Every week we have a new number one, so why on Earth is there such a big fuss about getting the Christmas number one? I mean, it’s not like the Xmas number one always get’s a squillion pounds for the artist is it?
Anyway, this year’s battle is hotting up, and for some reason the main contenders for the crown have left us somewhat baffled, okay, so the X factor winner is always going to be in with a pretty good shot… but as the British public seem to be a little pissed off that some reality show contestant can have a number one just off the back of winning a TV programme, we have some rather odd songs in the running.
So, after Joe McElderry warbled along to Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing on The X Factor a couple of weeks ago Simon Cowell decided he might us it as ‘the winners song’ (thank God he’s using The Climb instead now – although I doubt any of the final three will be able to do Miley Cyrus justice). This ‘announcement’ prompted the Facebook masses to form a group to get the original to Number One instead of the X Factor rip off…
What’s weird then, is why everyone aren’t now campaigning to get Miley Cyrus to Number One instead? Probably because they’re too busy trying to resuscitate the 1993 Rage Against The Machine classic Killing In The Name Of! Music fans have started a Facebook campaign to get the not-exactly-festive hit to Number One, and over 400,000 people have already signed up! Woo!!
If fact, betting shops have even stated to admit that RATM have overtaken artists such as Leona Lewis, Robbie Williams and Susan Boyle to become the second most likely to be Number One this Christmas! I mean, is this crazy or what?
Personally I think it’s a great idea, but do YOU agree?
Ruth.xx
I agree that the Rage against the Machine song isnt very Xmassy but then again weedkiller isnt very good for flowers either!
Sometimes you need something strong and unpleasant to get rid of persistant weeds!
(and considering we havent had a non X factor song since 2004 – this is once persistant weed!)
I will be playing my Xmas CD at Christmas but buying Rage Against the Machine in order to try and break the mindless cycle that we appear to be in.
xfactor is most definatly that, its just a load of crap really, need a decent tuneto get to nue one for once
I am fed up of the manufactured sob stories reaching xmas no.1 I long for the days that artists released actual xmassy songs at xmas, cos the “best xmas album in the world” is getting a bit repetetive year on year.
I agree this song is not xmassy and so wouldn’t normally be my choice for xmas no.1 BUT we need a unifying song with a message to the current xmas chart toppers to show people that it isn’t a cut and dry win, that other musicians can rally for a race to the xmas no.1 There’s no competition for it anymore, and that’s never a healthy position to be in as it breeds apathy!
Its a great idea.
x factor has had xmas no1 for a few years now and its getting boring!
ratm for xmas no 1
Rage for XMAS #1!
I’ll be buying my copies on 13th
I am so fed up with the rubbish manufactored crap we have every year.
Its all about talent as well! YES they can sing. But can they play an instrument? Can they write their own lyrics? Can they create their own music? NO!
RAGE FOR NUMBER ONE!
I would also like to see Rage brought back in to the lime light and hopefully a new era of fans will start listening to this sort of music, with instruments, their own lyrics and most of all a message and passion that seems to be dead in the music industry today.
Who knows it may start a music revolution and we might hear something new in the singles charts instead of Karaoke contest winners and gutless songs about falling in love!
‘Killing in the name of’ is chosen as a protest against Cowell and his media machine. It has some apt lyrics towards the end, it’s unfortunate those lyrics are too explicit to broadcast.
“Unfortunately those lyrics are too explicit to broadcast”
Well, with any luck it might also put paid to the presence of linguistic taboos in broadcasting standards.
This
I do agree… and I’m very happy to be part of the group!
I’m usually quite a cynic but I know this really means something to a lot of people. People are pre-ordering this X factor single. How can you bring yourself to pre-order something you’ve neither heard nor seen before? Because that’s what’s put infront of us by Simon Cowell and his cronies, with endless promotion and loads of money put into flashy recording and videos, media coverage, bulk loads ordered from record shops and put on frontal display.
We have an oppurtunity to make a statement, and to me it’s not a trivial one. It’s pure people power driving this thing and I love it!
I really hope Rage do make it to number 1, i cant stand the thought of another one of Simons
plastic prodigys rolling of the conveyor belt to be lapped up by the mindless masses. Will be great if we show that we can stand up to the xfactor machine!
And thanks for mentioning the group!
I think the word your looking for is ‘protoge’
‘prodigy’ means an entirely different thing which X Factor contestants quite frankly are not.
Or even ‘protegé’…
… or even ‘protégé’ !
“But RATM are on sony too.. who cares who gets to number 1?”
I’ve heard every argument under the sun against this.
I care.. and so do 500,000 other people apparently…
Everyone has different reasons for doing this…
Do it because the xmas no.1 has been monopolised by a TV show winner for years..
Do it because the X factor has been a total sham this year and you don’t like Simon cowell
(Lucy Vs Jedward.. WHAT???)
Do it because they ruined ‘Hallelujah’ last year..
Do it because anyone who pre-orders a single without knowing WHAT the song is going to be, let alone WHO is going to be singing it, doesn’t deserve to take part in musical debate.
Do it because it will prove that the public CAN make a difference (This year Xmas number 1, next year…? Global warming? Poverty?)
Do it because it’ll be funny… Whatever reason you do it for.. DO IT!!!
Great post, everyone who loves music should help put RATM at no1 this Xmas!
RATM at number one will destroy the monopoly that Cowell has over the charts… COME ON!!!
As a guitarist in a band rock music, i mean proper rock music not the stuff with loads of money
thrown at it and has guitars in the video, has seen no daylight recently. This is surely a great
cause and will show that the people still have the power to get anything to number 1 if we unite.
its about time something was done about the disgrace that is XFactor’s dominance of the charcts with disgusting, warbling carp.
at least RATM have something valid to say and their message needs to be heard
RATM for XMAS NO1
”Odd songs in the lineup”
Killing in the name of is not an ODD song love. It’s what REAL music sounds like.
It’s ORIGINAL. Not someone else’s song copied and resold.
X Factor is No.1 EVERY year. Don’t get me wrong, I like it as an entertainment show and I congratulate the winner on sunday.
But I think we need a new number 1!
I’m definitely in, hope this works
do it because if we don’t make a stand now, we gonna be listening to the xfactor shite for years! the song killing in the name as already stated is just a big fuck you to simon cowell! we should all buy it nd knock xfactor off the top spot!!!!
“although I doubt any of the final three will be able to do Miley Cyrus justice”
lol THIS is why im buying Rage. Join the group and buy the single from the 13th!
Dear all,
I am not a fan of RATM; I don’t own a telly and don’t listen to the radio, therefore I shouldn’t care a toss about the X Factor; but I am a “former” musician and a big fan of music, so I care.
What would have been of artists like Tom Waits, Neil Young, Janis Joplin, The Cure (and many others) would they have auditioned at the X Factor? They would have been trashed by tone deaf Simon Cowell, and the others. Not that I think that they would have auditioned! Of course they wouldn’t, but these greedy pests are the people deciding what you will listen for the next year and it’s about time to try and put an stop to this. I am not against the music business, so I don’t give a sh*t whether we give our money to Sony or Warner, or Micky Mouse; this is a whole other story! But this is about music made by musicians, made by people that put energy and soul into it and not stupid puppets with funny hairdoes or nice arses; haridoes and arses that will be sent back to the dole queue once deemed used; only for the next hairdo and arse to step forward. RATM serves the purpose as much as the Sex Pistols would, or British Sea Power, or ABC or Pink Floyd. It doesn’t matter. You can send a big message to the people that rule the music business, you can say: “I want music; I am sick of karaoke puppets!”.
Again, our message would be lost if you don’t make use of this opportunity to the full potential. You can also send a message to to the greedy people out there, the Cowells of the world that don’t give a toss about anyone else; the ones that do it consciously and the ones that follow, that due to fear, ignorance, greed, whatever you want to call it, live their lives only for themselves; the hordes of people living unconsciously, eyes closed, taking whatever is thrown at them, whether this be the X Factor or a criminal war. You can show them that there are a vast number of conscious people out there, generous, willing to work for others too. And you can do this by donating some of you money to Shelter, via the links shown all over this group. This is a stronger and more important message than whether we get to number 1, number 2, or f*ck all. For every penny you spend in the track spend one donating it to Shelter, it’s not much to ask. If you are willing to spend £0.79 in Itunes give the same to Shelter; if you will buy the track 3 times, then do the same. Doing this is the perfect argument to counter the “iluminati” that keep highlighting that by doing this we are giving our money to Sony.
Boy and girls, ladies and gentleman, so far there’s no way out of the system, the only way to fight it is from within, and by showing your generosity, together with your desire not to be imposed music or products like you were a non-thinking entity, you can begin to show a direction, start a change. It might not be a lot, but it’ll be there to inspire others. And maybe next year it’ll be bigger.
Love to you all! Take the time to donate and buy the track next week!
Fernando
(“The multitude, in its will to be-against and its desire for liberation, must push through Empire to come out the other side” (Hardt & Negri, “Empire”)
AWESOME post, mate. Couldn’t agree more.
couldn’t have put it any better myself, I agree 100%
The track is with Sony, but the band are anti-capitalists, so that surely balances out!
We are going to do this. The Facebook group is now just short of the total sales last years number one got and double what the one from the year before got. I’m buying three copies, loads of us are buying three copies.
BELIEVE
Read an interesting article about this yesterday. In brief it points out that at the top end of the food chain, Sony owns Cowell’s label, Syco, and also Columbia (RATM’s label),
So they’re actually very happy for this to happen, because when RATM gets to number 2 (let’s be honest, it’s not getting to number 1) they’ll end up making money from both tracks anyway…
Ah the major label music industry, it’s a magical thing…
Read all the posts above. It’s not about the money, it’s about the music. And donate to Shelter like Fernando says.
Again, it’s not about the money. But if that’s all you care about, consider the difference between artists like Rage and sheeple like x-whatever. There’s a world of difference between the deals they have. Rage have much more royalties while syco is like a pimp daddy child abuser.
I think its more to do with the lyrics, that people arent always happy with what simon cowell says and want a choice. yeah its not very christmasy, but we still like it!
Yeah i agree-RATM is not an xmassy number, but nor is X Factor!!!!!
and tbh i don’t care what record label ratm is, the point is NOT to do with the record label, but it’s more about Cowell churning out this kakaraoke nonsense year by year, and people mindlessly buy it just because he says it’s good. We shouldn’t buy music simply because some rich bloke with an unfortunate hair cut tells us to, but because the music in itself is GOOD!!! This ratm campaign has given a sense of excitement to alot of people, going against the masses, a sense of community spirit-which is good, not a negative thing! It’s given me the hope that maybe, just maybe, our xmas no1 won’t be ruined by an X-factor single AGAIN!!!
So what if RATM isn’t festive. And seriously, Miley Cyrus? I don’t know whether I’d rather have X Factor or that whiney southern “singer”. Meh.
RATM for XMAS NO.1!!!!!!! XD
\../,
How do we buy this single? It won’t be in any of the supermarkets because it’s not a “new entry”. I’m totally up for wrecking X Factor’s chances, so how do I do it? =D
Download it from one (or all!) of these three websites: iTunes, 7Digital and play.com
There should be a timed general knowledge question for every music download – that’d stop the tiny minded eejits from downloading a single copy of that x-factor dross.
The X Factor winner 2009,
Sing well ? – Just about
Dress the way they want ? – No
Sing what they want to sing ? – No
Write own songs ? – No
Do whatever Mr Cowell says – Yes
Maybe have a career that lasts 12 months before next years X Factor ? – Maybe
Kids growing up thinking that the only way to get into the music industry is by doing what Mr Cowell says ? Definately !
Lets stop the rot and download a great ORIGINAL record ! Rage Against The Machine for Crimbo no 1 !!
I hate everything about these so called talent shows I won’t watch them and don’t buy any songs connected with that show or any of the merchandise this show has nothing to do with talent it has to with money how much can the talent make for simon Cowell he’s not interested in whether the talent has a great voice or not as long as you can make money for him and then dump you when the public loses interest in you.
THIS IS THE GREATEST IDEA I HAVE HEARD FOR AGES -
I think choosing merry xmas everybody by slade would have been more apprpriate. but I love Rage and think this is far more funny.
I will buy it even though I own it already because it’s the right thing to do. I am sick of reality tv songs domunating Christmas.
I n the words of RATM Take The Power Back!!!
This is the greatest idea EVER. Rage against the Machine are fantastic anyway and anything to stop the boring and insipid cookie cutter X-Factor singles getting to number one AGAIN.
My boyfriend just told me about the campaign and I’m in…
I disagree that this isn’t festive. This is the song I played over and over during Xmas when I got GH3
I love RATM and killing in the name is an ace song – And to be honest, none of the x factor winners have really got anywhere in life – apart from leona lewis and JLS (came 2nd after ALEXANDRA BURKE.) Look at Leon Jackson… I bet you dont even remember him – i mean, simon dropped him in 3 months because he just wasnt confident enough or a good enough singer to be proffesional. And the Jedward scam is a whole load of rubbish. I mean, c’mon, all the EXCELLENT singers are out already. No one has been as succesful as RATM and i think they deserve xmas number 1!! I mean they’re not gunna make another album, or even single are they? So let them go with a sense of pride!! And all the teenage chavs of this century will then know what RATM is and i will be able to say to them ‘Hey, i knew this song before you did!!’
Wouldnt you like to say that to people? Or maybe its just me… Lol.
but anyways. Join the group on facebook.
Buy the single.
Listen to radio 1 – they played killing in the name of the other day and i had it up on FULL VOLUME!!
Support ratm and be proud this christmas – for once, a xmas no.1 that you will actually buy!! HAHA!! No more urban crap, now its proper music on the line…
GO RATM!! I LOVE YOU GUYS AND HOPE YOU GET TO XMAS NUMBER 1 !!
Oh my days, this would make me sooo happy.
Even if I already own the album from over 15 years ago :O
Not because it’s affecting Simon Cowell, not because it’s about the money! I’d finally be able to hear music that I actually enjoy! I think this should happen regularly with different rock and metal bands as it’s about time that some of the halfwhit sheep like people are educated in our music, they are happy to attack us and our music, but bands put more time and effort into their music than these digitally enhanced irritations… They are true performers too.
RATM this year Sentenced next year or Deranged or cannibal corpse…???
I’ll be putting my 79p on Itunes
I can’t believe how many people are sheeping along with this plan!!
I predict that Joe McElderry will be Christmas number one, having sold more singles than any previous winner – and all because people have been scared into buying multiple copies to make sure this happens. A predicted 5 million people paid (over a quid) to vote for Joe to win – if they are all spurred to ‘vote’ in this race too, Simon Cowell and Sony will be laughing all the way to the bank. I know it’s not about the money, and I am so glad that Shelter are reaping the benefit, but really: I would put money on it that Simon Cowell organised this whole thing. This will create more hype for the X Factor than an unchallenged victory, so well done, you ‘rebels’!
Honestly!
Like Eddie mentioned above, although both artists are with Sony, the deals are completely different ends of the spectrum. The type of “million Pound” 360 deal that the winner of the x factor receives puts the artist in debt whilst maintaining full creative control, compared to the type of license deal of RATM who still own full rights to their work.
As Labels make most of their profits from physical sales it is unlikely they will make a lot from RATM as they have no physical release available and all sales will be downloads, the main factor in the decline in the industry.
I just want anything to be number 1 ths christmas, anything but the x factor winner.
Maybe 400,000 people have joined the group for RATM on facebook, but will they buy it?
We all moan about the x factor song being christmas number one. So the time for talk is
finished – take action now!
Oh it does not help that Tesco are selling the x factor winner at 29p,
and every other ssong is about 89p.
I joined the FB group and heard nothing and now can’t get to it…. must have missed the buying period to make my point to idiot Cowell.
You’ve definitely still got time to buy RATM mate!
Amazon are selling Killing in the Name for 29p – and if you browse their forums the Amazon admins have confirmed the 29p purchase will help RATM chart. Play.com are selling it for 65p. I got 3 copies from different shops. A lot of people seem to be doing the same.
Buy a few copies then donate to Shelter
If this works I will actually watch the last 4 minutes of TOTP on Christmas day just for the “moment”
I’m on it Iain, I keep listening to it when I start to feel like Joe could pip us to the post…
xx
Hi Paul,
The reason you can’t get on the group is it keeps crashing due to sheer volume of traffic. It usually gets sorted out pretty quickly, but facebook need to sort it out.
The reason you have heard nothing is that a group can’t message its members once the no. of members passes 5000. It is now relying on people to carry on downloading (and donating to Shelter) regardless. There is however a back up group if the main one goes down.
You have not missed your opportunity. RATM for Xmas no. 1
xx
COME ON RAGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EVERYONE BUY IT!
This Is An Amazing Idea, I Have Loved The Band Rage Against The Machine Since I Was 11 And I Am Now 13. X Factor Singers Are Not Really That Good, They Are Just Liked Because Of The Way They Act, Behave And How They Set Their First Impressions. I Have Never, Ever Seen Such A Great Yet Different Idea Like This Before But Its Cool. I Think The Songs ‘Bulls On Parade’ And ‘Bombtrack’ Are A Slightly Better, Slightly More Appropriate Selection Of Music.
I’ve bought my copy. I’m buying another from somewhere else. Just buy the downloads from amazon, Itunes, HMV anywhere just don’t buy copies from the same place twice.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let RATM be number one – it would send a message to the country, we can make change, all we have to do is stop bickering about what we don’t like and work together! Rage against the Xfactor!!!
RATM Suck!!!!…. FFS let this lad have his one hit…. why try and ruin someone’s christmas… he’s
done nothing bad to you… what do you care if he’s number one?!.. how will it affect your daily life!..
Answer = It Doesnt!
Stop whinging about Xfactor.. if you dont like it, dont watch it dont listen and dont buy..
Why go out and buy 2 or 3 copies of the same song just to make a cr@p song number one…
it should be on musical talent and he can actually sing quite well…
Grow up!
I’m a session musician and also play in an original band, I’ve played pop sessions and have been privileged enough to play a Live session at the BBC Maida Vale studio with my own band. I’d say that for many people in the industry the X factor securing another number 1 would affect our day to day lives. The more successful it becomes the less risk the label’s and booking agents are willing to take, playing it safe to try to compete. For me and many others I’ve spoken to in the same position the work is declining as labels try to play it safe. Maybe Rage getting to number 1 might show labels that there’s still an audience for something a bit more leftfield and invest some time and money into these areas.
it is on musical talent and guess who won, so suck it!
Who cares if you dont like the song just stop that manufactured crap from winning christmas number one EVERY year!!!!
x factor pre book thousands of copies every year that HAS to be cheating
i want anything but joe to reach christmas no.1, he is such a mediocre singer. the best of the
talent isnt even winning these shows anymore. I have little problem with these shows as long as
the best talent is winning but because of bias, espically the female judges this isnt happening so
come on RATM beat this terrible version of a good song to the christmas no.1, make my christmas
I wish people could see past Simon Cowell’s potentional profits to the incredibly talented singer
that is Joe McElderry. His vocals are faultless, and if you don’t agree then you have no true
understanding of talent.
This campaign is just a ridiculous case of bitter and talentless individuals trying to take away
someone’s dream just because they don’t want Simon Cowell making money again.
And what is up with the chosen song? It’s so ironic. It’s all about not doing what people tell you to,
well guess what, that’s exactly what the mindless public have done – what some idiots on facebook
told them to.
Great job, great Christmas number one – a violent song about the Ku Klux Klan which has the
word ‘fuck’ said 16 times in a row. Yeah, Christmas spirit is so there.
Christmas number ones are MEANT to be cheesy, they’re MEANT to be lame.
All this campaign has done is proven how bitter and mindless the population of this country are.
Well done.
its shit
Gabriella is part of the cleeky squad who don’t know about anti-establishment and therefore shouldn’t comment. I’ve been a fan of RATM for 15 years and have nothing but respect for them. You don’t hear me complain when they pump out manufactured pop music every year, so now they’re playing something I like for once, the world can shut up!!
Ps. The song is not about the Ku Klux Klan!!!
technically yes it is about the ku klux klan however it’s speaking out against them quite clearly. all of you foolish chavs who seem content to sell your musical souls it matters little now you lost shut up with the whining we wouldn’t have whined had we lost so neither should you and whoever said quote”when they get to number 2 lets face it they won’t be number 1″unquote how wrong were you? The body politic has spoken freedom does exist ITN’s influence is merely psychosematic an illusion conjured up to distort what truly matters which is us not them we choose to buy what we like because we like it not because SyCo or ITN or anyone else tells us to.