RAGE against the KARAOKE

It’s nearly Christmas and it’s the time to be joyful and gathered near the television set. Everyone is excited about what presents they’ll be sending and receiving whilst other people want to know what’s coming on TV and who is going to be on Top of the UK Charts for the Christmas Number 1.

 In recent years, since X Factor has begun, we have seen the Christmas Number 1 single taken by an X Factor contestant such as last year’s winner Alexandra Burke with ‘Hallelujah’. This has caused tension between the public and Simon Cowell because of the success of X Factor related artists getting the Christmas Number 1 rather than a talented artist who has written the song and sung it. A campaign on Facebook has been made, titled ‘RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE FOR CHRISTMAS NO.1’. This is to challenge the final song choice for this year’s X Factor winner. People are fed up of having karaoke versions of songs being sung by these finalists on the show to bring them success for themselves as well as their record companies.

 The involvement of social media such as Facebook and Twitter, has allowed the public to voice their concerns about a particular issue. It is no longer a one way communication where we are feeding information given to use to act on. We are now discussing and involving ourselves with the surroundings and making conversations by joining these groups on social networking sites. Before campaigns were there to be watched and heard, now people are getting drawn into joining groups and societies on these social media’s. This group has been set up to boycott buying the X Factor single and to buy the 1993 single ‘Killing In The Name’ on 13^th December so that it is recorded in the charts the following Sunday.

 Angry musicians are fed up of these talented people on these reality entertainment shows where talent of a musician is lost as they are not producing their own material and it’s a previous hit they are singing. A lot of people have been posting their views on this group and feelings and frustration are being shown within these discussions. To all of us that are fed up of X Factor winners getting the Christmas Number 1 to spoil the festive season, please buy Rage Against The Machine – Killing In The Name from 13^th December. Let’s show Simon Cowell, we can all bring him down!

What’s X Factor?!

Since the show has been started in the UK in 2004 on ITV1, it has grown in popularity with the public. Back when it started it was about contestants singing in front of the judges to be considered for the final rounds/stages. Singing talent was ready to be served in the public eye. Each year the person who wins the competitions ends up having a Christmas Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart to their achievements.

I’ve been following this year’s X Factor closely, to find that it has changed from a singing competition to an entertainment show on a Saturday evening. No longer are we seeing these acts singing their hearts out but to see the acts entertaining the audience to make viewing experience enjoyable. Last night’s show Sunday 22/11/09, we saw Dannii when got asked to chosen an act to send home, “Based on singing or entertainment”. Obviously, Jedward provided the show with enthusiastic performances with the choreography and cheeky presence. Not saying Olly doesn’t offer these characteristics but he does have the voice to sing. X Factor is about people singing, it is changing the way what producers and record companies are looking for within an artist now.

It is unfair on such acts to go because the qualities they offer do not fit the public domain. This implies the show is about popular music or pop songs by being entertaining. Each week the acts have been voted off on Deadlock, following up until this week (Week 7). It has been frustrating to watch when Week 5, Jedward and Lucie were in the bottom two and Simon had to choose who to vote for, he decided for a Deadlock vote which gives the public the power in who will go out of the two. This backfired as the public voted more for Jedward to stay and that saw Lucie voted off the show. Clearly, Lucie had the talent to go further in the competition as the Irish twins were below average. This was actually Simon’s fault in not voting who was the better singer in the competition.

I hope to see real singing talent with the following acts Olly, Stacey and Danyl as they have quality in their voice and the public do not read the headlines they read in newspapers. Also would love to see Cheryl’s act Lloyd to be voted off next week!