Raging against the Machine
December 20th, 2009
So “we” won. As of early this evening Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name’ out-sold Simon Cowell’s latest “protégé”, Joe McElderry, to the number one spot in the UK singles chart.
In an era when single sales continue to dwindle, it’s certainly been a while since the race for the number one meant as much as it did today, been so tight, and come completely out of an online campaign. 500,000 sales of ‘Killing in the Name’ compared with 450,000 for ‘The Climb’, with profits of the leading single going to the charity Shelter [link appears to be down at the min].
Via Twitter, Tom Morello, announced that the band will play a free gig in the UK if the single reaches number one.
For decades ‘pop’ music has been overrun by nobodies of ‘conventional’ attractiveness, a desire for fame, and willingness to do what they’re told in accordance to what the label believes will reap the desired monetary benefits. From start to finish, X-Factor is the epitome of manufactured music. Each week dictating to millions of viewers what they see as good performance, and how to be the “perfect” pop act.
And so Jon Morter had the bright idea of leading the campaign to cease Cowell’s four-year reign over the Christmas number one.
It has to be said, of course, that although Rage Against The Machine were possibly one of the most applicable bands to to be used for this “stunt”, there is a sense of irony to be noted. With their blend of rap, metal and funk, the band blasted aggressive political protest songs and raging social activism, which suits the occasion; a protest against the bullshit being fed to the population under the label of ‘music’ . Originally released in 1992, and not available as a physical release, this is a win on so many levels.
The band were indeed a pawn in this game to knock over Simon Cowells crown, but in winning the campaign showed that given a better choice, and a group effort, the public would rather not have the same bland idea of music pumped into our ears, and on this the most “celebrated” week in the UK music chart.
“When all of this is over, people aren’t going to be discussing Rage Against the Machine taking on Joe McElderry. What Will be discussed will be the formulation of an idea on a social networking site, the following of thousands of people, the closest Christmas number 1 in some 10-15 years and the hype that was created because of the outrage that reality TV had shoe-horned it’s way into music. Tell me this, who’s going to buy his album and call it groundbreaking?”
Regretably, I forget where I read that quote, but it is true. How many X-Factor past winners can really be classed as “successful”, and how much of their success did they achieve by themselves, rather than by those in the public relations offices pulling the strings. I haven’t listened to “The Climb”, but surely a song that was first released in March of this year by Miley Cyrus for the film ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’ does not warrant being recorded again in the cynical believe that whatever bullshit is put out there will get to the highest position in the charts anyway.
Yes the race was exciting, but in a game of sales, we all bought into exactly what we are fighting against, and as a result, Simon Cowell has probably made more money this year than previous years. The Sony executives who control the labels who both artists are signed to are the ones who have truly won. Unless we can do it again.
In the past week Rage Against The Machine angered the BBC by singing the line “Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me” live on Radio 5 Live. He was trying to be clever, having just been told not to swear. He succeeded. [Listen to what happened]
The Rage against the machine is not over.
