Power To The People!

A big thank you and congratulations to everyone who bought the Rage Against The Machine single ‘Killing In The Name’ thus ensuring it reached number one in time for Christmas 2009. This unprecedented event seemed to have everyone involved; even radio dj’s seemed to have the tone of naughty schoolboys and girls as they announced the winner. Sales far exceeded the amount necessary to hit the number one spot, outselling the X Factor single by about 50,000 copies. This is the first download only number one in the UK charts, and the first that has been a record not recently released (the Rage track is 17 years old).

So what is the lesson or the victory here? A good summary of the intention behind the campaign can be seen at http://saveourmusicindustry.com/ stressing that this was not a campaign directed at Simon Cowell personally, or little Joe and his distinctly average single. The whole point was to break the monopoly the X Factor has had in recent years when it comes to the Xmas number one single, and to re-introduce the fun we traditionally had, waiting to see who the winner would be.

Simon Cowell appeared on Newsnight last week, doing his best ‘I’m a nice person really’ impression, which he then completely spoiled by showing his total ignorance. To my horror (and the horror of the presenter) he suggested that a future project could well be a political show where issues are debated then voted for by the public. We all know already that ‘lowest common denominator’ politics would be a disaster; sometimes the correct political decisions are not necessarily the popular ones. Surely we pay our politicians to be experts in matters we don’t fully understand, and vote them in to make difficult decisions that they are more qualified than us to make. Cowell’s proposed format could result in scary scenarios such as a campaign to bring back capital punishment, or deport recent emigrees. We all know that ‘public opinion’ can be fickle and easily swayed or brought to hysteria by recent news stories or media over-sensationalist tactics, so anyone who thinks this is a good idea is frankly stupid!

Finally, the whole ratm4xmas campaign has given food for thought. Although people are already suggesting records to rival next years’ X Factor release, I am unsure as to whether this could work again, or whether it was a one-off. RATM’s track is an extremely potent song that captured the imagination of thousands because it somehow had the ‘Zeitgeist’… the right title, sentiment and lyrics to unite everyone behind it. It does provoke the question of what we could do en masse if we could only all agree on other matters so easily; perhaps we could actually effect some real political changes or stop the war in Afghanistan, for example. We just need people with the imagination to start the campaigns and generate the passion.

Until then, let’s just celebrate this small victory and enjoy the fact that sometimes, the people will have their say, and look forward to the promised free gig that Rage are set to play in 2010. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Cowell aka Satan, raking in the cash again

So here we are, nearly at the culmination of this year’s X factor, and is it just me or does anyone really care any more? Haven’t our heartstrings been tugged at so many times in the recent past that they are now dangling loosely around our knees, incapable of responding to the incessant plucking by Simon ‘Satan’ Cowell? And what about Cheryl Cole? Has she lost the plot or what? So many things are wrong with the format that I can’t resist having a rant.

Firstly, re Miss Cole; surely half the attraction to a pop star is an aura of mystique and a certain elusive quality? That gets blown out of the water when we see and hear too much of someone, not to mention the ridiculous dresses.

Secondly, if there’s one thing the recent ‘Subo’ fiasco proves, (backed up by the success of JLS) is that it is completely irrelevant who wins the X factor, or Britain’s Got Talent because longer term market forces will determine whether there is an appetite for something, not a contrived arena like a prime-time tv show.

I fear that Simon Cowell is in danger of destroying what’s left of the music industry at this point; by subjecting potential stars to a one-shot-at-the-big-time in front of baying crowds, he is deterring real stars form even trying; traditionally many of our best musical stars have been shy, retiring and uncompromising individuals who magically come to life in front of an audience; who have something to say and a message to convey. The X factor hand-fistedly weeds out any glimmer of individuality by forcing the contestants to cover a variety of tacky genres, erasing any uniqueness they may have had to start with…. Can you imagine Johnny Rotten being asked to sing a Michael Jackson song?

And what about the title of the show? Its called the X factor, which by definition refers to an elusive, unquantifiable quality, but a couple of weeks ago, Danni Minogue was asking in confusion ‘is this a singing competition?’ before eliminating the vocally poor but x factor rich Jedward. Actually that’s all the X factor is now, a great big Butlins style singing competition, and it should be renamed accordingly. Perhaps something like ‘Britain’s most inoffensive singers’ would be more appropriate!

Which brings me to this year’s contestants. I’m sure they are all very nice people but I’m struggling to remember any of their names. I’ve never seen such an average bunch, with the possible exception of Stacey, who would be perfectly happy with a career singing in hotel bars or on a cruise ship, and who seems somewhat overwhelmed by the position she finds herself in. Sure, she has a lovely voice, but seems ill equipped for life as a sleb. The most likely winner is probably Joe, who does indeed have a beautiful voice, but who seems vacuous and bland. But then that’s probably what Mr Cowell prefers; someone he can manipulate and squash into whatever hole he perceives needs filling in the industry this week.

I have a dream.. one in which Simon Cowell wakes up and realises that he has turned us all into a bunch of cynical, instant gratification junkies with the attention span of a goldfish. Then he apologises to the world and gives up the music business to work with deprived orphans…… fat chance!!