Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:50 pm  

Rage were obviously chosen because the band name nicely works - Rage Against The X Factor - and Killing In The Name was obviously chosen because the lyrics work - F*** you we won't buy what you sell us.

It's not hard to work that out.

Personally when I first heard about the campaign I liked it but thought they'd have absolutely no chance doing it with Killing In The Name as it was too controversial and divisive. I would have chosen Fairytale of New York as it's a much loved Christmas song, universally respected by more serious music fans and enjoyed by casual listeners alike. It also never made Christmas number one on it's original release so it would be an opportunity to right a wrong so to speak. I thought the campaign would have had far more chance of success with that.

BUT they went for it, took the gamble with Rage and it worked. Brilliant.

Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:53 pm  

TrentBarrett wrote:

Christmas 2009 the year Rage defeated The X Factor, I'm proud to have been apart of it.

Likewise. Credit to Rugbychick too as her passionate posts about it on here, along with similar by a couple of like-minds on a Liverpool forum I use were what finally convinced the cynic in me that it really was possible, leading to my eleventh hour purchase of a song I already own on Saturday night!

Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:33 pm  

I think it's brilliant. I really do. Love the song always have done. Saw them at reading last year and was apprehensive but they were brilliant. Nice to hear they are now going to put a massive free gig on for us all next year. 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 http://www.ratm.com/

I think it's brilliant. I really do. Love the song always have done. Saw them at reading last year and was apprehensive but they were brilliant. Nice to hear they are now going to put a massive free gig on for us all next year. 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 http://www.ratm.com/

Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:35 pm  

Dropkick Murphy wrote:

Rage were obviously chosen because the band name nicely works - Rage Against The X Factor - and Killing In The Name was obviously chosen because the lyrics work - F*** you we won't buy what you sell us.

It's not hard to work that out.

Personally when I first heard about the campaign I liked it but thought they'd have absolutely no chance doing it with Killing In The Name as it was too controversial and divisive. I would have chosen Fairytale of New York as it's a much loved Christmas song, universally respected by more serious music fans and enjoyed by casual listeners alike. It also never made Christmas number one on it's original release so it would be an opportunity to right a wrong so to speak. I thought the campaign would have had far more chance of success with that.

BUT they went for it, took the gamble with Rage and it worked. Brilliant.

But rather than simply not buy the X Factor single, you bought a song you already own. Superb.

Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:40 pm  

worthing wire wrote:

But rather than simply not buy the X Factor single, you bought a song you already own. Superb.

I bought 5 copies of it from iTunes, Amazon etc etc and I had the album on CD. It was about the principle of not having the Xmas No1 dictated to us, not the song ownership.

Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:42 pm  

You are missing the point by some margin.

Music has changed hands from the record lable to the concert promoter (conveniently for some!) which has got people like cowell making ready made flops so they can also take them all on tour for six months then drop them like a stone the year after.

It's great that people have come together and acheived something that you would not have believed possible a month ago. It could have been any song, that's not what matters here. It's the face that we don't want X Factor being Xmas number one every year and ruining that little bit of Christmas tradition we have in this country. So we did something about it. Brilliant.

Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:48 pm  

Lefty wrote:

Saw them at reading last year and was apprehensive but they were brilliant.

I was there too and they were outstanding. We were stood quite far away as we went straight over from seeing Pennywise in the Lock Up tent so couldn't be bothered wading through the huge main stage crowd and just stood near the back but I was made up to finally be seeing them after missing out first time around and they did not disappoint.

I hope they do a normal tour on the back of this as well as the free gig and play somewhere like Manchester Apollo.

Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:51 pm  

Lefty wrote:

You are missing the point by some margin.

Music has changed hands from the record lable to the concert promoter (conveniently for some!) which has got people like cowell making ready made flops so they can also take them all on tour for six months then drop them like a stone the year after.

It's great that people have come together and acheived something that you would not have believed possible a month ago. It could have been any song, that's not what matters here. It's the face that we don't want X Factor being Xmas number one every year and ruining that little bit of Christmas tradition we have in this country. So we did something about it. Brilliant.

Power to the people.

Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:23 pm  

Do people think this will be a annual event now or a one off protest ?

Re: O/T - RATM for Xmas Number 1 : Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:24 pm  

I just have to laugh at these people, why buy mutiple copies of a song that they already own, just to prove a point?

FFS there are plenty of needy causes locally and worldwide where people need help and any little would help.

Then again lining fat cats pockets helps.....

I applaud the sheep....

Only in Britain...