Facebook. Underestimate it at your peril
If you’ve ever doubted the power, might, relevance and influence of Facebook, ponder this.
On Saturday, music lovers across the land began hearing the news that X-factor winner (“Alexandra”) would be releasing her competition-winning rendition of Cohen’s Hallelujah, Cowell and his associated svengali eyeing the coveted Christmas #1 spot.
Uproar.
By Monday morning, tens of thousands of apoplectic — I should say “passionate” — fans of the original — deeming the new cover a bastardisation (I can’t comment — I’ve not listened to it yet so I could write this impartially) had joined a Group — or similar — on Facebook — or similar — rallying one another to buy Jeff Buckley’s version for 79p from iTunes in a desperate bid to keep Cowell’s soulless money-spinner off the top-spot and send a resounding message that manufactured dreck will not prevail over true musicianship, talent and creativity. But Buckley’s version isn’t even on official release and the singer has has long-since (and lamentably) passed so how on earth do they expect to stop the corporate juggernaut?
Sales rocketted.
Signs (as of Thursday morning) are that Buckley will chart at #2 or #3 with Alexandra looking fairly secure in her bid for number one. In a country where Pop Idol attracts more voters than the general election this is no great surprise, but does it mean the campaign failed?
Well yes and no. I notice that Cohen’s original has also charted around the 30 mark; had fans of the song united against X-factor, rather than dividing their votes amongst their own favourite version, the Alexandra release would be under greater threat.
But this is an advertising campaign with a reach well beyond most traditional ones – and at zero cost. It is David tackling Goliath, new media tackling old, and — if not actually beating him — then giving him a damn good licking!
This is both an exciting and frightening new reality, the difference that a minority – with internet access and a passion for something – can make. Facebook and its peers have the power to influence society for good or for ill.
Where next?
Categories: Music
Comments
In the melee of this crusade of righteous indignation (guilty), we’ve possibly lost sight of one important poser: what would the great man think?
The (supposed) truth may stop you in your tracks; an article in the Times reports:
‘Buckley’s mother, Mary Guibert, said her son would want to see Burke’s version at No 1: “Jeff always supported young and struggling artists and so I think he would defer to Alexandra for the No 1 slot. He would just be happy all this is happening and that his work was being so appreciated, too.”
‘However … when she met Cohen by chance in Los Angeles several years ago he had admitted that he felt “he never needed to sing Hallelujah himself again” after her son had recorded it.’
The power of the media is indeed one to be reckoned with- the Jeff Buckley web site informs me that there are over 100,000 members of said facebook group.
Does it, however, actually show that Simon Cowell power reaches the parts others doesn’t reach?
How ironic that Jeff Buckley did not in fact have a number one until March this year (now posthumous) when his version of “Hallelujah” topped Billboard’s Hot Digital Songs following a performance of the song by Jason Castro on American Idol. American Idol being pretty much the brain child of, yes indeed, Simon Cowell.
The rights to the song are also owned by Sony BMG. To what extent does Cowell benefit on literally every front, at least part of this label being owned by him?
Whoever wins the no. 1 slot at least Mr Cohen, now 74, is looking set to get 1 million as a result- Happy Christmas indeed!!!!