Stop the Amarillo farse!

This song is like a disease, like a virus passed from one person to another. ‘Amarillo’ has been around since early 70’s and Britain still can’t get enough of it, never mind it’s tacky.

What is so special about that chart-topping song? Maybe… lyrics? Well, Amarillo was the only name that Sedaka and Greenfield, authors of lyrics, could think of that rhymed with "willow" and "pillow". Piece of...art! Music is simple, common and may get stuck in your head for ages causing distress and anxiety. And millions of Britons had that suicidal idea to get Tony Christie’s single. ‘Is This the Way to Amarillo’ has been spreading ever since.

Even British Ministry of Defence IT system was infected. The Servers couldn’t cope with a number of downloaded files containing a spoof video performed by British soldiers in Iraq. Computers crashed but the MoD said the spoof was "brilliant" and the crash didn’t cause problems. Even if it did, for the sake of Amarillo, British national defence systems may stop working now!

Soon after, the song made its way to Berlin’s World Cup and Men’s Single final at Wimbledon. ‘Cult’ tune proved to be suitable for every occasion, even opening titles in the last general election on BBC One’s This Week. The song was used by boxer Amir Khan and the PDC darts player Peter Manley. Falkirk F.C and Bolton Wanderers play it as their ‘goal’ song. But, Chelmsford in Essex went even further and named their football club with glory – FC Amarillo!

And you would wonder when it’s going to stop? A few months ago a woman who annoyed her neighbours by playing the hit single Amarillo has been given a two-year anti-social behavioural order. Mrs Webb was forced to pay £300 in compensation and police took away her stereo. This is good news for all of us. Let’s hope that this will become a general rule, as common as that awful song.