Rage Against the Machine Winning Christmas Chart Battle
- Posted on Dec 14th 2009 4:42AM by Julian Marszalek
- Comments (35)
The race for the Christmas number one officially kicked off Sunday night (Dec. 13) when 'X Factor' contestant Joe McElderry beat Olly Murs to win this year's edition of the talent contest. Yet despite Simon Cowell's plans to install the 18-year-old at the peak of this year's Yuletide charts with his cover of Miley Cyrus' 'The Climb,' Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing in the Name Of' is currently occupying the top slot in both the HMV and iTunes download charts.As previously reported, a Facebook group was created with the express intention of stopping this year's 'X Factor' winner shooting to the top of the festive charts by urging fans to buy Rage Against the Machine's polemical 1992 hit instead. The group has so far attracted over 714,000 members.
Tracy Morter, co-organiser of The Rage Against The Machine campaign, is also urging fans to make a donation to the homeless charity Shelter which has so far raised over £19,000. She said: "As we know, some of the proceeds from the 'X Factor' single go to charity. If any Rage for No.1 supporters wish to donate to a good cause alongside their purchase... we have chosen Shelter because no one should be homeless at Christmas."
Elsewhere, bookmakers have stopped accepting bets on which of the two records will win the race. 'The Climb' was listed as favourite with odds of 1/5 with ' Killing in the Name Of' taking second place at 10/3.
The UK's Christmas number one single will be announced next Sunday (Dec. 20).
Reader Comments(1 of 2)
Mel Connorat 12-14-2009
Keep on downloading Rage Against the Machine. We cannot allow such a poor song such as the X factor has released be the Xmas No 1. Music lovers fight back, even if you hate "killing in the name of"" - kill off Joes' awful record. Happy Christmas.
Lorna Gillinghamat 12-14-2009
ANYONE WITH ANY TASTE IN MUSIC WOULD DOWNLOAD NIETHER.
Belleat 12-15-2009
Get a life ALL you saddos! What as talented Joe McElderry done to any of you? Why deliberately sabotarge his debut single wheres the sense in that??
What lovely Christmas spirit!!! GET A LIFE!!!
Kitty Catat 12-14-2009
Rage to win. the shelter amount has almost reached £30,000 excluding the gift aid suppliment. Who wants some wee guy singing a mily cyrus cover when you could be rocking out to RAGE!!!!!!!
Jamieat 1-18-2010
Buying R.A.T.M's song isn't just about having a decent No.1 (quite frankly, the No.1 spot is a shallow and unimportant victory anyway), it's more about rebels uniting and protesting about a subject they feel strongly about. We're displaying a show of force against the vainity stricken media, fame and celebrities, not to mention the machine/system under which we live. How often do people stand up and say "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore?" If this works then it'll be a mini-revolution, but a revolution that worthy or praise all the same. The people have spoken and this time, surprisingly, they may just win!
Danat 12-20-2009
I agree with you 100%.
I mean, i LOVE rage, they totally rock! ...And personally i think that all this x-factor stuff really does suck.
Id love to see some diversity in music, it does seem to be getting a little "samey", but ultimately, that and the #1 spot dont matter.
Everyone should have a listen to the lyrics in rage songs, then take a look at the system and society around them...is this the best we can do?
Im betting most people probably dont know who the "flaming guy" is on the cover of the album =/
Take a look around you people, and stand up for what you believe in =)
Nigelat 12-14-2009
I have just listened to RATM on You Tube - do people actually call that music?? It was absolutely dreadful consisting of the same chords played repeatedly and incoherent and tuneless "singing"
Joe McElderry and Simon Cowell have absolutely nothing to worry about if that is the competition.
benat 12-14-2009
you obviously have no idea what RATM is about, it is music and it is powerful stuff, listen to the lyrics and you'l hear the injustice of this world. other then the shelterd lives of these idiots around in the charts now
Chrisat 12-16-2009
so your telling me you dont understand RATM? your saying that some little puppet that can sing along to a song that was wrote for the same girl that is just as big a puppet in america, deserves to rise to the top? how can you say that, the kid can sing, thats natural talent, these lads in bands who strive all their lives to get to the peak of there talent on guitars and drums, these are the people who are the true professionals, the people that deserve the success they get, they didnt get given there talent, they didnt go on a competition and get loved by some teenage girls, they earnt the respect of their peers and fans alike, that is why we are doing this, not because of joe, because of the idea of the xfactor, the idea that some "lucky" person can walk into stardom, its not right, it never will be! so why should we all bow down! this will be a massive victory for MUSICIANS, not kareoke singers! (sorry i can never spell that!) Peaceeee
Georgiaat 12-20-2009
Sorry, I didn't know where to add this- it is in reply to Chris.
I am fifteen and female. So, guess what, I am a teenage girl and i LOVE RATM... so please don't generalise. I agree with everything you have said apart from that statement. Not all teenage girls are brainless morons.
Andrewat 12-14-2009
Let's go for Rage!! Or if not that, The Muppets and Queen with Bohemian Rhapsody. Don't give Cowell and his latest puppet any more joy.
lilpoppetsat 12-14-2009
Both of these are crap. Joe can actually sing why knock his chances of a no.1 hit.
rayat 12-19-2009
i thing the rage is so crap why anyone would call that music is beyond me joe to have no 1 and why not hes a class singer get reall ppl this is our uk charts not bloody america
Jonat 12-14-2009
Haha. Nigel. You clown. You must be joking...wait, no. You are serious?! lol
Mr Mcelderry is singing a song using the most basic of chord progressions - the I, IV, V with the typical key transposition at the end of the song (something which epitomises most boy-bands of the last 20 years...hardly original). The song structure as well as it's content is jaded to say the least. Plus, aside from not writing ANY of his own music he is a puppet to the people marketing him. What RATM have done is create their own music from scratch without compromise. That alone has ensured them a place in music history (its 18 years since 'Killing in the Name' was released and people are still willing to buy it). These talent show winners are a perfect example of disposable music which is forgotten as quickly as it arrives.
Some music stands the test of time, some garners appreciation over the years. And some is marketed & hyped up so much that it's longevity is practically doomed from the outset.
joe Loveat 12-14-2009
RAGE all the way! Joe Mcelderberry no way!
Briat 12-14-2009
How is it spoiling his chance of fame? If he's talented he'll become famous regardless of whether he gets to number 1 or not.
shelat 12-14-2009
muppets to be christmas number 1 please!!!!!!
brianat 12-15-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTpYKfppC3g 'Guitars Kill Cowell'-instrumental single by The NowUK
tom moneyat 12-16-2009
the people who listern to the same old rubish are deluded, they are all remakes of crappy song done in the same crappy way! rage and others in the genre are different and interesting
Delegate Zeroat 12-15-2009
"Get a life ALL you saddos! What as talented Joe McElderry done to any of you? Why deliberately sabotarge his debut single wheres the sense in that??
What lovely Christmas spirit!!! GET A LIFE!!!"
FUCK YOU I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME! FUCK YOU I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME! FUCK YOU I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!