Rage Against the Machine is UK Christmas No. 1

Simon Cowell called the campaign to block X Factor’s Christmas No. 1 as ‘very Scrooge’. The Independent rejoices however, saying that the campaign is a great example of people power. The reality television contest has seen its winner grab the number one spot in the UK charts for the past four years and it seems music mogul and producer of the show, Simon Cowell, saw the number one spot as something of an entitlement for the X Factor victor. Well, 18-year-old Joe McElderry will have to content himself with the silver medal because his syrupy cover version of “The Climb” has been pipped to the top spot by “Killing in the Name of” by Rage Against the Machine.

The Guardian’s Charlie Brooker admits to being one of the 500,000 people who rushed to download the heavy metal classic. He says the song contains genuine emotion, unlike “he ***** vocal doodle that is Joe McElderry’s single.”

“For a song whose lyrics ostensibly document an attempt to gather the spiritual strength to overcome adversity and thereby attain enlightenment, The Climb is about as inspiring as a Lion bar.”

Other stories in today’s international papers:

Eurostar travel chaos:
Times Online
Aujourd’hui en France

Times of India
Copenhagen: “Obama barged into BASIC meet (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) to clinch climate deal”

Times of India
Editorial: A token Agreement

International Herald Tribune
Death of Iran’s Grand Ayatollah, Ali Montazeri

Ettela’at (Iran)
Ayatollah Montazeri passes away