Rage against the machine for Christmas number 1

[ianrauk]

X-Factor style MP vote off.... I like it..

I think its more backlash against the X factor being a cynical marketing ploy in our sick comsume consume consume society. The trouble is that so many sheeple can't see through it. It made me feel quite optimistic...politicians beware, you're next.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Have just listened to the song, it's no jingle bells but I feel quite festive.

 

[darkstar]

OH YES!
For all the people who did not believe this could happen, eat your words!
I was so happy when i found out, was out for 21st birthday, just provided another reason to celebrate!

 

[BrumJim]

In some ways, I am delighted.

In other ways, I would rather a more appropriate Christmas song became No.1, like that ex-homeless man from Birmingham (doesn't have to be actually about Christmas).

But I am also worried that Simon Cowell is comparing the sales for this Christmas with last, and is working out how many more records he sold due to this fight for superiority.

 

[Dan B]

I was a little bit annoyed to find out only last night that there had been a simultaneous campaign to get the muppets "bohemian rhapsody" cover installed as christmas number one, because that really would have rocked and if I'd known about it earlier I'd have bought it. But RATM ... yeah, it'll do.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

it's great news. i just hope the message of the song isn't lost in the wave of x-factor defeated triumphantism…

 

[gavintc]

I had not heard the X Factor song until this evening in the car. It is truly awful and Joe has real problems singing it. His voice seems all over the place and in my view has problems pronouncing some of the words. I predict he will be a true one hit wonder. Much the worst from X Factor for some time.

 

[ianrauk]

This weeks MusicBiz update.. Joe to get to No.1

Joe McElderry looks set to have a number one single after all, with The Climb (Syco) this week outselling Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In the Name (Epic) by almost two to one.

The Climb, the debut single from X Factor winner McElderry, was famously beaten to the number one spot last Sunday by Rage Against The Machine’s Nineties hit, after an internet campaign to break the X Factor’s stranglehold on the Christmas number one spot.

However, it looks like McElderry will get his revenge, with The Climb selling almost 80,000 copies so far this week to Killing In The Name’s 40,000. With the race for the Christmas number one dead and buried, The Climb now looks set to top the charts this coming Sunday.

The Climb’s success is driven by sales of CD singles, with more than 53,000 sold this chart week.

 

[amnesia]

It's not really revenge though, is it ?! The whole point was to dethrone the Xfactor gang from the Xmas #1, which it did. I don't think RATM really care about the first #1 of 2010.

 

[Fab Foodie]

One small triump from this IMO is that the feckeless yoof of today and much of joe-public got off its arse* and cared about something enough to make a difference. Whether it'll make them care enough about anything else and take action is yet to be seen...
Maybe there's hope.

*OK sat at its computer...

 

[Over The Hill]

Spot on FF. When you look at all the protest songs from the 60s against war, nuclear bombs, etc compared to today.
We have climate change,Iraq, Afghanistan and I have not heard a single protest song or even a young celeb speak out against it.
At least some silly attempt to upset Simon Cowell is some sort of action.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Spot on FF. When you look at all the protest songs from the 60s against war, nuclear bombs, etc compared to today.
We have climate change,Iraq, Afghanistan and I have not heard a single protest song or even a young celeb speak out against it.
At least some silly attempt to upset Simon Cowell is some sort of action.

The music business is a different place these days, though. There are political singers and songwriters out there - Rage Against The Machine being a pretty good example - it's just that they don't fit into the fame machine which keeps churning out identikit "role model" stars. Can you imagine this drippy Joe Wotsit person writing a song of his own on any subject, never mind a controversial political song? No, me neither.

 

[Over The Hill]

I realise as a bit of an old git I am probably out of touch but I would think that in the same way that RATM is now No1 those who can network this sort of thing could get a political point or an anti war point across via downloads as they did with Sandy Thom. In many ways it is so much easier now as you do not need to rely on the establishment to either stock your record or spread the word that it is out there.

Is there a Billy Bragg for this age?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is there a Billy Bragg for this age?

I'm trying to summons the Spirit of TRB...

 

[darkstar]

I don't think those issues should be taken lightly and for bands to sing about them could be dangerous. I think to preach to the masses you really have to know what you're talking about, in terms of the current wars this is a tough area.