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((short description|1971 single by Tony Christie))
((pp-move-indef))
((More citations needed|date=September 2020))
((Use mdy dates|date=October 2021))
((Infobox song
| name       = (Is This the Way to) Amarillo
| cover      = Is This the Way to Amarillo.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Tony Christie]]
| album      =
| B-side     = Love Is a Friend of Mine
| released   = November 1971
| recorded   = 1971
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[schlager]]
| length     = 3:35
| label      = [[MCA Records|MCA]] (UK and Europe); [[Kapp Records|Kapp]] (US)
| writer     = [[Neil Sedaka]], [[Howard Greenfield]]
| producer   = [[Tony Christie]], [[Peter Callander]], [[Mitch Murray]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  = 
))

"'''(Is This the Way to) Amarillo'''" is a song written by [[Neil Sedaka]] and [[Howard Greenfield]]. It is about a man traveling to [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]], [[Texas]], to find his girlfriend Marie.

Written by two [[United States|Americans]] with a strong [[country music|country]]-[[Western music (North America)|western]] lyrical theme, the song was first released in Europe, where it has become much more popular than in the composers' native country, with a big-band/orchestral pop arrangement sung by [[Tony Christie]]. Christie's version was a major hit in Europe and a modest success in his native [[United Kingdom]] upon its release, then became even more popular in the mid-2000s when the song was reissued. As Christie's version failed to make a major impact in the U.S., Sedaka released his own recording of the song in 1977, which narrowly missed the top 40 but was an [[easy listening]] hit in the U.S. and Canada.

==Background==
The song is based on a rhythmic feel Sedaka borrowed from "[[Hitchin' a Ride (Vanity Fare song)|Hitchin' a Ride]]" by [[Vanity Fare]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VaUECCJHW0 Neil Sedaka's daily mini-concert, September 2, 2020]</ref> The song was originally to be titled "Is This the Way to Pensacola" referring to [[Pensacola, Florida]], but Sedaka felt that Amarillo worked better than Pensacola.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Is+This+the+way+to+Pensacola%3f+Record+columnist+Tam+Cowan+finds+it...-a0133940082 |title=Is This the way to Pensacola? Record columnist Tam Cowan finds it could all have been so different when he meets his lifelong idol Neil Sedaka at his New York apartment |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=April 2, 2014))</ref>

==Tony Christie version==
The song was recorded by [[Tony Christie]] and released in the UK in November 1971, initially reaching number 18 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. However, it was a substantially bigger hit at that time across [[Continental Europe]], notably in [[Germany]] and [[Spain]], where it made number one. In the U.S., however, Christie's record stalled at #121 on the [[Bubbling Under the Hot 100]]. Following the re-issue of Christie's version in 2005 in aid of the charity Comic Relief, promoted with a video featuring comedian [[Peter Kay]], the song gained even greater prominence, reaching number 1 in the UK.((Citation needed|date=May 2019))

In 2006, the song was played at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup Final|World Cup Final]] in [[Berlin]] and was also played by the [[Central Band of the Royal British Legion]] on Centre Court at [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] before the start of the Men's Singles final.((citation needed|date=December 2014))

===Chart history===
====Weekly charts====
{| class="wikitable sortable floatleft" style="clear: none"
|-
!Chart (1971–72)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|Argentina (Top 20)<ref>((Cite web|title=Tony Christie - Is This the Way to (Amarillo)|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-03-25.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=August 24, 2021|publisher=Billboard. March 25, 1972. p. 62|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121024129/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-03-25.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2021 ))</ref> 
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
|Australia ([[Kent Music Report|KMR]])<ref>((cite book|first= David |last= Kent |author-link= David Kent (historian) |title= [[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970-1992]] |publisher= Australian Chart Book |location= [[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives]], N.S.W. |year= 1993 |isbn= 0-646-11917-6))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|10
|-
|Austria ([[Hitradio Ö3]])<ref>((cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/oe3_1972.asp |title=Ö3-HITPARADE - 23.01.1972 |first= |last= |publisher=austriancharts.at |date= |access-date=February 15, 2024))</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|((single chart|Flanders|1|artist=Tony Christie|song=(Is This The Wat To) Amarillo|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 February 2024))
|-
|((single chart|Wallonia|15|artist=Tony Christie|song=(Is This The Wat To) Amarillo|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 February 2024))
|-
|Finland ([[The Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>((cite book|url=https://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.com/2015/08/cay-chr.html|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Artistit CAY - CHR|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=15 February 2024|language=fi))</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
|((singlechart|West Germany|1|artist=Tony Christie|song=(Is This The Wat To) Amarillo|songid=216|year=1971|access-date=15 February 2024))
|-
|((singlechart|Ireland2|3|song=Is This the Way to Amarillo|accessdate=October 22, 2017))
|-
|((single chart|Dutch100|4|artist=Tony Christie|song=(Is This The Wat To) Amarillo|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 February 2024))
|-
|((single chart|Dutch40|4|artist=Tony Christie|song=(Is This The Wat To) Amarillo|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 February 2024))
|-
|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref>((cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(C).html|access-date=September 2, 2018))</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
|Spain 
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|New Zealand (''[[New Zealand Listener|Listener]]'')<ref>[http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=NZ%20listener%20charts&qyear=1972&qmonth=Jan&qweek=31-Jan-1972#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, 31 January 1972]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|South African Singles Chart<ref name="polsouthafrica">((cite web | url = http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(C).html | title = "Acts C" on the South African Singles Chart | publisher = [[Springbok Radio]] | date = December 10, 1971 | access-date = February 15, 2024))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|((single chart|Switzerland|3|artist=Tony Christie|song=(Is This The Wat To) Amarillo|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 February 2024))
|-
|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]] ([[The Official Charts Company|OCC]]) 
| style="text-align:center;"|18
|-
|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>[Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|121
|}

{| class="wikitable floatleft" style="clear: none"
|-
!Chart (2005)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|((singlechart|Ireland2|1|song=Is This the Way to Amarillo|accessdate=October 22, 2017))
|-
|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]] ([[The Official Charts Company|OCC]]) 
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|}
((clear))

====Year-end charts====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (1972)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|Australia <ref>((cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092 |title=Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts) |website=Australian-charts.com |access-date=May 7, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602084720/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092 |archive-date=June 2, 2016))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|68
|-
|}

==Neil Sedaka version==
((Infobox song
| name       = Amarillo
| cover      = Amarillo_-_Neil_Sedaka.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Neil Sedaka]]
| album      = A Song
| B-side     = The Leaving Game
| released   = May 1977
| recorded   = 1977
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| length     = 3:07
| label      = [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] (US); [[Polydor Records|Polydor]] (Europe)
| writer     = [[Neil Sedaka]], [[Howard Greenfield]]
| producer   = [[George Martin]]
| prev_title = [[You Gotta Make Your Own Sunshine]]
| prev_year  = 1976
| next_title = Alone at Last
| next_year  = 1977
))

In the United States, [[Neil Sedaka]], the writer of the song and a man who had recently returned to prominence as a pop singer in the mid-1970s after a decade of relative obscurity, recorded his own version of the song, released under a shortened title of "'''Amarillo'''". Produced and arranged by [[George Martin]], Sedaka's version of "Amarillo" got to number 44 on the U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number four on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] chart in 1977; in Canada, Sedaka reached number two on the Adult Contemporary chart.<ref name="bac-lac.gc.ca">((Cite magazine|date=July 16, 1977|title=RPM Adult Oriented Playlist|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3688.pdf|url-status=live|magazine=[[RPM Magazine]]|volume=27|issue=16|page=25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114155550/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3688.pdf|archive-date=November 14, 2012))</ref>

===Chart performance===

====Weekly singles charts====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1977)
!align="left"|Peak<br />position
|-
|align="left"|Canada [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']] Top Singles <ref>((Cite magazine|date=July 23, 1977|title=RPM 100 Top Singles (51-100)|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3682b.pdf|url-status=live|magazine=[[RPM Magazine]]|volume=27|issue=17|page=18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218165300/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3682b.pdf|archive-date=February 18, 2015))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|54
|-
|align="left"|Canada [[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']] Adult Contemporary <ref name="bac-lac.gc.ca"/>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - ((ISBN|0-89820-089-X))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|44
|-
|align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|Adult Contemporary]]
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|}

==Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay version==
((Infobox song
| name       = (Is This the Way to) Amarillo
| cover      = (Is This the Way to) Amarillo.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Tony Christie]] featuring [[Peter Kay]]
| album      = Is This the Way to Amarillo
| released   = ((start date|2005|3|14))<ref>((cite magazine|title=Public Falls for Christie Charm|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=22|date=March 12, 2005|quote=The new version will be issued as a video single next Monday, March 14...))</ref>
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[schlager]]
| length     = 3:40
| label      =
| writer     = [[Neil Sedaka]], [[Howard Greenfield]]
| producer   = [[Tony Christie]]
| chronology = [[Peter Kay]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)#Comic Relief version|I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)]]
| next_year  = 2007
))

In 2002, [[Tony Christie]]'s version was used in the [[Channel 4]] sitcom ''[[Phoenix Nights]]''. The song was then re-released on March 14, 2005, to raise money for ''[[Comic Relief]]''. The video features Peter Kay, Tony Christie and other celebrities, including [[William Roache]], [[Anne Kirkbride]], [[Jim Bowen]], [[Ronnie Corbett]], [[Michael Parkinson]] and [[Geoffrey Hayes]].

===Music video===
In the accompanying video, [[Peter Kay]] mimed the song accompanied by various celebrities including [[Brian May]], [[Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)|Roger Taylor]], [[Shakin' Stevens]], [[Shaun Ryder]], [[Bez (dancer)|Bez]], [[Paddy McGuinness]], [[Michael Parkinson]], [[Heather Mills]], [[Danny Baker]], [[Ronnie Corbett]], [[Mr Blobby]], [[Jim Bowen]], [[Jimmy Savile]], look-alikes of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and [[Cliff Richard]] (the same lookalike appears in the ''[[Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights|Phoenix Nights]]'' spin-off ''[[Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere]]''), [[William Roache]], [[Anne Kirkbride]], [[Sally Lindsay]], [[Bernie Clifton]], [[Keith Harris (ventriloquist)|Keith Harris]] and [[Orville the Duck]], [[Sooty]], [[Sweep (puppet)|Sweep]], [[Geoffrey Hayes]] and [[Bungle (Rainbow)|Bungle]] as well as [[Tony Christie]] himself.

In the first few cameos, Max and Paddy from ''Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights'' and its spin-off appear together, arguing and eventually fighting in the [[Granada Studios]]' corridor. This is one of many appearances of characters from Kay's TV series, including Paddy's tennis-playing cellmate Cliff from ''Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere'', and both a football team for people with dwarfism and Brian Potter from ''Phoenix Nights''. The video consists almost entirely of Kay walking towards the camera flanked by different pairings of the celebrities, in front of increasingly bizarre and unlikely backgrounds.

From 2012 onwards, any repeat airing of the music video on television is now a re-edited version which takes out the appearance of Savile. In October 2012, [[Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal|a series of revelations showed Savile to be a prolific repeated child sex offender]], thus his appearance in the video which helped raise funds for disadvantaged children in Africa and the UK was edited out for future broadcasts. The re-edited version is mainly the same as the original except the short 15-second scene with Savile who joined Peter Kay and actress Sally Lindsay is now re-edited to show Lindsay and Kay only, with a slowed down and repeated showing of Lindsay on her own next to Kay to fill the gap left by the absence of Savile, thus eliminating Savile from the 15-second section. The original version remains on [[YouTube]].

====''Big Night In'' version====
On April 23, 2020, [[BBC One]] broadcast ''[[The Big Night In]]'', a [[telethon]] to support those affected by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Metro-12558735">((cite news |title=When is The Big Night In on TV and who is taking part in the BBC One show? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/15/big-night-tv-taking-part-bbc-one-show-12558735/ |access-date=April 23, 2020 |work=Metro |date=April 15, 2020 ))</ref>

As part of the running order, Peter Kay created an updated version of the music video. The video featured updated performances from Kay and [[Tony Christie]], combined with repeated footage from the 2005 music video and [[User-generated content|submissions]] from key workers such as [[Fire services in the United Kingdom|fire-fighters]], [[National Health Service|NHS]] staff and [[Social care in England#Care workforce|social care workers]].<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-04-23/peter-kay-tony-christie-perform-amarillo-big-night-in/|title=Peter Kay and Tony Christie will perform Amarillo for BBC's Big Night In|last=Cremona|first=Patrick|date=April 23, 2020|work=[[Radio Times]]|access-date=June 13, 2020))</ref><ref>((cite news|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-04-23/peter-kay-tony-christie-perform-amarillo-big-night-in/|title=Peter Kay asks fans to help remake Amarillo video for Big Night In charity special|last=Rosseinsky|first=Katie|date=April 20, 2020|work=[[Evening Standard]]|access-date=June 13, 2020))</ref><ref>((cite news|url=https://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/buxton-care-home-staff-star-comical-amarillo-video-bbcs-big-night-event-2552315#gsc.tab=0|title=Buxton care home staff star in comical Amarillo video for BBC's Big Night In event|last=McVay|first=Ben|date=April 28, 2020|work=[[Buxton Advertiser]]|access-date=June 13, 2020))</ref>

===Chart performance===
This time around, the song peaked at number one on the [[UK Singles Chart]],<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/mar/21/arts.artsnews|title=Comic Relief gets 70s star to the top|date=March 21, 2005|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=August 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010063543/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/mar/21/arts.artsnews|archive-date=October 10, 2016|url-status=live|agency=[[Press Association]]))</ref> and remained there for seven weeks<ref>((cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4504171.stm|title=Christie holds on to chart reign|date=May 1, 2005|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=August 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421170054/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4504171.stm|archive-date=April 21, 2018|url-status=live))</ref> before finally being knocked off by "[[Lonely (Akon song)|Lonely]]" by [[Akon]].<ref>((cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4527755.stm|title=Akon topples Christie chart reign|date=May 8, 2005|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=August 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613020708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4527755.stm|archive-date=June 13, 2018|url-status=live))</ref> It went on to become the [[List of best-selling singles by year in the United Kingdom|UK's best-selling single of 2005]].<ref>((cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4575226.stm|title=Amarillo tops 2005 single sales|date=January 2, 2006|work=[[BBC News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116062934/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4575226.stm|archive-date=November 16, 2018|url-status=live))</ref> During its success, the song was credited in chart rundowns and other media appearances to "Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay". However, Kay does not appear on the record, since it is a re-issue of the original version and not a re-recording.((Citation needed|date=May 2019))

Having sold 1.2 million copies by the end of 2009, "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" was the [[List of best-selling singles of the 2000s (decade) in the United Kingdom|fourth best-selling single of the 2000s in the UK]], behind "[[Anything Is Possible (Will Young song)|Anything Is Possible]]"/"[[Evergreen (Will Young song)|Evergreen]]" by [[Will Young]], "[[Unchained Melody#Gareth Gates version|Unchained Melody]]" by [[Gareth Gates]],<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.nme.com/news/will-young/49046|title=Will Young and James Blunt win biggest selling single and album of the noughties|last=Bassett|first=Jordan|date=December 31, 2009|work=[[NME]]|publisher=[[Time Inc. UK]]|access-date=August 14, 2015))</ref> and "[[It Wasn't Me]]" by [[Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy]] featuring [[Rikrok]]. As of March 2017, it has sold 1.28 million copies.<ref name="copies sold">((cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-biggest-selling-comic-relief-singles-revealed__18581/|title=The Official biggest selling Comic Relief singles revealed|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=March 24, 2017|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=March 24, 2017))</ref>

===Charts===
((col-begin))
((col-2))

====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!Chart (2005)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles]])<ref>((cite magazine|title=Hits of the World: Eurocharts|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=117|issue=14|page=39|date=April 2, 2005))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
((single chart|Ireland2|1|song=Is This the Way to Amarillo|access-date=January 7, 2022|refname="ire2005"))
|-
((single chart|Scotland|1|date=20050326|access-date=August 14, 2015))
|-
((single chart|UKdownload|1|date=20050402|access-date=August 14, 2015))
|-
((single chart|UK|1|date=20050326|access-date=August 14, 2015))
|}
((col-2))

====Year-end charts====
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!Chart (2005)
!Rank
|-
|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>((cite magazine|url=http://www.vnuemedia.com/bb/biz/images/pdf/YearEndEuropeanHot100.pdf|title=Year End European Hot 100 Singles Chart 2005 01 – 2005 52|magazine=Billboard|publisher=[[VNU Media]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018142431/http://www.vnuemedia.com/bb/biz/images/pdf/YearEndEuropeanHot100.pdf|archive-date=October 18, 2012|access-date=January 7, 2022))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|37
|-
|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2005.pdf|title=2005 UK Singles Chart|work=[[UKChartsPlus]]|access-date=July 6, 2015))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|}

====Decade-end charts====
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!Chart (2000–2009)
!Rank
|-
|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>((cite web |last1=Myers |first1=Justin |title=Official Charts announces The Noughties definitive chart books |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-charts-announces-the-noughties-definitive-chart-books__27299/ |website=www.officialcharts.com |access-date=February 23, 2021 |date=September 24, 2019))</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|}
((col-end))

===Certifications===
((Certification Table Top))
((Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Tony Christie ft Peter Kay|title=(Is This the Way to) Amarillo|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2005|certyear=2013|id=10093-933-1|salesamount=1,280,000|salesref=<ref name="copies sold"/>))
((Table end))

===Track listing===
*'''CD single'''
# "Is This the Way to Amarillo" - 3:40
# "Is This the Way to Amarillo" (All Around the World Mix) - 3:45
# "Is This the Way to Amarillo" (music video) - 3:49
# "Is This the Way to Amarillo" (making of the video) - 5:14

*'''DVD single'''
# "Is This the Way to Amarillo" (music video) - 3:49
# "Is This the Way to Amarillo" (Club Mix) - 6:14
# "Is This the Way to Amarillo" (Instrumental w/Photo Gallery) - 3:40

==Is This the Way to Armadillo==
'''Is This the Way to Armadillo''' is a spoof video of the song "Is This the Way to Amarillo" produced by the [[Royal Dragoon Guards]] stationed in Iraq at [[Al-Faw]] towards the end of their 6-month deployment there. The video was emailed so frequently on May 13, 2005, it crashed a server at the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref name="'Amarillo' soldiers hail response">((cite news |title='Amarillo' soldiers hail response |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4559345.stm |access-date=November 29, 2019 |work=BBC |date=May 18, 2005))</ref> According to the ''[[Evening Standard]]'', the crashing of the server caused systems to go down at various British military establishments, and the MoD was forced to issue instructions to delete all instances of the video.<ref name="Sawyer">((cite news |last1=Sawyer |first1=Patrick |title=Is this the way to Army-rillo? |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/is-this-the-way-to-army-rillo-7254055.html |access-date=November 29, 2019 |work=Evening Standard |date=May 17, 2005))</ref>

The "[[Peter Kay]]" character is credited as "[[The Adventures of Lucky Pierre|Lucky Pierre]]", an obscure sexual reference.<ref name="Bakir">((cite book |last1=Bakir |first1=Vian |title=Sousveillance, Media and Strategic Political Communication: Iraq, USA, UK |date=May 27, 2010 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-0826430090 |pages=98–99 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g8fogAhxoDYC&q=%22Is+This+the+Way+to+Armadillo%22&pg=PA98 |access-date=November 29, 2019))</ref>

===Spin-offs===
((unsourced section|date=February 2023))
Servicemen from other countries created their own versions:
*[[Netherlands|Dutch]] troops stationed in [[Afghanistan]] made their own spoof called "Dutch Amarillo".
*German officers and officer candidates made another spoof at the German armed forces university in Hamburg.
*Royal Australian Air Force officers made a spoof at the Australian Defence Force Academy called the Air Force Amarill.

==(Is This the Way to) The World Cup==
((Main|(Is This the Way to) The World Cup))
((Infobox song
| name       = (Is This the Way to) The World Cup
| cover      = 
| alt        = 
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Tony Christie]]
| album      = 
| format     = 
| released   = ((Start date|2006|5|29|df=yes))
| recorded   = 
| studio     = 
| venue      = 
| genre      = 
| length     = 
| label      = [[Tug Records]]
| composer   = 
| lyricist   = Ian Stringer and [[George Webley]]
| producer   = 
| prev_track = 
| track_no   = 
| next_track = 
))
In 2006, a version of "Is This the Way to Amarillo" was released with lyrics written by Ian Stringer and [[George Webley]] and published by [[Tug Records]], titled "'''(Is This the Way to) The World Cup'''".<ref name=oc>((cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/(is-this-the-way-to)-the-world-cup/ |title=(Is This the Way to) The World Cup |publisher=Official Charts Company |date= |accessdate=2018-05-22))</ref> It was created as a version to support the [[England national football team]] at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]]. The song reached a peak of No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart, remaining on the charts for 5 weeks.<ref name=oc />

==Other cover versions==
((More citations needed section|date=January 2014))
Dutch singer [[Albert West]] covered the song in 1988.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.albertwest.nl/htm/index.htm |title=Welkom op de website van Albert West |publisher=Albertwest.nl |access-date=April 2, 2014))</ref> After the successful re-release of the song in the UK, Tony Christie re-recorded it with the [[Hermes House Band]]; this version charted in Germany in 2005. There is also a version by the [[Les Humphries Singers]] and a version in German by [[Roberto Blanco]]. There is also a 1971 version on the MGM label (K 14360) by a band called English House, produced by Terry Slater. The A-side was "Music Is the Voice of Love" composed by Terry Slater and Phil Everly. The song has also been covered in Czech as "Kvítek mandragory" by [[Helena Vondráčková]]<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.vondrackova.net/en/lieder-15/1972-02-18-kvitek-mandragory-320 |title=Kvitek Mandragory on Helena Vondráčková's website |access-date=August 15, 2014))</ref> and as "Napis Na Dverich" by Jiri Hromadka. The Finnish version, "Amarillo", with lyrics by Pertti Reponen, was first recorded by Johnny Liebkind in 1972, then by [[Kari Tapio]] in 1979 and most recently by [[Danny (Finnish singer)|Danny (Ilkka Lipsanen)]] in 1987; the latter made the song a staple of Finnish pop music. In 1997, [[Lithuania|Lithuanian]] singer [[Stasys Povilaitis]] wrote and recorded a Lithuanian cover of the song, titled "Laimės vainikas". Other artists and bands to have recorded the song include [[Daniel O'Donnell (singer)|Daniel O'Donnell]], [[Die Campbells]], the [[Hermes House Band]], [[Bernie Diamond]], [[Alan Ladd Jr.|Alan Ladd]], and [[James Last]].

==Parody versions==
In 2003, [[Gala Bingo]] ran a series of adverts with a [[jingle]] based on the tune of "Is This The Way to Amarillo?".

In April 2020, British comedian [[Paddy McGuinness]] [[Twitter|tweeted]] a video of him singing a parody version referring to [[Dominic Cummings]], [[Special advisers (UK government)|special political adviser]] to [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]] [[Boris Johnson]], breaking the rules of the UK's [[COVID-19 pandemic]] lockdown rules when he travelled from his home in [[London]] to his father's home in [[Durham, England|Durham]], later taking a day trip to [[Barnard Castle]]. The lyrics of the song were changed to "Is this the way to Barnard Castle? Where sweet [[Mary Wakefield (journalist)|Mary]] waits for me."<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/paddy-mcguinness-dominic-cummings-video-a4451496.html|title=Paddy McGuinness mocks Dominic Cummings with Is This The Way To Barnard Castle spoof |last=Fenwick|first=George|date=May 27, 2020|work=[[Evening Standard]]|access-date=June 13, 2020))</ref>

In July 2023, Newcastle based recording artist Junior Turner created A version of the song called Is this the way to Europe to commemorate [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United FC]] making it into the [[UEFA Champions League |Champions League]].

==Usage in football ==
Other than the 2006 version "(Is This the Way to) The World Cup" which supported the England football team at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], the original version has been adopted as an unofficial anthem of Scottish [[football club]] [[Falkirk FC]], ever since the mid-1990s. It is played over the stadium sound system in celebration whenever Falkirk scores a goal, and at the start and end of all matches.((Citation needed|date=May 2019))

==References==
((Reflist|30em))

==External links==
*[https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/revealed-the-road-to-amarillo-1061671 Revealed: The Road to Amarillo] Manchester Evening News, March 21, 2005
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4554083.stm 'Amarillo' video crashes MoD PCs] BBC News, May 17, 2005

((Neil Sedaka))
((UK best-selling singles (by year) 1990–2009))

((authority control))

((DEFAULTSORT:Is This The Way To Amarillo))
[[Category:1971 songs]]
[[Category:1971 singles]]
[[Category:1977 singles]]
[[Category:2005 singles]]
[[Category:Tony Christie songs]]
[[Category:Comic Relief singles]]
[[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Germany]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Scotland]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Spain]]
[[Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Neil Sedaka songs]]
[[Category:Culture of Amarillo, Texas]]
[[Category:Songs written by Neil Sedaka]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Howard Greenfield]]
[[Category:Songs about cities in the United States|Amarillo]]
[[Category:Songs about Texas]]
[[Category:Amarillo, Texas]]
[[Category:Schlager songs]]
[[Category:MCA Records singles]]
[[Category:Elektra Records singles]]
[[Category:Polydor Records singles]]
[[Category:2000s fads and trends]]

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