Music critic Robert Christgau called it "the most self-serving song ever written." He wasn't wrong. But therein lies its power. "My Way" is not a confession; it is a performance of self-belief. It is the armor you put on when the world has beaten you down.
In the Philippines, the song even gained lethal infamy: in 2007, a man was shot and killed for singing it off-key in a karaoke bar, sparking urban legends of a “My Way curse.” The irony is perfect — a song about self-expression leading to violent intolerance of poor performance. frank sinatra my way
Enter Paul Anka, a Canadian singer-songwriter who had already achieved success with hits like "You Are My Destiny" and "Lonely Boy." Anka was approached by Sinatra's publisher, Hank Hunter, to write a song specifically for Sinatra. Anka agreed and began working on a new composition, which would eventually become "My Way." Music critic Robert Christgau called it "the most
Despite its slow start (it peaked at only No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100), became a slow-burning monster. It found its audience not on Top 40 radio, but on the golf course, in the boardroom, and ultimately, in the church. It is the armor you put on when