#19: “Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead” From the Wizard of Oz

Following Margaret Thatcher’s death in 2013, Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead from The Wizard of Oz unexpectedly surged to No. 2 on the UK charts. Used as a protest anthem by critics of Thatcher’s policies, its resurgence sparked heated debate.

The BBC, citing concerns over it being a “celebration of death,” controversially refused to play the song in full on The Official Chart Show, opting instead for a brief news segment discussing its rise. The decision fueled further debate over censorship and political expression.