http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8423340.stm
Quote
Rage Against the Machine beat X Factor winner in charts
Rage Against the Machine's Zack de la Rocha
Rock band Rage Against The Machine has won the most competitive battle in years for the Christmas number one.
The band's single, Killing In The Name, sold 500,000 downloads beating X Factor winner Joe McElderry's The Climb by 50,000 copies to clinch the top spot.
Their success followed a Facebook campaign designed to prevent another X Factor number one.
One retailer said it was a "truly remarkable outcome - possibly the greatest chart upset ever".
Speaking on the Radio 1 chart show, Zack de la Rocha from Rage said: "We are very, very ecstatic about being number one."
He added it was an "incredible organic grassroots campaign".
'Sterile pop'
"It says more about the spontaneous action taken by young people throughout the UK to topple this very sterile pop monopoly," he said.
McElderry, 18, praised the campaign, adding: "It's been exciting to be part of a much-hyped battle and they definitely deserve congratulations."
Thanking all the fans who bought his single, 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.
"It's been such an incredible couple of months and I got the best Christmas gift I could ever have asked for in winning The X Factor."
He later told BBC Radio 1 he did not believe the internet campaign was a personal attack.
He said: "It's more against the show than me and I think if any other person had have won, the same thing would have happened, because the petition was going on before the winner had been announced."
Despite earlier in the week calling the campaign "stupid", X Factor judge Simon Cowell offered his congratulations to the couple behind it, Jon and Tracy Morter.
He said: "I am gutted for Joe because a number one single meant a lot to him but I have to congratulate Jon and Tracy, who started the Facebook campaign.
"I called Jon on Saturday to congratulate the two of them that, win or lose, they turned this into a very exciting race for the Christmas number one.
"I am proud of Joe - he worked really hard this week, but he has a great year ahead of him."
The Los Angeles rock band's hit also set two records: it is the first single to reach the top of the charts on download sales alone and has achieved the biggest download sales total in a first week ever in the UK charts.
McElderry's song was only released digitally after his victory in the X Factor, giving it less time to rack up sales than Rage Against The Machine.
On Friday the band's lead was just 9,000 copies, but sales then soared by 200,000 to secure victory.
What's all the Rage against?
Have Your Say: What does Rage's victory mean for X Factor?
Rage Against The Machine are signed to Epic Records, which is part of Sony BMG, the same label as McElderry.
Mr de la Rocha said the band would perform a free concert in the UK in 2010 to celebrate their chart win.
The past four Christmas number ones have all been by X Factor winners; Alexandra Burke's version of Hallelujah last year was one of the biggest selling festive singles ever.
Guitarist Tom Morello said it had "tapped into the silent majority of the people in the UK who are tired of being spoon-fed one schmaltzy ballad after another".
He added that proceeds from the single would go to homeless charity Shelter tying in with the Morters' Facebook campaign which includes an online link to give to the charity, raising over £70,000 so far.
The last big Christmas battle on a similar scale was between the Spice Girls' Goodbye and South Park character Chef's Chocolate Salty Balls in 1998. The Spice Girls won with 380,000 to their rival's 375,000.
Despite losing out on the single top spot, Cowell kept a hold on the album chart, with Susan Boyle's I Dreamed A Dream remaining at number one for a fourth week.
RECENT CHRISTMAS NUMBER ONES
2000: Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It
2001: Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman: Somethin' Stupid
2002: Girls Aloud: Sound of the Underground
2003: Michael Andrews feat Gary Jules: Mad World
Band Aid 20: Do They Know It's Christmas?
2005: Shayne Ward: That's My Goal
2006: Leona Lewis: A Moment Like This
2007: Leon Jackson: When You Believe
2008: Alexandra Burke: Hallelujah
CHART ANALYSIS
Colin Paterson
Colin Paterson, BBC News entertainment reporter
It is simply one of the biggest shocks in chart history.
The common belief was that the race for Christmas number one had been destroyed by the X Factor.
This year the corporate might of Simon Cowell has been defeated by a husband and wife's Facebook campaign.
This chart shock is right up there with Spiller's 'Groovejet' derailing the start of Victoria Beckham's non-Spice Career in 2000 or crooner Engelbert Humperdink ending The Beatles' run of 11 number ones in a row.
Two other points - this could become an annual event - the public deciding on a track with which to take on the X Factor winner.
Secondly there is still every chance Joe will reach number one next week.
The Rage Against Machine campaign was designed for one week only so Joe could get the top spot, saving him the indignity of being the first ever X Factor winner not to hit number one with their debut single.
LOL.
This is pretty great stuff.
True the irony of RATM being Sony and the Xfactor winner also being Sony is a bit...crap and they should have chosen a indie artist but still.
The charts have been useless for years but still, that a internet campaign could manipulate them in the key week of the year is interesting.
Particularly funny for me as my sister is very pissed off, she knew the guy who won the xfactor and thinks this is just some idiots being spoiled sports. Somehow.
Great that RATM get shit for their ridiculous anti-capitalism.
Quote2000: Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It
2001: Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman: Somethin' Stupid
2002: Girls Aloud: Sound of the Underground
LOLZ. The English and their music.
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 20, 2009, 04:53:09 PM
Quote2000: Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It
2001: Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman: Somethin' Stupid
2002: Girls Aloud: Sound of the Underground
LOLZ. The English and their music.
No shit! :bleeding:
QuoteThe last big Christmas battle on a similar scale was between the Spice Girls' Goodbye and South Park character Chef's Chocolate Salty Balls in 1998.
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 20, 2009, 04:53:09 PM
Quote2000: Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It
2001: Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman: Somethin' Stupid
2002: Girls Aloud: Sound of the Underground
LOLZ. The English and their music.
:lmfao:
What the hell is a Christmas number one?
Isn't that song like 10 years old or more? :huh:
Christmas is All Around by Billy Mack should have won. :mad:
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2009, 06:31:54 PM
What the hell is a Christmas number one?
You don't have music charts in Canuckistan?
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2009, 06:31:54 PM
What the hell is a Christmas number one?
Your first wee on December 25th.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 20, 2009, 06:32:59 PM
Isn't that song like 10 years old or more? :huh:
If it sells the most, it's #1
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 20, 2009, 04:53:09 PM
Quote2000: Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It
2001: Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman: Somethin' Stupid
2002: Girls Aloud: Sound of the Underground
LOLZ. The English and their music.
Shouldn't RATM's "Killing In The Name Of" technically be Christmas of 1992?
Got to say wee Joe's being far more gracious about it than Cowell or RATM. Bet Sony's laughing all the way to the bank.
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on December 21, 2009, 06:38:06 AM
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2009, 06:31:54 PM
What the hell is a Christmas number one?
No idea.
You don't have a singles chart any more? Did the American Top 40 die with Casey Kasem? :(
Yeah, but I've never heard of a specific one for Christmas being important.
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 06:41:16 AM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on December 21, 2009, 06:38:06 AM
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2009, 06:31:54 PM
What the hell is a Christmas number one?
No idea.
You don't have a singles chart any more? Did the American Top 40 die with Casey Kasem? :(
Thank God, yes.
Actually, I think the last time Billboard charts really mattered to anybody was, like, 1986.
"And with a bullet to the top spot, it's Madonna's 'Like A Prayer'!"In short, nobody gives a rat fuck.
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on December 21, 2009, 06:44:18 AM
Yeah, but I've never heard of a specific one for Christmas being important.
They build up to it all year and it stays there for two weeks as there isn't a new one over the holiday. The publicity around it leads to more sales.
For your delectation, all the past number ones: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_2580000/2580729.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_2580000/2580729.stm)
Could have sworn I remember The Police's ""De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"" being there one year :huh:
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 06:41:16 AM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on December 21, 2009, 06:38:06 AM
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2009, 06:31:54 PM
What the hell is a Christmas number one?
No idea.
You don't have a singles chart any more? Did the American Top 40 die with Casey Kasem? :(
They do (we all so do). We also have the common courtesy to use the words "top" or "chart" when naming them.
Christmas number one, ffs I thought this would be about pipi.
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on December 21, 2009, 06:44:18 AM
Yeah, but I've never heard of a specific one for Christmas being important.
Ditto.
Quote1993: Mr Blobby - Mr Blobby
lolz
Quote from: dps on December 21, 2009, 09:00:09 AM
Casey Kasem isn't dead.
Oh yeah :lol:
I'm not ruling out undead though.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 21, 2009, 06:45:00 AM
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 06:41:16 AM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on December 21, 2009, 06:38:06 AM
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2009, 06:31:54 PM
What the hell is a Christmas number one?
No idea.
You don't have a singles chart any more? Did the American Top 40 die with Casey Kasem? :(
Thank God, yes.
Actually, I think the last time Billboard charts really mattered to anybody was, like, 1986.
"And with a bullet to the top spot, it's Madonna's 'Like A Prayer'!"
In short, nobody gives a rat fuck.
I'm sure they do it all the time, but once when driving home from Alaska I found that the Siruis 80s channel was doing a replay of the entirety of Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from 1982 or some such. It was a hoot. :lol:
I have avoided being exposed to "Last Christmas" so far this year. :yeah:
Quote from: Syt on December 21, 2009, 01:14:36 PM
I have avoided being exposed to "Last Christmas" so far this year. :yeah:
I'd totally forgotten about it........till now :mad:
Quote from: Barrister on December 21, 2009, 01:08:49 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 21, 2009, 06:45:00 AM
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 06:41:16 AM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on December 21, 2009, 06:38:06 AM
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2009, 06:31:54 PM
What the hell is a Christmas number one?
No idea.
You don't have a singles chart any more? Did the American Top 40 die with Casey Kasem? :(
Thank God, yes.
Actually, I think the last time Billboard charts really mattered to anybody was, like, 1986.
"And with a bullet to the top spot, it's Madonna's 'Like A Prayer'!"
In short, nobody gives a rat fuck.
I'm sure they do it all the time, but once when driving home from Alaska I found that the Siruis 80s channel was doing a replay of the entirety of Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from 1982 or some such. It was a hoot. :lol:
ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK! :punk:
Quote from: Barrister on December 21, 2009, 01:08:49 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 21, 2009, 06:45:00 AM
Quote from: Brazen on December 21, 2009, 06:41:16 AM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on December 21, 2009, 06:38:06 AM
Quote from: Neil on December 20, 2009, 06:31:54 PM
What the hell is a Christmas number one?
No idea.
You don't have a singles chart any more? Did the American Top 40 die with Casey Kasem? :(
Thank God, yes.
Actually, I think the last time Billboard charts really mattered to anybody was, like, 1986.
"And with a bullet to the top spot, it's Madonna's 'Like A Prayer'!"
In short, nobody gives a rat fuck.
I'm sure they do it all the time, but once when driving home from Alaska I found that the Siruis 80s channel was doing a replay of the entirety of Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from 1982 or some such. It was a hoot. :lol:
Actually, there's a syndicated, once-a-week radio nostalgia program that just replays one of Kasem's Top 40 shows from that week in a random year. Last week it was the Top 40 for the 2nd week in December of 1976 IIRC, this week it'll be the Top 40 for the 3rd week in December of some other year. It can be pretty trippy if you turn it on while he's introducing a song; before he gives the title, you think, "Hey, Casey's doing the Top 40 again" but then it's kind of a let-down when you realize that it's just a re-run. :)
:bleeding: I hate Killing in the Name; then again, Rage Against the Machine is down there with Jane's Addiction in my book: stereotypical angsty college kid voice whining about some "poignant" issue.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 21, 2009, 10:11:48 PM
:bleeding: I hate Killing in the Name; then again, Rage Against the Machine is down there with Jane's Addiction in my book: stereotypical angsty college kid voice whining about some "poignant" issue.
Leftists are weirdos.
What was Jane's Addiction's poignant issue? Shoplifting? ;)
Quote from: citizen k on December 21, 2009, 10:49:35 PM
What was Jane's Addiction's poignant issue? Shoplifting? ;)
Hence the quotes. Really, it's mostly something about the timbre of the voice that just puts me in mind of a whiny teenager. Drives me up the frikkin' wall. Same with Green Day's latter material and most of the other "rock" that makes it onto Top 100 stations. If it must be a "hit," give me Phil Collins' stuff with Genesis or most any Peter Gabriel any day.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 21, 2009, 11:06:07 PM
Quote from: citizen k on December 21, 2009, 10:49:35 PM
What was Jane's Addiction's poignant issue? Shoplifting? ;)
Hence the quotes. Really, it's mostly something about the timbre of the voice that just puts me in mind of a whiny teenager. Drives me up the frikkin' wall. Same with Green Day's latter material and most of the other "rock" that makes it onto Top 100 stations. If it must be a "hit," give me Phil Collins' stuff with Genesis or most any Peter Gabriel any day.
:x
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 21, 2009, 11:06:07 PMIf it must be a "hit," give me Phil Collins' stuff with Genesis or most any Peter Gabriel any day.
You're dating yourself DSB. :XD:
I thought he was under 30?
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 22, 2009, 01:46:55 AM
I thought he was under 30?
He is, he is just showing he has shitty taste.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on December 21, 2009, 10:11:48 PM
:bleeding: I hate Killing in the Name; then again, Rage Against the Machine is down there with Jane's Addiction in my book: stereotypical angsty college kid voice whining about some "poignant" issue.
People who pay too much attention to lyrics take shit and themselves too seriously.
RATM has a good beat aand I can dance to it.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 22, 2009, 06:38:19 AM
People who pay too much attention to lyrics take shit and themselves too seriously.
RATM has a good beat aand I can dance to it.
Funny, for some reason I remember you calling them "Rage Against the Suck" and whining how far Chris Cornell had fallen when he set up Audioslave, which has almost the same beats, at least on the first album. :P
And yes, still under 30 for now; my point was that vocalists have been getting shittier and shittier. The only Genesis I've got now is the Disturbed cover of Land of Confusion, and Kain and I have been sitting on a project to "heavy up" a cover of Home by the Sea.
As a birthday thing, I let my sister run the car radio yesterday, and you don't have to pay any attention to lyrics to be thrown off by "Boys be calling 'cuz they've heard I got swagger/We'll kick them out unless they look like Mick Jagger." Rhyme for rhyme's sake sucks.
Quote from: katmai on December 22, 2009, 01:49:19 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on December 22, 2009, 01:46:55 AM
I thought he was under 30?
He is, he is just showing he has shitty taste.
You're a terrible person. There are other fields of music outside a mariachi band, and almost all of them are superior.