Dec 21 2009It's About Time: Rage Against The Machine Wins UK Number 1 Christmas Song Of 2009
Apparently the most recent winner of X-Factor (Britain's American Idol) is notorious for taking the #1 Christmas song spot on the charts. But this year, thanks to massive online campaigns on Twitter and Facebook created by Jon Morter, Rage Against the Machine's 17-year old classic, 'Killing In The Name' took the honor. God that song makes me want to swing my hips!
In recent years, it had become as predictable as elections in North Korea - singer wins X Factor, singer's debut single goes to No 1. So when Joe McElderry won the TV talent contest, he was no doubt confident he would celebrate Christmas at the top of the charts.
Killing In The Name, an expletive-heavy rock song first released in 1992 by the Californian rock band Rage Against the Machine, won the battle for Christmas top spot on the basis of downloads only. It sold about 500,000 copies last week, about 50,000 more than The Climb, McElderry's earnest ballad.
Have I ever told you I love Rage Against the Machine? I do. And not just because the name reminds me of braining my first robot with a lead pipe. No, the music meshes perfectly with my angst-filled personality. Ha, what do you mean I should probably go see a doctor about that? F*** YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!
Hit the jump for the official video of 'Killing In The Name', in case my awesome reference made no sense (you outta be ashamed!).
Rage Against the Machine beats X Factor's Joe to Christmas No 1 [guardian]
Thanks to enda, Tim Wright!, Mgrow, Sam K and Amanda, who won't do what you tell them either.
Reader Comments
1. first - December 21, 2009 2:04 PM
FIRST
2. shakie - December 21, 2009 2:04 PM
Could I possibly be first? Great track, shame that both artists are signed to the same label so they win either way. The proceeds from the RATM sales do go to homeless charity SHELTER though...
3. yo man - December 21, 2009 2:11 PM
I had that song for ages, but I bought it again twice. on itunes and on amazon.
RAGE FTW!!!
4. naas - December 21, 2009 2:18 PM
lawlzness!
How about this:
"Rage Against the Mah-Pee...nis"
Give me a writing contract GW. I am willing to relocate my nonexistant family and repulsive whore of a wife, along with myself (duh...heehee), to where ever your office is
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Funny Stuff
5. eoin - December 21, 2009 2:18 PM
the rights to the song are owned by the same company running the x-factor song , so either way, the man wins. He cant lose :( - its all a big fucking farce anyway.
6. thedude - December 21, 2009 2:30 PM
fuck yeah!!! i was hoping that x-factor crap wouldn't win. let it be known, the interwebs are for more than just pR0n now!!
7. Anon - December 21, 2009 2:31 PM
So X-Factor is Britains American Idol.
I thought American Idol was the American version of Britains Pop Idol?
8. weed - December 21, 2009 2:34 PM
hell ya RATM.
man i wish they'd make some new songs
too bad their not planing to any time soon
9. om3ga - December 21, 2009 2:40 PM
i love rage but i dont go on facebooook and wouldn't buy a song again just to piss in the face of the establishment. its not very anti-capitalist like the band used to be... fuck y'all, it's christmas
10. Jimmy - December 21, 2009 2:46 PM
Regardless of were the money ends up this makes me moist in my special places.
11. om3ga - December 21, 2009 2:51 PM
'Killing in the name of....'
http://judicial-inc.biz/Blackw20.jpg
12. JFreezy - December 21, 2009 2:51 PM
RATM FTW!!! What are all you guys talking about "buying it"? I download all my music illegally! I mean.......................... no I don't. But really, what if I bought that album when it came out and I listened to it so much the CD melted? Why should I have to buy it again!?!?! I rest my case..........
13. MoHX - December 21, 2009 2:53 PM
about time!
14. Pat - December 21, 2009 2:55 PM
How is this geek news?
15. JFreezy - December 21, 2009 2:59 PM
According to the lyrics of that song; "Some of those that burn crosses, are the same that write entertaining geek blogs..........." *Points laser pistol at GW* I KNEW IT YOU NAZI BASTARD!! But, your secret is safe with me. Where else am I going to get my daily dose of dino erotica if I off you Han Solo style?
16. tom - December 21, 2009 3:24 PM
@7 yeah... we (brits) had the disease first.. by a mile.
Also X-factor is pop idol.. except for the name.. just the pop idol name is part owned by a guy from the original who stopped doing it.. so Cowell the (ryhmes with punt) changed the name
17. The Magnificent Aidan - December 21, 2009 3:56 PM
I bought the single. I am from the UK, and I listened to it on the radio when it was crowned. It felt good knowing i did that.
18. Anon - December 21, 2009 4:05 PM
#16 tom
You're right it is a disease. I hope my post didn't come across as boastful that we made it first because we're the ones to blame.
Well that 'Punt' is the one to blame.
19. UndatedCHRIS - December 21, 2009 6:14 PM
@7 I agree.
@12 buy your music you cheap assed fag.
20. JFreezy - December 21, 2009 6:31 PM
@19,
Why does me not wanting to buy the same thing I've already bought before make me a "cheap assed fag"? I've already paid my dues, so I'll download that one for free if I want, you dickless douche!
21. squeehunter - December 21, 2009 7:53 PM
According to the lyrics the song ends with:
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!
Motherfucker!
Uggh!
22. BIOSADASIDOBASDIP - December 21, 2009 9:22 PM
American Idol = America's Pop Idol
X-Factor = something else altogether
GET THE SHITE REALITY-TV TALENT CONTESTS RIGHT GOD DAMN
23. Tofu Butcher - December 22, 2009 1:40 AM
@ 22
As 16 said X Factor IS the old Pop Idol, Simon Cowell's record label set up X Factor when the guy and company with the rights to Pop Idol pulled the show. There will probably be an X Factor USA next year.
@5
Technically no money from the RATM would go to X Factor, X Factor is run by Simon Cowell's Syco, who are bankrolled by Sony.Killing in the name is on EPic, who are bankrolled by Sony. Sony may still get the Money, but Simon Cowell won't.
I can't believe I spent some of my life writing this.
24. cabbo - December 22, 2009 9:29 AM
@21 oh yeah.
X-factor = simon cowell, sharon ozbourne and louis something's conjoined turd.
25. cabbo - December 22, 2009 9:31 AM
@5 Eoin? Like that asshole Quig?
He's such an asshole.
26. cabbo - December 22, 2009 9:31 AM
@5 Eoin? Like that asshole Quig?
He's such an asshole.
27. Jaded Icon - December 22, 2009 9:34 AM
So Britian's most popular artist gets beat out on their own charts by a band that wrote/played a song 17 years ago?
28. heisenberg - December 22, 2009 9:53 PM
RATM will also be donating part of the royalties to Shelter and have also promised a free concert for the win.
29. Jess - December 23, 2009 5:14 AM
even my mum wanted rage to win.
30. jay - December 23, 2009 11:21 AM
loves Jess' mom. \m/
31. Trev.P - December 23, 2009 8:11 PM
Yeah Tofu Butcher is bang on. The distributor is Sony BMG for both labels, so while they will make a few quid, Simon Cowels record label SYCO won't get anything for all of the Rage sales and vice versa. This has been well documented here in the UK.
Anyway I f'kin love Rage! Been a massif fan half my life and couldn't belive that they only got to 25 here the first time it was released, the tune was everywhere back then. Think the radio stations didn't like it.