I've been suffering from a major case of writers block recently. Topics float into and out of my head, but nothing seems interesting enough to stick. Which is odd considering the last few weeks have been quite eventful. Maybe I'll get to that later.
However the Christmas number 1 song has interested me for the first time in ages. It was amazing to see a campaign started on Facebook a few weeks ago beat a 6 month marketing campaign watched on national TV by millions.
It was a bit of fun, anarchy in a safe environment. Not an anti-corporation protest, but just a demonstration that people don't like to be treated like idiots. I can only assume that The Climb was picked as it was already on Sony's books and cost little to nothing to procure. It certainly wasn't good enough to top the charts. It seemed like Simon Cowell thought he could put out any old tat and it would get to number 1. If the song had been half decent it would have been much harder, and if they had picked Don't Stop Believing the campaign would not have had a chance. (even Joe McElderry's version which is an out of tune crime against music)
Rage Against The Machine conducted themselves pretty well throughout this. They didn't ask to be used as the focal point, but proved to be eloquent and polite when questioned and were not afraid to speak their minds, which is becoming a rare occurrence in these days of ass-covering. Perhaps they were a little cheeky on radio 5 by swearing when they said they wouldn't, but it clearly did them no harm. The bands decision to donate all their profits to Shelter, on top of the donations made through the campaign, seems a perfect message to be sending out at this time of year.
Some people think it's a shame that young Joe is not getting "his" Christmas number 1. He won a singing competition, the prize of which was a recording contract. I don't think it said anything about getting a Christmas number 1. He has done nothing to earn a number 1.
Despite all this I'd almost guarantee that Joe will be at number 1 next week after all the final pre-christmas purchases roll in, and now there is no real competition. Hopefully this will be ok for Joe. Besides if he is that good, then his next few singles will all go straight in at number 1.
And on that I'm going to sign off.
Merry Christmas y'all!
