Should Radio 1 play 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead' in this Sunday's Chart Show?

Poll

Should the song be played?

I personally think they shouldn't. I've never been so disgusted in this country, and I hope the BBC do the right thing and boycott this disgusting, pathetic campaign led by the Scousers no doubt.

Reply 1

DorianGrayism

19

What a ridiculous reaction.

I can't believe that most people have voted No ( so far) and are advocating the censorship of the Radio.

I want the song to be played. Not because I am rabid left wing socialist but because this a form of freedom of speech.

I am sure some of the Right Wingers that have voted No, were far more receptive to the idea of offending Muslims by printing the Mohammed Cartoons.

If you don't like...then don't turn on the radio. I wont!

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 2

Funtry

15

I wish they would boycott it, but to remain unbiased, they should play it.

Reply 3

faber niger

17

Sure, why not? It's not big or clever or sophisticated, but so what, people obviously felt strongly enough to part with their cash. That's democracy (and the market at work moreover), ain't it?

I'm sure Thatcher was in support of the right to offend as much as anyone (but even if she weren't, it wouldn't make it less important). Thatcher was a public figure whose family has spent their entire lives learning how to deal with vehement criticism of their mother, she was not just a private individual, any little old lady, as evidenced by the ceremonial funeral. If the state can beatify her, the public should be free to offer alternative narratives.

Why don't we use this thread more productively and come up with a suitable song for when the war criminal Blair croaks it?

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 4

FuzzySheep

15

Original post by Funtry

I wish they would boycott it, but to remain unbiased, they should play it.

Hmm, I thought it would be unbiased for them not to play it, because it's got a political undertone, but as long as they didn't make the statement themselves then it's just a song, like you say. It's an odd one, it'll be interesting to see how they deal with it.

Reply 5

S1L3NTPR3Y

13

People have paid money for it and as the song itself is completely innocent (even if the reasoning behind it current purchase is highly questionable) it should be played.

PS. I personally think it is wrong to celebrate anybody's death even if much of their legacy created misery and problems which persist today for millions.

Reply 6

Steevee

15

Personally, I'd rather they didn't from a decency perspective, there are plenty of songs you can't play on the radio for their political messages, and you can't deny that this is politically related. That said, I'll not be writing a complaint or anything if they do.

Reply 7

Gews

5

Nope.

As Boomkack would say...

"Disrespectful ****s!"

Reply 8

Aspiringlawstudent

3

Considering the BBC is the media wing of the Labour party, they'll play it regardless.

Reply 9

greatwaves

I don't agree with censorship so I do think if it succeeds then they ought to play it, but I don't imagine the Radio 1 host would go into depth about. Would the reasoning behind it be mentioned at all? It's only about 50 seconds long. If it got brushed over the carpet it would be reminiscent of the blanking out of the Pistols' God Save The Queen all those years ago.

Reply 10

cant_think_of_name

15

If it's in the charts, then they should play it. Buying it is questionable but I think the BBC should represent what songs have been bought that week, regardless of the motives behind it.

Reply 11

Pn94

16

Of course they should.

Reply 12

mc1000

13

No, just like no-one should ever play the other 39 songs in the top 40.

As a matter of principle, though, yes. Absolutely.

Reply 13

username917703

17

Is it likely to be number 1 then? I see it's steadily gone up from Monday where I saw it at 16 and it's now at number 1 on the iTunes chart.

I'd buy it myself buy I dislike Apple more than Thatcher.

Reply 14

biffyclyro27

14

They should play Frank Turner's Thatcher ****ed the Kids instead...

Reply 15

DiscoRanger

Original post by DorianGrayism

What a ridiculous reaction.

I can't believe that most people have voted No ( so far) and are advocating the censorship of the Radio.

I want the song to be played. Not because I am rabid left wing socialist but because this a form of freedom of speech.

I am sure some of the Right Wingers that have voted No, were far more receptive to the idea of offending Muslims by printing the Mohammed Cartoons.

If you don't like...then don't turn on the radio. I wont!

Exactly this!

Reply 16

miser

20

Yes, I think that they should play it. Obviously it doesn't represent the BBC's views - continuing as normal is the only way they can maintain neutrality. If they refuse to play it then they are taking sides, which is not their job.

Reply 17

PierceBrosnan

13

Yes, of course they should play it. Not only is it for neutrality, it's commonplace in a pluralistic democracy to have opposing viewpoints that are somewhat freely expressed. Also, Thatcher reveled in opposition so frankly we should play it.

Reply 18

Manitude

20

It's not the BBC's place to have an official political view. As much as I disagree with the sentiment, I think they should play it.
On the BBC news article on it some guy said "the chart is almost like a news programme; it's a programme of record" which I agree with. Whatever you think of the campaign, the fact that it sold more copies of that song than any other song is a small part of our history. Much in the same way that the Christmas number 1 campaign was won by RATM a few years ago.

Reply 19

tehforum

20

Original post by PierceBrosnan

Yes, of course they should play it. Not only is it for neutrality, it's commonplace in a pluralistic democracy to have opposing viewpoints that are somewhat freely expressed. Also, Thatcher reveled in opposition so frankly we should play it.

This.

Should Radio 1 play 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead' in this Sunday's Chart Show?

Should the song be played?

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