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Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name has been crowned the UK's Favourite Christmas Number 1 of all time
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After three weeks of fierce competition, 41,000 votes counted and fanbases pitted against one another, the UK has voted Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name the UK’s Favourite Christmas Number 1 of all time.
In partnership with Nine Eight Books, to celebrate both the 70th Official Christmas Number 1 race and The Official Christmas No. 1 Singles Book, the first-of-its-kind knockout poll ended with Spice Girls’ much-loved 1996 Christmas chart-topper 2 Become 1 battling against Rage Against The Machine’s anti-establishment Killing In The Name – famously campaigned by Jon and Tracy Morter to reach Christmas number 1 in 2009, in response to the X Factor takeover in the years before – as fans from all ends of the musical spectrum found themselves campaigning for their favourite artist to win.
Ultimately, after a hard-fought battle which saw an almost even split for the entire voting period, it was Rage Against The Machine who took the crown as the UK’s Favourite Christmas Number 1 of all time, clinching the victory with just 51% of the final vote.
Jon Morter said "I'm humbled to think that a small idea in a kitchen in Essex a few years back has been officially crowned the 'Nation's Favourite Christmas Number 1'.
It was the people's Number 1, using the people's song...a song that even the band themselves now claim is owned by all of us, not them, so I'm not surprised it has won considering these challenging times we're living in. Rage on!"
Keep up to date with all the latest Christmas number 1 news here
Out now, The Official Christmas No. 1 Singles Book is the perfect gift for music lovers of all ages, jam-packed with facts, figures and photos to get your toes tapping along to the sounds of seven decades of festive chart-toppers.
With a fully illustrated double-page spread for every year since the Official Singles Chart began in 1952, Michael Mulligan's fun and authoritative journey through the Christmas archives will delight curious browsers and dedicated pop nerds alike.
Featuring Top 10 countdowns, fascinating trivia about the highest-charting Christmas singles and plenty of entertaining infographics, this is the ideal family stocking-filler, celebrating all that is wonderful, whimsical and unpredictable about the festive season's most hotly contested musical event.
The Official Christmas No.1 Singles Book is priced at RRP £12.99 and is available via the Official Charts online store, on Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmith and more.
Image credit: Daniel Karmann/EPA/Shutterstock
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R
RyanT
oh dear! how did Mr. or Nobody like Grandma not win!
how dare this 3rd rate American song, be voted by the fine British people!
Gary Cronshaw
This contest has made me consider the wisdom of continuing buying records after 20 years collecting. I have not been so horrified since the single Superman went straight in at number one. People are seriously suggesting that song is superior to the classics of back in the day? This record would not have won if the band were from the UK. It is like every year the music industry repeats their opinion of what is without doubt apparently the best Xmas song ever but it is not mine by a long way. The contests and acclaim should be fair and equal not swayed any kind of bias and that is a pleasant way of putting it.
C
Cat
a) Superman never went to number one, Mr Expert.
b) Killing In The Name is a classic from back in the day, as evidenced by its popularity here.
c) Yes, I remember rushing out to buy a copy of Killing in the Name because I had heard they weren't British and I wanted to preserve the 60 year record of no songs by British artists ever topping the chart.
d) You don't like the song but it won a Twitter poll? Must be bias from the music industry.
A
Alexander
anti-establishment yeah ain't that a good way to con people. big campaign to get to number one seems very establishment to me. plus a facebook campaign. facebook and anti-establishment is just beyond a joke. plus they sold millions state side. best christmas number one for those who are conned and believe any garbage thrown at them. my favourire and always will be is mariah and all i want for christmas is you.
C
Cat
Mariah's song wasn't a Christmas Number One, so that's irrelevant.
BleeUK
what a fix! a song voted that was not #1 at Christmas, Rage was killing in the name way before christmas or Christmas Day, For 20th December Broadcast based on sales from 13-19th December 2009 only,it only spent
one week at top, Joe McElderry with the climb was offically the true Christmas #1 in 2009 from 27th Decembr radio broadcast and weekly, based on sales from 20th to 26th December 2009. Radio 1, media and Top Of The Pops always brand the Christmas charts before christmas Day data there charts is always the week before christmas, i heard it at the time Joe was Top from 27th December (for the week from 20th December sales), and you cant beat history dates.
C
Cat
A bizarre obsession. You're arguing with the Official Charts Company.
Killing In The Name was the reigning number one single on Christmas Day, ergo it was the Christmas Number One. That's what Christmas Number One means lol
Great song too, especially compared with that dreary Joe McElderry Hannah Montana cover
T
TheStrykz
It depends how obsessed and pedantic one is over such a trivial matter. When a #1 is announced, it covers the week ahead. There have been occasions when there have been two records at #1 on Christmas Day, when the chart has been announced on Christmas Day.
JB
Jack Brooks
According to the OCC's chart for the week ending 26th December the #1 single was Killing In The Name. Most people who follow the charts closely know that its actually the previous weeks sale that determines the #1 that is crowned at the end of that week and officially remains the #1 during the next, it's not a secret or conspiracy, it's just how things have always worked. It's a very irrelevant argument.
Anyway no offence to Joe personally but his generic winners song snoozefest wouldn't have won this poll even if it had been an official Christmas #1, none of the others came close even the half decent ones. KITN is a great track and a worthy winner.
Lee Cronin
If it had been a different where the 'official' number one was recorded, Rage would have been top on that week. It was very well planned and people made sure to buy the RATM song during the week needed to become xmas number one. XF would have lost either way.
S
spinny
as it deserves
BleeUK
what a load of rubbish, it's not true, it never got number one at christmas, it only spend one week at #1 rage Against The Machine but that was before Christmas Sales and Data, 13-19th December 2009 only, for 20th December Broadcast, but Joe McElderry was the biggest Song With The Climb From 27th December at Christmas and official the true Christmas #1 based on Sales From 20th to 26th December which is Christmas, Christmas charts is one of the most Fix Charts Ever, it not even adding Christmas Data.