MIC DROP

Karaoke Singer, 64, Arrested After Hitting Sour Note

It appears singing the wrong song can have serious consequences.

A woman is behind bars in the Dominican Republic after performing an altered version of the national anthem during karaoke. In a viral clip, Amarilis Brito Rodríguez sang the anthem at the restaurant “Mofongo & Variedades Eddy,” in the dembow style, a rapid-tempo musical genre originating in the Dominican Republic. Authorities arrested the 64-year-old a few days later, citing Article 37 of Law 210-19, which does not allow “acts of outrage against the National Anthem.” The law makes it illegal to alter the anthem in any way, including changing its tempo or making it danceable, both of which Rodríguez could be liable for. “I used the anthem’s verses to express my free spirit. I comply with what the law says, but I don’t regret it because I don’t feel I did any harm,” she told reporters. Rodríguez could face a fine and a few months in prison for her blunder. “Forgive me, my country, forgive me in every way I need to ask,” she added when speaking to reporters.