Eminem’s New Video Mocks Women, Lesbians, Bret Michaels, Himself
Eminem’s been away, and clearly his time off was spent watching reality TV, visiting blogs and reading tabloids. His new video, “We Made You,” opens with the rapper dressed as Bret Michaels from Rock Of Love.
But his next target? Jessica Simpson, played by a woman with more weight on her than the singer has.
In case you miss it, there’s attention paid to her “fat.” Also, she is eating a burger whenever possible.
Reference is made to Amy Winehouse, but we’ll get to her later.
A Kim Kardashian look-alike also plays a part in this video, intimidating mere mortals with her otherworldly arse.
Next we see Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson doppelgangers. The lyrics: “Lindsay, please come back to seein’ men: Samantha’s a two, you’re practically a ten.” The way “seein’ men” is rapped, it sounds like “semen.”
Then Eminem, dressed as Spock, puts a sleeper hold on “Uhura.”
Right after Em mentions Ellen and Portia, (he says, “Sorry, Portia, what’s Ellen DeGeneres have that I don’t, are you telling me tenderness?”) we see Sarah Palin, showing bra.
The Asian playing Inuit and the polar bear seem cribbed from SNL.
But Eminem doesn’t just make fun of women, or reality stars. He makes fun of himself. Here he is as Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man, which is not only a tip of the hat to critics who say he is nothing without his producer but Em’s own way of toying with the notion that he’s the “idiot savant” who only knows one thing —how to rap — and not how to behave in public or be politically correct.
But it’s about 3:13 miuntes in, when Eminem — as Spock — visits “Planet Womyn” — that will probably get people all riled up. This barren wasteland of butch dyke sterotypes finds Em fighting “Sam” Ronson while “Lindsay” looks on…
… From a cage. Homophobia alert.
Still, after dressing like Elvis and making out with “Amy Winehouse,” it’s intersting that Em is seen doing this:
Sticking the body of Kim Kardashian in a wood chipper [shades of 'Hustler'? Or 'Fargo'? -Ed.] , and watching cash come out. Because honestly, as the chorus of this song goes, “Were the ones who made you.” It’s easy to make fun of these women but to also see that they are targets, and in most cases, the more we talk about them, the more money they generate. Celebrity is a business that eats people alive, and there’s an entire layer of this video which acknowledges this fact.
And “Sarah Palin” pulling off “Bret’s” bandanna to find him bald is just hilarious, and something we have all speculated about.
While Eminem’s video might be sexist and homophobic and also a little bit funny, at least he doesn’t let himself off the hook: He’s in the electric chair, getting fried.
By turning the attacks on himself, the video feels more like a zany free-for-all and a nihilistic look at one man’s lost place in society than a straight-up attack on women and gays. It’s not especially shocking; especially considering the kind of lyrics and videos hip-hop is known for. But judge for yourself:
Eminem – New Music – More Music Videos Eminem — We Made You [This Is 50]
amy winehouse
bret michaels
dr. dre
eminem
lesbians
lindsay lohan
misogynists
samantha ronson
sarah palin
top
vidiots
we made you
Eminem is a guilty pleasure. Sorry, I don't think he hates women, I think he is an expert in satire. Toilet satire, but satire none the less.
@hortense: I find that kind of charming, actually.
I get enough instantaneous pop culture mocking on the internet these days. It's sort of exhausting. It's nice, I think, to have a little lag.
^^ Ha, that sounds inappropriately sentimental, considering the subject matter. Oh well...
captainhaddock
ugh toooooo long and six months too late!
lalli kids go demmm
I can definitely see how his tunes are catchy, and that's the problem. People (especially teens) start singing along to the lyrics and don't necessarily stop and think about what they are singing. I agree with the point that he would not be in business if he spoke about people of color the way he speaks about women. I know he tends to make fun of pretty much everyone, including himself, but I still feel like he focuses a lot on violent and sexually-controlling acts towards women. His freedom of speech allows him to basically rap about whatever he wants; I just wish he realized his responsibility as an icon for many teens. He is just teaching them that misogyny and homophobia are cool (which is especially easy for him to do as a famous, white male).
EmmaBear
I mean happened
pica
wait, last I heard eminem weighed a billion pounds and was hiding in michigan. what happend?
pica
@BicSharpie: Ha! When that came out, all I could think of was poor John Kerry thinking, "Damn, dude! Could you not have put down the doob for ten minutes and gotten it out, like, in time for people to register and shit?"
VivaNashvegas
is "sarah palin" the woman from the nailin' palin porno?
wembles
@Speeble: No, my poor, benighted child. It reminded me of a bunch of wasted people trying to ape the original "Jailhouse Rock" number.
It was pretty awesome. The original, I mean, which you should see posthaste, then get off my lawn.
VivaNashvegas
I think that Eminem is a genius! Not only with the beats and the rhyme but he is also a comedic genius.He knows that in the business he is in he has to pay attention to the world around him- and he does!
Plus he is stinking hot!!!He's on my short list of stars I'd like to do...
Katie Snow
@hortense: It's not just you. It's really lacking a good deal of the decent Dre production value of the old days.
I think it's cuz he's like rapping on the off beats instead of the down beats and it makes this kind of really weird, jilted hopping tempo type thing.
His rapping is fine though, the track is meh.
RollRoll
Is it me or is Uhura a total Rihanna doppleganger.
So here's the thing...yeah, Eminem is a sexist, homophobic pig. He's disgusting.
And I really don't understand this whole, "he's a genius" stuff. If I had a casual acquaintance who was half as misogynistic as Em, then tried to make it okay by saying, "Hey, I'm an asshole!", that would NOT make it okay. The fact that he's a rapper, and that he "makes fun of himself, too" doesn't make hate=art or satire.
But besides all that, he's irrelevant now. At least this kind of song from him is. Maybe ten years ago his commentary was shocking and fresh and interesting. But now, if I want to hear someone poke nasty fun at ridiculous celebrity antics and crazy pop culture, I can watch The Soup or read PerezHilton. I don't need Eminem to break it down for me a year after the fact.
Kim Kardashian has a big butt? No way! Jessica Simpson is fat? Never heard that one before.
Sorry Eminem, you're not needed anymore.
Katie M. Gosch
Marshal Mathers makes me ashamed to be white.
Kabukistar
@Kali Mama: No, I had to look twice because I thought it WAS Rihanna!
marytheicecube2
Awesome song.
I usually don't care for rap, hip-hop or whatever it is called, at all... But Eminem is the only (mainstream) rapper (or whatever) out there who actually makes great songs with a great melody (well, or his producer, i don't care).
Besides that I also don't care for the content/text of music (obviously, since music is about music), but still he's the only mainstream artist out there, who really is "controversial" and that always rules.
Is the casting of a regular-sized curvy woman as the "fat" Jessica Simpson supposed to ironic, or is it an indication that Hollywood and real life and the medical world are now all totally, utterly disconnected?
Dancingfrog
@afiunderground: Yeah, I like how if you look beyond the surface of his lyrics you usually find some sort of insightful message about fame, playing characters, what is and isn't acceptable jokewise and what that reflects about society... makes his hits that much more interesting to get into.
This song isn't that catchy though. Where's the "Without Me" style hook? No good hook in this one...
@RollRoll: I agree, he seems to be trying some Dizzee Rascal style syncopation. And has anyone noticed that he seems to have lost, like, fifty pounds?
MyrtleWilloughby
For the people who dispute his genius...
It's not that he's brilliant because he's so edgy or makes such biting social commentary (though I think he does both of these effectively at time) - it's that he's a LYRICAL genius.
The way he puts words together is incredible. Like, there's all this creative rhyme and internal assonance and whatnot and it makes SENSE. It's unreal.
cait98
I don't know...an in-depth analysis of an Eminem video?
He's done the same thing with all of his videos since he started: a collage of mocking imagery. He is so much a vapid regurgitation of pop culture and so not someone who speaks from a point of personal substance.
And if all the other rappers are retiring, why doesn't he, too?
Antonella
@sangmo: Wow, it is funny on how this site will kill your comment if you comment on a woman "Snarkily" but suggesting someone should kill themselves because you don't like their music is OKie Dokie...
Shabba
@AndalucÃa: I don't think it let's him "off the hook" for his misogyny or homophobia.
I think it's a recognition that he's a gray area for some people who can find other redeeming value in his music. Yes, there's bad (the misogyny, etc.) but there is good too. Some of his raps (Mosh, et. al) are socially aware. It's unfortunate that some of his themes are tired and bigoted. But that doesn't make him 100% bad. Everyone has some good in him, and at least some of his rhymes are socially progressive. Would I prefer that ALL of his songs were progressive? Heck yes!
Me too! I've always thought his most shocking points are really just the logical end game of attitudes that are tolerated in society - ie, satire (and done really, really well). Maybe I'm wrong, but he's never offended me. @afiunderground:
Dizzy8
I thought that was a woman playing Bret Michaels, not Feminen.
noneSuchShan
@afiunderground: I want to hate him, I really do, but sometimes he says things that everyone else laughs at too. Some people might find this all offensive and such, but really, you can laugh at him while he is making fun of him self or Kim Kardashion but cant laugh at Lindsay Lohan for being a "lesbian"? Which part of Political correctness do people want to laugh at then? Yes he bashes women, and he bashes men. He bashes EVERYONE!!!
Wigles
@leesie: That's not just a guess. "Slim Shady" IS Marshall Mathers/Eminem's alternate twisted evil persona.
Like, uh, "Sasha Fierce" but... different.
cait98
@apricotsquish: I completely understand this reaction. However, being somebody who likes to write out all my gut feelings (word on the street is thats called 'poetry') I will tell you that I have written some fucked up shit.
Fucked up. About how I wished ex boyfriends would die, about how I wish I could slowly torture my best friend's rapist to death. I mean, these are things I would never act on, but it's all written down. And I'm fairly certain that if it came down to a bare-soul moment and all these were read on Tyra or Oprah I'd be considered just--if not more--as offensive as Eminem.
Luckily I have the good sense to not be that emotionally open to the world.
So trust me, the gay shit and the woman shit gets under my skin. However, if you're writing down a reaction filtered through emotional disturbia (which I have done many times) it can come out terrible even though I know I'm not racist or anti-Israeli or anti-Islam or anti-Christian...I can understand someones horror in reading that reaction.
Knee-jerk liberal reaction in 3...,2...,1...BOOM!
I see he is back to spinning his Dr.Seuss-sounding homophobia. I don't care if he makes fun of himself, hate is hate. It shouldn't be tolerated.
CurtCole
the plump jessica and the plump sarah palin are HOT.
you'd think he'd be more sensitive about weight gain seeing as how he was recently QUITE large (of course the press didn't go nutz all over it cause he's a man)
@hortense: i like his silly stuff, but nothing gets me going like when hes pissed off about something. i make everything female into male and work off some issues to most of his music.
@TheExperience: yes.
i really like eminem, offensive lyrics and all. I think the video had a lot of interpretive things in it.
::shrugs::
@Wasp vs Stryper: and elton and he are actually friends, elton is a huge fan.
also, he said the only way he would do the show was if they got elton to perform with him. So they did. It was tongue in cheek and he didnt expect him to agree to it.
@haguenite: none of his songs makes me as happy as 'puke'
@Kabukistar: oddly enough, there are many many many many more white people who cause me to feel shame. Marshall Mathers is not EVEN on my list.
@pica: obviously, Bulimia.
@kylo4iskyle4: it does. several. no details on how i know.
@lastbroadcast: what? ashers a milli remix is FIRE!
but i do realize thats just one song.
@bingofrankenstein: <3'd
@cait98: thank you for explaining that, a way i never could.
@Dancingfrog: im going with B.
Come on Eminem! I can't believe you would even put such outrageous content in your music video. Spock is a Vulcan and would NEVER fight with a battleth, those are Klingon! Get it right!
gnimsh
He is such a douchbag.. But I love that chorus!
Jose Ramos
Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
What particularly annoys me about his schtick that it has this veneer of "Hey everyone I am blowing your MINDS with these paradigm-shattering, pop culture-blasting catchy tunes! You had no idea how fucked up your society was until I came along!"
No Marshall, we knew, and it's been pointed out in much funnier and more incisive ways by actors, comedians and songwriters other than you.
latenotnever
I don't know - his references to Lilo and Sam as well as Ellen and Portia sort of make me think he's mocking the idiotic chauvinistic idea that all a hot lesbian needs is to find a hot enough guy to be set straight.
zu_zu
@latenotnever: well then you're not the sort of person whom i was speaking about. i was speaking about the person who, as soon as they hear that i even slightly like porn, immediately become like crazed dogs.
I don't think he's racist or homophobic, I think he likes to stir up controvery and get people to talk about him. That's his schtick.
And it's been working for 10 years now.
@toastandlove: If Eminem were wrapping about "killing n*ggers" in the way that he writes about killing women, would we call him smart and talented? He isn't controversial at all in my mind, in fact he's just going along with the rest of the world by spewing misogynistic, homophobic shit. Thats not brave or "walking the line"- he knows he can get away with it. If he rapped about people of color in the way that he raps about women or gays he would not have a job.
Sure, he has the right to say it, but I don't think we need to congratulate him.
@ronaldpagan:
I think she looks perpetually strung out and in need of a shower, which probably isn't why Eminem thinks she's a 2, but it's definitely why I would make her a 5, tops.
Granted I am a heterosexual girl, but I can still judge female attractiveness.
@morninggloria: Then he would go to Gawker an whine about how all the mean feminazis wouldn't let him in their "No Hommmers" club. He would also shout ECHO CHAMBER repeatedly.
Was that Vanilla Ice in the back of the "Britney" segments?
Also, I happen to think the "fat Jessica" girl is gorgeous!!!
Very, VERY meh about the song. It's the same old shit that Eminiem has been doing for years. It's tired.
ImproperDancing
So he's sticking with that, is he? Cute. Sort of feels like an old sitcom or something. Marshall, honey, we've seen ti before and it's a bit stale.
HeatherNumber1
that looks so much like Samantha Ronson!
gold_gato
i was waiting for this to get posted here! honestly this was ridiculous. it was just bad music, bad lyrics and bad all around. its like he flipped through an issue of us weekly and then strung some words together, the only things missing are the words baby bump and scary skinny.
the sad part is this all a sad grab for attention that detracts from the fact that he actually is a good lyricist has talent.
avocadosaredelicious
Something.. happened... to his voice... I couldn't even finish listening; talk about grating.
Does anyone else think that the "Amy Winehouse" girl looks more like Hatchet-face from Crybaby than Amy Winehouse?
[img137.imageshack.us]
(Sorry, I don't know how to insert pictures)
Ok so the chorus reminded me of two songs for some strangeeeee reason;
1. O Town's Liquid Dreams
2. Britney's Radar
Clearly I have issues.
@Never_Nude: Yes--it's so conflicting.
Treeless
The whole Elvis dance sequence reminded me of the Jailhouse Tango from Chicago. Anyone else??
Speeble
@thatsnotfab: i meant the anti-porn strain of feminism. I do not like that.
@HanaMaru: perhaps you heard me incorrectly. if you would like to know what i said read above. but if you'd like to tell me to STFU go right ahead.
@HanaMaru: thank you for this.
I'm pretty much anti-porn but I tend not to scream about it.
latenotnever
@Red-headed bookworm: Ever since the first time he put on the Britney Spears wig, I have agreed.
Treeless
@Furface: Cazwell, much?
He is a truly guilty pleasure.
Most of the things I like don't shame me.
Treeless
oh goodness, i think he looks kinda hot in that "elvis" costume. his prepubescent hiphop garb of normal life really kills it, though.
effingminnow
@TurtleSpeak: Similar to the efforts of Marilyn Manson or even Madonna attempting to shock. It usually fails because there is too much effort expended.
LAmonkeygirl
@GeorgeFayne: I have plenty of judgement, and I agree with you. An 8, I say!
"Jessica Simpson" and "Sarah Palin" are hot and, I suspect, would look much hotter without all that makeup on.
Sandicomm
@raphaela: I find Tommy Lee attractive, too. *sigh* I don't know why.
Red-headed bookworm
@ketamineKitty: I think it's a matter of innovation. I don't expect an artist to be consistently terrific, nor do I hope they continue to make more of what garnered their reputation in the first place. But they need to evolve in order to stay not only relevant but to be better artists.
This track seems like a rehash of previous efforts but with none of the joie de vivre. The usage of the female vocalist doesn't add further dimensionality to the piece. It feels more like an anchor weighing down sloppy, disinterested rapping.
LAmonkeygirl
@Nighthawk (the former Okori Wadsworth) is proud to be a wre...: Anticipating screaming from old feminists? We should relax, huh? STFU.
@IBleedGlitter: EXACT same thought. If he wanted to be a woman, he would be really pretty.
Red-headed bookworm
@hortense: Yeah, that's what I remember as well.
musie
OH, and don't let the higher-ups at IMG see Eminem flaunting such effeminate versatility. Next thing you know, Eminem is the male model of the momento! momento!
There's plenty of offensiveness in the video, but I thought his lyrics about how Lindsay and Portia should be with him instead of their girlfriends was a joke in line with the whole "you're a rock star everybody wants you" theme.
I actually kind of like it myself. The funny thing to me is that in that short video he touches on almost all of the very few celebrities that get gossiped about over and over and over. It's really just a handful of people that get a shitload of coverage.
Kaehoku
@ronaldpagan: SamRo is a solid 8. But I'm a dyke, so I clearly have no judgment when it comes to these things.
Uhm isn't that the porn star who is in Nailin' Paylin?
Why do I knowthat?
@Nighthawk (the former Okori Wadsworth) is proud to be a wre...: Um, I too like porn and feminism. That's why I once ditched work to meet Briana Banks.
Although the timbre of his voice is still annoying, 'nilla gets half a point for trying to be all media conscious and stuff. Question is: who made him? Shouldn't it be "We made us"? Regarding the visual delivery ('cause his verbal is boring), Weird Al is THE master of this.
You know, Eminem looks like a pretty woman in that hat and wig rather than Bret Michaels. I thought the first pic was a woman.
Red-headed bookworm
@Mireillepa the Rappa: I get it: A series of empty references and obvious gags that tries to pass itself off as satire. Yawn.
@eri401: Totes!
isn't he getting a little old for this? or maybe I'm the one getting a little old for this.
buymecandy
@sympathyforthedevil: "Stop calling me Eminem! My name isn't FUCKING Eminem."
"His name isn't Eminem."
"His name isn't Eminem."
"His name isn't Eminem?"
"I thought his name was Eminem."
@SevenNationArmy wears mantus:
OMG that's what I thought! I thought damn it belongs on TRL fighting for the 1# stop against *N SYNC
PopCultureIsAFarce
@morninggloria: YES - that's exactly what i was thinking. it's like, jeebus, the production value alone of this damn thing probably equals that of any low budget full length film.
that's dre, though. ballin like it's 97', and happy to have em' making him some money.
@haguenite: I think I once watched an interview about him (read the interview?) that convinced me he's just doing this for attention and fame. I don't think he actually believes this stuff but he does admit he exploits those prejudices. It's a weird 30-way mirror. I like it.
KiddyKat
@PopCultureIsAFarce: Its like its 1999 all over again.
@PopCultureIsAFarce: They keep giving him the material...
I wasn't a big fan of Eminiem until he released that song "Mosh." A song so powerful that not only did it end our involvement in the Iraq war, it prevented George W. Bush from being re-elected.
@raphaela:
i find him completely irresistible when he's wearing glasses.
KRS10
The Lindsay look-alike is insane-- I watched it twice and I cant believe it's not her. OK- and the girl on the pole-- that's Britney right? It seems she escaped outright mockery, which is interesting.
scarletwine
@IBleedGlitter: yes she was. and before the second-wavers come around here and scream at me for liking porn and being a feminist...... relax.
@Furface: Can't people like what they like?
lonewolfer is expecting a call from 1983
ok, I identify as queer, but if Eminem* came knocking...- He needs me. He does. That whole bad boy thing; he'd get over it if he just had a good woman**.
* also Andy Samberg
**(see what i did there?)
@morninggloria: agreed on skeletons! he obviously had a massive budget, and as stated above, is a self aware douche. that being said, it's just like all his other videos, really. made of pure, unadultered win.
@NefariousNewt: Oh shit! Weird Al is a badass and way more talented than "Eminem".
@PopCultureIsAFarce: I agree. I mean I get it, it's funny and like you guys said he also makes fun of himself and it's not hurtfull. But it's just sooo old! We've seen it before, and done better!
CGirl
@Furface: Agreed, his stuff just sounds the same to me. I seriously do not understand what draws anyone to him.
@sympathyforthedevil: love you for the reference.
scarletwine
@megania: Which was all much better parodied by Pink in Stupid Girls.
That lindsay look alike is uncanny... Dina Lohan, is that you?
mikske
Eminem makes a damn good Bret Michaels.
EKane
@undefined: Is it in fact fair to criticize a formerly great artist for their latter-day sins? is it better to burn out or to fade awayyyyy?
ketamineKitty
I think the Bertolli video is better than his
Women being treated badly by hip hop and rap is not news. Nor is Eminem acting assy and picking stupid fights to make headlines.
Hooplehead
@NefariousNewt: And they make their own beat poetry:
A long, long, time ago, in a galaxy far away
Gump sat alone of a bench in the park,
as I walked through the valley where I harvest my grain
I'm fat, I'm fat
like a surgeon, cutting for the very first time.
What is this song all about?
Don't know, don't know, don't know, oh no...
@Furface: Annnnnnd I agree! Eminem is miserable teen music... at least he was for me :)
EKane
@IBleedGlitter: That top picture makes me believe that he looks like ME.
Does that make me a super hot would-be drag queen?
@Nighthawk (the former Okori Wadsworth) is proud to be a wre...: She was in the Sarah Palin porn movies right?
@PopCultureIsAFarce: that's totally the first thing i thought. like, he came in with his ridiculousness, then "Got Serious," disappeared, and now he's back with what he got popular for in the first place.
And yeah...even though it totes gets old after a while (like it's SO MUCH popular culture overload), I didn't think the song was too bad. At least he's not trying to be all deep and serious and shit. And the hook is pretty catchy.
randomnessish
@morninggloria: I think he'd be more like "I just don't understand why you ladies are always hating on republican sports enthusiasts?! Are posts always this rapey?"
The video aside... this song sucks for reasons that are not socially offensive, but aurally. At least Eminem's previous forays into sexism, homophobia, and pill-popping were catchy and interesting (that's not including "Purple Pills," which was only slightly more listenable than this one). I'm disappointed that his analysis of our celebrity-vore culture that he is (or once was) at the center of isn't more clever than this. This does not seem like the work of a rapping idiot savant, but more like the work of an idiot who can rhyme.
@hortense: Very disappointing song indeed. I was bored by the intro and forced myself to listen to the whole thing-hoping it would pick up. None of the joy some of his earlier songs had (Real Slim Shady, etc.).
Liz11685
@+ Watch video
@morninggloria: I agree. Is there a point beyond Ridiculous People are Ridiculous?
Benevolent_Dictatrix
@IBleedGlitter: You owe me a new keyboard.
@afiunderground: his continued anti-lesbian theme is tired, and it echos the constant message from popular narratives/tabloids - "Lindsay's too pretty to be with a woman! She must miss men! How can anyone survive without a man?" I don't find that self-aware or even creative...just as I don't find any value in his prior jokes about raping lesbians
swaggeron
I kinda love him - because he mocks EVERYONE and HIMSELF. If he didn't mock himself too, I'd think he was a douchebag. But he doesn't let himself off the hook either.
nex0s
@morninggloria: ha ha! girl you're on fire today!
marypoppinpills
I'm not sure why so many Jezzies are defending him... there's better rap artists out there.
Furface
I watched the part where Eminem-Spock popped out from behind Capt. Dre's chair in that ridiculous bowl cut wig about five times. Look! It's an real-life timely reference! (vs. J.Simp, Palin, Transformers, Rain Main, Elvis, etc.) Also, he should keep the brown hair. Platinum washes him out.
perruchon
On what fucked up numerical objectification scale is Sam Ronson a 2? Eminem and I obviously have very different taste in women. (I'm with him about Portia though.)
@TurtleSpeak: I agree with this completely :) Where do I sign?
I don't think this is enough to get me riled up. Maybe 'cause its Eminem and I'm supposed to get riled up. My "think of the chilllllllldrennnnnnn" meter must be out of service today...
EKane
@toastandlove: I love this subject because I hate Eminem. Damn is he smart and still he pisses me off to no end. No matter what he says about women or gays, I will defend his right to say it. As long as we can teach our children the difference between what is real and what is art in addition to good and bad, I say, hey, at least it's good writing.
Lily Slay
I have inexplicable love for Marshall. The last scene kinda said it all--the group fell on him and devoured him. I think he's a homophobic, racist, misogynistic GENIUS.
Never_Nude
Sigh, so much work and still so fucking irrelevant.
I_b_hatin
Ugh. I sneaked into the Warped Tour for shits n' giggles back in 1999 as an irresponsible teen. This was before he got super famous. He was performing on one of the little stages, and people were booing him and throwing water bottles at him. He told the crowd to fuck off. That experience confirmed to me that I come from an awesome city.
PersonalBest
I'm a little disturbed by the fact that Eminem's Bret Michaels looks a lot like me.
@hortense: Exactly! Let's just hope ex-wife Kim and his mom aren't anywhere near a TV or radio anytime in the near future!
@hortense: No. I find the video absolutely hilarious, but the song is pretty plodding. It lacks the lyrical quality and rhythm of his earlier hits. I'd say that without the accompanying video, this song wouldn't be a single; it would be some random album track that you'd never get around listening to because you bought the album for the title track.
I can't believe that a talented artist is not well-adjusted.
Hortensify Milove
Hey isn't that Bobby from MadTv?
you could sub in any reality star in the woodchipper... i think it's brilliant.
lesleykat
To be honest, I kinda had hoped we'd seen the last of him. Weird Al parodies are more socially relevant.
@hortense: Not impressed. The background singer is also killing it for me.
@vamusical: Right? His first single is always the same to try to garner attention for album sales. It's colorful, bright and catchy. I met the guy back in the day(and Proof pre- dirty dozen) and they were all complete assholes.
TinkishDelight
@TurtleSpeak: Yeah, that's what I got from it.
@hortense: It's a weak joint. There's some other new single by him making the playlists lately, and it's nowhere near as good as some of his past cuts.
LAmonkeygirl
@hortense: I agree. I'll admit I'm not a huge "popular music" fan, but his rapping all sounds so similar. And that strange hook over the rapping makes it all that much worse.
GirlSailor
I may be in love with the "Jessica Simpson" from this video
How many times can you do the same schtick over and over again?
Sputnik_Sweetheart
@hortense: It's the video equiv. of MadTV circa 2006.
CassetteLove
Is the Jessica Simpson character played by Kimberly of American Idol claim to fame?
Alara
oh, it's tenderness? I thought he said "ten inches."
@hortense: There's a song? Really... learn something new every day.
@hortense: Nah, I am too. I generally really like Eminem- for all of the reasons people mentioned above- but this new music just isn't cutting it for me.
@megania: Maybe it's also commenting on the recent flap about her "weight gain"? (Hence the "fat" girl playing her?)
If this video were a comment, it would totally get disemvoweled. Then "MarshallMDTroit" would probably respond with a hearty "Fuck all y'all!" And then he'd get worst comment of the day and get banned and we'd all be like, what's his problem?
Eminem: Vanilla Ice's evil twin brother.
I am always a little disgusted with myself when I realize I find him attractive. Same thing happens with Tommy Lee.
@kookla: If I remember correctly, the first single is always "goofy" and the second single is always serious.
@hortense: Yes. He's probably been scribbling these ideas on a yellowing legal pad sinec the last time he made a video and just couldn't BEAR to let them go without a fight.
@toastandlove: I agree with you...plus his rhyme style is SICK good.
tomatoheart
@hortense: I can't listen as I am in class but I will get back to you. I hope it's good.
Shock me, shock me, shock me with that deviant behavior, Eminem. The eighth grade in me thinks you're like totally deep.
What he misses is the fact that the people he's mocking won't be offended- they'll take it as an honor and further confirmation that they are famous and popular enough to be mocked. They'll get more attention.
In that way, the point is lost.
Wow, it sounds like the Scary Movie of music videos. Make of that what you will, but I intended it as an insult. Mockery can be funny, but untargeted, disconnected constant mockery is just lazy humor.
For some reason that top picture makes me believe that if he really tried, Em would be a super hot Drag Queen.
That is Bobby Lee of MadTV playing the Inuit and Sulu! I love me some Bobby Lee. Hilarious.
Also, I don't think this Eminem's best song.
@afiunderground: Exactly. He knows that his lyrics are inflammatory, but unlike so many others, he doesn't backpedal and make excuses for it.
@hortense: I'm with you.
@hortense: NO! I prefer Em's more "serious" messages, but I guess he doesn't want to make too many waves from the get-go.
I can't get riled up over anything Eminem does. He tries too hard to offend to actually offend me. Someone being offensive without realizing it is much more annoying.
Plus... I find many of his songs to be very catchy...
And... his videos can be funny. I like Eminem, I will admit it.
@toastandlove:
Now if only he would blog, Kanye-style, we may find ourselves a new Philosopher-King.
GOD, how sick would that be?
/sick = fucking amazing
@hortense: Yeah, I thought most of the Jessica Simpson stuff was a reference to her Carl's Jr ad from a million years ago ... right?
@hortense: I'm surprised he didn't include a parody of Bush.
I've always interpreted Eminem's message as "I'm famous, and a complete joke. So are you. If you're going to keep taking yourself so seriously, I'm going to blow up your spot."
@hortense: That's true. He even threw in a Paris Hilton reference (ala Carl Jr.'s hamburgers).
@hortense: Especially the General Lee.
Am I the only one who is more disappointed about the quality of the song?
Eminem. Crap rapper, decent court jester. Who's with me?
h_bee
I watched this video on dlisted this morning. I didn't realize that was supposed to be Amy Winehouse until now. Thanks for breaking it down. I actually like it a little more now--still not a lot, but more than I did.
The rest of the video looks like a slightly more intelligent version of a Wayans brothers "parody." This should be called "MUSIC VIDEO MOVIE."
@afiunderground: True that. There's no denial whatsoever in his assholery. He revels in it, points fingers at everyone - including himself. Gotta respect that.
Brilliant. Offensive enough to get people so riled up that publicity and attention are refocused on him after such a long absence. But self-deprecating enough that he lets the observant in on the joke. Boy knows how to market himself, for sure.
This report is more thorough than I think the subject deserves.
@morninggloria: I want to see it! But I'm in class and I won't be able to see it until later tonight.
How I long for the subtle and tender ear-raping by Slim Shady.
He's about 3 years late on most of these references, isn't he?
Ummm, okay, don't stone me, but I think this is hilarious.
I don't like the women-mocking in it, but still, it's shocking.
I actually think a lot of Eminem's work is very irreverent and smart - not to mention catchy.
He definitely walks the line, and crosses it, but as evidenced, he knows he is a jerk and isn't afraid to make fun of himself or his situation.
Now if only he would blog, Kanye-style, we may find ourselves a new Philosopher-King.
Guess who's back?
Remember the days when people used to mock "J-Lo's" buttocks? Things don't really change over time. Different people, same jokes.
@afiunderground: Me too. for the exact same reason.
MissyMcCLung
@afiunderground: Agreed. He's an asshole, but at least he knows he's an asshole.
Haven't we seen this already, with the real slim shady?? How many times is he going to make fun of everyone???
PopCultureIsAFarce
This video is a win. People turning into skeletons due to electricity is one of the most consistently hilarious motifs in all of comedy.
yes yes yes! the ridiculousness is back. good fun. offensive? sure. but yay!
kimkimi
Sarah Palin played by the sexy-as-shit Lisa Ann.
Eminem is a self-aware douche. That's why I like him.
Seeing as how Eminem's the guy who wrote a song about killing and burying his girlfriend, I wouldn't be surprised by an offensive new song or video.
The dude lives to shock people. Sometimes, like with "Stan", in a good way.
Eminem's New Video mocks Women. Also, grass is green.
I just find him obnoxious.
electrogeek77
@thatonegirlsays: I hesitate to say this but.... I think Eminem likes a woman with some good meat on her bones. And I think I agree that Sam's stick-thin, strung-out, unshowered look turns him off.
@apricotsquish: Agreed. I also don't think we need to pontificate on his marvelous insights into culture and celebrity. The sort of mocking he does could be equally as well executed by 12 yr old boys.
latenotnever
Another Mad TV skit disguised as a music video.......
@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: I agree with you. And I think the reason most people don't realize it is because the songs that are his best are really not radio-appropriate. Either they're too stark, too brutal, or too good to throw to the dogs in mainstream radio.
I think Eminem is great. I think he's smart, I think his songs are damn catchy, and I think he's a better writer than just about anyone else in rap right now. In fact, I think he's a better writer than MOST people pop, rock, hip hop, electro, AND rap combined.
Is he incendiary? Yeah. Controversial? That too. Sometimes a little behind the times? Definitly. But I'd still rather listen to his stuff than any of this ridiculous, repetative, derivitive nonsense they play on my local "party music" station.
That said, "Number One" is a better single than this one.
I wasn't offended but I didn't laugh or enjoy the song either.
I like him better when he's angry.
vainandbitter
This is not a good representation of what Em can do. Neither is anything that has ever been on the radio (with the exception of Stan) The man places far more responsibility on himself than I think most people give him credit for. Even the songs that are emotionally difficult to listen to (Bonnie and Clyde)are brutal honest. It's like listening to someone cut themselves and bleed onto the track. I have to admire anyone that is willing to put that much into their craft. (Sue me.)
He's got nothing on Cazwell.
+ Watch video
That mofo is effin great!
@latenotnever: Thanks, I was a little surprised by the Eminem love being shown on Jezebel.
@apricotsquish: thank you! I hate the tired old "he's just being smart and irreverent and at least he admits he's an asshole" meme that happens when women talk about Eminem. No, he's a douche who has treated the women in his life pretty horribly. Let's not congratulate him so much.
Does anyone really take Eminem seriously? He seems like the Weird Al of rap music.
PersonOfInterest
@The HZA. [member of the zombie nation]: I don't know why you know that, but good idea. And an appropriate use for an actress!
That girl playing Palin is acutally the same girl who plays her in Hustler's "Nailin' Palin".
Just sayin'...
God, I looooved Eminem in high school. When he's good, he's very very good. That said, this song is lousy.
mutualcraze
I am reminded of the Onion article entitled "Marilyn Manson Now Going Door-To-Door Trying To Shock People".
[www.theonion.com]
Eminem, being offensive is officially your stitch. When it's a stitch, it loses its effect. So, no, I don't find you offensive -- or insightful or particularly witty, for that matter. Although, you makes me nostalgic for the summer since all these references are like seven months old.
Now, who wants ice cream?
@Never_Nude: i just don't get it. I find him so lame, and never once have I thought any of his songs were anything to write home about.
Except when Tori covered one of them.
@hortense: If I remember correctly, the first single is always "goofy" and the second single is always serious.
You are correct. He always does a mock video of current events for his first single of each cd. I believe that's the only time he makes those type of videos.
@vamusical: In a time of such uncertainty it's nice to have some consistency.
@anonanimal: Amen.
Strangely enough, ten years later and Eminem is the mocker again.
@Red-headed bookworm: My exact thought upon seeing that picture: wow, Eminem looks really...pretty.
@NefariousNewt: This totally reminds me of the fake Crash Test Dummies song Weird Al did, where he made fun of Tonya Harding et al. Same theme: There is some stupid stuff on the news! Our popular culture is messed up!
But then Em takes it down a notch with his hateful 8th grade humor. Whatever he's sellin', I'm not buying it. Dude obviously just needs some cash.
del_ruby
@Nighthawk (the former Okori Wadsworth) is proud to be a wre...: "crazed dogs"? Apparently I misunderstood. You're the thoughtful, helpful feminist ally the movement has been holding it's breath for. I'll call Gloria Steinem right now so she can die happy.
The cage thing is about the Tila Tequila show.
And I think that asian dude is Bobby Lee- who is actually quite funny.
I'm tired of hearing that "I make fun of everybody so it's all the same" bullshit. Men and women, gay people and straight people, do not have horizontal power relationships.
It means something different when you are a man mocking a woman for her weight or shape or sexual behavior, than it does when you mock a guy for hiding his bald head. It references a famous misogynist magazine and the pandemic of violence against woman when a man puts a woman in a wood chipper. There isn't the weight of cultural baggage behind Eminem comparing himself to Rain Man. The execution thing isn't even a dig at himself. It's his same old martyr shtick, anticipating that the mean PC police are going to shit themselves because they can't handle how edgy he is for being a straight man who denigrates women and gays in a way that reinforces his position at the top of the power structure. I already saw this video the last time he made it.
@Nighthawk (the former Okori .: Telling people who hate a majority of porn to 'relax' (like me) is probably not going to do the job...
bleedingmouths
@hortense: Well he has been out the spotlight for awhile. I wonder if tried to get something from every year he was gone.
Too much Eminem sympathy makes me headachy. He might be in on the joke, but I doubt all the 12 year-olds buying his records give it that much analyis.
del_ruby
Is that George Maloof he's supposed to be throwing cards at?
I hope so .. gawd that guy and his brother/empire annoy to no other.
@hortense: This is just really obvious. Nothing too earth shattering here. A room of seventh grade boys could have written it in study hall.
@pandorasmittens: This is the most succinct and right-on write-up on this song, ever! Srsly.
@haguenite: Tom Green was shock value. Mathers is more of a sideshow.
sample032
@HanaMaru: *sigh* ok. crazed dog bothers you? fine. Crazy people.
The point is this: a person who can not make their argument without resorting to screaming, name-calling, and insulting is not a person who has an argument that they feel strongly about.
@ImproperDancing:
Oh yeah. She's really beautiful, and if I wanted pin-ups... she'd be on my wall.
@Nighthawk (the former Okori Wadsworth) is proud to be a wre...: *sigh* right back at you. "a person who can not make their argument without resorting to screaming, name-calling, and insulting..." pot, meet kettle.
@PopCultureIsAFarce: as many times as someone will pay him for it I suppose.
femmina
So all this pop culture comedy, he's Weird Al now?
Except, y'know, a misogynistic, homophobic shithead.
steampoweredboy
The "fat" Jessica Simpson is super cute.
@apricotsquish: Thanks, I was a little surprised by the Eminem love being shown on Jezebel.
Just so your aware this story is cross posted on to Gawker, so the Jezebel bubble/force field is not in effect.
I don't think he's mocking women so much as the media's portrayal of them. I think he's hilarious, and I've always liked him.
lilydancing
@Werrick: The resemblance is uncanny! Oh dear, bad choice of words.
del_ruby
@bleedingmouths: probably true. i hate being super blunt.
@HanaMaru: Yes yes yes yes. Thank you for articulating this.
del_ruby
@hortense: Yeah, making fun on JEssica Simpson isn't funny anymore, now it's just sad. And kind of mean.
Dictator for Life
@Zlund: Agreed
RhymingName
@latenotnever:
Agreed again! I just don't think the majority of people who listen to this stuff will really get all these layers of so-called 'subversion'
bleedingmouths
@morninggloria: lol, is that screen name available because I want it now!
Also there are those fake celebrity twitter feeds, perhaps Jezebel needs fake celebrity commenters.
@Tmoney02: I guess that explains it? I'm new around here, you'll have to excuse me.
@HanaMaru: Yay! I'm friending you.
Furface
@TheExperience: That's pretty much what I've always gotten out of him. He's a total asshole and a total joke, but he knows it and knows that everyone else, and celebrity in general, is a joke and wishes they'd own up to it.
femmina
@HanaMaru: when did i insult you, or call you a name, or scream? however, if you finish the quote, it went "is not someone who thinks they have a strong argument."
@PopCultureIsAFarce: As has been mentioned in another thread, His first single from each cd he releases is always goofy and mocks things, usually himself and other celebrities.
@haguenite: Eminem is media savvy to a T. After he had gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities - as well as many media outlets - riled up about his antics, he dropped Stan as a single and then invited Elton John to perform it live with him. Elton John accepted and at the end of the performance, Eminem hugged him - which set off another round of media frenzy.
Oh I <3 Weird Al! So much more clever then Em and consistently hilarious.
Funny how he doesnt mention silly rappers and ridiculous things they do.
is that britney (in the top hat) being played by a drag queen?
HurricaneEyes
Just when I thought I was done repressing my terrible memories of college, Eminem brings them all flooding back.
dingdang
Am I the only one who thinks "fat" Jessica Simpson is really hot?
femmina
@hortense: It might be one of his silly first release songs, but even as far as that goes I think it's kinda lacking. It's not as outrageous nor as catchy as I want it to be.
femmina
@HanaMaru: The execution thing isn't even a dig at himself. It's his same old martyr shtick, anticipating that the mean PC police are going to shit themselves because they can't handle how edgy he is...
uhhh...mission accomplished?
@afiunderground: How does that cancel out the effect of his bigotry, whether it be misogyny or homophobia? I've always been stunned how people let Eminem off the hook for his shit.
It's like pointing to the fact that at the end of "Kill You" he says he's joking as if it somehow mitigates all the disturbing shit before.
AndalucÃa
I missed him.
KassiaStevenson
He spent a lot of time trying to think of ways to be offensive. Kind of sad, really.
@Jackiewsu: I know, right?
femmina
@amowls: He knows his audience.
Lindsay's in a cage because she was in a cage for her music video, where the paps are looking for her and she feels all caged, not brilliant, but that's why she's in a cage in Em's video. So maybe that part isn't homophobic, but the rest is!
@Nighthawk (the former Okori Wadsworth) is proud to be a wre...: You insulted anti porn feminists. And, yes, I read what you wrote, just because I didn't reprint all of it. It does apply to you.
Like so many pseudo male feminists, you insult actual feminists, blame them for not being nice and calm enough with you, while embracing your male privilege to do so. I seriously doubt you have a cogent pro-porn argument that addresses the reality of the power structure, the health risks, and the drugged coercion packaged for your wanking pleasure. But thanks for playing!
@Tmoney02: Uh huh. You got me. I don't like it for exactly the reasons he claims his critics don't like his work, and not because he's presenting himself as a bold truth-teller, while reinforcing the status quo hatred of the groups that it's safe to hate.
@BadenBaden: Yeah, I'll never understand how he's a genius, at all. I remember listening to his albums and thinking, "He's supposed to be the next Shakespeare?" I'll get blasted for this, but I think it's because of his near-constant misogyny in his first two albums, especially Marshall Mathers ("Kim," "Kill You"), that's he's lionized (If there was a racist group that put out white power music, the hell people would say, "Yeah, they're violently racist but they're in on the 'joke.'" or similar shit).
Even without the bigotry, he doesn't offer anything insightful. He's not as challenging as everyone makes him out to be. He always came across as more Tom Delay than any hard-core "rebel."
AndalucÃa
@HanaMaru: Well said. And Eminem has actually made the point that he doesn't use the word n*gger. Interesting (or predictable, I guess) that he has no problem using such offensive words to describe women. He's trying to make money and I'm so sick of smart, feminist people defending him as some satirical genius.
he makes me sick. the wood chopper is sociopathic
Amorette.Hursting
@toastandlove: I think he's really talented, he writes original raps w/orginal music. He's always got a story to tell and his videos are good. I can't stand today's rap mostly because they all suck but I got love for Dr. Dre and Eminem. I don't get worked up over the lyrics because he says it like it is and besides it's called ENTERTAINMENT!
@HanaMaru: Thank you. I was depressed at reading all these comments. The hypocrisy is astounding. And yes, he's anything but edgy. He always plays it safe, in that he goes after groups of people that society finds it acceptable to hate (Notice, he's steers clear of having "fun" with antisemitic or racist slurs against blacks, let alone engaging in any violent hatred towards those groups).
@apricotsquish: I'm always surprised at the incredible blind spot supposedly "enlightened" people have for Eminem.
AndalucÃa
@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: Agreed! Don't people realize that alot of people have had a fucked up childhood and it's GOOD to responsibly express your pent-up raging emotions so you can be a productive member of society? It's not like he's starting a terrist squad of haters, he's just an artist and entertainer. If people don't like his stuff-move on!
The "Palin" is Lisa Ann, star of Hustler's "Who's Nailin' Pailin?" I can't decide if that adds another layer of meta, or if the casting director was just taking a softball.
PrimroseHabitus
@AndalucÃa: "It's like pointing to the fact that at the end of "Kill You" he says he's joking as if it somehow mitigates all the disturbing shit before."
That's the joke.
greensprout
bleh....eminem reminds me of that loud funny smart kid in school who had wit and was clever, but was inevitably hiding from something. i find it kind of cute, but i am drawn to assholes. its kind of my downfall.
i'll always love dre & eminem, but i think they need a new schtick.
jobird
@hamburgerhotdog: Im just glad they did the run down here so I wouldn't have to actually watch it.
MomoMcgee
I liked the video although it is a bit repetitive like with the previous videos but gotta love some Dre as the Capn! And hey Bobbie Lee!!
How about a comparison to the other rap videos for the grumps out there-THERE ARE WORSE OFFENDERS! Critics are just furthering his cause with more talk and hype. I can sit through & listen to this one, although I DO like his music especially the 1st & 2nd. I'm not offended because his art is a great way for him to express his emotions however intense and confusing to others it may seem. and 1st Amendment it benefits ALL of us
@artdecoco: Bobby Lee is awesome I recognized him right away!
beechbeauty
@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: " It's like listening to someone cut themselves and bleed onto the track. I have to admire anyone that is willing to put that much into their craft."
Yes. For me, for my money, Bleeding Art is the best there is. But I also think there is a lot of satire and plain old chain-yanking going on in his work. Eminem is a smart artist/ business person and clearly, he knows how to draw out cultural response. He's hawking his wares and doing it well indeed.
These lyrics from his song "Criminal" seem appropos to this discussion:
"A lot of people ask me.. stupid fucking questions
A lot of people think that.. what I say on records
or what I talk about on a record, that I actually do in real life
or that I believe in it
Or if I say that, I wanna kill somebody, that..
I'm actually gonna do it
or that I believe in it
Well, shit.. if you believe that
then I'll kill you
You know why?
Cause I'm a
CRIMINAL"
Next, chuckling and smack talking. Selling the shit out of your work? Ur Doin it Rite.
@haguenite: I might guess that he's using a persona (much like Johnny Cash with Delia's Gone) in writing about killing his girlfriend.
leesie
@HanaMaru: I agree with you on all points. However, I can't help laughing at him dressed up as Spock and peering out behind Dr. Dre. In the end, I can't take Eminem seriously at all and he just contributes to the, sometimes catchy, background noise. This does not excuse his hate mongering or confirm him as some martyred truth-teller...but, it helps me see why many people DO like him.
I accept that people can enjoy his stuff without calling them out for "failing" feminism or not getting it (as some other people have expressed).
@AndalucÃa: I remember him saying that. His reason being that(unlike gay people and women) he respects and is indebted to black people. If he wanted to do something *shocking* there would have been vignettes mixed in there of him in blackface with big red lips, mocking rappers, or eating watermelon behind the presidential podium(not that I want to see that)
@PyroVixen: "and 1st Amendment it benefits ALL of us"
Enjoy his music if it speaks to you, but some of us are going to keep talking about why we disagree with it. Nobody's trying to haul him off to the gulag for expressing himself, and considering strong sales, numerous awards, and critical acclaim, haven't failed to temper his martyr complex, I don't worry too much that I'm contributing to it.
@TheExperience: exactly! People don't get it.
rake_my_day
@leesie: Please, for the love of God, don't use Mr. John R. Cash's name anywhere near this bozo. Please and thank you.
(I get what you are saying, but no. It is wrong to use their names in the same breath.)
Eminem is a hateful person with no talent.
Also, I am old.
Why do people like him? I don't get it.
RedVelvetCake
He is truly the Chelsea Handler of rappers.
@HanaMaru: Thank you for this. And for screaming. Some things need to be screamed about.
Yeah, it's obvious from the subject matter that Em has been doing the stay at home dad thing for the past few. I'm just surprised Oprah wasn't wandering through all of those little vignettes. It might have tied the whole random thing together a bit. Oh well -- next come back maybe.
SnehCachuwanna
@hortense: the song sucks. his voice sounds really strange.
@hortense: I'm with you. The first thing that struck me watching this video was "this song sucks." I think we can trace the decline to his last album. "Ass like that" or "Just Lose It" are only memorable for "outrageous" videos, but I don't know why he's taken this turn towards building his songs around these instantly dated pop culture references. I mean, Kim Kardashian? really? He's always made songs reflecting popular culture, but these songs are built around lame references that only he finds interesting. It's sad. He really was talented at one point.
Until he put on the blond wig, I never realized just how pretty Eminem is.
girlarchaeologist
@HanaMaru: You would be starting an interesting discussion if you allowed it to be one. Instead you are indeed 'screaming', lacing your posts with acid contempt and snark. Screaming about a conversation you started by jumping on the insult of 'screaming' is a jump down the rabbit hole, and one you obviously don't want to get out of. (Since you've resisted her attempts to placate or normalize the tones.)
I am an actual feminist, and I consume and enjoy porn and erotica. Your argument is incomplete and reactionary. You are attacking what is behind the creation of porn, not the enjoyment of porn itself. I agree, the power structure, the health risks, and the drugged coercian are ugly, and should be dealt with and recognized.
That can be done by supporting organizations, companies, and artists that create porn without that baggage. And yes, it does exist. Sex is wonderful, people enjoy watching people having sex and indulging fantasy, and if it's done by two consenting adults - once again, YES IT EXISTS, IN SPADES - it's fun and kinky and enjoyable. The clothes you wear and the food you eat most likely has ugly stories behind it, but you're not going to stop eating and wearing. You have to fight the underlying structure while recognizing that there is a need to be filled.
And porn isn't going away. And good porn - I was raised in a non-censoring household, and was allowed to watch what I wanted, and I have a crazy healthy attitude towards sex - is a blast, and HEALTHY for people to consume with good upbringing. (I was given a Sue Johnson sex questions and answers book early.) And Sex is Wonderful. Erotica is wonderful. Denying this adds to the sickness and allowing the industry to be dirty and undercover.
If you don't like porn, work to change it, 'cause it sure as hell ain't goin' away.
NoelleBlue
@eri401: I agree with you that there were funny parts, like the skeleton when he gets electrocuted and when he grabs his steak as he falls backwards. On the other hand, he's falling in his chair because Kim Kardashian's body is so disgusting, and then the the wood chipper was just straight up violent misogyny. I think it's possible to laugh at parts of the video, but have it not mitigate the recognition of hate-mongering. I think it's problematic that the majority of the public is just laughing that fatty Jessica Simpson eats burgers and lesbianism isn't real and violence against women is hilarious.
I take it seriously as a woman and a queer ally because it contributes to hatred in our culture. And it doesn't have to be that way. Humor doesn't have to be at the expense of already marginalized people, especially coming from a straight dude who benefits from it.
What is this crap? I miss the Marshall Mathers LP, as offensive and violent as it was, that was a masterpiece. Ever since the horrid 'Ass Like That' it's all been going down hill. It's a sad day for white rappers. Asher Roth is just not doing it for me.
lastbroadcast
All the comments calling the video brilliant are so depressing. The Jezebel commenting policy (rightly) says we're not allowed to call Jessica Simpson fat, but when Eminem does it-- and tells women to suck his little friend, and shoves a woman into a wood chopper-- it's clever and edgy?
Why does he get an exception?
mostlynormal
@fuzzyorangabear: Thank you for this. And for screaming. Some things need to be screamed about.
Nothing gets solved by screaming....other than making yourself feel better...at the cost of the point you were trying to make/fighting for.
@ketamineKitty: "I Just Called to Say I Love You"? I think that says it all.
ugh, the last three words I wanted to hear today were "new eminem video"
mollymoxie
I can't get over how pretty his make-up is when portraying Brett Michaels.
rockymay
As six pages of previous comments have pointed out, Eminem is a douche and a woman-hating asshole -- but I cannot tell a lie, his music is excellent for running and gym time, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Star Trek geekery! Amok Time parody? Yes please!
@afiunderground: rappers are getting so meta.
tobesthewonderdog
@mostlynormal: good point. Some of the same people who love him would jump all over him and get him banned if he was a commenter.
@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: "bleeding on the track"
This is why I love Hole, Sleater Kinney, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins. They pour their guts out, they're raw and brutally honest, but they also aren't sexist and homophobic.
Eminem wants to have it both ways. He wants to be the edgy guy who tells it like it is, yet he dodges criticism by saying he isn't serious. Which is it?
Funny video...utterly disappointing track. I miss the old Eminem. Ever since "The Eminem Show" he seems to have fallen off.
@NoelleBlue: word. and i love old sue (johanson?) although she does have a pretty heteronormative idea of sex.
tobesthewonderdog
Ugh, sorry, I can't deal with this. He has two or three good songs for sure but the rest is utter shit. In regards to rap about passion and dissonance--especially towards women---I'll take Atmosphere any day of the week.
@PyroVixen: There's a stark difference in expressing pent-up, generic rage and spewing bigotry.
AndalucÃa
Pretty brilliant. The only people who won't like it are the uptight PC nazi's on the left and the equally uptight family-values fun police on the right.
Almostbanned
I must find a pink ALF shirt. Immediately.
Also, I never before realized that Eminem is a great deal prettier than I am.
@HanaMaru: No shit, but he'd never do that and then cop out by saying it's all a joke or "satire." And his fans sure as hell wouldn't come up with lame rationalizations ("He's really mocking racism!") or say shit, like, "You just don't get it." Really? You could say that about right-wing talk radio then. Em's just another Ann Coulter to me.
Even if you believe his intent is somehow benign, the effect is not.
@eri401: Oh, how I wish it were true. When you're repetitively subjected to intolerance and hate, to the point such hate becomes casual, the assumptions behind it become all the more entrenched as you become more desensitized. Think: people listening to Rush Limbaugh as "background" on their way to work.
AndalucÃa
@hortense: Is it just me or is he also referencing cry baby? the electric chair, the big hair and dancing in the jailhouse?
That's mad old.
ammre
@NoelleBlue: Be nice to pseudo-male feminists if you choose to, but I don't feel the need to, especially when they get started with the insults. Who's the "her" that's attempting to placate or normalize the tones? Are you talking about the man who got the insults started, and continued on, glibly suggesting "crazy people" be a stand-in for "crazy dogs"? If you call what I wrote screaming, then, I don't see how you see him as doing anything but. I don't consider it my job as a woman in the feminist movement to hold a man's hand and use soothing tones when he comes out disrespecting.
You're exhibiting a number of false assumptions: that I am anti-porn, that I think it cannot be healthy to consume, that I'm not aware of porn showing safe or consensual sex, that there is a connection between anti-porn and anti-sex, that I am hypocritical when it comes to ethics and labor issues in other areas of my life, and so on. I think that underpinning your whole essay is an assumption that because I surmised that Nighthawk lacked a substantive pro-porn argument, I don't think any such argument exists. This is a false inference.
If you think the creation of porn can be viewed separately from it's consumption, I disagree with you on that. And unlike with clothing or food, supporting ethically made porn does not mean that one would otherwise support filmed rape. So it's faulty logic to say that you're doing your part to fight the filmed rape by buying the Candida Royalle, any more than I fight it by buying a new coffee table.
@AndalucÃa: Nice comparison there, to Ann COulter. He is like the rap version of her.
@hortense: Yeah, the song didn't do a thing for me. More rapping and less awkward singing.
@PopCultureIsAFarce: HEY CARSON!!!! I'm Elopingthemilieu from CHICAGO--REPRESENT CHI TOWNNNNNNNN and I'd like to request NSYNC's Its Gonna Be Me because Justin's bedazzled pants are SEXAYYY!!!!11111
Elopingthemilieu
@HanaMaru: This kind of confuses me. I thought the original commenter was a woman who liked porn/erotica (including the woman in nailing Palin in the video)? I didn't think they were a dude...
I also don't understand your comparisons. Does supporting ethical erotica = supporting filed rape? Or does supporting ethical erotica =/= supporting filmed rape? I just think I might have missed you point when you started talking about food and coffee tables. I'm curious to hear your point, so feel free to PM me if you're done with commenting on this threat.
@NoelleBlue:
@hortense: Both are awful.
sparklylegwarmers
@hortense: I guess this is what he's been up to for the past few years. And I'm not a music expert or enthusiast or anything, but it sounds like a number from a musical.
Sophieindeed
@haguenite: I'd be quite happy if he wanted to shock by killing himself instead.
sangmo
This is why I'm really sorry he's back. Once a misogynist, always a misogynist.
sangmo
@trulymadlyme: Oh, I see that the original commenter is a dude. Ah, that makes more sense now.
@HanaMaru: I'm also confused, but this doesn't have any place positive to go.
I did indeed, because you went to the "Thanks for playing!" Level of discourse, that you didn't think a pro-porn argument existed. It suggests a sense of an insurmountable position. Nor do I think you're hypocritical in terms of food and clothes... that was a general comparison, not a personal one. It is very possible you live in a self-sustaining biosphere whilst lounging in a 100 self-made plant-ingredient loin cloth and sipping your sweat filtered into drinking water.
What sounds like a nice life, really.
But you truly seem to be inferring that much of what said to you is personal, so I see a brick wall. And that, my friend, is my last inference.
(Oh okay I can't COMPLETELY Shut up I do disagree - support of a product that is made by a positively run company and boycotting of a product that is not is indeed my part, and it's a valid one. If more ethically made porn was available - or if porn were less of a sleazy industry - I think it would indeed help drive down consumption of filmed rape.)
NoelleBlue
@Elopingthemilieu: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
*flounces off to YouTube to watch that video*
@vamusical: ducks quack, dogs bark, cats meow
BUNNYLUV
My writeup said: Taking on the same voice to rap as he did in "Ass Like That" the song mentions several celebrities and continues with pop culture references. Eminem said he was going to focus more on rhymes and less jokey material after his last release and that doesn't seem to be the case here judging by this song. It comes across as tired, the beat sounds older then his last two albums and after waiting so long for new material it's disappointing to get this. Hopefully Relapse has better songs then We Made You because it isn't a good start.
@HanaMaru: i leave to go to the gym and i come back to this. But since you assumed that I did not have a pro-porn argument which addresses the power structure, the health risks, and the "Drugged coercion" i'll go one by one, pointing out that this is the porn which i directly consume.
Power Structure: i don't support male-owned companies. it makes the consumption hard (and excuse that pun) but you can still do it if you want to. For instance.... Pink-and-White Productions (who does the hot-as-shit Crash Pad Series), Platinum Jewel Pictures (part-owned by Jewel De'Nyle), and everything Tristan Taormino does.
Health Risks: I can't control this. I very much want to see everyone's testing records before i watch their porn but i have to trust that they get tested for various and sundry diseases.
Drugged Coercion: *sigh* not everyone who gets into porn, or stays in porn, drinks and drugs. I know the number is 90%. that might change or not change depending on who you talk to and when you talk to them.
The trick is not to stop consuming, but to find better choices for your consumption. For instance..... I don't watch Gonzo at all, or stuff where the girl is treated like a stupid slut.
And finally..... I insulted anti-porn feminists because in my opinion their position is foolish and in the same way restrictive as those who were holding back the rights which they fought to get. to you this might not be the case, and i can respect that your opinion is different from mine. And that's all I am going to say.
I'd like to debate the "knows how to rap" statement. I love all the celebrities he is mocking - Amy Winehouse, Kim Kardashian: wow, congratulations, dude, welcome to two years ago.
His work is incredibly derivative, and for people who give him props for his refusal to be politically correct, as though that was some sort of novelty, I posit that he hasn't said anything 2LiveCrew hadn't already said during the Reagan administration.
The only reason he's gotten any attention is the same reason Tyler Hansbrough does now. yeah, he's a white dude, but no one seems to notice how he flails around under the basket when Lawson, Ellington, and Green have all the nice moves.
i don't feel like the video "mocks women" in general, in a way i should be offended by as a feminist, just because it mocks some celebrity women. i'm not offended on their behalf. just about everyone in the video really would spew money in a wood chipper, and most of them have earned the abuse, due to lack of talent or public displays of awfulness.
@NoelleBlue: Thank you guys. I found your points interesting and illuminating. For serious. Kudos.
i definitely don't love his voice and think this isn't as lyrically impressive as some of his previous stuff. however, he does look ridiculously pretty as brett michaels.
@RedVelvetCake: I don't get it either. He is not putting all these people in the video to mock their fame, he is doing it to ride on their fame.
@RedVelvetCake: Yeah, it's a mystery to me why anyone likes him.
mostlynormal
@mostlynormal: Seriously! What the hell is going on in this thread?
@HanaMaru: You summed up the way I feel about this perfectly. Thank you.
My angsty teenaged high school outcast self will always love Slim Shady.
@+ Watch video
Schmalerie