UK Xmas No. 1 Single is Rage Against The Machine. Yes, you read that right!

[DivideBYZero]

Over the last five years, Simon Cowell and his mind numbing, unstoppable X-Factor competition have dominated the UK Christmas No. 1 spot, pretty much sucking the life out of it.

This year a campaign was started on FaceBook to start buying Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the name" starting on the 14th of December to try and beat out the latest spawn of Simon Cowell's fetid loins. Well, it worked and the official UK Christmas No. 1 is ringing out with the chorus ringing in Mr Cowell's ears; "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me".

Rage live on the BBC on 17th December: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUPYIShaX1s

I love the internet at times like these. :awe:

http://www.theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php

Joe McElderry is the ousted progeny, for reference.

EDIT:

Breaking News 12/19/09: News Flash from Tom Morello "RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE have just announced that if their single "KILLING IN THE NAME" is number one on the Christmas Week UK pop charts over the single from X-Factor winner they WILL PLAY A HUGE FREE CONCERT IN THE UK TO CELEBRATE THE VICTORY OF THIS HISTORIC PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN!!!! If the unprecedented grassroots movement to topple the X-Factor monopoly is successful in making Rage number one the group will return to UK shores sometime in 2010 for a massive "thankyou" gig. And get this...Rage have vowed to invite 2nd Place finisher, X-Factor empressario Simon Cowell, to MC the show! Said Rage guitarist Tom Morello late friday night: "Attention Freedom Fighters! RAGE VS. X-FACTOR WILL BE DECIDED BY SATURDAY'S SALES. Spread the word! Knock on doors! Host downloading parties! Knock over ladies buying X-Factor! The clock is ticking. And if "Killing in the Name" is number one WE ARE COMING. And it will be the victory party to end all victory parties." TM

WIN! RATM Gig for our troubles, fucking sweeet!

 

[guyver01]

 

[Colt45]

i'm drinking amaretto and eating overcooked ham

 

[lifeobry]

I like that song.

 

[QueBert]

Zack is the shit and he hates Bush even more than I do. RATM!!! Any people who hate Bush with every ounce of their being can't be anything but awesome.

This is good news.

 

[TheVrolok]

Pretty cool if they actually play a free show.

 

[SirStev0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkuOAY-S6OY

I think this is freaking awesome.

Kind of reminds me of Bill Nighy's character in Love Actually. Sticking it to the corporate rock.

 

[foghorn67]

The British or disturbingly bitter over a lot of trivial shit.

 

[DivideBYZero]

The British or disturbingly bitter over a lot of trivial shit.

*clears throat*

All people that generalize are stupid

 

[zerocool84]

I don't watch American Idol and don't know much about Simon Cowell or what he does but how does he fit into this and what the hell is his X-factor and what does that have to do with X-mas songs????

 

[foghorn67]

*clears throat*

okay. Most Brits.

 

[F1N3ST]

I like uhh Bulls on Parade. But yeah Tom Morello is pretty sweet.

 

[Ns1]

Lol was watching morello pimp that all week

 

[Kev]

cool

 

[Ns1]

"The "Battle For Britain" is finally over! Los Angeles' Rage Against The Machine now stands victorious with the title of UK Christmas Number One winner over their opponent, The X Factor's Joe McElderry according to NME.com. "Killing In The Name Of" beat out Joe McElderry's rendition of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" with a final push to the top of the chart Sunday night by over 50,000 tracks sold, all digitally. Rage Against The Machine had promised to play a free show if they won UK Christmas Number One and will come through with their promise next year with the venue still not chosen at this time. Part of Rage Against The Machine's proceeds will benefit homeless charity Shelter with sales along with fans individually raising over £64,000 for the charity.

The campaign was started on Facebook by Jon Morter on December 13th to end the dominance of reality TV show The X-Factor's finalists winning UK Christmas Number One."

 

[scott916]

\m/ \m/

 

[TwiceOver]

However, like most attempts to stick-it-to-the-man, the effort is futile in the long run. Cowell is not cowering because his grand scheme has been undone. As one Facebook RATM group member points out, "Rage Against the Machine is under Simon's Sony deal anyways, so no matter what, he'll still be getting money." Come to think about it... bringing another Sony band under the radar at Christmas time was an excellent idea for the record label. No matter who won the battle of music ideology, Sony won the war. And the profits are no doubt mounting. For Cowell, and Sony, and Rage Against the Machine (who, let's face it, originally only got to number 25 in the charts with "Killing in the Name" and will find an ever-appreciated popularity boost in their stocking this year) Christmas has come early. Thanks Facebook!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emily-henry/rage-against-the-machine_b_398167.html

 

[geno]

Fucking awesome. Morello is the man for more reasons than just what he does on his guitar.

 

[TallBill]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emily-henry/rage-against-the-machine_b_398167.html

lmao

 

[KMFJD]

They tried to do the same thing last year, unfortunatly the horrible overproduced Hallelujah won,the Jeff Buckley version getting 2nd place...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsuXbkrA_AQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4

 

[PlasmaBomb]

What surprises me -

# Last week
# 80

# Artist
# RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

# Title
# KILLING IN THE NAME

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Freedom fighters? I love how Rage always claimed to be this fiercely independent, anti-corporate group who were signed to a Sony label.

 

[Platypus]

Freedom fighters? I love how Rage always claimed to be this fiercely independent, anti-corporate group who were signed to a Sony label.

I guess they figured what's the point of being so anti-establishment if no one is going to hear your message. I find it funnier that they talk shit about their label and big American corporations all the time. Even better was their single for the Godzilla movie that trashed the movie and American culture in general.

Hypocritical but hey, who isnt?

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I guess they figured what's the point of being so anti-establishment if no one is going to hear your message. I find it funnier that they talk shit about their label and big American corporations all the time. Even better was their single for the Godzilla movie that trashed the movie and American culture in general.

Hypocritical but hey, who isnt?

Good points. I'm actually a big fan of Rage (well, was back in the day, haven't listened in a loooooong time, thought they were broken up TBQH).

 

[Platypus]

If Zach would stop being a whiny bitch and apologize for his antics and breaking up the band over stupid drama from an MTV award show then maybe they could regroup and put out some great music. Zach's hip-hop career went nowhere with the RZA and I think he finally is starting to come around to the cash-cow RATM could be.

It's unfortunate we went all 8 years through Bush without their music.. the Bush Admin basically was fish in the barrell for them; those songs write themselves