It took a bit longer, but Joe McElderry finally made the climb to the top of the UK singles chart. “The Climb” knocks Rage Against the Machine from the top spot, but it’s quite a feat that “Killing in the Name Of” only falls to the runner-up spot. Usually, seasonal hits fall heavy once the novelty wears off. This time, it was the Facebook campaign initiated to fend off the X-Factor winner.
The annual Xmas No.1 in the UK has been a sought-after merit, and even something you can bet on. My earlier comment about Joe McElderry predicted that his debut single “The Climb” was bound to top the chart in its first week. Little did I know that a Facebook campaign to prevent the X-Factor winner had succeeded?
American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” is the official Christmas Number 1 of 2009. Read it again. A track that was issued as the lead single from Rage Against the Machine’s self-titled debut album in 1992 has effectively fended Joe Mcelderry from the top spot. The song’s lyrics cover un-justice and encourages revolution against corruption in society. Not, exactly what X-Factor winners sing about.
Rage Against the Machine sold 500,000 downloads, which is approximately 50,000 more than Joe McElderry’s ballad.
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Last year, Alexandra Burke made headlines when she became that year’s X-Factor winner singing “Hallejuah.” For some mysterious reason, this talent show does not produce any new songs and this year’s superior talent Joe McElderry has chosen to cover “The Climb.” Only this March, Miley Cyrus made it to No.4 with the original version – included in her movie Hannah Montana. It is bound to be a UK No.1 hit and was rush-released as a digital download on Dec.14.
