I thought I would start a discussion here about one of Eminem's recent songs from his new album because it has some themes that are relevant to the topics Stef often covers on FDR and I'd like to get this community's thoughts about it. The song is called "Headlights" from Eminem's new album, Marshall Mathers LP 2. I wont paste the lyrics here because they do contain coarse language, but you can read them over at Rap Genius. I also wont share the song itself, obviously, because it's copyrighted. As the title of the album suggests, it's a sequel of sorts to his critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful 2002 album, The Marshall Mathers LP. Each song on 2013's sequel is not a direct sequel to songs from the 2002 original, but there are many references and allusions to songs from the original Marshall Mathers LP. "Headlights" could be considered a follow-up, ten years on, to "Cleaning Out My Closet" from 2002. That song was about his mother, who he has referenced many times through his music, making his abusive relationship with his mother very public. I can share this song because it is hosted on YouTube by Eminem's official Vevo channel (and is censored, so no language warning on this one).
There are many other songs in which Eminem references his abusive relationship with his mother, especially from his earlier work. Yet, after everything he has ever said about her in his music, in 2013's "Headlights" he essentially forgives her. I find this interesting, and I thought this community would too, as Stef has often talked about whether it's healthy to forgive abuse and the important at being angry about your abuse so you wont repeat it. Here are some lyrics (that don't contain coarse language).
Here Eminem essentially says, "I still love you because you're my mother." This is that old idea that you are supposed to love your parents, and respect your parents, for no other reason than they are your parents. They don't need to demonstrate virtue, they just needed to conceive you.
Nathan is his brother who, earlier in the song, Eminem explains was taken away from their mother by the state. But he forgives her, apparently, and so does Marshall. Because she, "did her best," which is something I'm sure will frustrate many of you to hear.
I like the song. The Rap Genius website I linked to above noticed a similarity in the sound of the beat with John Lennon's "Mother," which I hadn't noticed but makes sense. It's very nice, musically, and Eminem's rapping is very emotive. If I had never listened to an FDR podcast I probably would have thought this song was a very nice sentiment. He's apologising to his mother despite everything they've been through, how lovely. Which is exactly the general response I've seen to this song. But I'm sure the community here would have a different view of it, so I'm interested to hear your thoughts.
I think the worst error Eminem is making with this song is thinking that forgiving his mother has something to do with maturity. Maturity is a big theme on this album. It has to be, given that he's doing a follow-up to an album he made in 2002, in the early years of his career. He's ten years older now, he's been through drug addiction, rehab, and is now in his early forties. A lot of this album is looking back on that 2002 material as a man who has matured by ten years. I think "Headlights" is Eminem trying to be mature about his 2002 hit, "Cleaning Out My Closet," and forgiving his mother rather than publicly calling her out for the abuse he received as a child.
