The Eminem Show might surprise some people, I know that it has pleasantly shocked me. Yes, he swears, he has this tough guy persona, but underneath he is just
another human being with a softer side, especially highlighted in track 14. Hailie's Song.

No matter what you think about Eminem (Marshall Mathers) he is most definitely entertaining and this album is no exception. Mainly performed in his standard hip hop style, this album has a fabulous
rock-rap collaboration with Aerosmith (track 12. Sing For The Moment) and a dance style song (track 16 When The Music Stops), as well as the customary skits that you expect on any Eminem CD.

I instantly noticed that this CD is a lot less angry than Marshall Mathers EP. Eminem is still angry about the past and annoyed with people for mistaking him for his persona (Slim Shady) as well as swearing like a trouper throughout, but he shows a vulnerable and sensitive side that is incredibly endearing.

If you like soulful vocals or dislike foul language then this is resolutely not the album for you, but if you enjoy hip hop tinged with black humour then you should listen to this a few times and challenge your
pre-conceptions about Eminem.

WARNING: This cd is not for childrem, Eminem himself emphasises this. The album contains explicit language, both violent and sexual in nature.

Eminem - The Eminem Show. Released 27th May 2002.

1. Curtains Up (skit)
A very brief introduction of music and a cough.

2. White America
This song is a comment on racism and the American government.

"If I was black I would have sold half"

Eminem is a novelty as a white rapper. White kids connect with Eminem because he's rapping and looks like them:

"kids flipped when they knew I was produced by Dre/That's all it took, and they were instantly hooked right in, and they connected with me too because I looked like them/that's why they put my lyrics up under this microscope, searchin' with a fine tooth comb, its like this rope/waitin' to choke, tightening around my throat"

This is not one of the strongest tracks on the album and I'd only give it 6/10.

3. Business
(introduction from Dre)

This is a catchy hip hop tune about hip hop/Marshall. Dre is portrayed as Batman with Eminem as his Robin:

"You bout to witness hip hop in its most purest, more rawest form, flow almost flawless/most hardest, most honest known artist, chip off the old block, but good
old Doc is BACK/Looks like Batman brought his own Robin."

The beat of this song is very catchy and the rapping is entertaining as usual. I think it is likely that Eminem will release this as a single.

8/10

4. Cleanin Out My Closet

In this track, Eminem is getting all his skeletons out into the open. He points out his mum's faults and the pain it has caused him.

The verses are rapped but Eminem sings the chorus, the vocals of which are pretty good:

"I'm sorry, Mama. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to make you cry, but tonight I'm cleanin' out my closet."

The beat is very laid back and sounds more like an R&B track than Eminem's usually aggressive hip hop.

9/10

5. Square Dance

This song has a funny introduction, sounding like hiccups. Here Eminem appears to be targeting the country-listening, square-dancing hicks from the Deep South with his mock hick accent in the introduction
and chorus. The song itself becomes a strange mix of hip hop and country, almost becoming the thing is mocks:

"C'mon now, let's all get on down, let's do-si-do now, we gon' have a good ol' time/Don't be scared, cus there ain't nothin' to worry 'bout, let your hair
down, and square dance with me!"

The message of this song is that people criticise and hate Eminem when there's much worse people out there like Saddam Hussein.

Entertaining and true in its message, I'd give this 7/10.

6. The Kiss (skit)

In this skit Eminem tells his friend that he is going to kill the woman inside the house (presumably his ex). Eminem laughs as he tells his friend that his gun isn't even loaded:

"It's not even loaded b*tch, look"

This blends into the introduction of the next song.

7. Soldier

The introduction of this song merges with the previous skit, asking "Did she just kiss him?"

There's a strong bass beat with a lovely guitar background as Eminem raps his fast, breathless lyrics. His rap is much more angry sounding, as most of Marshall Mathers EP was, but his singing of the lyrics "I'm a soldier" is quite gentle but firm sounding.

"I'm a soldier, these shoulders hold up so much, they won't budge, I'll never fall or fold up/I'm a soldier, Even if my collar bones crush or crumble, I will never slip or stumble/I'm a soldier, These shoulders hold up so much, they won't budge, I'll never fall or fold up/I'm a soldier, Even if my collar bones crush or crumble, I will never stumble"

The message of this song is that Eminem loves
upsetting his critics.

9/10.

8. Say Goodbye Hollywood

Another catchy song, Eminem sings the introduction then proceeds to rap. The beat is less fast, and sad sounding, but the lyrics emphasise a kind of anger that he has had to sacrifice his privacy because of fame:

"if I could go back, I never woulda rapped/I sold my soul to the devil, I'll never get it back, I just wanna leave this game with level head intact/Imagine goin' from bein' a no one to seein', everything blow up and all you did was just grow up mcing/It's fuckin' crazy, cus all I wanted was to give Hailie the life I never had, but instead I forced us to live alienated"

Eminem doesn't want to end up dead or in jail because of his Hollywood lifestyle so he's saying goodbye.

8/10

9. Drips (Featuring Obie Trice)

This song contains extremely sexual lyrics so it could be safe to assume Eminem won't be releasing this as a single in the UK.

As usual the chorus is sung, this time by Eminem and Obie Trice. The bass is heavy but the song remains quite slow and seductive in its tempo and it deals with the issue of sex.

In verse 1 Obie Trice raps about having sex with Denise from the cleaners:

"Now I'm frusturated cuz my d*ck was unprotected, and Doctor Wesley tellin me I really got that sh*t"

In verse 2 Eminem says his woman is pregnant with another man's (Obie's persona) child and he worries that he has got AIDS:

"so you go to the clinic, sweatin' every minute you in it, then the doctor comes out lookin' like Dennis the Menace/and it's obvious to everyone in the lobby it's AIDS"

This may be just a rap song but it is also a warning to those with a promiscuous lifestyle to use condoms every time or else you will get STDs.

7/10

10. Without Me

Currently number 2 in the UK charts (formerly number 1) this song is so catchy and addictive. The song is fast in tempo, the rapping is fast paced and the bass is heavy. Like the video itself, the music is quite comic in its style.

Eminem reverts to his Slim Shady persona, as well as Rapboy to Dre's Batman image, to make more attacks on people, Moby and Limp Bizkit included:

"A tisk-it a task-it, I'll go tit for tat with anybody who's talking this sh*t that sh*t. Chris Kirkpatrick you can get your ass kicked/ worse than them little Limp Bizkit b*stards, and Moby/ you can get stomped by Obie, you 36 year old bald headed fag blow me/You don't know me, you're too old let go its over, nobody listens to techno/ Now lets go, give me the signal I'll be there with a whole list full of new insults"

I love this song and I'd give it 10/10.

11. Paul Rosenberg (skit)

This skit sounds like a real answering machine message.

12. Sing For The Moment (Featuring Aerosmith)

Gorgeous guitar playing, keyboards and bass teamed with rap and great vocals makes this an amazing song. Steve Tyler's strong vocals and Joe Perry's wonderful guitar solo compliments Eminem's rap, making this a
rap-rock sound. It sounds daft but works beautifully.

"C'mon! Sing with me (Sing!)/Sing for the year (Sing It)/Sing for the laughter/ sing for the tear C'mon!) / Sing it with me/Just for today/Maybe tomorrow/The good Lord will take you away..."

The message contained within these lyrics is that Eminem is blamed for all of society's ills but it is a false accusation. The faults lie within society itself.

An outstanding song, 10/10.

13. Superman (Featuring Dina Rae)

Slower in tempo once more this sounds like a love song, but Eminem vents about not being able to trust women because of the pain and betrayal they have put him through.

The vocals from Eminem and Dina Rae work really well. He explains that he can't be her Superman, her saviour because he can't let himself fall in love again, instead he just engages in casual sex:

"I don't want to flip when I see you with guys/too much pride, between you and I, not a jealous man, but females lie/But I guess that's just what sluts do, how could it ever be just us two?/I'd never love you enough to trust you, we just met and I just f*cked you"

8/10

14. Hailie's Song

In this track, Eminem admits that he can't sing, he's just a rapper but he wants to sing to express his love for Hailie. The lyrics and their touching message more than make up for his humble vocals, making this a very poignant song.

Slower in bear and more gentle sounding that the majority of Eminem's songs, Eminem sings about his love for his daughter Hailie, his reason to live. The music is heavy in bass but it is also very upbeat to reflect Eminem's happiness in getting Hailie back.

"My baby girl keeps getting' older. I watch her grow up with pride. People make jokes cuz they don't understand me, they just don't see my real side/ I act like sh*t don't phase me, inside it drives me crazy. My insecurities could eat me alive/But then I see my baby, suddenly I'm not crazy. It all makes sense when I look in her eyes."

In the lyrics Eminem points out his vulnerability. He may have a tough image but he has weaknesses, sensitivities and a soft side where his daughter is concerned.

An adorable 10/10.

15. Steve Berman (skit)
Performed by Steve Berman and Eminem.

Steve Berman, who criticised Eminem's music on Marshall Mathers EP, compliments this album... after being shot.

16. When The Music Stops (Featuring D12)

A fast, strong, repetitive beat makes this song sound a lot like Faithless' music. It is almost a dance beat laced with rap lyrics, fast and breathless.

"man I hate this crap, this ain't rap, this is crazy the way we act, when we confuse hip hop/with real life when the music stops"

The lyrics are about the false friendships that come with fame and leave just as fast when your success ebbs.

Very funky and different in style to Eminem's other tracks. I'd give this 9/10.

17. Say What You Say (Featuring Dre)

Slower in tempo and heavier in bass, Eminem & Dre rap about being successful and powerful, a force to be reckoned with.

"(Dre) And I'm, somethin' of a phenom, one puff of the chron, I'm unstoppable, I'm alive and on top again/there's no obstacle that I can't conquer so come along wit us..Cmon"

This isn't one of my favourite Eminem tracks because it is too slow, oppressive sounding.

6/10.

18. 'Till I Collapse (Featuring Nate Dogg)

The soldier theme re-enters this song with the "Left, right, left" motif in the introduction, linking the songs up. It suggests that Eminem won't tire of
fighting until the day he dies.

The guitar and bass in this track sounds very funky, teamed with a loud clapping noise. It sounds somewhat like the traditional slave songs during the chorus,
due to its repetitive, chanting nature.

"Till the roof comes off, till the lights go out, / till my legs give out, can't shut my mouth / Till the smoke clears out and my high burns out, / I'ma rip this shit till my bones collapse.

Till the roof comes off, till the lights go out, (Until the roof) / till my legs give out, can't shut my mouth (The roof comes off) / Till the smoke clears out and my high burns out, (Until my legs) / I'ma rip this shit till my bones collapse.(Give out from
underneath me)"

7/10

19. My Dad's Gone Crazy (Featuring Hailie Jade)

This is a hilarious song featuring Eminem's daughter, Hailie, who is just adorable and adds to the comic style of this song. The song has a funky beat, sounding like something you'd hear on Scooby Doo as he
chases criminals.

"There's really nothin' else to say, I... I can't explain it/I think my dad's gone crazy / A little help from Hailie Jade, won't you tell 'em baby/I think my dad's gone crazy / There's nothin' you could do or say that could ever change me/I think my dad's gone crazy/There's no one on earth that can save me, not even Hailie/I think my dad's gone crazy"

Behind the comic style of this song is a deeper message concerning Afghanistan and the World Trade Center. In contrast to our crazy world, Eminem seems very sane all of a sudden.

This song is very catchy and amusing if taken at face value, Hailie's contribution makes it a 9/10.

20. Curtains Close (skit)

This skit featuring Ken Kaniff is hilarious,
especially if you're a fan of Marshall Mathers EP. Ken Kaniff sings his own version of Without Me:

"Guess who's back?
Back again..
Ken is back, tell some.men
Rub my back, Rub my back, Rub my back, Rub my back..."

The first time you listen to this CD it might not seem like anything special, but after 3 listens I loved this album. I can't help singing it all of the time.