X Factor Single By Matt Cardle Might Be Kept From Top Spot By Cage Against The Machine

X Factor Single By Matt Cardle Might Be Kept From Top Spot By Cage Against The Machine

The number one song at Christmastime in the UK is a huge deal, and this year the battle is more artistically significant than ever before. Sure, last year's victory for Rage Against The Machine was an accomplishment. Why should the winner of X Factor be assured the Christmas Number One?

This year, 4'33" of near-silence is taking on the X Factor entry by Matt Cardle, making this a battle between art and commerce, essentially.

John Cage's 1952 creation is not actually meant to be just four and a half minutes of silence, but rather "the sounds of the environment that the listeners hear while it is performed" according to the song's Wikipedia entry. This follows on from Cage's idea that ANY sounds or noises can create music. The composition also reflects the influence of Zen Buddhism, which Cage had been studying since the late forties. Heady stuff, for sure.

Cage's composition has been covered by a host of UK music personalities, and is taking on X Factor winner Matt Cardle's Biffy Clyro cover. So, this truly is a contest of thoughtful artistry versus lowest-common-denominator pop. Not that throwaway pop songs can't be enjoyable; it's just the principle of the thing, you see.

Some of the musical folks who have lent their talents (for standing around not doing anything) and were involved in the recording are: Billy Bragg, Dan Le Sac & Scroobius Pip, Guillemots, Mr Hudson, Imogen Heap, Infadels, Suggs & Chas Smash from Madness, and UNKLE.

Proceeds from sales of the Cage Against The Machine single will go to charities: the British Tinnitus Association, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, Youth Music and Sound And Music.

For that reason alone, maybe we should all hope for a silent night this Christmas.

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