Rage Against the Machine Takes the Christmas No 1 Spot – Simon Cowell’s Head Explodes

The Christmas #1, a very big deal in the UK, has been dominated by Simon Cowell’s winning X-Factor single for 4 years running.   Not this year.   X-Factor winner, Joe McElderry’s song, “The Climb” will bow at #2 this week behind Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” at #1.

via The Independent:

Rock band Rage Against the Machine ended Simon Cowell’s four year domination of the Christmas charts tonight after a hugely popular Facebook campaign helped the Los Angeles nu-metallers snatch the Christmas number one slot from X-factor’s Joe McEdlerry.

More than half a million people downloaded the band’s famously anti-authoritarian and expletive laden track ‘Killing in the Name’  in what was seen as a broad protest against the increasing influence of manufactured pop music.

It is the first time a non-X-Factor song has made it to Christmas number one for four years and represents a major snub to the show’s creator Cowell who angrily described the campaign to him another number one slot as ‘very Scrooge’ .

On one hand, I’m a Rage Against the Machine Fan, and kinda happy their song took the #1 spot over some soppy Miley Cyrus cover.

Yet, having watched this season of the X-Factor, I feel bad for Joe, who seems like a nice, sweet lad (albeit, very dull and charisma free).

But last night the 18-year-old Geordie singer, whose cover of Miley Cyrus’ ‘The Climb’  sold 50, 000 fewer copies than his rivals, was noticeably more magnanimous in defeat.

“Fair play to the guys who have organised the Facebook campaign – it’s been exciting to be part of a much-hyped battle and they definitely deserve congratulations, ” he said. “This time last year I never thought for one minute that I’d win The X Factor, never mind about having a debut single out, so I’m just delighted to be in the charts.’ 

Very gracious in defeat, Joe is.   I have to say, it’s going to be really fun to watch Simon’s head explode.

The Climb – Joe McElderry

Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name

About mj santilli 34832 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!