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There are three things you can rely on in life: Death, taxes and the Christmas Number One being by the new "X-Factor" winner. Yawn. Because Simon Cowell's android pop stars have marched their way to the summit of the festive chart tree for the last four years running. But it seems his spell could be about to end, after a group emerged from the dark corners of the internet in a bid to jeopardise the pop mogul's domination and, in short, tell him where to stick it.
Tens of thousands of people have signed-up to a campaign organised online by Jon Morter, which calls on people to buy Rage Against The Machine's infamous, insurrectionary 1992 track "Killing In The Name" and send that to the top of the singles chart on December 25 instead of whichever contestant wins the 2009 competition. "Fed up of Simon Cowell's latest karaoke act being Christmas Number One? Me too... So who's up for a mass-purchase of the track ‘Killing In The Name'...as a protest to the ‘X-Factor' b******s?", explain the Facebook and Twitter groups.
The most memorable line in arguably Rage's greatest moment is probably "******* you, I won't do what you tell me", which Morter describes as being "very apt". He says the Christmas Number One is a "great tradition", which the "X-Factor" has "taken all the fun out of". Last year, he unsuccessfully pitched Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" against Alexandra Burke's cover of "Hallelujah". But this fight is not over and the battle lines have clearly been drawn once again. To succeed this year music fans would need to buy the single in the week of 13th - 19th of December from either 7Digital, iTunes or Play.com to ensure the track was No.1 on the big day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmT-u0lXmBU
annette_tr9
13-12-2009, 22:34
bought mine!!!! ratm for no 1!!!!
Bad Wolf
14-12-2009, 07:55
got mine!!
tammyy2j
14-12-2009, 14:09
RATM X Mas No. 1 2009 :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
annette_tr9
14-12-2009, 14:37
joe has gone into no 1 download slot from itunes
booooooooooooo
who would want this noisy horrible rock song for christmas number 1??? stupid campaign if you ask me.
who would want this noisy horrible rock song for christmas number 1??? stupid campaign if you ask me.
but I don't want another X factor winner
anything is better than Joe and the Climb
annette_tr9
14-12-2009, 16:04
me - i love rock!! why not have a xmas rock no 1!! it's one of my favourite songs
annette_tr9
15-12-2009, 11:16
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8413557.stm
wooooooooooooooooooooo!!
X Factor judge Simon Cowell has criticised the internet campaign, calling it "stupid".
Prior to the final of the ITV talent show, he said: "I think the campaign's aimed directly at me."
Yes, we're fed up of your money grabbing attempts to get the christmas number one.
hippychick215
15-12-2009, 14:07
who would want this noisy horrible rock song for christmas number 1??? stupid campaign if you ask me.
i totally 100% agree with you there, Joe all the way to the top of the charts for xmas:thumbsup:
annette_tr9
16-12-2009, 13:24
http://www.ladbrokes.co.uk/lbr_sports?action=go_generic_link&category=SPECIALS&level=CLASS&key=210000113
ratm favourite to be number 1 now!!!
woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
freckleface
16-12-2009, 17:47
who would want this noisy horrible rock song for christmas number 1??? stupid campaign if you ask me.
i totally 100% agree with you there, Joe all the way to the top of the charts for xmas:thumbsup:
Yeah, bless him. This song IS CRAP!
I agree with the whole maybe X-factor shouldnt be xmas number one every year, but this is a blatant attempt to piss of simon cowell.
Its really unfair on Joe to, he is an amazing singer and the song is allright, and if he goes to number one because people want to buy his song and like it then fair enough. if you'd won the X Factor, wouldn't you hope to be Christmas number one? especially seeing as he's only 18.
If there was another good decent song out that had a fair chance of being number one, it would be acceptable but THIS is just to spite them and I think it is really horrible and stupid!
JOE FOR XMAS NUMBER ONE!!!
*trots off to buy his new single*
who would want this noisy horrible rock song for christmas number 1??? stupid campaign if you ask me.
i totally 100% agree with you there, Joe all the way to the top of the charts for xmas:thumbsup:
Yeah, bless him. This song IS CRAP!
I agree with the whole maybe X-factor shouldnt be xmas number one every year, but this is a blatant attempt to piss of simon cowell.
Its really unfair on Joe to, he is an amazing singer and the song is allright, and if he goes to number one because people want to buy his song and like it then fair enough. if you'd won the X Factor, wouldn't you hope to be Christmas number one? especially seeing as he's only 18.
If there was another good decent song out that had a fair chance of being number one, it would be acceptable but THIS is just to spite them and I think it is really horrible and stupid!
JOE FOR XMAS NUMBER ONE!!!
*trots off to buy his new single*
Look back over the last five years. How many of the winners are still bringing music out? Two out of five.
Go even further than that and ask how many successful acts have come out of shows like this (Popstars, Fame Academy etc). Leona, Girls Aloud and Alexandra.
Simon Cowel and Simon Fuller have shown that they're only interested in people for a matter of months as a cash cow. These shows have a very low success rate and it's about time they were banned altogether.
That's why people have a problem with the X Factor single being number one and that's why I downloaded Rage Against The Machine. The sooner these money mad "celebrities" learn that we're not interested in the drivel they help produce, the better.
Let's have some decent music back in the charts instead of this manufactured ****
I agree that it does not have to be the X Factor winner who gets the Christmas no. 1 but there is no need to go down the RATM road either. There are other good songs around at the moment and I for one would not have minded The Soldiers doing well, all proceeds go to charity which is what Christmas should be about, caring for and supporting others less fortunate. Just my opinion.
Will Young!!!!
Major continuing success as an artist.
DaVeyWaVey
16-12-2009, 22:48
I really hope it gets to Number 1. I really liked the song long before the campaign anyway and it'll make a change to have something refreshing at the top of the charts over Christmas.
People who say it isn't very Christmassy, well on Christmas Day I'm sure many are tempted to say "**** you, I won't do what you tell me!" :rotfl:
Joe is a good singer, but X Factor being Number 1 at Christmas is getting really boring and tedious now. RATM for Christmas Number 1!
annette_tr9
17-12-2009, 07:25
i think Joe is a good singer too and I'm sure he will be pleased to get either number 1 or 2....sure he would prefer no 1 but he's in a way better position than he was a few months ago!!!
RATM Killing in the name has always been one of my favourite songs though, takes me back to my younger grunge days!!! So I'm not just buying it to beat Simon Cowell to no 1, i am buying it because i really like the song.
joe's song isnt really christmasy either is it??
Rage Against The Machine performed an uncensored rendition of Killing In The Name' on BBC Radio 5Live this morning.
The rock act appeared on the station's breakfast show to promote the campaign to get their track to Christmas number one. It is currently winning in a chart battle with X Factor victor Joe McElderry.
However, during the crescendo of their performance, frontman Zach De La Rocha screamed the lyrics, "F**k you, I won't do what you tell" repeatedly.
Hosts Nicky Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty apologised afterwards, explaining that they had asked the band to censor the track.
Earlier, the group thanked fans who had organised the festive chart campaign, arguing that it had tapped into a "silent majority" or "real fans of music".
"This has been a real grassroots campaign from real fans of music, which has tapped into the silent majority who are tired of being spoon-fed one schmaltzy ballad after another - they want to take back their own charts," said guitarist Tom Morello. "We are honoured they have chosen our song to be the rebel anthem to topple the X Factor monopoly."
He also disputed claims that their track reaching number one would benefit Simon Cowell as it is released by Sony Records.
"People are not buying 'Killing In The Name' to protest at a record being released by a big record company," said Morello. "We wrote the song in a small industrial slum in Los Angeles. The X Factor song was produced by a cabal of overpaid songwriters to shove that schmaltzy business down your throat."
He also explained that the "windfall" of earnings they would make from the campaign would be donated to homeless charity Shelter.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a191838/ratm-swear-during-5live-performance.html
:eek:
I hate swearing however I think it makes the song at the end but it's not necessary on live radio.
Rage Against The Machine have continued their lead over X Factor winner Joe McElderry in the race for Christmas number one.
According to the latest midweek sales figures, 'Killing In The Name' is still 37,000 units ahead of the 'The Climb', which was made available physically yesterday.
More than 80,000 CD sales were not enough for McElderry’s 'The Climb' to overtake Rage Against The Machine. However, the 18-year-old has cut the lead from 65,000 yesterday.
'Killing In The Name', which became the focus of a Facebook campaign to prevent the X Factor winner's single from topping the Christmas singles chart for the fifth consecutive year, has now shifted a total of 253,000 copies so far this week.
Many retailers who do not traditionally stock CD singles, including Asda and Tesco, are expected to help 'The Climb' maintain strong physical sales as the week continues.
Bookmaker William Hill has now slashed the odds of Rage Against The Machine topping the festive charts.
im disgusted that this vile trash can get to number one at christmas. Theres so many songs out that that I'd prefer to see number one than this nasty rubbish.
They're not just robbing the X Factor of number 1, but any other artist who's trying to get to number 1 or chart highly this christmas. It's just a song choice. I support the campaign, but not this song. I mean why couldn't have people all said let's download White Christmas by Vera Lynn, or something like that.
If it becomes apparant that they are going to be number 1, i for one wont be tuning in to the Christmas chart show, and that will be the first time I've done that in all the years i Can remember. Thanks for runining one of the things I enjoy at Christmas RATM - idiots.
Chris_2k11
17-12-2009, 15:59
Must take a listen :eek:
Must take a listen :eek:
Ok.. got 54 seconds into it and it is enough..don't want this for christmas no 1.
Same here, I would not want this at No. 1 at any time, but especially at Christmas. I agree with Bryan, if people wanted to protest against another X Factor winner being at no. 1, they could have chosed far nicer songs.
Same here, I would not want this at No. 1 at any time, but especially at Christmas. I agree with Bryan, if people wanted to protest against another X Factor winner being at no. 1, they could have chosed far nicer songs.
we could all have bought Shakin Steven's merry christmas everyone!! that would have been a better choice!!
Chris_2k11
17-12-2009, 16:10
Well thats 5 minutes I aint getting back, total ear rape
annette_tr9
17-12-2009, 16:23
i think it's a great song :)
but everyone likes different things dont they! be boring else!
i think it's a great song :)
but everyone likes different things dont they! be boring else!
I like it as well. As for it not being a xmas song, I don't see The Climbs lyrics leaping out as xmassy either
Chris_2k11
17-12-2009, 21:57
Cheryl's kicked off about it now lol
Chris_2k11
17-12-2009, 22:00
Cheryl Cole has blasted the online campaign to get Rage Against The Machine the Christmas number one.
Despite being named as the bookies' favourite to top the charts this Sunday, X Factor winner Joe McElderry is still trailing the LA rockers in sales.
X Factor judge Cole has now spoken out in support of this year's winner.
She said in a statement: "I would be devastated to see Joe lose out to possibly the best thing that could happen to him in his life. Every aspiring popstar dreams of a number one record.
"It is a beautiful song. He put his heart and soul into every single week of The X Factor and I cannot bare to see him lose out to a mean campaign that has nothing to do with his efforts."
Cole added: "If that song, or should I say campaign, by an American group is our Christmas number one, I'll be gutted for him and our charts."
Cole added: "If that song, or should I say campaign, by an American group is our Christmas number one, I'll be gutted for him and our charts."
Cheryl, last time I looked the x-factor was a global product. Get that into your barbie head
i hope the people who are buying this single release what record lable RATM are signed to - Sony. so anyone buying this single as a **** you to Simon Cowell are actually still paying money into his pocket. haha, mugs.
Not really. The flip side is of the campaign succeeds it could mean the demise of the x-factor which will hit Simon Cowell harder in the pocket.
by joe getting to number 2, that will have no affect on the x factor. its the most watched programme of the year apart from sports events, and that speaks for itself.
it's about finding a new star and hopefully nurturing them into a new talent. We'll see how Joe does, he may do good or he may be the next Leon. But for the flops there have been the sucesses and thats what the X Factor is there for.
at the end of the day Joe's single is crap. but it doesnt mean his albumn and actual work that he has an input in will be, for example Alexandra Burke's Hallelejuah is so far away from the stuff she is doing now, that she only put it as a bonus song on her albumn this year.
i am not advocating the x factor for number 1 at christmas, i think they should let them crack the number 1 after christmas, becuase getting a number 1 for your debut single is impressive enough. then it frees up christmas for the christmas number 1 battle again every year - novelty christmas songs fighting for who will top the charts.
Look at the marketing machine behind the X-Factor. I don't buy that its about talent. It's all about $$$$$ and its partly responsible for promoting the celeb culture.
Firstly and foremost, Cowell is a business man. He knows that this campaign isn't directed at Joe, but himself. Of course, the way Cowell's team are selling this is that its unfair on Joe for all the hard work he's put in. Well, yes it is and most will sympathise, but people power is a funny thing.
Joe McElderry is once more the bookies' favourite to nab the Christmas number one single ahead of Rage Against The Machine.
New odds at Ladbrokes today put the X Factor winner's 'The Climb' in front at 2/7. Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name' is behind at 9/4.
This comes despite 'Killing In The Name' outselling 'The Climb' as of last night.
Simon Cowell has slammed the Rage campaign, calling it "stupid", "cynical" and "very Scrooge".
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a191908/joe-mcelderry-favourite-for-xmas-no1.html
DaVeyWaVey
18-12-2009, 12:40
Why should Cheryl Cole dictate to us who should be Number 1? I'll make up my own mind, thanks :)
DaVeyWaVey
18-12-2009, 12:51
Look at the marketing machine behind the X-Factor. I don't buy that its about talent. It's all about $$$$$ and its partly responsible for promoting the celeb culture.
Firstly and foremost, Cowell is a business man. He knows that this campaign isn't directed at Joe, but himself. Of course, the way Cowell's team are selling this is that its unfair on Joe for all the hard work he's put in. Well, yes it is and most will sympathise, but people power is a funny thing.
I agree. The X Factor is a Saturday night entertainment show first and foremost and Cowell dresses it up as 'a talent search' to set the premise of the show. The majority of contestants are used as puppets by Cowell and the team to provide us this entertainment and then when the show ends, they've served their purpose. Of course, when genuinely talented people like Alexandra and Leona are found through these shows, it helps keep the credibility of 'the talent search' so we all keep buying into it. It's all about the money for Cowell. I don't think he cares who wins in all honesty, as he can sign up whatever act he likes once the show has finished and even drop the winner from his record label, if he wishes.
The thing is, Cowell is a clever man. His publicity machine hooks up to 15 million viewers each week (up to 19 million for the final) and he knows how to draw the viewers in - even I get hooked! We had Dannii's outburst regarding Danyl's sexuality, which got everyone talking and I wouldn't be surprised if that was in the script for the first live show. The show is now all about the judges and the celebrity guests as much as the contestants, reinforcing this 'celeb' culture.
In each show, something happens so that the momentum builds up and the audiences keep rising and it speaks volumes how all this influences the voting week by week. The night, we saw Danyl's 'breakdown' he topped the vote. Similarly, the night when Cheryl started with the crocodile tears saying she picked the wrong song for Lloyd, he topped the vote as a result. Cowell knows what tactics to employ to get certain contestants at the top of the voting. He knows how to influence the viewers in a certain way and we all can't help but buy into it.
All that matters to Cowell is that the most interesting acts (the ones with stories and who provide the most entertainment) stay until the end so the viewing figures stay at a high level and he'll do what it takes to make this happen, without directly fixing the public vote.
The bubble will eventually burst though..
X Factor winner Joe McElderry has secured the top spot in this week's Irish singles chart with debut solo release 'The Climb'.
The 18-year-old singer held off competition from Rage Against The Machine's 1992 single 'Killing In The Name', which has become the focus of an internet campaign against The X Factor and Simon Cowell's dominance over the Christmas charts.
Lady GaGa's 'Bad Romance' drops two places to third, while 3OH!3 and Black Eyed Peas take fourth and fifth positions with 'Starstrukk' and 'Meet Me Halfway' respectively.
Meanwhile, Michael Bublé's 'Haven't Met You Yet' shoots back into the top ten, rising 15 places to seventh.
The top ten singles in full:
1. (-) Joe McElderry: 'The Climb'
2. (-) Rage Against The Machine: 'Killing In The Name'
3. (1) Lady GaGa: 'Bad Romance'
4. (-) 3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry: 'Starstrukk'
5. (2) Black Eyed Peas: 'Meet Me Halfway'
6. (3) X Factor Finalists 2009: 'You Are Not Alone'
7. (22) Michael Bublé: 'Haven't Met You Yet'
8. (7) Rihanna: 'Russian Roulette'
9. (5) Ke$ha: 'Tik Tok'
10. (8) Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band: 'The Official BBC Children In Need Medley'
:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: Well done the Irish folk
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a192021/joe-mcelderry-beats-rage-in-ireland.html
tammyy2j
18-12-2009, 15:15
FFS whats up with us Irish - The Pogues should be No. 1 :(
Not really bothered which one is at no. 1 as long as it is not RATM
i hope the people who are buying this single release what record lable RATM are signed to - Sony. so anyone buying this single as a **** you to Simon Cowell are actually still paying money into his pocket. haha, mugs.
Actually, all the proceeds from the RATM single is going to charity and not into the pockets of Sony, Simon or the band. The only people that are benefiting from this is Shelter.
Bad Wolf
19-12-2009, 13:21
even more reason to buy it!!!
I really hate this song though
tammyy2j
20-12-2009, 19:03
Rage Against The Machine have beaten X Factor winner Joe McElderry to the Christmas number one.
The band's 1992 single 'Killing In The Name' sold over 500,000 copies this week after a Facebook campaign urged fans to stop McElderry from reaching the top spot.
Rage Against The Machine led the race from the beginning of the week, although their advantage slipped when the CD version of McElderry's debut single 'The Climb' was released on Wednesday and by Friday morning they were ahead by just 9,000 copies. However, they went on to sell over 200,000 copies on Friday and Saturday.
McElderry sold over 450,000 copies of 'The Climb', but sales of the CD dropped over the last couple of days. The Official Charts Company suggested that the fall in sales could be linked to the bad weather.
'Killing In The Name' has now become the UK's first download-only Christmas number one and has broken the record for the biggest one-week download sales in British chart history.
The Official Charts Company's managing director Martin Talbot said: "Congratulations to Rage Against The Machine on their number one - as we have seen in recent years, overhauling any X Factor winner in the race for Christmas number one is no mean achievement. The public support we have seen for the record this week has been truly amazing - and handed them two all-time records.
"But congratulations too should also go to Joe McElderry. In taking the number two spot, he has still achieved one of the highest weekly sales of any single this year - in almost any other year, 450,000 copies would have given him the Christmas number one."
He added: "Through this week, these two tracks have accounted for 950,000 single sales, a fact which is truly remarkable."
well i know it wont change anything, but my personal protest is to switch off the radio whenever this **** plays.
the public should be ashamed of themselves for getting this vile - shouting and swearing to the christmas number one. why didn't everyone choose to download/buy an old christmas song like "White Christmas" or something to number 1 instead of this.
RATM is not music, anyone can shout and swear, just hit any city street of a Saturday night, they could do a better job than RATM.
Looking forward to reading about it in your blog Bry!
Looking forward to reading about it in your blog Bry!
haha oh i'm already writing it at the moment!
hippychick215
20-12-2009, 19:17
X Factor winner Joe McElderry has secured the top spot in this week's Irish singles chart with debut solo release 'The Climb'.
The 18-year-old singer held off competition from Rage Against The Machine's 1992 single 'Killing In The Name', which has become the focus of an internet campaign against The X Factor and Simon Cowell's dominance over the Christmas charts.
Lady GaGa's 'Bad Romance' drops two places to third, while 3OH!3 and Black Eyed Peas take fourth and fifth positions with 'Starstrukk' and 'Meet Me Halfway' respectively.
Meanwhile, Michael Bublé's 'Haven't Met You Yet' shoots back into the top ten, rising 15 places to seventh.
The top ten singles in full:
1. (-) Joe McElderry: 'The Climb'
2. (-) Rage Against The Machine: 'Killing In The Name'
3. (1) Lady GaGa: 'Bad Romance'
4. (-) 3OH!3 ft. Katy Perry: 'Starstrukk'
5. (2) Black Eyed Peas: 'Meet Me Halfway'
6. (3) X Factor Finalists 2009: 'You Are Not Alone'
7. (22) Michael Bublé: 'Haven't Met You Yet'
8. (7) Rihanna: 'Russian Roulette'
9. (5) Ke: 'Tik Tok'
10. (8) Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band: 'The Official BBC Children In Need Medley'
:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: Well done the Irish folk
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a192021/joe-mcelderry-beats-rage-in-ireland.html
at least the irish have sum sense unlike us british ffs, ratm no1 is should have been joe no1 else
I am just delighted that the Great British public have rebelled and stopped manufactured pap pop from being the Christmas number 1.
I agree with Bry that it would have been nice if it had been a more traditional alternative, my preference would have been the Pogues and Kirsty McColl, or Chris Rea. I don't like RATM, but they are preferable to X Factor.
This time we have Raged Against the Machine - and WON!!!
Looking forward to reading about it in your blog Bry!
http://poptart88.blog.com/
Well I've had my rant and got it all off my chest. That's the last I have to say on the matter now :)
I really cant stand this song
annette_tr9
21-12-2009, 07:15
woooooooooo!! I am really pleased it's number one!! I love the song, I can understand why people wouldn't like it mind.....i like heavy metal and remember it from my nights out when i was younger....and thinner. perhaps i was thinner because i was jumping around to heavy metal.....perhaps i should start doing that again..........
Chris_2k11
21-12-2009, 09:34
Cheryl's reaction today
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9263/cherylcole.jpg
Bad Wolf
21-12-2009, 17:33
the money from this song goes to shelter, not simon cowell. easy decision
The Top 40 is polluted with manufactured crap. Refreshing to see the British public stick two fingers up at the status quo. I like the song. Anarchy rules.
Damn, I wish I could play the bass guitar
Even though I don't like this song.. it is nice to see that X factor didn't get no 1 again... (yeah it is number one now so what is the big deal Cheryl??)
Snap, I didnt like the song, and in a horrible way it was nice to see something else at the top spot
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