Eminem was born in 1972 as Marshall Bruce Mathers III. A few months after his birth, his father, Mr Mathers, left, abandoning the infant and his mother. Eminem: “I was a baby, maybe I was just a couple of months. My faggot father must have had his panties up in a bunch, cuz he split. I wonder if he even kissed me goodbye. No, I don't on second thought, I just fuckin' wished he would die.” (‘Cleaning Out My Closet’).
Not only is he successful as a rapper, but Eminem also demonstrates his versatility as an actor. In the 2002 film 8 Mile, Eminem himself plays the lead role of a young rapper trying to forge a career in the music industry. The film's title song, 'Lose Yourself', earned him an Oscar for Best Original Song.
Sunday Morning Classic: Lose Yourself
On 20 June 2021, Eminem was featured as a Sunday Morning Classic at De Platenbar with Lose Yourself.
This song was for his film 8 Mile, and once you've seen the film, it all makes sense, but for me, it all made sense prior to the film, which is why I liked it so much. His film was clearly a reflection of how Eminem had grown and what he had to go through to get his breakthrough. You participate in rap battles in beautiful, dark, hostile clubs where you either stand up and make your flow work or you crumble before a ruthless crowd.
This song is about seizing your opportunity, earning the respect you crave, and ensuring that once you've taken the shot you've dreamed of, there's only one winner, and that's you. It's about working so hard that you can leave your low-paying job behind and make it big, ensuring you can fulfil your dreams for the sake of yourself and your family.
Eminem made it here as an artist, but also has a strong message for everyone out there. If you have a dream, chances are you'll get that one opportunity to make your dream come true, and from now on, it's all about you. You might have one shot, and it's up to you to sink or swim. It's rather blunt, but when it comes to the music industry, it's also very true. Lose Yourself is simply a great song.
source: Jan Liebregts, NPO and Wikipedia photo: Mika-photography and DoD News Features
