Number One

I know it’s Boxing Day (named because traditionally it’s the day when gentlemen have had just enough to alcohol over the Christmas period that they start beating their wives) but I still think there’s time for us all to join together and sing a Christmas song.

Killing in the name of…
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Killing in the name of!
Killing in the name of!
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
And now you do what they told ya.
Those who died are justified for wearing the badge – they’re the chosen whites.
You justify those that died by wearing the badge – they’re the chosen whites.
Those who died are justified for wearing the badge – they’re the chosen whites.
You justify those that died by wearing the badge – they’re the chosen whites.
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses.
Killing in the name of!
Killing in the name of!
And now you do what they taught ya.
And now you do what they taught ya.
And now you do what they taught ya.
And now you do what they taught ya.
And now you do what they taught ya, now you’re under control.
And now you do what they taught ya, now you’re under control.
And now you do what they taught ya, now you’re under control.
And now you do what they taught ya, now you’re under control.
And now you do what they taught ya, now you’re under control.
And now you do what they taught ya, now you’re under control.
And now you do what they taught ya, now you’re under control.
And now you do what they taught yaaaaa!!!
Those who died are justified for wearing the badge – they’re the chosen whites.
You justify those that died by wearing the badge – they’re the chosen whites.
Those who died are justified for wearing the badge – they’re the chosen whites.
You justify those that died by wearing the badge – they’re the chosen whites.
Come on!
Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.
Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.
Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.
Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.
Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.
Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.
Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.
Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.
FUCK YOU, I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!
FUCK YOU, I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!
FUCK YOU, I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!
FUCK YOU, I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!
FUCK YOU, I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!
FUCK YOU, I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!
FUCK YOU, I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!
FUCK YOU, I WON’T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!!!
MOTHERFUCKER!!!

What do you mean that’s not what you had in mind when I said Christmas song? You guys do know that this is the number one song in the UK charts this year at Christmas don’t you? You don’t? Then let me fill you in.

There’s a curse on television these days called Reality TV, where the most obnoxious people in the world make their lives worthwhile by gaining five minutes of fame doing things that others have too much taste to do. The worst of these reality programmes are the music programmes where people audition to become the next big thing (or, more realistically, be given a record contract and get a couple of number one hits from covers of popular songs or by flashing as much tits and ass as they can get away with) in music. Despite the failed audition episodes of these programmes actually being quite enjoyable, the programmes themselves are the work of the devil himself and are destroying the music business. Not content with the music industry being filled with manufactured bands for decades anyway, these programmes manufacture a new act and guarantee it exposure via the show, meaning these acts have mindless (an apt definition for those that religiously follow such shows) fans that will buy their singles and ensure them a number one slot. This has been the case in this country for a few years now, so much so that people were getting annoyed about acts from The X Factor getting the number one slot every Christmas since 2005.

We wanted real music to be number one again, we needed a song by a band who were well known for rebelling against the stupidity of the establishment, we needed a song by a band well known for teasing sounds from their instruments that amazed people when they first performed live as they weren’t using synthesizers as many people thought, we needed a song by a band that has never been afraid to point out the hypocrisy that is ripe in this world, a song that symbolized our fight to take the power back from those without the intellect to wield it. A song was chosen, celebrities backed the movement, even the band themselves stood up and issued a challenge to Simon Cowell and his karaoke clones. And that, my friends, is the story of how a classic Rage Against The Machine scream against oppression from 1992 became not only the UK Christmas number 1 song in 2009, but the first song anywhere in the world to gain a Christmas number 1 chart position based purely on downloads. RATM, on hearing that the movement based around them had given us the gift of freedom this Christmas, announced they’re donating the almost £65,000 proceeds raised in this chart-topping period to the Shelter and Youth Music charities.