October 15, 201015 yr Shhh! It could REALLY be a silent night this Christmas... if Facebook has anything to do with it By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 3:27 PM on 15th October 2010 Comments (107) Add to My Stories Never underestimate the power of Facebook. A Christmas a recording of four-and-a-half minutes of complete silence could grab the prestigious number one slot this December. Cage 'composed' his work in 1952 when he asked musicians not to touch their instruments for four minutes and 33 seconds. So far more than 20,000 people have signed up on the social networking site to support the download 'Cage Against The Machine' which aims to put avant-garde composer John Cage's work 4'33" in the top spot. As per the last five years, the winner of this year's X Factor is expected to be a strong contender to top the charts this Christmas. JOHN CAGE Born September 5 1912, died August 12 1992 American composer, philosopher, poet, music theorist and artist, perhaps best known for his so called 'silent work' four minutes and 33 seconds. A website set up for fans of the composer reveals: The first performance of John Cage's 4'33", written in 1952, created a scandal. It was first performed by a young pianist David Tudor at Woodstock, New York, on August 29, 1952. Cage himself said in 1982 of the first performance: 'People began whispering to one another, and some people began to walk out. 'They didn't laugh - they were just irritated when they realised nothing was going to happen, and they haven't forgotten it 30 years later: They're still angry.' But the tables were turned last year when a Facebook campaign managed the not inconsiderable feat of pushing Rage Against The Machine into the coveted Christmas Number One slot ahead of X Factor winner Joe McElderry. The website set up to promote the silent piece calls on music fans to repeat last year's success 'with 4 minutes and 33 seconds of avant garde silence' and make December 25 'a silent night'. Cage 'composed' his work in 1952 when he asked musicians not to touch their instruments for four minutes and 33 seconds. The Facebook group 'Rage against the X Factor' attracted 895,906 members. The campaign enjoyed international media coverage and the RATM song became the first single to reach Christmas number one spot on downloads alone. Other successful Facebook campaigns have included a sausage roll winning more fans than Cheryl Cole, and a carpet beetle achieving more fans than Nick Griffin. 28,000 and rising: Supporters are signing up on Facebook to back the avant-garde composer John Cage's silent work 4'33" Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1320787/Facebooks-silent-Christmas-1-Cage-Against-The-Machine-John-Cage.html#ixzz12TOz0r7C
October 18, 201015 yr it's not really 4:33 if it's going on all day, still would be much nicer than the alternatives.
October 18, 201015 yr Last year's triumph with Rage Against The Machine was a truly epic win, I approve heavily of this nomination.
October 18, 201015 yr It was an epic win for Simon Cowell who made even more money then usual off Rage, and pushed up Joe McElderry's record sales from all the X Factor fans wanting him to be number 1. You don't get any extra money for chart positions.
October 18, 201015 yr Author It was an epic win for Simon Cowell who made even more money then usual off Rage, and pushed up Joe McElderry's record sales from all the X Factor fans wanting him to be number 1. You don't get any extra money for chart positions. True, plus a Christmas number one is pretty meaningless nowadays, anyway.
October 18, 201015 yr Well my parents who have a fair interest in music/popular culture and I can remember my brother last year talking about the Rage thing, now they have no recollection of that happening whatsoever- like probably most people who aren't Rage retards.
October 18, 201015 yr Author Well my parents who have a fair interest in music/popular culture and I can remember my brother last year talking about the Rage thing, now they have no recollection of that happening whatsoever- like probably most people who aren't Rage retards. It was mildly amusing when it was first announced, but as you pointed out, The Cowell ended up laughing all the way to the bank anyway. Knowing him, he might even have been behind it!
October 18, 201015 yr Author I'm all for a bit of silence this Christmas! You'll be lucky with a one-year-old kiddy around!:P
October 18, 201015 yr It was revealed that the Facebook guy who started the idea worked for Sony, there have been rumours that Cowell may have been involved, for me thats pushing it a bit too far.
October 18, 201015 yr Author It was revealed that the Facebook guy who started the idea worked for Sony, there have been rumours that Cowell may have been involved, for me thats pushing it a bit too far. True, but stranger things have been known, and Cowell has repeatedly said that any publicity is good publicity. I'm sure he loves all the media controversy surrounding X Factor, and all the cash it generates in terms of phone calls and downloads.
October 24, 201015 yr Well I'd rather hear silence than another X Factor winner But I certainly won't be paying money for silence
October 24, 201015 yr No, I'm for having the Trolololo song as no. 1 for Christmas :heart: yes :wideeyed:
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