SO IF YOU BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS, CHILDREN, LIKE YOUR UNCLE BILLY DOES, THEN BUY THIS FESTERING TURD OF A RECORD: Last year, Rage Against The Machine's "Killing in the Name" finally broke the streak of X Factor winners of the annual UK Christmas #1 Song competition. Odds have been posted for this year's battle, and among those hoping to defeat the single from whoever wins X Factor 7 (expected to be their version of Lee DeWyze) is a reunited Take That as well as perennial favorites "Last Christmas" by Wham! and, of course, "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues with Kirsty MacColl.
Want another oddball winner? Two chief contenders: The Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird" (yes, because of this) and a celebrity cover (Billy Bragg!) of John Cage's "4'33"" (which will include remixes).
[For those unclear with what we're getting when X-Factor hits the States next fall, meet Jedward.]
Were I a betting man, the 75 to 1 bet on Glee Cast and the 100 to 1 bet on Bruno Mars both seem like their odds are too long, though those most likely to purchase those songs are probably also likely to buy the X Factor winner single. Part of what helped Rage go over the top, I expect, was that it brought in people who didn't/wouldn't buy X Factor.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't because of Zack de la Rocha's Godzilla wail at 3:28?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNzIKoAy2pk
4'33" can't really be recorded -- but not for the obvious reason. The purpose of the piece is not to depict "silence" but to depict ambient noise. It should vary with each iteration, as with most chance music.
ReplyDeleteCage probably owes royalties to Erik Satie for that thing, should it make any money, so it could tie the courts up for years.
It's Kirsty MacColl...can't believe that it's almost ten years since she died.
ReplyDeletea thousand pardons. fixed.
ReplyDeleteWait, it's December 6th and I still haven't watched Love,<span> </span>Actually yet?
ReplyDeleteI watched that last night as I put up the tree.
ReplyDelete