I wonder if the politicians are still as keen as they were reported to be before Christmas to get advice from Simon Cowell about how to run, even maybe how to win, an election?
The Affair of the Christmas Number One, which saw Rage Against the Machine beat X Factor winner Joe McElderry indeed teaches many lessons.
It teaches how few people can have such a big effect, about how a small, but passionate group, whose views are deeply felt, can overcome a silent, perhaps a more complacent majority. It teaches that people may react very sharply against being taken for granted by someone who thinks he is in control (because he deserves it by virtue of his superior knowledge & skill)
The total number of voters, as measured by reported sales was less than 1 million, out of a total population of 60 million. When you allow for multiple purchases – the scope for screening these out is limited, & indeed there is a valid point to be discussed about which multiple purchases should be discounted at this time of gift giving, when the Christmas Number One may seem the solution to many peoples problem – only about ½ million real live individuals may be involved.
There is even something in the tale for the conspiracy theorists among us. For the real winner is the company which published both records. Now they couldn’t have engineered the whole thing. Could they?
