Rage Against The Machine beats down Joe McElderry

Rage Against The Machine beats down Joe McElderry

Killing in the Name has been turned into a weapon of pop destruction.

The race is hotting up for this year's Christmas number one single, with shock challengers Rage Against the Machine looking set to run X Factor winner Joe McElderry to the wire for the top spot.

A highly publicised Facebook group entitled 'Rage Against the Machine for Christmas No. 1' has been set up by husband and wife Jon and Tracy Morter, who are imploring users to digitally purchase the song 'Killing in the Name', and with the rap metal anthem currently sitting at no 1 in the download charts, they're winning.

The group is being seen as a backlash against the dominance of the X Factor programme and boss Simon Cowell over the UK music charts. It states:

"Are you fed up about the possibility of ANOTHER X-Factor Christmas No. 1? ...us too...so we're going to do something about it!"

The group, which now numbers 755,000 members, gives clear instructions on how to purchase the single. It also provides users with the opportunity to donate money to homeless charity Shelter, which helps thousands of homeless Londerners each year.

Sales of the single are said to be pipping Joe McElderry's 'The Climb' by 10% in digital downloads, according to the Official Charts Company. However, a surge in purchases of McElderry’s offering is expected when it goes on sale in physical format tomorrow.  The results will be announced in the Official UK Top 40 Chart Show on Radio One this Sunday.

The UK's Christmas number one has been monopolised by X Factor winners since 2005. Last year Alexandra Burke sold 576,000 copies of her cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah', seeing off competition from a similar campaign to take Jeff Buckley's version to the top of the charts instead.

Here at Spoonfed we couldn't possibly advise you one way or another. However, take a look at this example of Cowell’s previous Christmas Number 1 exploits and we think you should be able to make up your own minds...

Killing in the Name is available to download from iTunes now. Joe McElderry's take on 'The Climb' is out pyschically on December the 16th.

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Spoonfed Team