Probably I must admit it is a very strange choice of song that has got to number 1. When Pink Floyd got to number 1 in 1979 with Another Brick in The Wall, that was a odd Xmas Number 1. Novelty songs I dont count as strange for Xmas as its part of the season. However Rock songs are very unsual Xmas Number ones.

Since Floyd?

I'd say this was weirder than Floyd. Another brick in the wall isn't all that odd really.

No its not Odd (I love that song and the Album david Gilmour is one of my favorite guitarists)

However its not a very Christmassy song or even a love song, which seem to be the kind of songs which normaly make Number one at christmas.

I'd say killing in the name is probably the weirdest Christmas no1 ever!

When is the song originally from, the mid-90s? It sounds more like Limp Bizkit tuning up to me than system-smashing anarchy, crossed with that teenage boy having a temper tantrum in his bedroom because his parents cancelled his WOW subscription.

It's from 1991. They weren't really about anarchy as such- they were more a political band, which I personally found more affective.

In fact, I was surprised they didn't become some sort of target for the fbi judging by some of their lyrics

Starangest Christmas Number 1: 'Mad World'

I actually don't mind the song, but when Christmas is supposed to be a happy time of year it's shocking that such a depressing sounding song got to number 1.

tbh i alwasy thought earth song was a strange christmas number on3. like ratm a good song but not christmassy at all.


good song but i think it also stopped the darkness getting there christmas song to number 1.

They are very much into anarchy - in the political sense, of a system free from coercion and instead built on highly organised collaboration and mutual aid on a large scale.


Almost. Police unions wanted it banned.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8419446.stm

Also well worth a read for anyone who makes the specious and now utterly hackneyed suggestion that it's about teenage angst.

It is a strange Xmas number one.
But I believe that frankly a good old Christmas record wouldn't have cut it and achieved what needed to be done this year.
Every year Christmas records get released, they haven't ousted the X Factor yet.

So for this year only I can appreciate that this number one wasn't a Christmas song, but that it opened a door that gives future Christmas records more of a chance than they had before this year.

I agree with you although I think there were just a few surrounding factors that should be brought up that could explain why something that could be said to sound a tad dreary caught on. If memory serves, the release of 'Mad World' in 2003 was to some degree at the time hailed for its poignancy to the world in the 21st century and particularly in 2003. I don't think 2003 was the easiest of years for a great number of people and a great deal of events that occurred during that year can arguably be said to add to the poignancy of a song like 'Mad World.'

I am sure that quite a few people felt that 'Mad World' got caught up in the anti-war movement and to a degree I think a case can be made on these lines. I myself do not believe 'Mad World' reached the Number 1 spot purely because a great number of people were against the war in Iraq and 2003 was of course the first Christmas after the invasion.

However, having just looked at the Christmas chart for 2003 again, it is worth noting that the cover version of 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' by various Pop Idol finalists (The Idols) was around. The choice of song for the Pop Idol finalists to cover perhaps is indicative that people were thinking a bit more deeply than normal. Perhaps some purchasers of 'Mad World' went out to buy it because they felt it encapsulated some of their thoughts and feelings about the times.

The cult following of 'Donnie Darko' had a lot to do with the song reaching the Number 1 spot in my opinion and it could also have just been that the unusual cover grabbed the attention of a great number of people.

Spot on. I recall that in 2007 and 2008 there were a number of calls for classic festive favourites from years gone by to be downloaded in their masses to try and upstage the X Factor winner. I think 'Fairytale in New York' was particularly being called for to be the Christmas Number 1 in 2007 owing to its 20th anniversary, the enduring popularity of Kirsty MacColl and of course the backlash against the infamous Radio 1 decision regarding the 'offensive' lyrics.




Excellent point and one can only hope that 2009 will NOT be a blip and that there will be far more competition in future years.

Band Aid have been the only Chritmassy song to get to Christmas Number One since 1990!

Duh! What is the most popular Christmas track generally excepted by everyone.Could it be Merry Christmas - Slade (although a quite poppy 'rock' song).What about Bohemian Rhapsody wasn't that no.1 at Christmas (another rock song - although not a Christmas song).Wasn't there a Queen week on X-factor or was I imagining it.That was only a marketing strategy to appease 'rock' fans a bit, however.It just shows how much the X-factor has seemed to distort peoples attitudes about popular music culture.

Which had alot of rock stars among it's midst - although the track wasn't rock at all I admit - but.....

When you thiink about it a lot of Christmas number ones have been quite downbeat.

Bohemian Rhapsody - A killer on trial
I Will Always Love You - broken relationship
Stay Another Day - Another broken relationship
Earth Song - Killing the environment
DO They know Its Xmas 0 Starving in Africa

Now we have this RATM crap, Whatever thats about! Its definateky the worst Xmas number one of all time.

Very reasoned & objective opinion.When I call something crap I at least give some sort of indication of why I think it is crap.The KITN track is not a particular favourite of mine & was not that impressed with at first due to it's punk / hip-hop / rap (& funk) connections.Do not like those genre's, although the sycopated rhythems in hip-hop can have merits.It didn't take me long to appreciate some of the merits of the track & the under lying passion expressed in the lyrics (& meaning).RATM were quite a big thing in 1992 & since (still have a large following - they are multi-platinum selling album artists).This track actually went to No.1 in the UK (yes it has been to no.1 twice now).As a rock fan perhaps I took more notice of the song.Although it is pretty much a straight ahead rock song the musicianship within it fairly skillful & they were quite innovative in a fusion sense.The musicians also went on to form Audioslave with Chris Cornell a highly respected & popular singer (well until recently perhaps with his contempory hip/hop R&B collaboration with Timbaland).Even Pop Idol / X-factor contestants have covered Cornell songs.

No it hasn't. The highest the song has been in the UK charts before last week was Number 25 back in 1992.

Mr Blobby

Go on then which contestants and what song?

Yeah its a shame that Miley Cyrus (does anyone over the age of 12 know who she is anyway?) cover by a forgettable pop pawn didnt get to number 1 this year. That would have been much better

I remember the incredible Bohemian Rhapsody being number one in 1975 at christmas time. Mind it was already number one weeks before. Not seasonal but a brilliant number one.
I dare say if it hadn't have been for the X Factor crap then RATM wouldn't have been number one. I'm gald they are though to teach Simon Cowell a lesson. Only thing its very possible and likey that Joe is going to be the last number one of the decade.

Well what goes around, comes around. I can see X-Factor 2019 doing a RATM week.