On Sunday the 20th of December 2009, the Official UK Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot said: "Congratulations to Rage Against The Machine on their number one - as we have seen in recent years, overhauling any X Factor winner in the race for the Christmas number one is no mean achievement.”
This of course is in response to the entirely unpredicted success of the American rap-metal band, soaring to the top spot to claim the Christmas number one. Their single “Killing in the Name”, originally a number 25 hit back in 1993, outsold this years X Factor winner Joe McElderry and his cover version of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” by 200,000 copies.
The campaign followed the success of getting Jeff Buckley's version Hallelujah to Christmas number 2 spot last year, however it still lost out to last years X Factor winner Alexandra Burke who claimed the number one spot with her version of the same song.
This year’s revolt was started by Tracy and Jon Morter, who launched a Facebook group entitled "Rage Against the Machine for Christmas No 1". Their first advertising post read "Fed up of Simon Cowell's latest karaoke act being Christmas No 1? Me too ... So who's up for a mass-purchase of the track 'Killing in the Name' from December 13th?” Their reasons for creating the group are straight forward; to oppose the Christmas chart being predictably topped by Simon Cowell’s latest victor. Creator of the Facebook group Jon Morter told NME.com: "It's been taken on by thousands in the group as a defiance to Cowell's 'music machine'. Some certainly see it as a direct response to him personally."
Cowell has responded to the campaign to get by branding its supporters "a hate mob". He says the Facebook crusade to keep this year's X Factor winner from being the Christmas number one is akin to bullying. 18 year old Joe Mcelderry, the winner himself, has looked at it from a different angle being quoted by the Telegraph saying, "Fair play to the guys who have organised the Facebook campaign - 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.” He has also stated that he is confident it is not a personal attack on him, as the group had already been created prior to the winner of the X Factor being announced.
The outcome that is most apparent when looking at this battle that has musically divided the nation, is one of conformity. The is no doubt that Jon and Tracey Morter made an enterprising stand by saying how they feel and doing something about it, however it can be argued that those who proceeded to obediently purchase Rage Against the Machine’s single were falling straight into the web of the next dictator’s ideals. The great American author Mark Twain once said, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, is it time to pause and reflect.” So by revolting in mass, the nation has yet again failed to possess individuality.
This is a very interesting piece of academic writing Kate. I really like your chosen topic, as it's something I followed over the Christmas period.
ReplyDeleteI especially like your reference to Martin Talbot's quote as his opinion is particularly relevant regarding his position and reputation within the UK music industry.
Do you think he praised the success of Rage Against the Machine because he agreed with the overwhelming boycott?
I like how you have mentioned that the debut release of Rage Against the Machine only charted at 25 as this suggests that it was not 'top of the chart' material back in 1993, however, I understand as generations change so do people's tastes in music. This point could demonstrate how the nation is keen to jump on a bandwagon and create hype and controversy. This is also proved by the significant difference in sales between Joe McElderry and Rage Against the Machine.
I am interested to know why you think the boycott over The X Factor was successful in 2009 as apposed to 2008 whereby Alexandra Burke defeated the efforts of disgruntled music fans trying to overturn the X Factor democracy.
I personally agree with your closing paragraph. The way in which you have praised Jon and Tracey Morter for their gallant efforts of revolution shows appreciation to their bold and confident characteristics - as this is the individually we are all striving to possess.
To conclude, I think the nation seems to have overlooked the entire point of the campaign. They have contradicted themselves by getting Rage Against the Machine to the number one spot, but in doing so they have all jumped on the bandwagon mirroring what X Factor does year after year.