Getting along quite nicely with the machine, actually...

Well, the e-masses have flexed their virtual muscles and told X-Factor where to go. Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" has made it to the top of the chart, to be 2009's Christmas number 1. My initial reaction was amusement, even satisfaction, at seeing the X-Factor's "sure thing" defeated at last. But the more I think about it, the more I realise the whole sorry affair has left a slightly nasty taste in my mouth.

I can't help feeling that everyone has missed the point. I'm not even talking about the obvious point, the overt irony in the fact that a song which is notoriously anti-establishment, by a band renowned for being anti-establishment, whose catchy refrain is "F*** you I won'tdo what you tell me", has been bought in its millions by people who, for the most part, are only buying it because Facebook told them to. OK, I know there are some real fans out there too - but they, I presume, already own this track.

The point I feel we have somehow missed though, is simpler. I feel we've missed the point of Christmas number 1 records. What happened to actual Christmas songs? Perhaps I am being naively sentimental, but how much pleasure is there really in watching a 4 year old asking "Mummy, what does this song mean? And why are they so angry?"

I love Christmas. I always have. It's largely to do with the fact that my dad is a child at heart, and my family always went all out at Christmas. We had pillow-case stockings, mountains of presents under the tree, fantastic food (and in later years, copious amounts of booze too) more presents in the evening, Snowman presents on boxing day and even beyond. I was allowed to eat sweets at 9am, and it was one time of year the cameraderie between my sisters and I usually managed to overpower the niggling irritations. I did say usually...

Now married and with a young child of my own, I hope to carry on these Christmas traditions and give him a wonderful time of year to look forward to. I don't see the problem with belief in Fater Christmas, with flying reindeer or generous-bellied snowmen made from fermenting barrels and cotton-wool mysteriously filling with present day after day. It's fun. And yes, I know that if we didn't have two beans to rub together we'd have to cut back - but we'd still go overboard, even if the presents were gestures and good will.

I am just not sure I like the idea of this backlash against commercialism (through counter-commercialism - go figure) taking over the most magical time of year. It all feels a little bit sordid. I wonder though - had Aled and Terry's Christmassy, charity single Silver Bells topped the chart, I somehow doubt I would be having these worries. But with it being RATM, I can't help feeling we've all been complicit in some huge Cowell-fuelled inside joke. What has this achieved? I know what I'd rather be listening to on Christmas day.