Rage against the X-Factor

The latest batch of manufactured X-Factor pop-a-nonnies are trundling inevitably closer to the turgid, overcooked and overhyped grande finale. I’ve been lucky enough to avoid a lot of television recently, so have escaped the show’s grasping and vampiric embrace of my brain. Yes. I have not been sucked in.

I thought I might expound on my disbelief at the 2009 crop of finalists – seriously, I just don’t get Jedward, but I’ve realised it’s useless. Anybody who has not joined the cult cannot understand its inner workings. It’s probably like how, to Scientologists, it’s completely awesome that they have little aliens living inside them but to anybody else, it’s insane.

The thing is, the show is clearly not about finding the person who is the best entertainer or singer or dancer. (Jedward is none of those). It must be a subliminal mindforce that gradually erodes your neurons until you become a fan. The winner is announced, and you go purchase their single, and Simon Cowell is a very happy cult leader indeed.

This year, people are fighting back

Rage Against the Machine for Xmas No.1 is a campaign that has been set up by non-fans who desperately want to shout back to the corporate music-making machine: “Fuck you, we won’t buy what you sell us” is the refrain.

The aim? Encourage people to buy Rage Against the Machine’s single “Killing in the Name” during that key timeframe in December when the X-Factor winner’s single will also be released. If enough folks get on board, they’ll push the new vapid plastic pop song to #2 and the #1 song will instead be one picked by music lovers who have something to say about the X-Factor. And plus, it’ll be a kick ass angry song full of swearing. Yay!

If you are keen to join in, get ready to buy the single between December 13th and 19th. The number 1 will be announced on the 20th!