Rage Against The X-Factor!
As soon as I sign into our Facebook account I am usually bombarded by comments and questions about the brand. Last night, some kid started to chat with me about Rage Against the Machine, and how I needed to support them. Wait, what? I mean I like RATM just as much as any other kid who grew up in the 90s, but was this kid messaging me from some small island or 3rd world country that was just getting into RATM? He then sent me a link to a facebook fan page, and it all started to make sense.
Rather than trying to explain it myself, I am going to post an entry direct from Wikipedia:
In December 2009, a campaign was launched on Facebook and Twitter by Jon and Tracy Morter to rebel against the commercialization of the UK music industry. The campaign seeks to generate publicity and try to take the track “Killing in the Name” to the coveted Christmas Number One slot in the UK Singles Chart, which has been dominated for four consecutive years from 2005 by winners from the popular TV show The X Factor.[46] As of 17th December the Facebook group membership stands at over 850,000, and has been acknowledged (and supported) by Tom Morello,[47] Dave Grohl,[48] Paul McCartney,[49] Fightstar,[50] NME, Terry Wogan, BBC 6 Music, John Lydon, Bill Bailey, BBC Radio 1, Demon FM, Enter Shikari, Hadouken!, The Prodigy, Stereophonics, Phoenix FM, Phantom FM, BBC Radio 5 Live, and even the 2004 X Factor winner Steve Brookstein[51], amongst numerous others.
On the morning of 17th December Rage Against The Machine played a slightly censored version of Killing In The Name live on Radio 5 Live, but four repeats of ‘Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me’ were aired before the song was pulled.
The entire concept is pretty amazing to me! What is also shocking is how big of a deal this seemingly is in the UK, but I haven’t heard a word of it in the US. Check out the interview and slightly censored performance by RATM on BBC 5 on December 17th.
Lets do it! Lets all make “Killing in the Name of” the #1 Christmas song in the UK.
- Twerps!
December 18th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Another glorious example of Facebook & Twitter giving the masses the power back in the UK.
Following the Trafigura scandal (where Govt was directly influenced to change policy on account of a Twitter furore) and the Jan Moir article (National newspaper journalist’s homophobic rants about a recently deceased pop star) this must have the Governments of most countries shittting it.
I cant help but wonder what would have happened if we had this avenue of mass communication prior to going to war in Iraq etc.
Power to the people. We’re gonna bring the power back. Indeed
December 18th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Here is the unedited video of the audio clip you have above.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Thanks! Been updated
December 18th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Do you guys think that this could happen in the US too?
I dont know how big the X-Factor & Idol type shows are across the pond. But It’d be nice to see Cowell getting it tight from both sides of the pond. Obviously wont happen for this Xmas but the seed has been planted I’m sure
December 18th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
That made my day.
December 19th, 2009 at 5:39 am
X Factor is huge over here. Last Saturday was the final and it pulled somewhere in the region 20million viewers. That’s nearly a third of the population.
It’s bizarre to see, I grew up in the 90s and Rage were my one of my favourite bands as a teen. Over here, while they were very popular among people who listened to alternative music, they were by no means a well known household band. People would ask you what you listened to and would say “who?” But this morning I woke up and on the main news there was a 10minute slot devoted to Rage Against the Machine vs. X Factor. Shit even my girlfriend who is indifferent to rock music said she loved the song and hope they get number1. It’s pretty hilarious and excellent, and it seems to have the whole country divided.
On the broadcast they said at the last count both singles had reached the 300,000 mark and is gonna be a very close call. It’d make my christmas if they won it though.
December 19th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Non-UK fans can still help get the song to the no.1 spot!
Instructions @ http://i48.tinypic.com/w2ftbp.jpg