<P> The song was never performed live on British music show, Top of the Pops, since Covington refused and whenever it was featured on the show, a montage of images of the real Eva was shown in the backdrops . However, during the week it was number one, she appeared in the audience . Rice and Lloyd Webber then targeted BBC Radio 1, which was in its infancy, but still popular among the general crowd . They had a fairly tight selection of songs they aired on their channels, and Radio 1 completely refused to add "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" in their playlists . Rice and Lloyd Webber panicked and were almost on the verge of releasing another track from Evita called "Another Suitcase in Another Hall", recorded by Barbara Dickson, as the second single . But Radio 1 finally relented and started playing the song due to positive response from audiences . </P> <P> "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" debuted at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart on the week ending 25 December 1976 . It started climbing up the chart but for 3 weeks it was kept from reaching the top spot by David Soul's "Don't Give Up on Us". On the week ending 12 February 1977, the song reached the top of the charts . It was first certified silver in January 1977, and then certified gold a month later by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), selling almost one million physical copies in the United Kingdom . Together with digital sales since it has sold about 1.01 million copies according to the Official Charts Company . The single also reached the top of the charts in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand and Netherlands; in the latter country it sold around 100,000 copies . Seeing the success of the single, Rice and Lloyd Webber proceeded with promoting the song in the United States . However, the personnel at MCA Records' US office were not able to come to terms regarding how to promote the adult contemporary oriented track; it was ultimately never sent to Top 40 / CHR radio, and did not appear on any US charts . </P> <P> When the cast of the London musical version of Evita was being decided, Rice and Lloyd Webber naturally approached Covington to play the titular role . However she chose not to reprise the role . Producer Hal Prince wanted to cast a relatively unknown actress to play Eva, and thus Elaine Paige was signed for the part . In 1977, Rice and Lloyd Webber received the Ivor Novello award in the category of Best Song Musically and Lyrically . During the 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina, the song was sometimes played sarcastically by British regimental bands as they deployed to the Falklands . They changed the lyrics, singing it as "You don't frighten me Argentina / The truth is we will defeat you / We'll sink your carrier, with our Sea Harrier / And with our Sea Kings subs'll be sinking". At the same time the Covington recording was banned from play on the BBC . The song was also banned in the Philippines during the dictatorship (1972--86) of President Ferdinand Marcos . The life of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Marcos' wife, is similar to that of Evita Peron . The presentation of the musical Evita was repressed . In the United States, the song is also closely linked with Patti LuPone, who performed the role of Eva in the original Broadway production of the show . </P> <Ul> <Li> <Dl> <Dt> 7" single </Dt> </Dl> </Li> </Ul>

Who sang don't cry for me argentina original