TheConstitutionLives
12-21-2009, 08:27 PM
Rage Against The Machine sells half a million copies to pip Joe McElderry (and Simon Cowell) to the Christmas No.1 spot
UK DAILY MAIL
By Richard Simpson and Sara Nathan
Last updated at 9:42 AM on 21st December 2009
The X Factor's (the UK's version of American Idol) stranglehold on the Christmas singles charts was dealt a devastating blow last night as Joe McElderry's bid for the No.1 spot was hijacked by a web campaign.
McElderry, this year's X Factor winner, was pipped to the post by American group Rage Against The Machine.
The group's expletive-ridden 1992 song (17 years old!) 'Killing in the Name' sold more than half a million copies, beating the youngster's cover of Miley Cyrus's The Climb by 50,000 sales.
The news last night was described by industry experts as 'possibly the greatest chart upset ever' - but will delight record company Sony, who own the rights to both.
Geordie teen McElderry took the news graciously, writing on his Twitter page: 'Hey guys thank you to everybody that bought the single and supported me! Well done to RATM for a interesting chart battle.'
Essex couple Jon and Tracy Morter launched the 'Rage against the Machine for Christmas No 1' Facebook site this month as a protest against X Factor chief Simon Cowell's dominance of the festive charts for the past four years.
They launched the protest with the words: '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' as a protest to the X Factor monotony?' The couple were stunned when the campaign's popularity snowballed.
The campaign gathered so much momentum that McElderry's record label Sony/BMG desperately slashed the price of The Climb by 63 per cent to try to redress the balance - but to no avail.
The couple appear to have picked the track for its anti-establishment message. At one point, the vocalist shouts 'f*** you, I won't do what you tell me' 16 times.
McElderry ended up selling 450,000 copies, and Rage Against the Machine sold 500,000.The combined figures represent the greatest fight since the Spice Girls beat the South Park chef's Chocolate Salty Balls to No.1 in 1998
Gennaro Castaldo, spokesman for HMV, said last night: 'This is a truly remarkable outcome - possibly the greatest chart upset ever, which few people could have imagined when Joe claimed the X Factor crown last weekend.'
Mr Castaldo added that the recent snow may also have affected the chart outcome. He said: 'It's also likely the adverse weather conditions in parts of the country will have prevented some X Factor fans from getting out and buying a copy of Joe's release over the weekend.'
It emerged last night that Cowell tracked down Mr Morter at the weekend and thanked him.
Mr Morter said yesterday: 'He was really nice and we had quite a discussion - he said he didn't mind what we were doing - in fact he told me that he was grateful because it had made them all work that bit harder.'
Cowell, who was in the Caribbean last week, added last night: 'I am gutted for Joe because a No 1 single meant a lot to him.'
McElderry said: '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.'
Zack de la Rocha, lead singer of Rage Against The Machine, told Radio One yesterday that the band were 'very ecstatic', adding: 'It says more about the spontaneous action taken by young people throughout the UK to topple this very sterile pop monopoly, and less about the song and the band.'
A 'large portion' of the proceeds from the single will go to homeless charity Shelter, he said.
Talking about missing out on the No.1 spot, Joe said last night: '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. It’s been such an incredible couple of months and I got the best Christmas gift I could have ever of asked for winning The X Factor and I’m really looking forward to the New Year going on The X Factor Tour and starting work on my album.
'I just want to thank everyone that has supported me throughout the show and who went out and bought the single, and a big thank you to my mentor Cheryl Cole who’s been there for me every step of the way.'
Talking about the chart battle Joe said: 'Fair play to the guys who have organised the Facebook campaign, it’s been exciting to be part of a much hyped battle and they definitely deserve congratulations.'
Rage Against The Machine's guitarist Tom Morello said of the movement: 'It's trying to save the UK pop charts from this abyss of bland mediocrity. I don't believe it has anything to do with Simon Cowell personally. I like that guy. He's a great entertainer. He's going to do fine with his No. 2 this Christmas. What you're seeing is real democracy.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1237332/Rage-Against-The-Machine-beat-Joe-McElderry-claim-Christmas-number-one.html#
UK DAILY MAIL
By Richard Simpson and Sara Nathan
Last updated at 9:42 AM on 21st December 2009
The X Factor's (the UK's version of American Idol) stranglehold on the Christmas singles charts was dealt a devastating blow last night as Joe McElderry's bid for the No.1 spot was hijacked by a web campaign.
McElderry, this year's X Factor winner, was pipped to the post by American group Rage Against The Machine.
The group's expletive-ridden 1992 song (17 years old!) 'Killing in the Name' sold more than half a million copies, beating the youngster's cover of Miley Cyrus's The Climb by 50,000 sales.
The news last night was described by industry experts as 'possibly the greatest chart upset ever' - but will delight record company Sony, who own the rights to both.
Geordie teen McElderry took the news graciously, writing on his Twitter page: 'Hey guys thank you to everybody that bought the single and supported me! Well done to RATM for a interesting chart battle.'
Essex couple Jon and Tracy Morter launched the 'Rage against the Machine for Christmas No 1' Facebook site this month as a protest against X Factor chief Simon Cowell's dominance of the festive charts for the past four years.
They launched the protest with the words: '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' as a protest to the X Factor monotony?' The couple were stunned when the campaign's popularity snowballed.
The campaign gathered so much momentum that McElderry's record label Sony/BMG desperately slashed the price of The Climb by 63 per cent to try to redress the balance - but to no avail.
The couple appear to have picked the track for its anti-establishment message. At one point, the vocalist shouts 'f*** you, I won't do what you tell me' 16 times.
McElderry ended up selling 450,000 copies, and Rage Against the Machine sold 500,000.The combined figures represent the greatest fight since the Spice Girls beat the South Park chef's Chocolate Salty Balls to No.1 in 1998
Gennaro Castaldo, spokesman for HMV, said last night: 'This is a truly remarkable outcome - possibly the greatest chart upset ever, which few people could have imagined when Joe claimed the X Factor crown last weekend.'
Mr Castaldo added that the recent snow may also have affected the chart outcome. He said: 'It's also likely the adverse weather conditions in parts of the country will have prevented some X Factor fans from getting out and buying a copy of Joe's release over the weekend.'
It emerged last night that Cowell tracked down Mr Morter at the weekend and thanked him.
Mr Morter said yesterday: 'He was really nice and we had quite a discussion - he said he didn't mind what we were doing - in fact he told me that he was grateful because it had made them all work that bit harder.'
Cowell, who was in the Caribbean last week, added last night: 'I am gutted for Joe because a No 1 single meant a lot to him.'
McElderry said: '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.'
Zack de la Rocha, lead singer of Rage Against The Machine, told Radio One yesterday that the band were 'very ecstatic', adding: 'It says more about the spontaneous action taken by young people throughout the UK to topple this very sterile pop monopoly, and less about the song and the band.'
A 'large portion' of the proceeds from the single will go to homeless charity Shelter, he said.
Talking about missing out on the No.1 spot, Joe said last night: '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. It’s been such an incredible couple of months and I got the best Christmas gift I could have ever of asked for winning The X Factor and I’m really looking forward to the New Year going on The X Factor Tour and starting work on my album.
'I just want to thank everyone that has supported me throughout the show and who went out and bought the single, and a big thank you to my mentor Cheryl Cole who’s been there for me every step of the way.'
Talking about the chart battle Joe said: 'Fair play to the guys who have organised the Facebook campaign, it’s been exciting to be part of a much hyped battle and they definitely deserve congratulations.'
Rage Against The Machine's guitarist Tom Morello said of the movement: 'It's trying to save the UK pop charts from this abyss of bland mediocrity. I don't believe it has anything to do with Simon Cowell personally. I like that guy. He's a great entertainer. He's going to do fine with his No. 2 this Christmas. What you're seeing is real democracy.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1237332/Rage-Against-The-Machine-beat-Joe-McElderry-claim-Christmas-number-one.html#