In the wake of the news that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had died of a stroke on April 8 at the age of 87-years-old, critics have catapulted Judy Garland’s version of “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead” to the top of several music charts, reports Metro.co.uk.
The Wizard of Oz classic has reached “No. 6 in the iTunes charts, No. 1 in the Amazon best-selling MP3s chart and looks set to nab a place in the official Top 10, possible the coveted No. 1 slot.”
Metro has more:
There was initial confusion when it was suggested that Judy Garland’s version is too short to qualify for the UK Top 40 charts, leading organisers to encourage people to buy Ella Fitzgerald’s lengthier rendition. The Official Charts Company appear to be allowing it however, leading to both tracks featuring in various charts.
Garland’s original has proved the most popular choice and at the time of writing is at No. 1 in the Amazon chart, No. 6 in the iTunes chart but is yet to pierce the official Top 40, residing at No. 54.
The Official Charts Company do expect her to feature in this week’s chart however, saying: ‘If the sales of all three were combined, the song would be in 40th place today, with almost 2,500 sales combined – but the leading contender by Judy Garland is likely to move into the Official Singles Chart Top 40 in its own right by Sunday if it maintains its current momentum.’
The critical responses to Thatcher’s death are not surprising. Considered by some to be a charismatic mouthpiece for patriarchy, imperialism, racism and bigotry, Twitter has exploded with scathing denouncements of her character and barely perceptible cyber-shrugs at news of her death.
Legendary Bigot Thatcher Gets Stinging Eulogy From South Africa huff.to/14Sy2KG via @HuffPostWorld—
Cheryl Contee (@ch3ryl) April 10, 2013
Margaret Thatcher was indeed a strong, resolute woman, but she was no friend of diversity or feminism. She actively worked against them.—
Nareen Young (@nareenyoung) April 10, 2013
Thatcher called anti-apartheid South African freedom fighters "terrorists". We'll all die one day. Her life wasn't something I celebrated.—
dream hampton (@dreamhampton) April 08, 2013
Thatcher’s career as a supporter of apartheid, going so far as to call the African National Congress “terrorists in 1987, led former ANC leader Pallo Jordan to issue the following statement:
“I’ve just sent a letter of congratulations,” Jordan said. “I say good riddance. She was a staunch supporter of the apartheid regime. She was part of the right wing alliance with Ronald Reagan that led to a lot of avoidable deaths.”
Though there have been Margaret Thatcher death parties across a Britain divided by news of her passing, President Barack Obama has been clear in his support:
"She stands as an example to our daughters that there is no glass ceiling that can’t be shattered." —Obama on Margaret Thatcher's passing—
Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 08, 2013
A Facebook group created in 2007 to make ‘Ding Dong The Witch is Dead’ on the charts the week that Thatcher died so far has 4,868 members.
Margaret Thatcher: ‘Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead’ Tops Charts After Former Prime Minister’s Death [VIDEO] was originally published on newsone.com
