The Race for Christmas Number One

13 December 2010

Gamu is set to release a charity Christmas single

It seems that each year when X Factor hits our screens we spend our weekends glued to the television set. However, last year after a campaign began on Facebook, The X Factor missed out on the Christmas number one for the first time since the show began in 2004.

The campaign, which began this time last year, successfully made Rage Against the Machine the Christmas number one, pushing X Factor winner Joe Mcelderry into second place. The campaign received over 560,000 fans and the song hit number one on iTunes within an hour of going on sale.

The campaign sparked a debate over whether the X Factor winner deserved to win the year’s most converted number one spot year on year. The hype surrounding the competition has meant that every year the winner is more or less guaranteed to scoop the festive number one, however, the Rage campaign highlighted that other artists who work their socks off all year should also get a look in.

The campaign was recently nominated as the ‘Social Media High of the Year’ at the 3 Mobile Awards.

This year another Facebook campaign has been launched in an attempt get composer John Cage’s 4’33” to the top spot, which is four minutes of silence. Well actually four minutes and thirty three seconds to be precise.

The phrase ‘it’s not Christmas until you see the Coke advert’ has become widely acknowledged, and now a new version of the Coke jingle is set to be released just in time for the Christmas chart. This year’s Big Brother winner, Josie Ginson is also releasing a single, as well as comedian Harry Hill.

After X Factor contestant Gamu Nhengu didn’t make the live finals there was uproar, now she plans to release a charity single, written by her old music teacher, to rival the winner of the show she was booted off. First ever X Factor winner Steve Brookstein and last year’s controversial twins, John and Edward, are also releasing singles.

James Michalos, 34, a singing teacher from London, has recorded his own Christmas song on a budget of just £100. Spotify, iTunes, 7Digital and Amazon have all agreed to release it, prompting bookmaker Ladbrokes to offer odds on it reaching the top spot.

Here are the contestants for this year’s Christmas top spot...

Matt Cardle-The X Factor 2010 Winner

Biffy Clyro-Singers of the original version of the X Factor winners single.

John Cage

Train (Coke Advert)

Harry Hill

Ellie Golding

Josie Gibson-Big Brother 2010 winner.

Coldplay

Mariah Carey

Michael Jackson

Gamu Nhengu-She didn't make the X Factor live finals this year, which caused a media stir.