Awwww now why would you think that Simon.

[Grumpmeister]

So Simon is throwing his dummy out of the pram because people have joined a campaign to have a Rage Against the Machine track as the christmas number 1 instead of the latest godawful screeching from Xcrement Factor. Have you ever considered that if you actually picked proper musicians instead of the constant flood of bland boring kiddy pop crap then things like this won't happen? 

Rock band Rage Against The Machine is ahead of X Factor winner Joe McElderry in the race for the Christmas number one, early sales figures suggest.

A Facebook group aiming to get the band's 1992 hit Killing In The Name to the top of the festive chart has attracted more than 750,000 members.

But McElderry's debut The Climb, out on CD on Wednesday, is expected to catch up by the weekend.

The Official Charts Company (OCC) said it is "a very exciting battle".

Campaign criticism

It is understood that there is a 10% margin in sales between the two singles after Sunday and Monday.

McElderry's song was only released digitally after his victory in the X Factor final at midnight on Sunday, giving it less time to rack up sales for this week's chart than Rage Against The Machine.

X Factor judge Simon Cowell has criticised the internet campaign, calling it "stupid".

Prior to the final of the ITV talent show, he said: "I think the campaign's aimed directly at me."

The Facebook page includes a link to homeless charity site Shelter, which has raised nearly ?30,000 in donations.

Rage Against The Machine, meanwhile, are signed to Epic Records, which is part of Sony BMG, the same label as McElderry.

Ladbrokes has re-opened its betting for the number one Christmas single just 24 hours after closing it.

Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg, said: "Earlier this week it looked a done deal. Now Joe appears to be facing an almighty battle for top spot.

"This Christmas could be the first time in a long while that we see a genuine competition."

McElderry is at 1/3 with Rage Against the Machine at 2/1.

The OCC's Martin Talbot said "two different records have captured the nation's imagination".

"According to our initial sales estimates, there is no doubt that this tussle is far from over," he added

[Miss Demeanour]

What does it mean to be No 1 in the single charts these days anyway  - just that 3 people probably paid to download the song legally 

Meaningless tripe

[Grumpmeister]

The campaign is as much telling Cowell and co that people who are out of their teens and have more than 2 brain cells to rub together are getting sick of the flood of bland crap he's churning out as anything else. Not that I've been on that Facebook page of course..