It’s that time of year again! Since we’re in December, the countdown to the Christmas number one is well and truly upon us. So in the spirit of celebrating Christmas till we’re sick of it, this December we’ll be bringing you many a Christmas number one to get you into the festive mood (reindeer jumpers and all…)
Up this week: ‘Killing In The Name’ – Rage Against The Machine
Is it even a Christmas song? No, not really, but back in 2009, Rage Against The Machine quite literally did just that, spitting fire back into the faces of Cowell and his X Factor hit factory to produce one of the biggest chart upsets in recent history.
Launched in the early days of December, former DJ Jon Morter and his wife built a campaign to end the tiresome and almost automatic X Factor reign of the Christmas chart. Clearly, after a four-year string of Shayne Ward, Leona Lewis, Leon Jackson (honestly, who?) and Alexandra Burke taking the top spot, the time for change had come. Supported by the likes of Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, The Prodigy and Muse, the campaign gained traction, and when the Christmas number one was finally revealed, ‘Killing In The Name’ had stormed the chart.
Featured here less because of its Christmas content, and more because it was a moment in time where a heavy metal rock band managed to undo the rule of the chart heavyweights, ‘Killing In The Name’ is possibly one of the most unique Xmas number ones. I would suggest listening to it, if that’s your thing, but at the very least, stick it on your Christmas playlist and scare everyone on the 25th when it plays itself on shuffle.
-Emily Harrison, Music Editor
