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A Bit Of Cash For The Harold Arlen Estate, A Bit Of A Headache For The Bbc....

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sp1814 | 06:46 Fri 12th Apr 2013 | News
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Should the BBC play 'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' on the chart show this weekend?

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/ding-dong-the-witch-is-dead-closer-to-number-one-spot-as-it-reaches-top-five-following-margaret-thatchers-death-8566042.html

Other papers (The Daily Mail) have compared it to the situation back in 1977, where the Beeb banned 'God Save The Queen' by the Sex Pistols, but is this not different, as GSTQ was specifically written about Her Maj, where this is a song whose meaning has been hijacked.

Sounds like the BBC are caught between a rock, and a hard place. Play the song and incur the wrath of many...or don't play the song and face accusations of cowardice.

Me...if I were the Director General, I would question whether its worth handing some sections of the press an open goal...
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This continual bleat of half the country despised her is ridiculous. If that were true, she wouldn’t have won three elections.

The hijacking of the song says more about the infantile mentality of the people who think it’s ‘great’ than it says about Mrs Thatcher. The BBC should rise above it.

SP, it’s not by Judy Garland. It was sung by the Munchkins. Seems about right.

Meanwhile... in North Korea...
Yes, well Comrade Jake is always up for a bit of exaggeration especially when he has his rose(or red) tinted spectacles on.
Snags, I've tried that one. It doesn't work. :o/
Well obviously as loved as Tony Blair then who also won 3 elections

Shall we have a state fulneral for him too

Or is that also ridiculous?



Yes Snags - Noth Korea a country where

People are contantly told to pay respect to leaders and ex leaders


- dissent is not tolerated, those who do are accused of treachery and allegience to foreign powers




Strangely that does seem somewhat apt in this thread!
perhaps a download of 'gangnam style' might make the north koreans sit up and listen?
Question Author
naomi24

Indeed that's true (although a rather minor point), but iTunes has it listed as 'Judy Garland et al'.

Oh...and it's now number one on the iTunes chart.
Jake, //Well obviously as loved as Tony Blair then who also won 3 elections//

That doesn’t illustrate that half the population despised her as you claimed, does it - so what’s your point? Incidentally, that was your feeble comeback on another thread yesterday when I reminded you that people were sick of the stranglehold the unions had under the previous Labour government when they held the country to ransom to the extent that our streets were piled high with uncollected rotting waste and, quite disgracefully, the bereaved were unable to bury their dead – all of which you ignored.

I never voted for Margaret Thatcher – but the duplicitous multi-millionaire that is the real Tony Blair taught me and many others of my acquaintance that the Labour party of old with values I admired no longer existed and therefore no longer merited my vote. You're clinging to something that simply isn't there.

SP, I like the fact that it was sung by the Munchkins. Quite appropriate in the circumstances. ;o)
If it gets into the top 5, they should play it. Regardless of whether it was exactly 50% of the population who despised her or not, regardless of whether many commenting here feel the protesters and too young and therefore not entitled to have an opinion on Thatcher or Thatcherism - Its a means of passive protest, and banning it would be repressive.

We live in a free country and all have a right of protest - if this is how the protesters choose to make their voice heard, then so be it.... It amazes me how many here are so selective when it comes to free speech - all for it most of the time- unless it affects their particular idol...
//We live in a free country and all have a right of protest //

This song is number one out of anything nearly as dignified as peaceful protest - it's by way of tasteless celebration.
^^This song *isn't* number one ....
//this song *isn't* number one//

ohhhhhh yes it is...
http://www.apple.com/euro/itunes/charts/top10songs.html
"Thatcher dies: chart show censored in her honour".

Ridiculous. If you're playing the top-selling songs, just play them.
@ Naomi - Tasteless or not, whether you personally approve of it or not, this is a free country, with a right of protest, and it is not illegal. So they should play it, or look like a tool of government propaganda and suppression of dissent.

The verses, words and sentiment cannot be considered obscene. There is no copyright reason why it should be banned.It is not an incitement to hatred or violence.If it gets in the top5, hell, if it gets into the top10, it should be played - offer an explanation if you want, to set the context if you want.

Free speech applies whether it is about your own idols or not - to protest otherwise is to be hypocritical.
sp1814

/// Oh...and it's now number one on the iTunes chart. //

That says much of those who follow the music charts, and walk around all day with their full size headphones attached firmly to their ears.

They would be better employed removing them and listening to matters much more important than music.

I just cannot see the intelligence of anyone bothering to down load this out dated piece of music, so as to play it to themselves, just because it makes a referral to a dead witch in the film The Wizard of Oz, and they can then in their juvenile minds somehow attach it to a dead ex Prime Minister, for their own twisted amusement.
Mushroom, I know the song is number one. You're not keeping up with the posts. My last was an amendment to the previous one which should have read //This song ISN'T number one out of anything nearly as dignified as peaceful protest - it's by way of tasteless celebration. //

LG, I repeat that in my opinion this isn't protest - and as you say free speech applies.
@ Naomi - One persons tasteless celebration is anther persons dignified protest. Who made you the thought police?
Question Author
AOG

The iTunes chart isn't the BBC chart, so it might not actually be the official UK number one.

Regarding people's entertainment choices ("They would be better employed removing them and listening to matters much more important than music") - perhaps that's a different topic altogether.

LG, //Who made you the thought police? //

There's no call for that.

//It amazes me how many here are so selective when it comes to free speech - all for it most of the time- unless it affects their particular idol... //

^^ Yes indeed. Ironic.

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