September 4, 2023 | Awake & Dreaming

In the Philippines, karaoke is king. Every barangay is equipped with 10 or so karaoke bars, each of which is alive until well into the early morning. However one song can cause your death. And it’s surprising that it is this song. Popularized 50 years ago, in 1969, “My Way” is one of Sinatra’s greatest records. Critics claim that the song is one of Sinatra’s best, vocally and creatively. But in the Philippines, when you sing Sinatra, you could get killed. Some were killed for singing out of tune, others were killed for hogging the microphone, and quite a few were killed for singing the song on repeat for hours on end.

Filipinos discovered this when a spate of karaoke-related killings took place between 2002 and 2012. Within one decade, it’s suspected that at least 12 people were killed in connection to singing Frank Sinatra’s hit song “My Way.” In 2007, a karaoke bar’s security guard shot a 29-year-old man singing “My Way” in San Mateo, Rizal. Apparently, the young man was off-key, and when he wouldn’t stop singing, the guard lost his shit, pulled out a .38 caliber pistol, and shot him dead. That’s just one incident from the many that took place in 10 years. The string of killings shocked society, and some bar owners removed the song from the jukebox or videoke machine.

Some won’t even sing the song in public, and if they do want to sing it, they’d get a private room at a karaoke bar so no one would be triggered by their off-tune vocals. Just when they thought the murders had ended, the “My Way” killings struck again just last year in 2018, when a 60-year-old man was stabbed by his neighbor, 28, during a birthday party in Zamboanga del Norte. According to reports, the senior grabbed the mic from his neighbor just when “My Way” was about to play. A fistfight ensued, ending with the neighbor stabbing the elderly man. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Arsenal scored twice in stoppage time to secure a dramatic victory over Manchester United at Emirates Stadium. In a chaotic finale to a largely scrappy game, United first thought they had snatched three points only to see Alejandro Garnacho’s 88th-minute finish ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee with the score 1-1. The drama then switched to the other end in eight added minutes as Declan Rice’s deflected shot gave Arsenal the lead before substitute Gabriel Jesus raced clear to wrap up the win as the stadium exploded in elation. United had taken the lead in the 27th minute when Christian Eriksen’s outstanding pass played in Marcus Rashford, who cut inside to send an unerring right-foot drive past Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The Gunners, who had already spurned a golden chance when the struggling Kai Havertz miskicked with the goal at his mercy, were level almost instantly when captain Martin Odegaard was given too much space and sent an emphatic finish into the bottom corner. In an encounter that rarely hit the heights despite lots of effort, Arsenal – who had seen a penalty over-turned by the VAR after referee Anthony Taylor originally ruled Havertz had been fouled – missed a glorious late opportunity when Bukayo Saka shot straight at Andre Onana. United saw celebrations cut short with two minutes left when substitute Garnacho raced clear to score, but the VAR ruled he was just offside – opening the door for Arsenal to produce two devastating blows.

Arsenal put their fans through the emotional wringer before sheer joy swept around Emirates Stadium at the sound of Taylor’s final whistle. For most of this match, the hosts could not find the pace and fluency that made them such an attractive, winning proposition last season as there was simply too much tension around their play. Havertz continues to look an expensive luxury item, his role in the Gunners set a mysterious one, but when it mattered Mikel Arteta’s side raised themselves to deliver a vital win when it looked like they would drop points for a second successive home game after being held by Fulham. For a few moments it looked like defeat would be Arsenal’s fate until VAR ruled Garnacho had gone just too soon before beating Ramsdale with a composed finish.

Rice deserved his goal, albeit one deflected off Jonny Evans at the near post, for an outstanding individual display that illustrated once again why Arteta made his £105m signing his main summer priority. And then Jesus showed what value he brings to Arsenal when, with United chasing an equaliser after being stunned by Rice’s goal, he embarked on a weaving solo run before beating Onana. It means Arsenal are still in touch with Manchester City and there is a real feeling of optimism going into the international break.