There's been more than enough coverage in the press, including a number of very good articles below, but there's something, I think, being completely missed about Rage Against The Machine getting to Christmas No.1
Charlie Brooker's Guardian Column
Luke Lewis' NME Blog
Dave Lister's Independent Column
Firstly, RATM getting to Christmas No. 1 is many things but it is NOT a victory for music. A victory for music would mean an artist writing and releasing a new song so capturing the imagination of the general public that it reached the top spot on its own merit and not by weight of on an 'organised' campaign. Thus would the X-Factor gravy train be truly undermined proving that authentically great and original music, whatever the genre, is still more desirable to the public.
Secondly (and this may seem a little too earnest but...), RATM getting to Christmas number 1 is NOT a victory for the spirit of Christmas. The lyrical themes of 'Killing in the Name' hardly echo my, admittedly athiest, values of Christmas. Raging against anything just doesn't seem right in the supposed 'season of goodwill', even if 'The Machine' does take the form of Sony BMG.
There are however, two things for which RATM getting to Christmas No. 1 SHOULD be celebrated. It is a victory for the power of the Internet. The ease with which people can communicate and connect (if that doesn't sound too much like a BT advert) really does foster a true spirit of community. This campaign is evidence of how that spirit can be harnessed to effect.
Which of course leads to my second point. RATM getting to Christmas No. 1 is a victory for people power. Whatever you might think, it's undeniabally impressive that the campaign actually succeeded. I was proved wrong, having never believed it would happen. Perhaps I will be a little less cynical in the future.
Yet that's not all! If people power can be channelled through the Internet to topple Simon Cowell, what else might we achieve if we put our minds to it? This could be just the beginning. Think of the possiblities....
Charlie Brooker's Guardian Column
Luke Lewis' NME Blog
Dave Lister's Independent Column
Firstly, RATM getting to Christmas No. 1 is many things but it is NOT a victory for music. A victory for music would mean an artist writing and releasing a new song so capturing the imagination of the general public that it reached the top spot on its own merit and not by weight of on an 'organised' campaign. Thus would the X-Factor gravy train be truly undermined proving that authentically great and original music, whatever the genre, is still more desirable to the public.
Secondly (and this may seem a little too earnest but...), RATM getting to Christmas number 1 is NOT a victory for the spirit of Christmas. The lyrical themes of 'Killing in the Name' hardly echo my, admittedly athiest, values of Christmas. Raging against anything just doesn't seem right in the supposed 'season of goodwill', even if 'The Machine' does take the form of Sony BMG.
There are however, two things for which RATM getting to Christmas No. 1 SHOULD be celebrated. It is a victory for the power of the Internet. The ease with which people can communicate and connect (if that doesn't sound too much like a BT advert) really does foster a true spirit of community. This campaign is evidence of how that spirit can be harnessed to effect.
Which of course leads to my second point. RATM getting to Christmas No. 1 is a victory for people power. Whatever you might think, it's undeniabally impressive that the campaign actually succeeded. I was proved wrong, having never believed it would happen. Perhaps I will be a little less cynical in the future.
Yet that's not all! If people power can be channelled through the Internet to topple Simon Cowell, what else might we achieve if we put our minds to it? This could be just the beginning. Think of the possiblities....
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