His performance in 8 Mile<\/i> is a revelation – but at the time it came out, I remember thinking, “I’m not at ALL surprised at how good he is. Of course he is.” The Slim Shady LP<\/i> and the Marshall Mathers LP<\/i> both have moments where he really goes somewhere, somewhere in his own imagination, playing out a situation that is not real. In “My Fault” (or as I think of it: the “never meant to give you mushrooms girl” song) … what strikes me now is Eminem starting to sob at the end of it, how he didn’t mean it, how sorry he is … It is real. He is sobbing hysterically. The “whoops!!” jokey tone of the rest of the song flies out the window. He always does that: performs a jujitsu move after something particularly out-there (“I’m just playin’, ladies … You know I love you …”) The song fades out on that sound, Eminem sobbing how sorry he is. Truth? Sincerity? Who cares? It gets<\/i> me.<\/p>\n
I fluctuate on which song on Eminem Show<\/i> I like best. I KNOW it’s not Track 9. I know I covered this before<\/a>, dear Marshall, so forgive the repetition. I don’t think many albums are perfect … there are only a couple I would give that label – Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors<\/i> is the first one that comes to mind … but I do believe that Eminem Show<\/i> would be what I would call a perfect album without that damn Track 9!! I know there are those who disagree … and I wish, how I wish, I could love that track. Just so I could succumb to the perfection. <\/p>\n The song I think that has the most long-lasting impact for me, from that great album, is “Sing For the Moment” (the one that samples Aerosmith’s “Dream On”). It’s an anthem. I think, too, it’s one of the reasons why he is so beloved, not just admired and feared and grooved to. The kids love<\/i> him. Because he talks right to them. He sees them. He knows what they’re going through. He was there, too. He remembers.<\/p>\n \nThese ideas are nightmares to white parents {C’mon}, sing with me, {sing}, sing for the years Entertainment is changin’, intertwinin’ with gangsta’s {C’mon}, sing with me, {sing}, sing for the years They say music can alter moods and talk to you Sing with me, {sing}, sing for the years \n Yeah … so? He’s on my bulletin board. So is Dean Stockwell<\/a>. You gotta problem with that??<\/p>\n Video clip below:<\/p>\n
\nWhose worst fear is a child with dyed hair and who likes earrings
\nLike whatever they say has no bearing, it’s so scary in a house that allows
\nno swearing
\nTo see him walking around with his headphones blaring
\nAlone in his own zone, cold and he don’t care
\nHe’s a problem child
\nAnd what bothers him all comes out, when he talks about
\nHis fuckin’ dad walkin’ out
\nCause he just hates him so bad that he blocks him out
\nIf he ever saw him again he’d probably knock him out
\nHis thoughts are whacked, he’s mad so he’s talkin’ back
\nTalkin’ black, brainwashed from rock and rap
\nHe sags his pants, do-rags and a stocking cap
\nHis step-father hit him, so he socked him back, and broke his nose
\nHis house is a broken home, there’s no control, he just lets his emotions
\ngo…<\/p>\n
\n{Sing it}, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears, {c’mon)
\nSing it with me, just for today, maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you
\naway…<\/p>\n
\nIn the land of the killers, a sinner’s mind is a sanctum
\nHoly or unholy, only have one homie
\nOnly this gun, lonely cause don’t anyone know me
\nYet everybody just feels like they can relate, I guess words are a
\nmothafucka they can be great
\nOr they can degrade, or even worse they can teach hate
\nIt’s like these kids hang on every single statement we make
\nLike they worship us, plus all the stores ship us platinum
\nNow how the fuck did this metamorphosis happen
\nFrom standin’ on corners and porches just rappin’
\nTo havin’ a fortune, no more kissin’ ass
\nBut then these critics crucify you, journalists try to burn you
\nFans turn on you, attorneys all want a turn at you
\nTo get they hands on every dime you have, they want you to lose your mind
\nevery time you mad
\nSo they can try to make you out to look like a loose cannon
\nAny dispute won’t hesitate to produce handguns
\nThat’s why these prosecutors wanna convict me, strictly just to get me off
\nof these streets quickly
\nBut all they kids be listenin’ to me religiously, so i’m signin’ cd’s while
\npolice fingerprint me
\nThey’re for the judge’s daughter but his grudge is against me
\nIf i’m such a fuckin’ menace, this shit doesn’t make sense Pete
\nIt’s all political, if my music is literal, and i’m a criminal how the fuck
\ncan I raise a little girl
\nI couldn’t, I wouldn’t be fit to, you’re full of shit too, Guerrera, that
\nwas a fist that hit you…<\/p>\n
\n{Sing it}, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears, {c’mon)
\nSing it with me, just for today, maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you
\naway…<\/p>\n
\nWell can it load a gun up for you , and cock it too
\nWell if it can, then the next time you assault a dude
\nJust tell the judge it was my fault and i’ll get sued
\nSee what these kids do is hear about us totin’ pistols
\nAnd they want to get one cause they think the shit’s cool
\nNot knowin’ we really just protectin’ ourselves, we entertainers
\nOf course the shit’s affectin’ our sales, you ignoramus
\nBut music is reflection of self, we just explain it, and then we get our
\nchecks in the mail
\nIt’s fucked up ain’t it
\nHow we can come from practically nothing to being able to have any fuckin’
\nthing that we wanted
\nThat’s why we sing for these kids, who don’t have a thing
\nExcept for a dream, and a fuckin’ rap magazine
\nWho post pin-up pictures on their walls all day long
\nIdolize they favorite rappers and know all they songs
\nOr for anyone who’s ever been through shit in their lives
\nTill they sit and they cry at night wishin’ they’d die
\nTill they throw on a rap record and they sit, and they vibe
\nWe’re nothin’ to you but we’re the fuckin’ shit in they eyes
\nThat’s why we seize the moment try to freeze it and own it, squeeze it and
\nhold it
\nCause we consider these minutes golden
\nAnd maybe they’ll admit it when we’re gone
\nJust let our spirits live on, through our lyrics that you hear in our
\nsongs and we can…<\/p>\n
\n{Sing it}, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears, {c’mon)
\nSing it with me, just for today, maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you
\naway…<\/p>\n
\n