X Factor versus Rage Against the Machine

[purepurple]

So which one do you want to be Christmas number 1?
I have downloaded RATM.

Simon Cowell will be "hurt" by anyone choosing NOT to buy his single. Everyone who was going to buy it, is still going to buy it. I doubt he will care two hoots if a pile of people who weren;t going to buy anything before now buy a song which he also has connections to.

Can't beleive proper grownups are really getting aerated about teaching Simon Cowell a lesson or objecting to X factor. Well, object away, but X Factor makes a pile of money becasue loads of people in this country enjoy it. Being a snob about cheesy manufactured pop may be cool but its a bit dismissive of the majority taste.

Surely the days when we all watched Top of the Pops on Xmas days and cared two hoots about No 1 are long gone.

If you object to Simon Cowell, persuade one person you know NOT to buy Joe MacElderry's record don;t go out and spend more money on another big label record.

If I were Simon Cowell I'd be sniggering all teh way to the bank about the whole idea!

sad thing is that all the old biddies will buy the xfactor single in Asda and Tesco for their grandchildren at the last minute. Making x-factor number one!

I will be buying rage against the machine.

"Can't beleive proper grownups are really getting aerated about teaching Simon Cowell a lesson or objecting to X factor. Well, object away, but X Factor makes a pile of money becasue loads of people in this country enjoy it. Being a snob about cheesy manufactured pop may be cool but its a bit dismissive of the majority taste."

most people I know think it's all a bit of a laugh rather than some kind of snobby statement. Am certainly not taking it as seriously as you!

What is Cowell's connection with the rage against the machine song? I thought that the pubisher(retribution) and the composer (RATM) would get most of the financial benefit.

"sad thing is that all the old biddies will buy the xfactor single in Asda and Tesco for their grandchildren at the last minute. Making x-factor number one!"

Those awful awful grannies buying presents for their grandchildren!

Just downloaded. Listening to it much too loud is making me feel so much better.

Had it many years ago but I lost it. Fuck me but it's good! Good running music too.

Got nothing to do with Simon Cowell or the charts in my book. It's cos Joe Elderberry is crap and RATM is brilliant.

I don't like either the RATM or the Joe McElderry one. What do I do?

Buy RATM Puppymonkey. Gwan.

donate here

I've bought RATM. I don't like that every year the x-factor single gets to number one just because it's from a tv programme.

joe is managed by the guy who signed RATM. The rights for both are owned by sonybmg. it's all a big win for them.

"I don't like either the RATM or the Joe McElderry one. What do I do?"

Buy something you like?

I watch and enjoy X Factor every year but have never bought any of the stuff as its really not my sort of music. Its an entertainment show and a bloody good one.

Also like the RATM song which brings back memories

Not sure I really care that they usually get the Christmas no.1 (anyone know if they have done every year since it started? - what year was Nizlopi?)

I don't agree with those music snobs who say that manufactured pop/X factor/Simon Cowell are ruining the music industry. There's always been manufactured pop, there was no golden age where the charts were solely wonderful, independent singer songwriters, its just fiction. Also, if the act that wins the x factor are good (in someone's opinion at least!) and work hard then they'll do well out of it. If they're shit then they won't (Leon Jackson, Steve Brookstein, Shane Ward anyone?) Surely if Simon Cowell had that much control these people would still have pop careers?

However, I am completely loving the fact that people in this country care enough about music (any music) for this to be happening

I shall mostly be watching the tussle with an indulgent smile

I agree entirely with MumOfAPickle. The pop charts are about popular music. It's always been mainstream even during the periods when it has pretended to be alternative (e.g. Britpop).

If you want to listen to music which is unpopular, that's all well and good - but if you do, why bother about the charts?

Amusingly, as soon as RATM do hit No.1, loads of people will go off them due to them being popular/mainstream/liked by the majority rather than "alternative".

I think it would've been better to encourage everyone to buy a copy of whatever their favourite song is, or at least choose a really obscure song that otherwise wouldn't have a hope of entering the charts. I much prefer RATM as it brings back happy memories of being a stroppy 14 year old, and Joe McElderry's song is a crappy generic ballad, but I wouldn't have bought either before this campaign, and I still won't be buying either one.

This raises some good points

There's a FB page for this?

I love the fact that people think they're 'sticking it to the man' by trying to get RATM to the number 1 - they're no different to any other artist, including those who have come from X Factor, they're still signed to a label!

I find it rather amusing that people are so worked up over it

"There's a FB page for this?"

I've lost count of how many people have tried to get me to join it. I don't think I've hit ignore so many times consecutively!

LOL clearly none of FB friends like them then as I haven't heard of it til today

Can we swap friends?

I don't think the X Factor single is even faintly about popular music. People don't buy it because it's a good song they want to listen to and enjoy. They buy it because it's convenient and the default song to buy for grandkids who would probably prefer a bit of Slipknot.

"who would probably prefer a bit of Slipknot."

All of a sudden I'm really grateful for X factor :P

RATM all the way. Would love nothing better than to see this pointless crap that is the x factor given a real lynching!
Will be doing those poor deluded wannabes a favour as wll. they should be grateful!

It's not pointless if someone likes it. I don't like x-factor, but fairplay to anyone who wants to listen to the single, and fairplay to whoever wants to listen to RATM. But worrying about who gets to No.1? Or about defeating manufactured pop music?

UnquietDad is right and if RATM are trying to make sub culture more popular arent they trying to acheive the same thing?

It's FUN, Kaloki.

(To those saying it's a done deal and Cowell will fix it regardless, Ladbrokes have reopened betting on the Christmas number one. If bookies are involved, then that does mean there is at least some element of uncertainty, otherwise there are a whole load of legal issues opened up).

I actually think this is rather interesting though as it is about the power of new media (Facebook + downloads) against old (ITV + CDs). I bet X Factor sales come down to CD purchases, meaning it's something people want to own (or give) rather than listen to. Downloads take the packaging out and make it purely about music. Or music and politics in this case, perhaps.

Not buying the Sony=Cowell argument either. Cowell's nothing to do with Epic. And this isn't about Sony, it's about the X Factor franchise and its popularity. Keeping the X Factor single at number one is a strategic issue for Cowell/Syco.