Not Afraid

[spoonless]

Via rosicrucian

Well... I own 3 of Eminem CD's (the most of any artist in my collection), plus the 8 Mile DVD, and have considered myself a fan of his for over 10 years (ever since the Slim Shady LP came out in 1999, which blew me away). But I have to say, Marshall Mathers still has a unique ability to surpise and inspire me:

Admittedly there's something that feels a little bit too polished or commercial about this song, almost as if it's a Nike or Pepsi commercial. And I don't think it measures up lyrically to some of his other great works. But especially towards the end, I find it is pretty hard not to react emotionally to it. Twice in a row I broke into tears watching it, even while trying not to and thinking "ok, this time it's not going to get me". I think I'll wait till tomorrow to give it another try. Seems to fit so many themes in my life. Perhaps it's the same reason I liked the Matrix so much... clearly there are some strong references to Neo in it.

Another good video released recently, of course, is Gaga's Alejandro, although I will resist the temptation to link to that as I've linked to enough of her art lately and those of you who are fans have probably already seen it, and those of you who aren't... probably don't care. Also, while massively cool, I don't think it measures up to the Telephone video.

Comments

[ankh-f-n-khonsu.livejournal.com]

I've also been impressed with some of Eminem's work. On the other hand, I've found much of his work unimpressive. I think, on balance, I like that body of work more than I dislike it, but it's not a resolute affinity. However, if I take a larger, more critical view of the man and his work, I'm far less sympathetic. In a sense, I think Eminem is a lot like Aleister Crowley. Both had a body of work that hid substantially liberative ideologies, but both are deeply marred human beings.

Eminem aside, I wonder if Gaga's "Alejandro" has any correlation with Alejandro Jodorowsky. My ... disdain for Gaga hasn't subsided in the least, but I have come across a few more scholarly analyses of her work and tweeted them under #culture.

[vaelynphi.livejournal.com]

It's a shame that man didn't get to make Dune...

...just imagine how much more trippy it would be!

[ankh-f-n-khonsu.livejournal.com]

Agreed!

[spoonless.livejournal.com]

In a sense, I think Eminem is a lot like Aleister Crowley. Both had a body of work that hid substantially liberative ideologies, but both are deeply marred human beings.

I sort of assumed you would just say he was another tool of the recording industry. This is a lot more interesting.

I won't claim I like every song he's done either, or every theme he has put in there.

But thinking of it in terms of him hiding liberative themes in there makes me realize how to say how I feel about this one. His work used to be so complex, and that's one of the things that made it interesting. And this one is a lot simpler and more boring... however, it's inspiring and amazing to me to see that he feels like he doesn't have to hide behind all of the twisted jokes and sarcasm and bullshit any more. I can't quite tell for sure whether this is his most or least sincere work... although I lean towards thinking that it is his most sincere.

[vaelynphi.livejournal.com]

I certainly agree with your analysis, and, truthfully, as usual the *music* isn't bad. However much I've never especially liked Eminem, his music has always displayed talent.

Of course, I don't know if that's just because he has good producers, or if it's his choices, or what, but all of his songs display catchy and well-orchestrated tunes.

[vaelynphi.livejournal.com]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Why is everyone liking him?!?!?! Can't you all seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee he's soooooo lame?!?!

Okay, so that's an over-reaction; honestly, I couldn't bring myself to like the song since it all seemed so forced. He didn't always seem to own his anger, either, so it's not entirely surprizing to me; however, he was certainly better at projecting it than... paternal feelings?

[spoonless.livejournal.com]

I can see how it comes across as a bit forced in places.

[roxymartini.livejournal.com]

i like eminem.. but i'm having a hard time seeing what it is you're reacting emotionally to. the suicide themes? But then when he starts flying around like superman, that doesn't cancel the emotionality?

I love gaga but alejandro wasn't that cool. i expect her to be weirder every time. you know, a constant upslope of oddity. but this one probably wasn't even as weird as bad romance. sad!

[nasu-dengaku.livejournal.com]

Meh. It's nothing near the intensity and musical sharpness of "Lose Yourself".

[spoonless.livejournal.com]

Musically I think Lose Yourself is still my favorite. Usually, I think of the video as being unimportant to how much I like a song, although for this one I feel like the video is very important and adds a lot of intensity and meaning to the song. Taken as a whole, it's def one of the best music videos I've ever seen, if not the best.

[nasu-dengaku.livejournal.com]

Hmm... with all the Iron Man stuff coming out, the video doesn't seem too special to me either.

My favorite videos:

Royksopp - Remind Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo4u4JJAPGk

Bjork - Bachelorette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a1bfbk_yQU

[elgecko.livejournal.com]

I hadn't seen it before now. Yes. The end is very powerful for me as well. I don't know how else to describe it but the rest seems like a life support system for the section starting at 2:58.

I think it's because I had a conversation with a divorced mum of two who is having a VERY hard time. I'm dating a widowed mother of three. Partnered with a divorced mother of three. Also dating a woman who is only three years escaped from the same sort of ghetto in which I grew up.

So yeah. That.

[spoonless.livejournal.com]

It's good to know that somebody else "gets it" =)