10 Bizarre Reasons Songs Were Banned From The Radio
8. Connotations With Margaret Thatcher - Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead
Regardless of political stance, it is easy to see why this song was able to ruffle a few feathers when being used in this way. However, the lengths that the BBC undertook to make sure that any upset was avoided seem a little extraordinary...
When former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher passed away in 2013, the BBC decided to temporarily ban Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead from being broadcast, seeing the use of the song in this context as a distressing celebration of death. The classic song from The Wizard of Oz (1939) was often used when criticising the late PM, leading to the song being linked with her time as leader of the country.
The most bizarre aspect of this event is that, seeing as how the song wasn't exactly a recent, chart-topping hit, the only way it would have been played over the radio was through requests. So instead of banning the song, wouldn't it be easier to have just turned down a few requests?