Why is Rage Against Machine's 'Killing in the Name' the UK's 'Christmas number one' song this year? Aside from the fact that the song isn't even a holiday song, it's also 17 years old! A group of Facebookers decided to flex their online muscles by deliberately out-selling the winner of Simon Cowell's X-Factor who was slated to take the number one spot. Proving the power in numbers (especially online), the Facebook campaign was successful.
Each year, the United Kingdom crowns the best-selling song of the weeks leading up to the holiday as the "Christmas number one." (If you've seen Love Actually, you'll recall Billy Mack competing with a boy band for the coveted spot, then playing naked on national TV Christmas Eve once he made the spot.)
The ultimate goal of the campaign was to piss off Simon Cowell, who is known not only for spotting talent from 100 miles away, but for insulting wanna-be stars on national television.
Aside from making thousands laugh, the campaign is also helping a good cause. "Killing in the Name" campaigners raised over $59,000 for the homeless awareness charity site Shelter.
See? There is a happy ending. Except for the X-Factor contestant who worked hard for that spot. We kind of feel bad for her.
via GOOD
