Eminem’s Curtain Call (Discourse Chronicle)
Comments(5) [Eminem released his greatest hits CD, Curtain Call, on Tuesday and I have been listening to it ever since. I am always willing to admit that I listen to Eminem CDs because I believe his angry raps are humorous and they work as motivators for me, especially when I am writing or doing something that requires a strict focus. However, Eminem does not work when studying for major exams. Let me say that again for undergraduates: Eminem does NOT work when studying for major exams.
For some reason, most people look at me strangely when I admit that I listen to Eminem. However, my admittance also lures other closet Eminem fans out, such as some of my colleagues in the English department. I am not sure why one needs to be a closet fan, but I hope whoever you are, that someday you will explain that to me.
Meanwhile, Eminem fans who already own his four previous albums may feel slightly disappointed because hits like “Guilty Conscience,” “The Way I Am,” “Without Me,” and “Just Lose It” are all on this album. However, what is missing are hilarious skits done on the other albums between Eminem and either his producer Steve Berman or his lawyer, Paul Rosenberg.
Despite those hits being released again, there are still goodies for the taking. A few of them include “Lose Yourself” (from the 8Mile Soundtrack), a live cleaner version of “Stan” performed with Sir Elton John, a new skit to open the CD, plus three new songs titled “Fack,” “Shake That,” and “When I’m Gone.” Disc 2 features “Dead Wrong,” “Role Model,” “Sh– on You,” and “Renegade” (with Jay-Z). BK]
category: Life, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics
It still surprises me that you listen to Eminem, although I must admit some of his stuff off the Marshall Mathers LP is good, and the bass beat on Without Me is generally what I use when setting up car audio systems. Minimize the fuzz on that, and it works for just about everything.
Ted, Welcome! Yes, Eminem still does it for me along with Tom Petty, Aerosmith, and Buddy Holly. I was talking with a colleague at a party a few nights ago and said I listened to Eminem. She mentioned the Marshall Mathers LP and I told her, “That CD is sooooooo good!” with a huge grin on my face. She replied, “Okay, you said that a little too gleefully.” And she is suggesting team-teaching with me next year in a composition course.
I think you’re right about Eminem’s humor. Just check out that video with the pseudo-Osamas in it. But he first got my attention with the rap ballad about the neglected fan who goes postal. Can’t remember the title, only ever heard it on the radio station when my daughter and her friends were in the car. It wasn’t the humor of that song but the pathos that grabbed me. It’s a veritable rap ballad.
Dr. Killingsworth, I know which videos you are thinking about. The one with those psuedo-Osamas is “Without Me” from The Eminem Show and the postal fan is called “Stan” (featuring Dido) from The Marshall Mathers LP. Interestingly, Disc 2 of Curtain Call is titled, Stan’s Mixtape.