Anti-Thatcher song misses top spot

BBC Radio 1's chart show played a seven-second clip of the song from The Wizard of Oz after it reached number 2

DING Dong The Witch Is Dead - the song propelled into the British charts by opponents of Margaret Thatcher - has failed to reach the number one spot.

The recording, taken from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, entered the charts at number two.

It was more than 5000 sales short of this week's chart-topper Need U (100%) by Duke Dumont featuring A*M*E.

The Official Charts Company described Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead as "one of the most controversial chart contenders of all time".

Sales were fuelled by an online campaign organised by opponents of the former British prime minister, who wanted to see the 51-second song reach number one.

Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead, taken from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, was propelled into the British charts by opponents of Margaret Thatcher but failed to reach the number one spot. 

Some Tory MPs demanded the BBC ban the song - but others warned that politicians should not interfere in the choice of records played by broadcasters.

New BBC boss Tony Hall has explained the broadcaster's decision to only play a five-second clip of the song as part of a news item during the Radio 1 chart show, saying: "I personally believe it is distasteful and inappropriate.

"However, I do believe it would be wrong to ban the song outright as free speech is an important principle and a ban would only give it more publicity."

On Sunday evening the Radio 1 chart show played a short segment of the song for just a matter of seconds.

Music reporter Sinead Garvan explained the context of the single's appearance in the charts to listeners of the station, which has a target audience of 15- to 29-year-olds.

"Tributes poured in from across the world for Margaret Thatcher when she died on Monday, but there were also people who threw street parties around the UK," she said.

"An online campaign began in 2007 to try to get this song, Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead, to number one in the charts the week Lady Thatcher died."

Punk song I'm In Love With Margaret Thatcher by the Notsensibles, which was featured in recent film The Iron Lady, also entered the top 40 on Sunday.

The 1979 single reached number 35 after a push from fans of Thatcher in response to Ding Dong The Witch is Dead and sold 8768 copies.

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Anti-Thatcher song hits number one

Ding Dong! The witch is dead has raced to the top of the Amazon download chart in Britain.

Take a look back at the life and very turbulent times of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Watch a typically feisty parliamentary performance from the late Margaret Thatcher.

Margaret Thatcher In robes at the House of Lords, London, in 1992. Source: Supplied

• Over 100,000 copies sold since Margaret Thatcher's death
• Facebook campaign for anti-Thatcher song
• Punch Breaking Views: Ding Dong compassion is dead

ANTI-Margaret Thatcher fans have sent Ding Dong the Witch is Dead to No.1 on the UK iTunes chart today.

The track, being downloaded to protest the late former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has sold over 10,000 copies in the UK since Margaret Thatcher’s death.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARGARET THATCHER

That places it at No.10 on the UK’s midweek chart, which combines all digital sales. A Facebook campaign is aiming to get the track to No.1.

PUNCH BREAKING VIEWS: DING DONG COMPASSION IS DEAD

Several versions of Ding Dong are charting in the UK. The main is Judy Garland’s original, while an Ella Fitzgerald cover from 1961 has also been reactivated.

BRITAIN PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MARGARET THATCHER

The UK chart have now credited the song to Wizard of Oz Film Cast meaning all sales of both Garland’s version and the Munchkins version from the 1939 movie have been combined.

If Ding Dong sells 5000 copies more in the next three days it will break into the Top 3 in the UK and may make No.1 on next week’s official chart.

The official UK chart is released on 7pm Sunday, UK time.

Ding Dong may make another UK record – at 51 seconds it may become the shortest song to top the British charts.

The shortest UK No.1 to date was Adam Faith’s What Do You Want at one minute 38 seconds in 1959.
 

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