Atlanta, GA 12/20/2010 11:37:40 PM
Matt Cardle has scored a Christmas number one single.
The 'X Factor' winner beat off stiff competition from Rihanna - who
he collaborated alongside in the ITV1 show's final - and anti-'X
Factor' campaigners to scoop the top spot with his cover of Biffy
Clyro's 'Many Of Horror', which was renamed 'When We Collide'.
However, the 27-year-old former painter and decorator admitted he is still trying to come to terms with his overnight success.
He said: "I can't believe it, as if winning wasn't enough. I honestly
didn't think I'd even make it on to the live shows, let alone win and
now be the Christmas number one.
"I can't even begin to describe how it feels. It's nuts, crackers and crazy. I'm going to have one or two beers to celebrate."
Selling 439,007 singles, Matt's debut track beat Rihanna's 'What's My
Name' - which charted at number two - and 1960s US rock act The
Trashmen's 'Surfin' Bird' following a campaign on social networking
site Facebook to push it to the top of the charts.
Simon Cowell - who has now clocked up five Christmas number ones with
winners Shayne Ward, Alexandra Burke, Leona Lewis and Leon Jackson -
recently admitted competition from anti 'X Factor'-campaigners made the
race for the festive top spot a lot more "exciting".
Speaking about last year's winner Joe McElderry losing out to
alternative rockers Rage Against The Machine following an internet
campaign, the music mogul said: "I did get a bit bolshie last year and
said a few stupid things. I told the record label we had nothing to
worry about with the Rage Against The Machine record.
"We got a very big wake up call the next Monday. I called the guys and congratulated them. It makes it all more exciting."
