[video=youtube;PHQLQ1Rc_Js]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PHQLQ1Rc_Js[/video] Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead has rocketed to number one in the iTunes download chart following the death of Margaret Thatcher. The Judy Garland version of the Wizard of Oz song hit the top spot last night following an online campaign by the Iron Lady's critics. It had already reached the top spot on Amazon's sales charts on Tuesday night. In the midweek Official Singles Chart it was listed at number 10 and is on course to be number one after selling more than 10,600 copies. It missed out on a Top 3 spot by just 5,000 copies. However, Radio 1 may not play Ding Dong The Witch is Dead if it makes the Top 40 in Sunday's Official Chart Show countdown. Senior production staff will meet on Sunday morning before the chart show to discuss its content and make a decision on whether or not to play the song. When asked if the station would play the track, a BBC spokesperson said: "The Official Chart Show on Sunday is a historical and factual account of what the British public has been buying and we will make a decision about playing it when the final chart positions are clear." It's understood that if the decision is taken not to play the song it would have nothing to do with worries over offending people and instead would be due to "production reasons". While many mourned the former Prime Minister who died aged 87 on Monday, many others saw her death as a cause for celebration. Members posted a link to the song and urged people to download it. The song features in the 1939 musical The Wizard of Oz and is sung by Dorothy, played by Judy Garland, the Munchkins and Glinda the Good Witch, played by Billie Burke. They sing it as they celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch of the East after Dorothy "dropped a house on her". The song was written by E.Y. Harburg and composed by Harold Arlen.
Anyone remember the Sex Pistols song 'God Save The Queen' ? It was released as a single in 1977 during the Queen's Silver Jubilee. It was highly controversial at that time, leading both the BBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority to a refusal to play it on air. The story is that despite officially reaching number in UK on the NME charts, it was only designated number 2 on the official UK Singles Chart with Rod Stewart's "I Don't Want to Talk About It" hitting the number one spot. Of course there were accusations of cheating and fixing to stop the Sex Pistols from achieving number 1 with "God Save The Queen" It'll be interesting to see how things get handled this on this one. Bet there's already a lot of 'talking' going on behind closed doors Sex Pistols God Save The Queen Interesting lyrics eh ?
Ironically, John Lydon told the media he was a bit fed up with all this Thatcher-hating going on at the moment and he wont be celebrating her death. It just shows the mentality of people when they all go and download a song just because someone has died.
Not bought the song myself, because it is awful.... I did take part in the "Killing in the name of" scheme to get that song to number 1 back when it was almost a dead cert that the X-factor winner would be Christmas number one, but this is different. There are many on the right who celebrated at the death of Hugo Chavez as there is now for Thatcher. So I chuckle at the Daily Mail when they declare that THE left are all out on the streets celebrating Thatchers death, I didn't! Nor did about 99% of people who consider themselves on the left of the political spectrum, but at the same time we see no reason to suddenly talk about her as if she were a saint. Mrs Thatcher was hated throughout her life, and she will be long after her death. She was also loved by many on the right, who will keep onto that memory of her. Such a polarizing figure she was..
The motivation for my original posting was never intended to be another anti-Thatcher thread. Hey Ho!
Maybe it would have been better to write "Mrs Thatcher was hated throughout her life by many on the left but loved by many on the right". I, for one, never hated her.
Well it appears that the BBC will play 'a few seconds' only. Pointless decision imo. I wonder if that will set off a 'buy' surge :Erm: Watch this space
Margaret Thatcher said in April 1983 "Some say Maggie may and others say Maggie may not", wishing to appear coy over the election date... Rod Stewart, a favourite of mine. Great mandolin work. Maggie was also the name of my ex wife..
I'm also a fan of Rod Stewart since a long time. He's a real nice bloke too. Charming, positive and intersting imo Not that I've met him, but I seen lots of interviews etc. Most people who have met and spoken with him say the same.
Dragon Lady Miriam on Thatcher: I idolize her "'HER PROTEGE.' Sen Miriam Defensor Santiago, dubbed the Iron Lady of Asia, says she considers herself Thatcher's protege. Photo from Santiago's Facebook page" http://www.rappler.com/nation/25853-dragon-lady-miriam-on-thatcher-i-idolize-her
Thanks for posting John, I had read a little of Glenda's speech but I had not actually listened to her until now, you're right she sums it up, and very eloquently at that for something that is clearly from the heart and not a fully pre-prepared speech. Reading this weeks New Scientist magazine tonight the editorial's second entry is as follows, and I have had to type all this myself as there is no online source Source attribution to New Scientist Magazine from Reed Publications, the only magazine I could not live without. Hopefully I've typed that accurately it pretty much sums up my view on her and I can't disagree much with Glenda either.
