Shpongle

I find his songs catchy to begin with, but usually get sick of them after about a week.

scigirl

A related question - anyone seen 8 mile (which Eminem won an oscar for - for music)? Is it good?

scigirl

Vespertine

I wondered about him winning an Oscar for music... Were the other selections really that poor?

FatherTorque666

I like Eminem....and considering the bulk of my music collection, you would probably be suprised.

a8o

I was extremely dissapointed seeing 8 Mile.

My reasons were numerous:

Firstly, relating to this sense of invincibility Eminem had surrounding his character - he was just so fucking untouchable, even though he was extremely repressed being the only white man in a black neighbourhood, not getting breaks despite his talent and his families' social problems. It was just not a realistic portrayl of what life would have been like, in spite of excellent grimly defining camera shots.

And the thin plot (oh very thin) made the numerous inconsistancies and bullshit developments seem so big and so very important. I enjoyed the first freestyle session Eminem 'wove his magic in' but after a while it just became monotonous, just like most rap music.

I am actually a fan of the seminal stuff such as Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy, Run DMC, De La Soul and Eric B & Rakim, but find modern rap (sorry, Hip-Hop) to be largely lacking the X factor. Of couse, there are exceptions (Mr Lif, El-P, DJ Shadow) but, sadly, Eminem misses the boat. I suppose one good thing to come from this film is that it is able to lure those middle aged people who would never otherwise have any exposure to Eminem and the phenomenom (grammar?) surrounding him - believe it or not, most people have not actually sat down and listened to his music - so this film provides a nice vehicle to display Eminem as a sort of demi-god, putting him up on a pedestal to help him sell more records.

Primordial Groove

His slim shady song got me laid, so, yeah, I guess i like his music.

Jagged

I like him, sometimes in spite of my better judgement. I got pretty sick of hearing "Cleaning Out my Closet" and "Without Me," they were so overplayed on the radio. But I see him as a guy who, tho he may be immature, is trying to find a way thru the demons of his past by being as honest as he can with himself. Anyone who does that is courageous and admirable in my book.

To second elwoodblues, I'm also glad he's out there pissing people off. People here get pissed off about all the wrong stuff.

I *have* been getting a bit tired of seeing his face lately tho. Why can't we hear some other voices too? We only play those artists who are guaranteed to bring in the bucks... After awhile it's not even about the music, just about the industry. Sick sick sick and wrong.

btw, If those who have tagged me as a feminist fanatic could see me defending this guy...

Ooh girl that's too damn bad,
Don't touch what you can't grab,
End up with two back hands,
Put Anthrax on a Tampax and slap you till you can't stand,
("Superman")

anthrax on a tampax?? how did he come up with that gem?

Purr

I used to despise rap, but after listening to it a little at a time, it really grows on you. I sort of have an understand with the music that I can't explain. I like Emimen's music, and I'm sure if I ever met Marshall, I'd like him too. I've read a lot of interviews with people who have worked with him, and they all say that they were surprised to see how sweet he really is.

I guess part of his allure is the whole "bad boy with a soft side" thing. A lot of women find bad guys attractive, but it's really, really sexy if you see a softer side. A macho man with a sensitive side, but not too much femininity. *swoon*

Unfortunately for him, people think they 'get' him when they don't even know him. Of course, it works to his advantage.

"First thing you say, "I'm not fazed, I hang around big stars all day/I don't see what the big deal is anyways, you're just plain old Marshall to me"/Oooh yah girl run that game, "Hailie Jade, I love that name, love that tatoo, what's that say? Rot in pieces? Uh, that's great"/First off you don't know Marshall, at all so grow partial, that's ammo for my arsenal" - Superman

elwoodblues

Well, take a look at the competition...

Burn It Blue from FRIDA (Miramax)

Music by Elliot Goldenthal

Lyric by Julie Taymor

Father and Daughter from THE WILD THORNBERRYS MOVIE (Paramount and Nickelodeon Movies)

Music and Lyric by Paul Simon

The Hands That Built America from GANGS OF NEW YORK (Miramax)

Music and Lyric by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen

I Move On from CHICAGO (Miramax)

Music by John Kander

Lyric by Fred Ebb

Lose Yourself from 8 MILE (Universal)

Music by Eminem, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto

Lyric by Eminem

You've got another sentimental piece of comfortable mediocrity from Paul Simon, something from Chicago (which got other awards, so it didn't 'need' this one), something from Frida, and a NY anthem from U2. The only one which is really important to the movie it's in, integral to it's subject, is Eminem's offering. Plus, it was a chance to show that the Academy was hip and down with the kids.

trunks2k

Both, for the same reasons that Automaton mentioned.