Spreading the word
It looks like an annual tradition of Facebook activists versus Simon Cowell is establishing itself, with the emergence of a Facebook group entitled "BIRD is the WORD for UK Christmas number 1 2010 to beat X-Factor".
This time last year we wrote about a Facebook campaign to get Rage Against The Machine's anti-establishment anthem Killing in the Name to Christmas number one in the UK, with the principle aim of preventing the winner of TV talent show The X-Factor from being top of the festive singles chart for the fifth year running.
While many people questioned the usefulness of the gesture, it was an intriguing experiment in traditional popularity contests coming up against apparently spontaneous, Internet-based opposition. And the Internet won, with Killing in the Name forever in the history books as the 2009 Christmas number one.
The Facebook site around which that campaign was based is, a year down the line, urging people to support the above campaign and buy Surfing Bird, which was a 1963 hit for The Trashmen, and featured in the Vietnam film Full Metal Jacket. And there seems to be a fair bit of momentum behind it, as well as some novel ways of gaming the chart system.
We're not pretending this is an especially big deal, but it's healthy that people should feel inclined to oppose cultural fait accomplis delivered by industry juggernauts. This sort of thing is only possible in the era of social networking and if there is something profound to be derived from this movement, it's another illustration of the democratising power of the Internet.
We'll leave you with three YouTube clips. The first is RATM on BBC Radio, being interviewed and singing Killing in the Name, having promised not to swear, the second is proper video footage of the performance. The third is Hitler's hilarious response to hearing the news, which sadly has embedding disabled, so you'll have to click here to watch it, but it's worth it. Obviously there's swearing throughout.
UPDATE - 12:50, 16 December 2010: In the absence of Hitler, we've embedded what seems to be the official video for Surfin' Bird, as flagged up by HEXUS.community member Rob_B. But we warn you, it's disturbing.
