Stan, by Eminem………….?

Question by KK: Stan, by Eminem………….?
I have recently been hanging out with a fairly new group of friends. I had known them for about a year, but I really started to chill with them over the past month a lot more than I ever have. I really like everybody in the group for own unique reasons, and everybody is very nice.

So anyway, I usually listen to soft music (a lot of ska and reggae, and acoustic artists) and occasionally some rap. (Tupac and Nas are my favorites) But some people in this group are obsessed with Eminem, who is a rapper that was been immensely popular for the better part of 10 years. I was at a party 2 weeks ago, when a girl put on some Eminem songs. A couple of the songs that were played were “Crack a Bottle” and “My Name Is…” I thought these songs were really catchy and a couple of girls that I was with one day were reciting the lines to more songs that sounded really good. Needless to say, I was going to start listening to Eminem.

So I then downloaded several songs by Eminem. I put my iPod on shuffle and I listened to couple really good songs, again, I was really getting in to Eminem.

The 5th song that came on shuffle was called Stan. I had heard this was one of his best songs when I had done research on Eminem. The music proceeded to play, it was a sample of the song “Thank You,” by Dido. I had known this song my whole life and had always loved it. Eminem came in rapping, it took me until after the first verse to realize that this was a fan that was writing a letter to Eminem, who hadn’t answered his previous letter. The 2nd verse was much like the first, only he was notably angrier that Eminem would not answer his letter. In this verse the protagonist, Stan, says that he cuts himself for the “rush” it gives him. I was slightly disturbed by this, however I continued to listen. The third verse was completely different. It is still Stan talking to Eminem, although he is drunk, saying, “I drank a fifth of vodka, dare me to drive?” (which references an earlier song by Eminem.) He has his girlfriend in the trunk of the car, screaming to be let out, who is also pregnant with his child. The verse consists of yelling at Eminem, saying things like I was your biggest fan, and you could have saved me from drowning. (he compares it to In The Air Tonight, by Phil Collins) He then drives the car off a bridge and everybody in the car dies.

I was devastated. At this point I was pale, lightheaded, noxious, and dizzy. But I kept listening, and the final verse was Eminem finally talking to Stan. He is upset by Stan cutting himself, but in a shockingly cavalier matter. Eminem then realizes that Stan killed himself in the end, and just says, “Damn.”

I then stood up and fell down from dizziness. I was immediately confused at why this song was so successful. That thought scampered away as i then threw up. I was wondering how Eminem could write a song so disturbing. Over the next week, all I could think about was the song. My appetite had disappeared and I couldn’t listen to music regardless of what it was. My energy level was down. This song had seemingly severely changed my life. Which is especially bizarre, because if you knew me, you’d know that that I was a very happy 17-year-old honor student and had a very short memory when it came to things like that.

Then yesterday I woke up and decided to listen to Stan again, just to see if I could get a better understanding, and hopefully let it pass. The second time I listened to it I didn’t feel so depressed. I listened to again. It was this time that I had realized what the big deal was about this song. It wasn’t just rhymes put together in a random order. This song was very, very symbolic. I had thought that Eminem had just written this song for shock value, when he had actually written the song for a much deeper meaning, it had to do with obsessive fans, and how they can’t really even think for themselves, and how Eminem does, want fans, but he wants them to be there own person and live there own lives. This epiphany immediately reminded my of a song on the completely opposite end of the spectrum, called “Posters” by Jack Johnson. It is a slightly upbeat acoustic rock song, compared to a downtrodden rap song. But it has the exact same message. This song really made me appreciate Eminem, because he tell his fans that he loves them. But he doesn’t want anybody to worship him, or take his lyrics too literally (I later found out that the idea of Stan killing his girlfriend came to him from an earlier Eminem song entitled, “97 Bonnie and Clyde”) This song is a very strong message, and also is a pretty good all-around song.

I’d like to thank everybody for taking the time to read this, it was a very long post. But I wanted you to get my opinion on this song, and Eminem. So thank You. But, I really want to hear your opinions on Eminem and his songs, and how fan obsessi
I’d like to say thank you for all the answers. Top the person who suggested listening to Biggie, I already know him, but thanks for the suggestion. And to the person who called me a sensative f@g, well I’m not going to combat that, but you’re missing one of the points of the song. We find it strange that this guy committed suicide, just because his idol wouldnt respond to his letter. Thats because a little something could mean the world to somebody, but we’ll never understand why it means so much. Thats usually what happens with suicides, and school shootings. Well, I don’t quite know why I felt so depressed after hearing this song. But it may never be understood by anyone but myself.
I listened to Dance with the devil.

Best answer:

Answer by Who the f&$ @ is Jiggaman
good question

I think eminem is overrated.

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