Anti-Margaret Thatcher song misses out on chart top spot

Online campaigners hoping to celebrate the death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher by hyping a re-release of The Wizard Of Oz tune Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead! have missed out on a chart number one. The Judy Garland song has debuted at number two on the British pop charts.
Thatcher’s death on Monday (08Apr13), deeply divided Brits, who both admired and despised the former Conservative Party leader.
Among the tributes were public attacks on the late Prime Minister, who became known as The Iron Lady for her no-nonsense approach to politics.
Out of the criticism rose a Facebook campaign aimed at steering the 1939 The Wizard of Oz song to the top of the charts.
According to countdown experts at the The Official Charts Company, more than 52,000 people bought the song last week (ends13Apr13) – but it wasn’t enough to keep Need U by DJ Duke Dumont and singer A*M*E off the top.
A rival campaign by Thatcher’s fans to promote the 1979 Notsensibles single I’m In Love With Margaret Thatcher failed to make a big splash on the new chart – that re-release has debuted in 35th place.
Brits are now bracing themselves for Thatcher’s funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on Wednesday (17Apr13). The ceremonial farewell, which will be preceded by a procession through the streets, is expected to be one marred by protests.