Rage Against The Machine's ‘Killing in the Name’ voted UK's favourite Christmas number one

Virgin Radio

21 Dec 2021, 17:31

It's an unconventional choice!

Move over Wizzard, the UK has voted Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name Of' as the favourite Christmas song in a recent poll.

It's probably not the first song that springs to mind when you think of Christmas, but it went to the top of the charts after a campaign to stop the reign of X Factor winners claiming the place.

The poll was carried out by the Official Charts Company and Nine Eight Books, as part of The Official Christmas No.1 Singles Book.

The voters in the poll narrowed down the choices to Rage Against The Machine's ‘Killing in the Name’ and the also surprisingly non-traditional ‘2 Become 1’ by Spice Girls, which took the top spot in 1996. 

Around 41,000 votes were counted.

Rage Against the Machine won by a landslide, gaining 51% of the votes.

The track had a resurgence in popularity and went to number one back in 2009, and held the X Factor off the top spot.

More than a decade on it still continues to be a popular choice with those who aren't fans of mainstream Christmas tunes.

The battle for 2021's place is between Elton John and Ed Sheeran, LadBaby (who has managed it for the last three years), Wham, Mariah Carey and George Ezra.

Fans will find out later this week who has managed it.