram , X , TikTok For more information, visit: Evidence Locker Website Listen ad-free: Visit our page at Patreon 25% of Evidence Locker Patreon proceeds are donated to support the Doe Network , solving international cold cases. To learn more, visit: https://www.doenetwork.org/ Resources Web Wikipedia – My Way Killings Wikipedia – My Way Articles Karaoke fan killed for singing out of tune Man kills friend after fighting over karaoke Man killed by…

People in this episode

Host: Evidence Locker True Crime

Topics covered

  • karaoke culture
  • violence
  • Filipino identity
  • public disputes
  • music
  • true crime

Keywords

  • My Way Killings
  • karaoke
  • Philippines
  • violence
  • Frank Sinatra
  • public violence
  • music disputes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Doe Network, Evidence Locker

Books & works: My Way, Comme D'Habitude

Places: Philippines, Lucena

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