Every year, people hope to have the Christmas #1 single in the United Kingdom. It’s a big deal and can set the tone for the upcoming year for some artists. For the past 4 years, an artist and song from “The X Factor” (Simon Cowell’s British musical television juggernaut, which he is bringing to the States in 2011) has been the Number 1 spot on the U.K. singles chart. At the end of 2009, things turned out a bit different.

Joe McElderry (2009 “The X Factor” winner) was almost a sure thing to be the U.K. Christmas #1 with his version of The Climb, which is a cover of the Miley Cyrus song.

Rage Against The Machine

Joe McElderry, 2009 Winner of The X Factor

Then, in stepped a grassroots Facebook campaign that thought it would be funny if Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name would be the U.K. Christmas #1. Killing In The Name sold 500,000 downloads versus The Climb’s 450,000.

Here’s my gripe: Killing In The Name was released in 1992 by a band that is no longer together! Great song by a great band, without a doubt, and it is still relevant, which is amazing (and a little sad, too). I’m just really confused – why all the hatred for “The X Factor” and the contestants (for those that are American, feel free to insert “American Idol” here)?

I know we’ve all reached maximum saturation with manufactured music; however, I would gladly take Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Leona Lewis, Jordin Sparks, Will Young, and this Joe McElderry guy any day, over some of the artists that currently grace our airwaves. Not to point any fingers but does anyone remember that song by that guy talking about that girl’s backside…oh wait, that seems to be 84% of popular music today. Sometimes this is what happens when we allow people to write their own music: we rhyme “you” with “you” and every song is about a body part.

Why can’t there be room for everyone? I will gladly take my world where Rage Against The Machine, Florence & The Machine, Kings of Leon, Muse and The Wu-Tang Clan happily reside next to Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jennifer Hudson who are just to the right of Madonna, Metallica, Michael Buble and Missy Elliott. Please come join my world. It’s nice here and the weather is warm.

Until next time, remember: It’s your life. Live it on tour! <3, MK