Rage Against The Machine: Your X-Factor Tirade is the Worst Machine of All

Across the Atlantic, a grassroots campaign designed to put Rage Against the Machine's 1992 single "Killing in the Name" on the top of the holiday charts ahead of recent X Factor champion Joe McElderry has proven successful: "Killing in the Name" sold 500,000 copies last week, beating the 450,000 units of McElderry's "The Climb." The campaign was created to unseat producer and X Factor judge Simon Cowell as a chart-mongering alchemist. Organizers Jon and Tracy Morter wrote on the wall of one of their Facebook groups: "ALL WE WANT IS A NON-X FACTOR NO.1." Christmas chart-topping is a bragging right in the UK, and Rage Against the Machine's victory is a feat, particularly since the single doesn't recall the likes of the Spice Girls, Cliff Richard, or Michael Jackson -- three of the artists who have earned the #1 in past Decembers. But the strength of the accomplishment sours thanks to Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello's own words, which sound like statements from gross, age-old machinery.

According to Morello, who was reached by the Associated Press after "Killing in the Name" earned the #1 spot, the group's triumph redeems the music industry.

"Rage Against the Machine was built for moments like this," the band's guitarist Tom Morello told The Associated Press. "We are honored to have the song that liberated the U.K. pop chart."

Morello said the campaign had delivered "a crushing defeat for bland pop music."

"There are other ways to make music than to stand in front of a panel and perform like a circus bear," Morello added. "Free expression, uncompromising content are sitting on top of the U.K. pop chart this week."

Look, it's not like Simon Cowell is fun to root for. I personally don't own a single American Idol winner's album, and I do own Rage Against the Machine's The Battle of Los Angeles. I appreciate that all of the proceeds from Rage's new sales go to charity. But Morello mixes up the campaign's intentions when he criticizes the X Factor winner's music using these cheap, cliched shots about free expression and compromise. Simon Cowell and his black magic are the "machine" here, not the 18-year-old who won a singing competition. Does Morello think artistry entails slamming other musicians and posing your own music as some unadulterated alternative for cool people? Morello does not sound like an artist here. He sounds like an ad exec for Hot Topic.

Furthermore, how "liberated" are the people who bought "Killing in the Name"? Do I love that single? Yes. Do I buy records because the artist told me he's cooler than a teenage balladeer? No. Because I'm actually not 14, nor waiting for a guru, nor wearing a "You Look At Me Because I'm Different, I Look At You Because You're All The Same" knapsack button. The point being -- "free expression" isn't what's reigning here, because everyone who bought this single is doing what he's told. What's happening here is standard, but malicious countermarketing aimed at an artist, who is precisely the wrong cog in the machine to stifle. I admire McElderry's response to the whole thing:

"Fair play to the guys who have organized the Facebook campaign -- it's been exciting to be part of a much-hyped battle and they definitely deserve congratulations," McElderry said.

Strange that one of the first statements this guy has to release is a diplomatic rejoinder to a haughty music veteran's public badmouthing. He could've just said, "It's been weird to be the 'circus bear' of burden because everyone wants to feel cooler than a TV show." Because this boils down to feeling cool. While I agree that Simon Cowell's tastes can be dubious, Morello's statements sound more self-promotional and self-congratulatory than pro-artistry. And not that it matters, but McElderry is also a decent singer, which is all he posits to be -- unlike Morello, whose mission statement has turned into its own Cowell-sized billboard touting what all the hip people are doing.

UPDATE: Yes, McElderry has also said pejorative things! Mind you, I'd be salty too if an established rock legend was cool-mongering to the UK public with statements such as: "England! Now is your time!" Thanks for the tip, savior!

Rage Against the Machine Humbles Simon Cowell [Yahoo]



Comments

  • bobobobo says:

    Grow the fuck up. The "cogs" in the Cowell machine are just as bad as him. They are his underlings, his own hitler youth. Their "success" is only further ammo for Simon. Morrello was dead on because it doesnt take freedom of expression and uncompromising content to gurgle out the trash out of the main stream media. Maybe you need to relisten to the RATM albums you refer to, because you obviously missed the main idea. COMPROMISE, CONFORMITY, ASSIMILATION,SUBMISSION, IGNORANCE, HYPOCRISY, BRUTALITY, THE ELITE, ALL OF WHICH ARE AMERICAN(ONE WORLD) DREAMS.

  • Victor Ward says:

    I love that being at the top of the charts, where "bland pop music" has been before, proves that you're... different?
    Guy's a jerk.
    And - really solid article.

  • dinalohan says:

    You like McElderry's SECOND response to it all.
    The first was about how much he hated the song and how grandmothers wouldn't like it.
    And then the Cowell machine took over...

  • bob -england says:

    Christmas number 1 is Britains biggest chart battle of the year. I hate the rage song and watched all x-factor but the fact is that Simon Cowell expected to be number 1 and its good he lost out this year as he has ruined the previous 6 years.
    Rage is an awful song but it was a facebook campaign that worked. To beat an x-factor winner who got 10 million votes and was watched in the final by 20 million people is no mean feat, tho I understnd Joe will finally get to number 1 next week.
    Personally I would prefer to see Wizzards 'I wish it could be christmas' number 1 this year, but its unlikely as its 35 years old now, even though its on the tv music channels every 5 minutes!

  • SunnydaZe says:

    COMPROMISE, CONFORMITY, ASSIMILATION, SUBMISSION, IGNORANCE, HYPOCRISY, BRUTALITY, THE ELITE ALL OF WHICH WERE CHRISTMAS EVE AT BING CROSBY'S HOUSE.

  • Roisin says:

    Fair play, when taken out of context - but didn't Morello also acknowledge that the campaign was "less to do with the band or the song" and more related to the British people's want for a change this year? It just so happens that it was that song that was used, because it's catchy and lots of people know it, and there is a certain amount of satisfaction which comes from looking at Cowell's smug face and singing "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me". But at the end of the day, there are lots of other songs, by other bands which would have been just as successful. Morrello has admitted this.
    x

  • cvguy says:

    Morello is a first rate tool.
    I love that his definition of "Freedom" does not include the freedom to like crappy music, or follow conventional trends. Typical Socialist/Communist douchebag...trying to define freedom as something palatable to himself while happily looking to oppress those who disagree with him. And I agree..the real zombies are the ones who did as they were told too...like Milgram subjects...someone they respect told them to do something to someone they dislike or did not even know...and they pressed the button until the job was done. Hey...the Germans understood how people work...and so does Morello and his followers. Lemmings.

  • Paul says:

    you really don't get it, do you?

  • SunnydaZe says:

    I don't see the problem with Morello's response.
    “Rage Against the Machine was built for moments like this,”
    True, which is why their song was chosen.
    “We are honored to have the song that liberated the U.K. pop chart.”
    Humility. So far; so good...
    “a crushing defeat for bland pop music.”
    A little over the top but what do you expect from a counterculture rock musician??
    “There are other ways to make music than to stand in front of a panel and perform like a circus bear,”
    Once again, an OPINION coming from a counterculture rock musician. Personally, I agree with his description because I don't like the whole "Art as Sport" thing. Apparently, others disagree... I don't see this as an attack against McElderry, though. Morello is talking in general.
    “Free expression, uncompromising content are sitting on top of the U.K. pop chart this week.”
    True, which is why their song was chosen.
    Where as this should have read>
    “Fair play to the guys who have organized the Facebook campaign — it’s been exciting to be part of a much-hyped battle and they definitely deserve congratulations,” McElderry's PUBLICIST said.

  • myg says:

    Morello should not have wasted breath on you all. None of you appear to comprehend that RATM and its constituency have always been LEADERS, and not ENTERTAINERS. ("Q: Well why do they sell us music as entertainment then they should be writing books er sumthin..") ["A: Because it's the only way to get your attention you sonic cloudgazers."] Takeaway: Rage is(was) here(there) to get YOU to change. Not to sing you a song. Maybe you guys do need Ryan See-krest after all.

  • Richard says:

    "Typical Socialist/Communist douchebag...trying to define freedom as something palatable to himself while happily looking to oppress those who disagree with him"
    How ironic is your comment. A selfish socialist?? Put a few more soundbytes in your snappy comment, or release a pop record.

  • Victor Ward says:

    Oh, please.
    If we're going to talk in ridiculous absolutes, how about this:
    RATM has always [been] about (\cashing in on the notion that//) the classic disillusionment of youth searching for an identity and who need to be DIFFERENT will cause teenagers to LATCH onto whatever(whatevs)alternative(alternate) seeming crazy band they can find, to which they can ALIGN themselves and BELIEVE they have found some sort of higher message which most people JUST DON'T GET(understand), which is really just another form of [A: Elitism] which is, basically, a way of believing one is better than others which, in essence, acknowledges in(in)a(a)roundabout(roundabout)way that the opinion of others is important [because otherwise what would be the purpose of being better than them?]
    That was fun.
    Let's just break this down for reals, now:
    Acting as if being #1 on the charts, regardless of the time of year, has any sort of deep philosophical meaning is ludicrous.

  • SunnydaZe says:

    Acting as if what is outrageously popular, regardless of the time of year, DOESN'T have any sort of deep philosophical meaning is ludicrous.
    It's all about the collective unconscious and the way it can be manipulated both by what is popular, and what is popular because it is considered unpopular.
    Rage Against the Machine isn't exactly a midnight showing of "Rocky Horror Picture Show." They say some very subversive things which might wake someone of ANY age up to the media/governmental mind control which is based on peer pressure mind control. If one hasn't outgrown the peer pressure mind control of youth (most haven't) then you are exactly who all those repetitive, flashing commercials are aimed at... And, no, I am not better than anyone for realizing this. Just more awake, less easily manipulated, and (many times) lonely in a crowded room...
    Let's just break this down for reals, now:
    SOLYENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!! IT'S MADE OUT OF PEOPLE!!!!

  • Louis Virtel says:

    "Acting as if being #1 on the charts, regardless of the time of year, has any sort of deep philosophical meaning is ludicrous."
    Full stop. Win.

  • SunnydaZe says:

    Acting as if the guy who wrote the above article posting a comment stating "Full stop. Win" has any sort of deep philosophical meaning is ludicrous.
    What? He selects "Commenters of the Week"?
    Please continue Mr. Virtel with your engaging and important insights...

  • UK-RATM_fan says:

    WORST....ARTICLE...........EVER.
    I really do wish that there was some actual intellignece in the media!! Not a bunch of moaning twats that only have something negative to say. I also can't believe that he mentions he has the album several times as if to somehow try and give himself a bit more credibility like he's not a total moaning-twat-loser because...oh...he has the album. Fuck me.
    It's about making a point and showing that ultimately we have control, you idiot. Wake up.
    Besides, whether you like the song or not, whether you like the message behind what was done or not... Surely you can see that it's SO MUCH better to have a real band as the important Christmas number one?? Joe is a good singer - but that's it. RATM are brilliant musicians and it's very refreshing to see a real band up there for once. Not a glorified karaoke singer.
    Also, RATM are donating their profits to charity.... what about Joe/Simon Cowell?? No.
    On top of this, the FB group that was behind this movement have now also raised over £83,000 in charity in simply a few weeks - can you think of anyone else that's manged such a great thing from such a simple Facebook campaign?? NO!
    Get off your high horse and get over yourself!!!! I'm sure there are much more professional writers out there gagging at the bit for your job - so you better learn to become more professional or soon you'll be losing it.

  • Anon says:

    If you're American you won't realise that X-Factor has dominated the British Christmas Number One spot for four years running; therefore no other band releases singles at this time because of the X-Factor campaign. The last Christmas single that was released I can actually remember is The Darkness and they lost to the X-Factor, since X-Factor is on TV for what seems to be 6 months and then finishes one week before Christmas. Thus the winner of X-Factor seems to think that the Christmas Number 1 spot (which is extremely important in the UK charts) is granted to them on a silver plate.
    Hence the campaign for 'Killing In The Name' track for Christmas Number 1 to send a message to Simon Cowell either ditch X-Factor or move X-Factor to the middle of the year and then see how well the winner of the talent contest does against acts like the Black Eyed Peas, Lady GaGa,Justin Timberlake etc. at a normal time of year.
    Since I have a feeling that X-Factor winner will not stand the heat if placed against other bands during the year.
    Also for your information in the UK we had something called Pop Idol and from hearsay they created a band which I can't remember the name of which didn't last for very long and then came Girls Aloud from it, then for some reason Pop Idol was changed and X-Factor was born.
    Now from MSN networkd I read that Simon Cowell is planning to ditch American Idol and bring in a American X-Factor where its basically a talent contest and then winner gets a recording contract and possible be placed strategically to always get a Number 1 in American charts and this will carry on for possible years until a campaign starts...sound familiar?
    A UK Subject (Not citizen since we have a Monarch)

  • SunnydaZe says:

    You do realize he selects "Commenters of the Week"? Did I make that clear?

  • Gaz, UK says:

    The article writer has completely missed the point.
    Nobody who downloaded KITN did so because they were told to; they did so because they heard, by word of mouth, that a group had chosen that song to try and stop the X-Factor winner getting the Xmas number 1 for the fifth year in a row, then chose to be a part of it.
    For those of you who don't know - the X-Factor is a Simon Cowell fronted talent show which airs every year on primetime TV for the three months or so in the lead up to Xmas. The winner is announced at the end of it, then release their single - a cover of someone's else's song - on the day that the sales for the week decide who has made the Xmas number 1.
    To challenge it, an alternative song to download as a focus had to be chosen to pose even a minor threat to Joe McElderry's single. A campaign called 'LET'S ALL DOWNLOAD A RANDOM SONG WE LIKE TO STOP X-FACTOR' would have got nowhere.
    KITN was a viable alternative for people who are sick of bland, manufactured pop music. It wasn't set up against McElderry personally, it was simply a protest song a bunch of people liked and seemed to fit in with the mood of the campaign.
    I bought it, and I have to say I listened to the chart countdown for the first time in 29 years of life because I actually gave a crap for a change.

  • noname says:

    Louis...You're talking bullshit!
    Morello is clearly better than you, not only musically and socially, but just generally. He is obviously superior and you should just give in to the long running rage against the machine.

  • Rob says:

    Yes, that was a seriously awful article, but well done on creatively attacking the story from a different angle, and throwing in some further creative nonsense about not wearing a knapsack button, bet you're proud of that one! (Shame it's complete trash.)
    I have to admit I too find Morello's response a little...over excited, but that's to be expected. I find your article far more pathetic, in the way you seem to try to point out that 'you can see through him' - wow, way to treat your reading public unpatronisingly and perhaps giving them credit for, hmm, say, being able to.....I don't know, see it for themselves? Redundant idiot.
    'Because it boils down to feeling cool.' - I think I must have missed the point on this statement. Is it sarcastic? God I hope so. It couldn't possibily be as ridiculous as it sounds. What WORLD ARE YOU LIVING IN???
    And calling someone a circus bear is ENTIRELY APT in this context, so sod off.

  • Rob says:

    Oh god, I just re-read it, and it annoys the hell out of me. If that was your intention, congratulations.
    How can you seperate artistic content from the machinery? It doesn't make sense!
    Let me spell it out for you - I love that RATM song. It is a phenomenal track! It's not like the vast majority of people who bought it 'don't really like it' or did so purely 'to topple the X-factor machinery'. A similar campaign failed last year because the song they chose was as dire as the primary contender.
    I would propose that this year's success has more to do with the choice of music or 'artistic content' than you think. Morello is absolutely spot on in his statements, you are not.

  • SunnydaZe says:

    This is the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!!

  • caslab says:

    For real, people are still getting worked up about Rage Against The Machine?

  • Austin says:

    On top of this, the FB group that was behind this movement have now also raised over £83,000 in charity in simply a few weeks - can you think of anyone else that's manged such a great thing from such a simple Facebook campaign?? NO!

    Uhm...actually...Alicia Keys Youtube concert broadcast live from NYC was a huge hit and money made that night went to her favorite charity. I wouldn't be surprised if it surpassed the £83k that this group had. Btw. Alicia Keys is a MAINSTREAM R&B artist. Who happens to write her own songs, not lip sync, AND she plays piano LIVE. She also wasn't found on a tacky talent show.

    This band is just another elitist "look at me I'm emo and awesome and different and everyone else is the same" band. Nothing new to see here. Move along.