The Rage Against X Factor Christmas Campaign

doc-phil · 2009-12-12T08:39:54+00:00

I recently read an article on UG.com about a campaign to prevent Simon Cowel from getting a number 1 single this Christmas off his show 'X Factor'. The idea is that when the winner of X Factor releases his or her cover of 'The Climb' by Miley Cyrus ??? just before Christmas, everyone is supposed to go out and buy a copy of 'Killing In The Name' by Rage Against The Machine ? What does GFSA think about this? From what the article said, it seems as if there are those that believe Simon Cowel is sorta rigging the charts every Christmas to get himself another No. 1 hit - something he has supposedly done for about the last 4 years in a row. I personally think that if the winner of X Factor was releasing an origininal song then this campaign would be completely unfair. But to release a cover of a Miley Cyrus song!!!?? What the heck! I can't stand tweeny bopper sensations like her, the Jonas Bros and any other 'artist' that Disney can throw at us. So for a cover of a Miley song to reach number one this Christmas almost seems like an insult to the scores of other musicians who deserve the spot. On the other hand, is this maybe not just a clever ploy by certain ex members of RATM who need the $$$ to buy their own Christmas presents? ?

RobK

So, it seems all this is clearly coming from Sony making sure they make a packet out of sales this Xmas anyway ? Most probably started by one of their marketing execs sending an anonymous email.

singemonkey

RobK wrote So, it seems all this is clearly coming from Sony making sure they make a packet out of sales this Xmas anyway ? Most probably started by one of their marketing execs sending an anonymous email.

I really doubt it. They stand to do much better if people are following pop musicians than unpredictable musicians. I think it's quite simple. The band is called Rage Against the Machine, and this is an attempt to mess with the carefully laid plans of the industry. Until there's some evidence to the contrary, it seems much more likely that the the band's name simply stands as a protest.

MIKA-the-better-one

I cou;dnt care less if its sony or not, Its COOL, to much intelextualising. RATM were a great band that were very cool, way cooler than any Xfactor karaoke act. pffff you can tell I just had a good jam and a bit high on music

Gray

RATM is just a vessel or bench to show Cowel the profits he could have attained (sorta like stealing his jag just to drive it into a pole 300m down the road), so if everyone bought anything but the new X factor album/single it wouldn't work. I think if RATM were on board and decided to donate the money to cancer research or feeding orphans then the idea is magical. They could have a page on there site where if you bought the album for these purposes (deliberately screwing someone or saving the world from them) you enter your serial number and that money goes straight to the cause.

RobK

Is it really going to make a difference to the bottom line for Cowell? For this to really work, you'd have to get all the people who planned to buy the X factor song to buy the RATM one instead. Doubt that's going to happen. What is likely going to happen is that all the RATM fans will buy the RATM song and the x factor fans will buy the x factor one.
Just means a ton of sales for RATM, maybe a lot more than they would have gotten otherwise - nice chunk of cash for them for xmas (nothing wrong with that). Doubt it'll worry Cowell though. Only thing he might lose is the number 1 chart spot and that's what the campaign seems to be about - not the profit.

JK

I am a Rage fan, but to try stunt someones career based on who gave them a chance to perform? Pffft. What junk. The girl won that competition (as crap as it is) fair and square. Good on her.

Plus, this is coming from Morello who's 6th most important song in the last 10 years is Violet Hill by Coldplay.
http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/12/10/tom-morello-and-the-metallicats-weigh-in-on-the-best-songs-and-albums-of-the-decade/#more-25842

Dont get me wrong, big fan of Morello, but this is some girl trying to sing and do what she loves. We would all kill for that chance, who cares who stands to profit the most, its not like its a terrorist wing.

My 2 cents worth. ?

Jack-Flash-Jr

JK wrote I am a Rage fan, but to try stunt someones career based on who gave them a chance to perform? Pffft. What junk. The girl won that competition (as crap as it is) fair and square. Good on her.

Plus, this is coming from Morello who's 6th most important song in the last 10 years is Violet Hill by Coldplay.
http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/12/10/tom-morello-and-the-metallicats-weigh-in-on-the-best-songs-and-albums-of-the-decade/#more-25842

Dont get me wrong, big fan of Morello, but this is some girl trying to sing and do what she loves. We would all kill for that chance, who cares who stands to profit the most, its not like its a terrorist wing.

My 2 cents worth. ?

Let's not try to be too fair minded here ?
I think the fact that this "story" is out there and has people thinking is achievement enough. At the risk of totally contradicting myself in another thread, I think music will survive the current boosted talent show fad. Simon Cowell isn't controlling anyone's minds, the release will appeal to those who would be looking for fluff anyway and who might not have bought anything anyway. I would rather they start their listening habits with Lady Gaga but she might next the next rung and then things only get better after that.

MIKA-the-better-one

Just want to say Violet hill is a amzing song. ANd screw the girl on X factor, if she cant go and do what she loves just by singing , not through some stupid show which is not a fair take on music. Without thinking ot much on money and labels, does anyone else not think its a bit cool that there could be a slightly good christams single????

JK

this girl (i dont know her name) got a chance and took it. Cant fault her there.

does anyone else not think its a bit cool that there could be a slightly good christams single?Huh?

Agreed, it would be cool to get a great no1, but then someone must up their game and smash the chart with a killer rock song, rather than by sabotage.

BMU

X-rated Bob wrote There's some blogging about this on the NME web site.

One entry points out the following....
1) Who owns Simon Cowell's Syco label?
2) Whose catalog includes the song that the X-Factor winner will record for the xmas single?
3) Whose catalog includes the RATM song proposed as the anti-Cowell xmas single?

The answer in all cases is Sony BMG who stand to make a packet out of this no matter which song goes to number 1.

See? All problems in the world would be solved if everyone would just listen to me and buy The Best of Decapitated.

Sean

MIKA the better one wrote ...ANd screw the girl on X factor...

Really getting into the Christmas spirit there I see...

MIKA-the-better-one

I dont care if its rock or new wave or pop, but RATM and their song killing in the name of is a great soong, and I think would earn the right to be a christmas number 1.
Screw the girl from X factor and joy to the world

singemonkey

MIKA the better one wrote Screw the girl from X factor and joy to the world

Yay! ?

[deleted]

but this is some girl trying to sing and do what she loves. We would all kill for that chance,

I think you said it there. This has been annoying me about the music/ art industry. "Doing what you love" is not a recipe that makes what you do untouchable/ sublime/ creative. I just love taking it easy/ going to the beach/ eating a sandwich, but no one is going to go doe-eyed about that and pay me lots of money for it. All I see is someone churning out some mediocre cr_p and saying that it's a result of "following their dream".

Sorry, very off topic that, but it was stewing in me for a while. It was sparked off by this painting.

http://www.southafricanartists.com/showartist.asp?WorkID=45544

Sean

Viccy wrote Sorry, very off topic that, but it was stewing in me for a while. It was sparked off by this painting.
http://www.southafricanartists.com/showartist.asp?WorkID=45544

No way ? That has to be a spoof, surely! hahahaha

[deleted]

Spoof or not, gotta love "the rainbow family".

http://www.southafricanartists.com/showartist.asp?WorkID=45543

I know it's not nice to be rude and really I don't have anything against someone doing what they love. I was just trying to say that "doing what you love" is not a yardstick for talent and skill or what ever it is that makes something art.

singemonkey

Isn't it some kind of blasphemy against New Agers to criticise her work?

Although, looking at her portrait of Ryk Neethling, and her "Vampire Birth," it's hard to believe it isn't satire.

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