Ding Dong song raises issue for the BBC

It’s uncertain whether the song from The Wizard of Oz will be broadcasted on BBC Radio 1’s chart show

10:59 12 April 2013

The BBC is to reach a decision as to whether it will play the “Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead” song in its Radio 1 chart show on Sunday, 14th April, as of time of press. The song, from the film The Wizard of Oz, has rocketed to the top of the charts following a campaign.

Based on results from the Official Charts Company, the track reached as high as number four in the chart listings earlier this week.

Now, decision-makers at the BBC will have to choose what to do about the song - which is being referred to by some as the Margaret Thatcher ‘death song’ – as they will have to decide whether they will broadcast it on Sunday or not.

The song climbed the charts after certain people campaigned to make it a success.

Some people hold the view that the song should not be broadcasted.

The death of Baroness Margaret Thatcher has caused some controversy, as seemingly some are calling for celebrations.

Labour man Tony Blair previously said that respect should be shown for the deceased, following the news of Lady Thatcher’s death.

The BBC has reportedly refrained from playing tracks in the past.

And following another campaign, the song “Killing in the Name”, by US rock group Rage Against the Machine, topped the UK charts previously.

It knocked hopeful X Factor winner Joe McElderry from reaching number one at Christmas in 2009. This was after the rock song was first released in the early 1990s.

The film Oz The Great And Powerful, where actor James Franco (known for films such as 127 Hours and the Spiderman movies) plays Oz, was released last month. Directed by Sam Raimi, the cast for also includes Mila Kunis (of the 2010 film Black Swan among others).