Dear Eminem

Eminem has announced he will be taking his last bow as a performer this fall. Sigh. I knew this was coming. (Interesting thing: the opening skit on the Eminem Show is called “Curtain Up” and the final song on Encore is “Curtains Down”. It’s like he knew … it’s like he had the architecture of the entire project in his mind before he had even completed it. He’s very canny, very very smart that way.)

Dear Eminem: I understand your reasoning, and I get it. I’ve felt this coming for a long time, based on small remarks you’ve made here and there, about how you were eager to get out of performing and focus completely on producing.

You’ll be good at it. You already are.

So. It’s not a shock. And I also think this is the right choice, and a smart smart move. You have always been one step ahead of your own career, one step ahead of your audience, and you kind of haven’t made a false move in that respect. Your career trajectory never fails to take my breath away. (Well, pistol-whipping that guy was not so smart, but in terms of your career management – you’re a genius.)

I can’t imagine you not being “on the scene”. You have made such a mark. The last 4 years have been all about: What the hell will he do next?? Every album topping the last … I listened to Eminem Show so much I needed to buy multiple copies. It’s still on almost permanent rotation in the CD collection.

So, to quote you: it’ll feel so empty … without you …

Dude. Come on. I love you. I just love you. I love your humor, your anger, your rhymes … I love “Lose Yourself” most of all. It always rises me up out of myself. It’s one of the most exciting songs I’ve ever heard. Gives me goose bumps. I loved 8 Mile. Dude, you can act, you know that?

I love your complexity, the fact that you’re willing to grow and admit you were wrong, but I also love your stubbornness – I’ve loved watching the whole Eminem journey, even when you piss me OFF. You are one of those few artists who force people to deal with the realities of “Freedom of Speech”. You generate tormented op-ed columns. People talk about you, and moan and whine about how you are the sign of the apocalypse. Like Madonna did in the 80s. People don’t want to let you say certain things. You threaten them. But you keep going. I love how you refuse to repeat yourself. You seem to understand that your act has always trembled on the edge of parody. The only way to combat that is to NEVER imitate oneself. Be original. Work hard. Use a Thesaurus for the rhymes. Work your ass off. Improve your vocabulary. Rhyme faster and better than ANYONE ELSE out there. And you do all of that. You’re like an athlete, trying to topple your own personal best. I love your generosity towards other performers, appearing on their albums to give them a boost. I love even your big fiery messes. You turn them into art. You’re fearless. I love your videos. Michael Jackson moon-walking with his hair on fire as little boys jump on the bed in the background? So SICK and so AMUSING. You and Dr. Dre in SUPERHERO COSTUMES racing around in a Bat mobile? I just have gotten such an enduring kick out of you over the last couple years … and … I guess it’ll just take some time. No more Eminem albums to look forward to?? No more shiveringly excited responses to ‘release dates’ being announced? My life will be a bit poorer for it.

Not even to mention the fact that you’re kind of a babe. In a bratty ADHD way. The photo below is my favorite one of you. Ever. Ouch.

I get why you feel the need to retire. I love that you’ve chosen to do so in Dublin. I understand. And like I said before: you are no dummy. You know it’s better to leap out when you’re at the top. Who else has the courage to do that? Who?? Very few artists know the right time to bow out. I know you’re still a young man, and you’ll probably do guest spots on other people’s albums, and maybe you’ll reinvent yourself yet again. Who knows. But you’ve been saying for about a year now: “This is it for me. I want to stay home with my daughter, and I want to produce. I want to spend all day in the studio, and help other guys do their thing.” You obviously meant what you said.

But I’m sad. I really am. How I wish I had had the chance to see you perform live.

Eminem. Curtains Down.

This entry was posted in Music and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

10 Responses to Dear Eminem

  1. RTG says:

    I am glad to know that you and I feel the same way about Eminem. When I think of truly talented people who are available for us to enjoy on a national level, he’s one of maybe twenty. I love the way he throws his life out there, he doesn’t try to be anything he’s not. He and Angelina Jolie both do that – and (yes, I know it’s silly) I kind of feel a little braver in my own life because of that.

  2. siobhan says:

    sheila, we should so go to that last concert in dublin!

  3. red says:

    siobhan – it’s the day before jean’s birthday. maybe we all should go??

  4. siobhan says:

    ohmigod.

  5. Alex says:

    I have some problems with him, but I think he’s one of the few “orginals” rapping. I appreciate his talent, and Ill miss his shows. At least he didn’t hide behind 25 naked dancers lip synching to pop crap.

  6. Laura says:

    What I love about him is he’s pure. No bullshit, no games. His talent is raw, not some manufactured crap meant to turn heads. He’s a rarity.

  7. Samantha says:

    You can’t retire im your biggest fan and another person here that agrees with me DON’T RETIRE PLEASE

  8. Samantha says:

    You can’t retire im your biggest fan and another person here that agrees with me DON’T RETIRE PLEASE

  9. Tashina says:

    Hey Gorgeous
    i just wanted ta say that u can’t leave.i love everything about you.I can’t say that i’m ur bigest fan but i have almost all of ur cd’s.I’ll be soooo sad if u go!!i give ya props for all tha shit that u been through.
    With Love, Peace XOXO
    TAZ

  10. anna says:

    I love Eminem and i cant believe this is happening i thought he would alwayz be around… :(

Comments are closed.