Is he as much of an idiot as he seems? The other day in art class someone put on his Greatest Hits CD and I was shocked at how profane and full of hate his lyrics were. There was this one sng called "Fack" which was incredibly stupid and juvenile. Whatever happened to singers who reached of love and understanding?

Most of his singles are good. But he's just playing the rock and roll game - just like swearing, biting heads off bats, makeup, dressing up like Donald Duck, wearing suits, spitting, crowd surfing, w*nking, showing your todger - it sells.
And like him or not he is huge and is talented in his field (and lyricly as good as any rock writer) . He has the right sound and the right image at the right time. All the power to him I say.

Can't stand White people that try to talk, act, etc., like Black people. Rap just isn't my thing, but we've been through this on a previously hotly contested thread.

I've always been again censorship in music until I heard that awful homophobic song he did. I think it was called "Criminal".

Eminem should realize that he has a big influence on young people and that it he says something hateful about homosexuals, it's gonna make life a lot harder for a lot of young homosexual people.

Quoted from Mairi

Whatever happened to singers who reached of love and understanding?

Paul always knew that:

Help them to learn (help them to learn)
Songs of joy instead of burn, baby, burn.
Let us show them how to play
The pipes of peace,
Play the pipes of peace

Eminem has no talent. If he had talent, he'd write songs that have real lyrics and actually SING them. Rapping can be a great art form, but it's also a great forum for the very untalented. Image goes a long way these days it seems and talent is just secondary. Can you imagine John writing lyrics filled with profanity? Of course not cuz he didn't have to. He knew how to express himself with more than 5 words at a time.

The context of his music isn't shocking to me personally, because it's all been done before.
I just think he's a nugget.

Quoted from IndicaWalrus

The context of his music isn't shocking to me personally, because it's all been done before.
I just think he's a nugget.

lol hehe very true

Quoted from Maccalvr

. Can you imagine John writing lyrics filled with profanity? Of course not cuz he didn't have to.  

Did John have to get his todger out on an album cover?    
Did he have to say f*ck on working class hero*, or use the word n*gger  on Woman is....
John was happy to shock when it suited.
I too find excessive swearing in music unneccessary (sp) and tiresome, but then again I don't think I'm in his target audience (praise the Lord.)

* In '69 his one f*ck was probably as shocking then as ane album full of of f*cks  on an album now.

Quoted from Maccalvr

. Image goes a long way these days it seems and talent is just secondary.  

I think that's a bit unfair. Rock has always been as much about image as the music. Whether its John putting on a suit, or middle class Mick Jagger pretending to be a working class rebel, a bands image is as vital as its sound.  Get it wrong and it's bye-bye.
And if rap appears excessively image conscious (which I'm not sure it is), then that's because we now live in an excessively image conscious world.

I'm talking about the Brittany's and Jessica Simpsons. What the hell do they have to offer other than how they look on stage? Image is a part of it. But now with a lot of these people it's all of it. That's all I'm saying. It's become more important than the talent. At least Lennon and Jagger have talent.

Quoted from kevin_b

Did John have to get his todger out on an album cover?    
Did he have to say f*ck on working class hero*, or use the word n*gger  on Woman is....
John was happy to shock when it suited.
I too find excessive swearing in music unneccessary (sp) and tiresome, but then again I don't think I'm in his target audience (praise the Lord.)

* In '69 his one f*ck was probably as shocking then as ane album full of of f*cks  on an album now.

Yeah, Lennon used it to make a point a few times. Rappers use it to fill in the blanks.

I agree with you on Brittany (though I'll happily dance to Ooops and Hit Me) and Jessica. But hasn't every generation  had those? Unfortunately I guess MTV has pushed image to a premium (and yes, probably more so than in the past.)
How did the song go - "video killed the radio star."

Hello Sandra. Seems I always end up defending rap, and I can't stand most of it. I think what you say applies to many many modern rap acts. Like Beat music in the early 60's rap is the music of the moment, and anyone with the right look seems to be able to get a contract. (just like anyone with an Englisgh accent could get one in '64.)
I just think Eminem stands out as an actual talent, but I guess we'll have to agree to differ on that. Do you not think think his lyrics in Stan are any good?

I guess I haven't gotten through a whole lot of his lyrics. Although I've read some. I wasn't that impressed. It seems like he just writes different variations on the same theme. I don't know. I guess I don't want to hear about his life. So I won't rag on him anymore untill I become more informed. That voice of his also gets on my nerves, but that's another story.