So
there you have it. After all the hype, speculation and controversy,
Rage Against The Machine have done it. Yesterday was definitely a
triumph for music, and public opinion but not such a good day for
bookies nationwide.
It’s been suggested by many that Rage Against The Machine’s astonishing
feat in snatching the Christmas Number One spot from X Factor winner
Joe McElderry, purely on the back of a Facebook campaign could well be
the biggest upset in chart history.
Seeming as the last four Christmas’s have been dominated by winners of
the reality show, the bookies were banking on Joe McElderry making it a
fifth year running. His failure to do so is estimated to have cost the
bookies close to £1m in payouts, with RATM being 150/1 at one point.
"It's the biggest Christmas shock of all time," Gary Burton of Coral
explained, "and although it has cost the industry over £1 million, it
at least now keeps the interest going, after The X Factor dominance
almost killed off the festive chart betting forever."
Ladbrokes spokesperson Nick Weinberg similarly admitted: "We simply
didn't see it coming.''
This year’s race for Christmas No.1 could have ended very differently
had it not been for an inspired Facebook campaign setup by husband and
wife team Jon and Tracy Morter. Their success in elevating the song
‘Killing In The Name Of’ to the number one spot has earned them a
surprising job offer from none other than… Simon Cowell.
Rage Against The Machine have also acknowledge the hard work put in by
the British public and have promised to play a free UK gig next year to
commemorate the victory.
