Rage Against the Machine » Tracks
Killing in the Name (5:12)
3,141,791 plays (548,252 listeners)
“Killing in the Name” was the first single released by Rage Against the Machine from their self-titled album, and is arguably the band’s signature song. On 31 August 1999, it was reissued together with one previously unreleased track, “Darkness of Greed” the track “Clear the Lane” originally released on a white only pressing at the time of first release on the b-side to ‘killing in the name’. The album’s cover pictured Thích Quảng Đức, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, burning himself to death in Saigon in 1963 in protest of the murder of Buddhists by Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm’s regime.
Live performances
Zack de la Rocha sometimes changes the lyrics in the second verse from “Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses” to “Some of those that burn crosses are the same that hold office” when playing live. It is also sometimes changed to “Some of those that work forces are the same that burn churches”.
Critical reception
“Killing in the Name” was placed at number 89 on “100 Greatest Guitar Solos”, a poll made by Guitar World. Q magazine placed “Killing in the Name” at number 24 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks and at number 99 in its list of the 100 greatest songs ever.
The song earned its notoriety in the United Kingdom when its BBC Radio 1 DJ, Bruno Brookes, played the uncensored version of the song on his Top 40 countdown, leading to 138 complaints. This moment of infamy has since been consistently referenced by numerous British rock media.
Other appearances
Live performances
Zack de la Rocha sometimes changes the lyrics in the second verse from “Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses” to “Some of those that burn crosses are the same that hold office” when playing live. It is also sometimes changed to “Some of those that work forces are the same that burn churches”.
Critical reception
“Killing in the Name” was placed at number 89 on “100 Greatest Guitar Solos”, a poll made by Guitar World. Q magazine placed “Killing in the Name” at number 24 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks and at number 99 in its list of the 100 greatest songs ever.
The song earned its notoriety in the United Kingdom when its BBC Radio 1 DJ, Bruno Brookes, played the uncensored version of the song on his Top 40 countdown, leading to 138 complaints. This moment of infamy has since been consistently referenced by numerous British rock media.
Other appearances
Video
Added by Bodycount611
The official killing in the name video as released in the early 90's
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Shouts
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gothsentaro wrote:
thank you every one who bought this track thank you making rage against the machine the Christmas number one I HATE THE X FACTOR, X FACTOR IS THE MOST PHONY PIECE OF SH** EVER so as said thank you all
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SuperSonic4 wrote:
I can't wait until next Christmas, for those Every Christmas Number 1! countdowns on VH1 or whatever. It'll be like xfactor, x factor, x factor... this. hhaha [2]
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echza wrote:
badass song
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petrik007 wrote:
Cuddly, fluffy Xmas #1. Love it.
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BEEF89 wrote:
best christmas number 1 for a long time fuckin ayy let's do it again next year
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iamawombat wrote:
this song most definitely fits my mood right now.
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hendy_2309 wrote:
...and ends on the word 'motherfucker'
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samamamaykroyd wrote:
It is brilliant that the christmas #1 swears 17 times.
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cody1025 wrote:
rocking song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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fampers wrote:
This is the best Christmas song ever.
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jjeessiiee100 wrote:
so glad this was 2009's christmas no.1!! <3
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GodIsAnAlien wrote:
you know your shit is about to get fucking BLOWN UP once you hear the DUHN DUHN DUHN DUH DUH DUH DUHN DUHN DUHN DUH DUH DUH
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gonzalocadiz wrote:
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!
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mocoa wrote:
<
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mybossisatwat wrote:
top top song
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HeritageRecords wrote:
real music vs factory rubbish...it never stood a chance. If only the music industry would smell the coffee..... well done to all concerned...best regards jy
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ashleighhd wrote:
I can't wait until next Christmas, for those Every Christmas Number 1! countdowns on VH1 or whatever. It'll be like xfactor, x factor, x factor... this. hhaha
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solidaz wrote:
#1 awesome !!! hilarious video Rage vs X- factor ha ha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF611fQbLzc
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supersly1 wrote:
Gotta love that this is Christmas Number 1!
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sevenfourk wrote:
fuck you! I won't do what you tell me!
Rage Against the Machine
Killing in the Name
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Related Journals
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Greg's Singles Chart & Weekly Playlist - 27 December 2009
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28 Dec 2009 | Add comment
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"Killing in the Name" UK Xmas #1: Win for Good music? Or new form of Bandwagoning?
by itravel |
27 Dec 2009 | Add comment
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[My Gang] Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name : Reco of the Week 22 Dec 09
by Babs_05 |
22 Dec 2009 | 6 comments
