People of England

In this blog, I would like to address a problem that has affected this fine nation for years. It is a blight on this country, and a shame to all who experience and know it. I talk, of course, about the growing obsolescence of the Christmas number one song.

There was a time when bands and artists would create specific songs for Christmas, songs that captured the minds, hearts and ears of the public and would inspire many for years to come. A time when it wasn't clear what song would become the next great, the one people would be singing for years to come, that would be on CDs and in compilations long into the future. It was a surprise, and it would be that one that people would not only buy before Christmas, but after it as well because it had done so well.

But recently, something has changed. A horrific trend swept across the nation, which has effectively wiped out the Christmas number one - X-Factor. This horrid show, full of mindless, vacuous people singing mediocre tunes with mediocre skill, has been carefully choreographed and broadcast to end at the start of the week in which the Christmas number one is decided. Year after year we are faced with yet another bland, lifeless song that has nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas or even this time of year, and no matter what the rest of us try to do, those lemmings who follow this travesty of a show like a religion ensure that the Christmas number one is always the winner or runner up on this programme.

This is destroying the Christmas number one in numerous ways - firstly, it is killing the surprise. Everyone now knows that the winner of X-Factor will be the Christmas number one. Where is the fun in that? There's just no point in the public who aren't involved with this tripe attempting anything to stop that from happening, because the result is always the same. Also, there is no point in any bands or artists producing a Christmas song for much the same reason, which leads me on to the second point - it is killing off the Christmas song.

I am not talking about the Christmas number one exclusively, but Christmas songs in general. Since everyone knows that the winner of X-Factor will be the Christmas number one, no one is bothering to make Christmas songs any more - The Darkness tried valiantly with "Christmas Tme (Don't Let The Bells End)", but for some unknown reason they were beaten by the depressing remake of "Mad World". If people don't make any new Christmas songs, the magic and wonder is lost for future generations, and I refuse to let that happen. I just hope and pray that actual artists and bands feel the same way.

Thirdly and finally, without a song about Christmas being the Christmas number one, it is growing ever harder to get into the proper Christmas spirit - I'm not talking about feeling glee at the sight of numerous Christmas television adverts selling all kinds of toys and consumerables tugged along by a fat man in a sleigh, I am talking about the spirit of Christmas that embodies love, friendship, giving and making people happy. I know it's a religious holiday, but that seems to be growing less and less important as the years go by, but that's an argument for another blog.

I think that either X-Factor should end way before the Christmas period, so people can buy it earlier as a present, or its winner should not be allowed to release their album until after the Christmas period, where it would probably make just as much money in the January sales. Please X-Factor, leave Christmas alone.

In other news, I'm back home for the holidays! Seeing old friends, catching up, all that kind of stuff - it's pretty fun being home as well, having meals cooked for me, my washing done, and having a fridge and freezer that are always stocked. Life is good.