The songs “Killing In The Name” and “Take Me Out” have reached one billion streams on Spotify.
“Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine and “Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand may push very different levers, but now the tracks have one thing in common: both songs have now broken the billion streams mark on streaming giant Spotify.
Morello also thanks those who “enjoyed the song without understanding it”
RATM’s Tom Morello announced the milestone news via Thanks to everyone who listened to it: those who love it, those who hate it and those who enjoyed it without understanding it.” The 60-year-old added: “A fair testament to that “that rebellious music and irony are alive and well.”
With the addition that Morello would also like to thank those who wouldn’t understand the 1992 track. For example, on November 3, 2024, the guitarist wrote: “It never ceases to amaze me how many people who listened to RATM are in Paul Ryan mode [Republikaner, Anm. d. Red.] and have literally ZERO idea of what this band was about, much less where any of us stand on current issues.”
Tom Morello also reported on situations in which people celebrated RATM songs and were motivated by them, but completely misinterpreted the political content. He had to explain to a woman that “Killing In The Name” wasn’t about rebelling against “parents” and “vaccinations”. Morello apparently told her, “Ma’am, the song is about racist police officers who often behave like the Ku Klux Klan in service of historic white supremacy and are boot-licking lackeys and thugs of the racist capitalist ruling class.”
Franz Ferdinand also celebrate
Franz Ferdinand also shared the streaming highlight with their followers on Instagram. They wrote: “We just found out that ‘Take Me Out’ has reached one billion streams on Spotify. Thanks to all the crazy streamers. Anyway, enough of that. “THE HUMAN FEAR is what we’re doing now and it’s coming out tomorrow,” the band also promoted their new record.
Fans are happy with the band about the milestone they have reached and flooded the comments section with congratulations and admiration. For example, one follower commented, “I’m proud to say I was one of those one billion listeners.”
Franz Ferdinand released “Take Me Out” in 2004 as the second single from their self-titled debut studio album. THE HUMAN FEAR, on the other hand, is now her sixth work and was released on January 10, 2025.