Eminem, “Stan” | Controversial Tunes 😈🎶

On the 7^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, “Stan” by Eminem. 

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ring on the controversy! Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows and totally stirred the pot.  The records that grace Controversial Tunes are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  On the 7^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, 🎵 “Stan” by 🎙 Eminem.

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Theme & Lyrics ✍

Controversy and 🎙 Eminem are synonymous it seems.  Among the most brilliant rappers in music history, Marshall Matthers tops the list of most controversial. His approach is edgy, pushing the envelope over the mountain, essentially. Among his many Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 is 🎵 “Stan”, which appears on his legendary 2000 album, 💿 The Marshall Mathers LP.  The song and subject matter even managed to create a brand-new word, stan: an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan. Stanley, the “stan” from the song, exemplifies the dangerous, over-devoted fan.

Three out of four verses find Eminem rapping from Stan’s perspective.  In the first verse, we get a picture of how obsessed he is, connecting with the rapper on a much deeper level than fans/musicians generally connect.  Stan writes a letter to Eminem, hoping he’ll respond back to him. Notably, he mentions his pregnant girlfriend, with who he has a suspect relationship with. By the second verse, Stan still hasn’t received a response and becomes more upset. He’s taken with Eminem in a fanatical sense.  By the third verse, the most memorable from Stan’s perspective, things are off-the-rails.  He’s angry with Em, addressing him as “Dear Mr. I’m-Too-Good-to-Call-or-Write-My-Fans,” and asserting, “This’ll be the last package I ever send your ass.” He goes on to depict risky behavior, including “Doin’ 90 on the freeway” and “drinking a fifth of vodka.”  Ultimately, things don’t end well for Stan.  Eminem finally responds on the fourth and final verse, rapping as himself for the first time.  He encourages Stan to get help, but realizes by the end, Stan is dead.

So, where does the controversy come in with this modestly successful single (in the United States, at least)?  In the fourth verse, Eminem came off as homophobic to some, namely GLAAD:

“And what’s this shit about us meant to be together

That type of shit’ll make me not want us to meet each other.”

Without context, or unintentionally, this line could be viewed as homophobic because Stan is so taken with Eminem, it sounds gay to the rapper – something he disapproves.  Furthermore, given Mathers’ explicitness throughout his career, would it be far-fetched if he went to take a jab at the LGBTQ here? Nope, because GLAAD wasn’t merely mad at him about “Stan.” Still, the thing is, in this case, the homophobic claims seem like a stretch. Stan shows himself to be an obsessive person with mental issues, hence why Eminem might take pause in meeting him because he’s unstable. Worth noting, 🎙 Elton John, an openly gay musical icon, who performed “Stan” with the rapper live, had no issues with the lyrics.

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Music Video 🎶📼

The music video 🎶📼 for 🎵 “Stan” is disturbing too (the Eminem shrine alone).  Considering we are referencing a mentally disturbed person with clear trauma happening in his life, it makes perfect sense we’d get an edgy clip.  Notably, a creepy Devon Sawa and 🎙 Dido are the actors in this tale where Sawa goes off the deep end obsessed with Eminem.  Dido is significant for more than her acting chops, of course.  Her 1999 song, 🎵 “Thank You” is sampled.  It ends up being the perfect match for this record.

“My tea’s gone cold, I’m wondering why I

Got out of bed at all

The morning rain clouds up my window

And I can’t see at all

And even if I could it’d all be gray

But your picture on my wall

It reminds me that it’s not so bad, it’s not so bad.”

In the music video, there’s ample censorship lyrically.  Also, we only get an impression of the dysfunctional, strained relationship between Stan and his pregnant girlfriend. We do see, however, Stan drives off the bridge drunk, and the aftermath in the cemetery. The video clips where he’s interacted with the rapper at shows is neat.

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Final Thoughts 💭

Honestly, I could write a book on “Stan,” one of the best songs of the Eminem catalog.  As to why this classic didn’t perform better in the United States, I’ll never understand.  Sure, it’s controversial – what do you expect from Eminem – but he’s done much worse, NO CAP!

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🎙 Eminem • 💿 The Marshall Mathers LP • 🏷 Interscope • 🗓 2000
Eminem, “Stan”: Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 No. 7 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, cottonbro, Darkmoon_Art,  TheDigitalArtist, inna mikitas, Interscope, Isabela Catão, Jonathan Nenemann, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, Tazz Vaughn, Victoria Borodinova, zzzvector]

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