Proper world changing history. For one of the first times ever (I think), the general public had a say in the outcome of something that was pretty much pre-decided.
The battle for the coveted 'Christmas No. 1' spot has been won for the last 5 years, by the X factor winners. Basically, and I'm sorry to be harsh, an unknown erm.. talent* singing a cover of a song. Why the British public has fallen for this year after year, I don't know but that's a different gripe. This year, a couple from somewhere had enough of the X Factor monopoly for Christmas No.1, so they started a Facebook social networking campaign to try and get an alternative song to number one - Rage Against the Machines 'killing in the name of'.
I have seen these type of groups spring up before and have never really taken any notice but because RATM is part of the soundtrack of my youth, I joined. I joined when it had 1 hundred thousand members thinking it would fizzle out before it got to Christmas. 3 days later, it had three quarters of million members, the group was active and it had the attention of the mainstream media. My interest peaked, was the feeling of the general public that strong that this group could topple the pre-determined 'Cowell' factor?
Indeed it was. RATM outsold Joe McElderry by a lot. It was a small victory for those wanting music borne of passion and emotion, but a victory nevertheless and this is why the charts will never be the same for a couple of reasons.
People (I am being very general) are now getting tired of the pre packaged un-original dross that gets manufactured by record companies. In the eighties it was Stock, Aitken and Waterman, in the noughties, it's Simon Cowell. Now 'we' realise that we can do something about it. The track 'Killing in the name of' was never so relevant - oppression, dictatorship - 'I won't do what you told me'. It even took the music business by surprise. Not the fact that it happened, but the fact that it happened at all and that the public felt so strongly that they were prompted to act.
The other main reason for this change has far more global consequences. The masses can now see the results of social networking and particularly its economic power. If you don't like something, change it. Democracy - long since been a joke in the UK - finally reared its head again and stood proud by hanging the norm - even if it was only for a music single
This could carry on, what about how the country is being run? Could the masses with their own thoughts, opinions and ability to think for themselves be able to influence how the country is run. Perhaps its a pipe dream but one thing is for certain, if people feel strongly enough they do protest and hopefully, with some of the 'epic fail' decisions the government has taken over the last 24 month or so, we will.
* There is no doubt in my mind that Leona, Alexandra, Joe, Olly and the others who made the finals in the past 5 years are very good vocalists (Joe has an amazing voice and it's still maturing). The X Factor was/is a vehicle for them to achieve their dreams and ambitions in singing. I wish them the very best of luck and hope they can maintain the level of hard work that they will need to maintain their stardom - they are now 'owned' and will be used and abused as such.
But ask yourself this - would you buy a cover of a Miley Cyrus song, that didn't reach the top 10 when originally released, by a teenage lad named Joe McElderry from South Shields?
I think not.
