Rage Against The Machine beat Joe McElderry to Christmas number one
Rage Against The Machine have won this year’s battle for Christmas number one. Not only that but their song has become the first ever download only Christmas number one.
The Rage sold 502,000 copies of their single ‘Killing In The Name Of’ whilst X Factor winner Joe McElderry sold 450,000 copies of his single ‘The Climb. To out things in perspective Alexandra Burke sold 576,000 copies of her single ‘Hallelujah’ in the same week last year.
Hopefully this news will send the X Factor team back to the drawing board for next year’s single. For five years they have dominated the Christmas charts with tracks full of gospel choirs, big key changes and ‘inspiring’ lyrics. It’s been a clear formula and obviously it’s getting boring. The yearly single has no clear co-relation on where Syco intend to place the X Factor winner as an artist. This song wasn’t even chosen for Joe McElderry specifically, but for any one of the four semi finalists this year.
Gerard McGarry said over on his blog
And after the most shambolic X Factor in years, I think people are just tired of all the bullshit. So, maybe it’s time for Simon to prick his ears up and listen to the music fans for once.
We find ourselves feeling quite sorry for young Joe tonight. This battle was waged against Simon Cowell, not him, yet the loss may have far reaching, negative implications for his musical career. He’s a great singer with a crap song, it’s a pity he had to be the big loser in this scenario.
We imagine that Simon Cowell will be stamping his stack heels in anger at the news and as always, we’d love to hear your comments below.
As a point of interest we thought we would include the sale figures of all the X Factor winners first week’s sales. Poor old Leon Jackson eh…
(Series 1) Steve Brookstein – 250,000
(Series 2) Shayne Ward – 742,180
(Series 3) Leona Lewis – 571,253
(Series 4) Leon Jackson – 490,000
(Series 5) Alexandra Burke – 576,000
(Series 6) Joe McElderry – 450,838
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is chloe a bitter CHERYL COLE and craig might be the tosser cowell????
you lost get over it and try again next year Vs Bullet in the Head i hope
I am a Joe McElderry fan, that does not mean to say that I am apart of some bitter, inconsiderate & negative RATM campaign either. Whoever gets to number 1, clearly deserves to win. Good luck to both, I say! – Why is their so much negativity about a young lad that is trying to be successful in life? There are so many people contradicting their views on here. In the same sentence you are praising the positive meaning behind RATM, yet spoiling the peace of it all by raging at innocent lad. It’s not very clever is it?
joe should win no one would be saying anything if rage against the machine hadnt have come out with their shit song joe should win and he will rage against the machine r shit n so is the song which was proved 10 years ago when they only made it to 25 in the charts they will not win this year joe is the best and will defoo win
JOEEE all the way
unlucky
This just in RAGE WON
F YEAH, take that cowell
[...] it was announced that Rage had scored their number one tonight, singer Zack de la Rocha told Radio One that the band would be donating ‘part of the [...]
well personally i so badly wanted joe to be no. 1
but it’s all good for simon cowell
since he gets the money from joe’s and ratm’s single..
so great you ratm fans.. your money goes to simon cowell.. which has been the opposite of your campaign purpose.. proves that ratm fans are idiotic fags.. well at least we all know that ratm’s single didn’t get there because of their ‘talent’ because they have none.
Jenny stop trying to sound smart, you sound so dumb. RATM arre under Sony’s umbrella just like Cowell, but he won’t make anything of rage sales. It was all download only at like 40p and most of the money is going to charity – not that its much – 500,000 x 40p is nothing to Sony, a multi-100-billion dollar company.
Jenny, or dear, all ratm fans are idiotic fags? Well done on sounding like a bigoted fool.
I personally saw this chart battle as not a fight against Simon Cowell, but as a battle of original music vs manufactured sugar coated pop. I’m not a huge rage fan but I’m glad this won, it gives me hope for the future of music.
more talent than you tho son
I was hoping Joe would get to number 1, but mabye it is about time an X Factor contestant did not get christmas number 1, mabye it will spur him on to really make it in his own right and not just have the instant success that winning X Factor brings. He is just a young boy trying to make it.
Awesome comment.
Couldn’t agree more!!! – There doesn’t have to be all of this hostility, it’s really childlike.
I wanted Joe to win but I don’t suddenly hate RATM. I’ts over now anyway – Looking forward to more of Joe!
[...] Speaking on Radio One’s The Switch tonight Joe admitted that he was disappointed that his single only made it to number two, but went on to congratulate Rage on their win. [...]
Im devastated joe didnt get to number 1 his single is much better than ‘killing in the name of’ and its a bit pathetic aiming this at simon cowell as it doesnt affect him its joe’s single not simon’s. Im sure Joe will have a lot more singles in the future he doesnt need this single to be number 1 he will have his own song’s soon
Abbie try not to cry lover… obviously Rage ain’t your cup of tea. Imagine if a Rock metal or hiphop act won every year then you’d get so pissed off you’d probably campaign on facebook for S-Club7 to reach no.1 in some inverse reality.
Big Love,
Ed.
I feel quite sorry for joe, being the 1st xfactor winner not to get the christmas number 1. i did want olly to win, but still want joe to do well. Its not the end of the world he didnt get the number 1, but its the kickup the backside he will need to make it in the music world. I think its good for simon aswell, as maby he will change the tempo of the finalists song nextyear and its a punch in the face, that he needed to maby stop him being so smug.
Lets all shed a tear for Joe and his Christmas number 2 that’ll most likely be number 1 next week. Poor lad his career will be in tatters! What ever will he doooooo?!!?!
If anything this will launch his career I mean think of the sympathy vote he’s going to get now and the controversy of the whole thing will mean having his name batted around for years to come.
This “cynical” “spiteful” “bullying” campaign has done more to bring people together and do something good than most occasions this year. In the midst of the credit crunch and a terribly miserable year of people losing their jobs, out of no where this campaign has helped to raise a sizeable amount of money for the homeless and give people a sense of purpose and control over their lives even if only on a small scale and I think that’s a marvelous thing!
Whether you like RATM or not a lot of good has happened in this past week.
This is a VICTORY worth celebrating indeed! ‘Take the power back’ works and to have done it in this astonishingly brilliant way with a great song from a great band whose career spans decades and will continue to do so. I’ve loved RATM from the start and still listen to their music to this day. This is also a VICTORY FOR MUSIC in general! The cultural landscape of music is dependent on innovation and ‘original’ creation. It’s okay if things like X-factor karaoke “artists” exist too, for those that like that sort of re-hashed, recycled and often bland thing…but it is not truly fair that it makes such a stamp in an area where originality is required, rather than shrewd and cynical marketing concerned more with financial gain than true musical artistry and originality.
There is an unhealthy and scrooge like cynicism to anything that becomes so commercialised in this manner that Simon Cowell and his money-making entertainment machine have arranged. People have obviously longed to let Scrooge Cowell know that they won’t accept this hijacking of the Christmas number 1 or indeed, musical chart; that they are fed up with this repeatedly deliberate manipulation of the music chart.
No better statement could have been made than to employ Rage Against The MACHINE to prove this point against the chart manipulating actions of the Cowell fuelled entertainment-MACHINE called X-factor!
I celebrate this victory for original, self-created and self-authored music expressed through RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE! Power to the people! Power to authentic, original music!
I love Rage but I love music in general as a musician myself I wonder how many of the people who bought killing in the name were fairly unfamiliar with actually paying for a download!
Maybe the lesson is if you like a song respect the musicians enough to actually pay for it then you might see what you like in the charts.
[...] Against The Machine scooped the coveted Christmas number one after they sold 502,000 copies of their single ‘Killing In The Name Of’ whilst X Factor winner [...]
proof this show should finially stop! it’s getting worse and worse! I’m sorry but it is
This was a hateful campaign and def. NOT in the spirit of Christmas. The two that started it chose a song full of swearing to represent Christmas! And they are parents!!!! God help their kids if this is the example they set…..Social services should be made aware.!
NO! This was definitely NOT a campaign about hate at all. And I think it was very much in the Spirit of Christmas because it gave the power back into the hands of the people. People who are tired of being presented with the same formulaic tunes, year in and year out for the past several years. Each year this show follows the same recipe of rehashing songs that are not original, essentially putting a karaoke number into the charts.
This whole “recipe” show is not adding anything new or original to the musical landscape. And it is, in fact, robbing the musical landscape of those very things, originality, creativity, innovation and songs full of real meaning, whether it be an angry one (such as RATM’s song which is about police brutality and racism) or a sentimental one.
Congratulations to Joe for being a good sport, and like he said, he’s not taking it personally because it was never directed at him personally. It is against the clearly commercially designed and manufactured, financially gain-motivated, bland music that is being produced by Simon Cowell and this show and its impoverishing, negative and destructive impact on the the landscape and culture of music.
As for the music itself, in the case of Rage Against The Machine, there is a high social awareness which is a major part of their music, just like songs by great artists like Bob Marley and many others, whose music go beyond merely being good. It also shows in how much MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED FOR CHARITIES such as Shelter – now that is TRULY encapsulating the Christmas spirit, it’s the absolute right thing to do, and RATM have done it along with the organisers of this campaign.
I’ve been listening to RATM for the past 15 years and their music is as relevant today as it was when released (and before that even).
I think you’re actually the one who is going too far by saying things such as that regarding other people’s parenting and their children. To say that ‘social services should be made aware” is going much too far and is insulting and rude in a real sense. All because of the swearing in a song about racism and brutality! I think you should get some persepective really.
There is also the issue of DIVERSITY! We’re being robbed of that too and so many do not seem to realise this, especially the millions that watch X-factor. The lack of diversity makes music suffer and thus all true music lovers suffer as well. This whole campaign is a strong statement saying that WE WANT DIVERSITY and not just one choice, the predictable hijacking of the number one during Christmas by one entertaiment machine. What better way to make a statement against this but through a band named Rage Against The MACHINE!
No, RATM and this campaign has indeed encapsulated the true spirit of Christmas as the people took the power into their own hands and made such a strong statement. Granted, RATM’s song is indeed not the most Christmas-like song you’ve ever heard…but then the Christmas number one has often not been all that apt for Christmas anyhow…at least this time, there was a motivation and action (raising money for charities) behind this song that truly encapsulates the spirit of Christmas – power to the people!
NO NO NO to you!! this was an “anti” campaign as you’ve admitted yourself-it was not done out of goodwill, which, incidentally, IS the Christmas spirit. You have rambled on about the supposed “meaning” behind the RATM song but have failed to address my point: that the song is full of swearing and was chosen by parents who obviously think that the height of creativity is to use as much foul language as possible. A great example to set their kids right???!!! There are other songs that give this “message” that don’t resort to expletives! This is what TRULY GREAT AND GIFTED artists have been doing for centuries! So if we wonder why kids use such terrible language today here’s the answer- THE PARENTS! I wonder what other examples these parents are giving their kids???! My condemnation of them is justified as there are other songs that would have served the same purpose which kids could listen to as well! and they are the ones who need the “message” if things are to change in the future! Finally it’s a bit rich of you to talk about perspective-the world is in recession, there are wars being fought and people like you worry about the CHRISTMAS NO 1 RECORD !!!! get a life!
NO it was NOT an anti-campaign, you just saw it that way as you wanted Joe to win. Many people bought the the Rage track motivated byt things such as the failure of the climate change meet in Copenhagen, or the complete lack of originality and musical talent that’s ever at the top of the charts, many were just simply long term RATM fans. Not all were Cowell haters by any stretch.
You talk about global recession, wars, poverty, etc – well Rage actually address these issues like no other band in my opinion. X-factor acts and other souless commercial rubbish is nothing but escapism at a time when you say we need to be thinking about these very things.
Alex- it was most def an “anti” campaign. it was set-up to stop the x-factor winner getting to the top of the charts-that was the whole point of it!!!I am not an x-factor fan or a Joe fan. I did not buy his single nor was I brainwashed to buy RATM either as those on facebook were. Without the facebook campaign RATM would not even have been talked about-fact.
the power was in the hands of the people anyway, they weren’t forced into buying x factor records, that campaign has done the same thing, but they are TELLING people to buy their records instead of making good ones that people buy withput being told to
yeah, we were totally forced to buy “killing in the name”, it was like they had guns to our heads…oh sorry..
/sarcasm off.
Maybe we just did it just to p*ss all you X-factor fans off, you’re way worse than Cowell. Your tears over this are delicious.
RAGE!
You seem to think that anyone who disagrees with the moronic RATM campaign is an x-factor fan. I am not- i just hate spiteful little gits who claim to be “serious music lovers” (an idiotic self-grandiose term if ever there was one) who think they are standing up for freedom!! I mean it’s laughable. You seem to think these people are Gandhi or Martin Luther King !! There will always be music for everyone-those that think that the x-factor is destroying music are delusional and need therapy! The UK singles chart has been dominated by pop since the chart began and will likely remain so as fans of other genres tend to buy albums rather than singles. It is the albums chart where the real diversity is and nothing’s changed/will change there. So the campaign was just about childish idiots throwing a tantrum! Grow-up!!!
all i can say is poor joe, how gutting! Why didnt they do this when it was leon jackson or shayne ward- both who are worse than joe?
Thank god we have some real music for Xmas number 1, just goes to show how powerful social media has become. I hope RATM have a comeback would be nice to see them play live again.
Rage are still playing and the individual members are also as active as ever. Have you checked out ‘Street Sweeper Social Club’ on youtube? That’s guitarist Tom Morello’s new project for instance…
It didn’t matter what song it was as long as the christmas no1 was a change to what ever simon cowell has been telling all of you idiots to buy
it happened to be rage against the machine because it was a fitting message to simon cowell
so x factor fans you can all go suck it and stop being such sheep for a change buy a song that isn’t kareoke
love you
oh and avenger GROW UP!
SAME TO YOU. OR MAYBE IT’S TOO LATE!!
am not botherd about any of them a personaly think the climb was a shite song n to be honest a think killing in the name of is a good song but not a xmas one a think that the xmas number 1 should be a xmas song and nothin to do wid be inspirational or anythin like that but to enjoy xmas n give n recieve n all that shit but thats just my views in a viewable world lol
Many established musicians, past and present, all agreed that Rage Against The Machine, was one of the most genuinely innovative new bands to enter the scene. And a lot of famous guitarists were raving about Tom Morello, and rightly so. He is indeed one of the most original guitarists of our time and as such an invaluable addition to the culture and landscape of music, as are indeed Rage Against The Machine themselves…
RATM has also highlighted a lot of social issues and were, for instance, at the forefront of arranging protests against the former government of the US on account of their negative war policies in the world and other issues, by staging several protest concerts close to republican rallies. They were at the forefront of a growing and concerned movement in the US. They have often been the targets of a lot of people who were either pro-war or pro-establishment, often right-wing and racially motivated individuals, and who support the often bland and trivial interests that allow the various negative issues of our societies to continue. Of course, none of what has occured here has much to do with that. However, it is definitely a protest against blandness, lack of originality, lack of creativity and simple mediocrity. Things which true and good music is naturally dependent on. RATM has seen a clear victory here, supporters of true artistry have seen a victory here, music-lovers have seen a victory here, people who were tired of the predictability that X-factor has introduced regarding the Christmas chart have also won a victory…it’s been absolutely positive all around. Joe is not going to lose out, he’ll probably be number 1 next week, he’s sure to have a good…well, okay, a decent career out of this, especially with all the people who are supporting him. Read what Louie Walsh has to say about him and you’ll see someone who thinks that Joe will actually outsell and outshine RATM. Maybe so, maybe not, the future will show. Hopefully Joe will come out with original and truly creative material in the future. Something that would contribute positively to the musical landscape. All luck to him.
Personally, I feel that RATM’s music reflects a lot of strong sentiments to make a positive change, a change for the better through highlighting some of the negative things that exist in many of our societies today. Negative things that far surpass any swear-words or the like. Ultimately, this campaign has brought a lot of good by raising a lot of money for charities such as Shelter. If that isn’t what Christmas is all about I don’t know what is. More power to them, all music and charts that are never predictable!
Merry X-mas and a happy new year…yeah, those who supported Joe too.
I dont lick Simon Cowell’s arse, but I fail to realise why this song is actually good. I’ve listened to it several times and all I can hear is ‘FUCK YOU I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME MOTHERFUCKER’. Its just damn right rude and is not good music. WHen a track goes to number one I’ll listen to it a few times and then kinda get into it. But this is not good pop, its CERTAINLY not a Christmas #1. I’d be feeling EXACTLY the same way if it wasnt Christmas and Joe wasnt competing. Its a stupid song. Why couldnt you people buy a proper song?! Why buy this crap? What have they done for you except make terrible music? I dont really like the Climb but its better than RATM’s rubbish. KIDS are going to be listeningt o this track on Christmas radio and the stations arent going to want to play it… you’d barely even make out any of the lyrics when they silence the swearing in it.
Its something you may hear on Kerrang once in a while, but not the POP charts. They might be nice guys, I dont know, but the song itself just puts a black mark over Christmas this year. Good day.
[...] Source for figures: Unreality TV [...]