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MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT 1: The Eminem Year

This year in music was Eminem's year. With several chart-topper singles and five Grammy nominations, Eminem has a bright career ahead of him. "Without Me," "Cleaning out my Closet," and "Hailey's Song," from The Eminem Show, and "Lose Yourself," from the 8 mile soundtrack have been his biggest hits.

"Without Me" jumped into the countdowns of every radio station featuring Rap/Hip Hop/R&B. It was even featured in several Rock stations. The song itself is somehow an updated version of the Slim Shady song featured in his debut album with a much faster pace. However, in this song he has much more to speak about bald stars (Moby) and overthrown kings (Elvis). Too bad to be Batman, Eminem dresses as Robin in the video and rescues every child from listening to music without the "Parental Guidance" label. "Without Me" is competing against such singles as "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback, and "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton, in the Grammy race.

"Cleaning out My Closet" was next to jump into action. This song climbed the chart with the same pace as "Without Me." The song expresses Eminem's rage against his mother. He sings about how his mother was unsupportive of him at all times in his life. The song is however too offensive to be heard by unprepared ears.

"Hailie's Song" climbed the charts slowly and did not hold the #1 spot for a very long time. The song is a cheerful song about the father and daughter relationship between Eminem and Hailie, his seven-year-old daughter. He attacks his mother briefly in this song, but his major theme glorifies the father-daughter relationship.

The song that rocked the radio waves and also advertised his movie "8 Mile" in the past few months is his single "Lose Yourself" from the motion-picture soundtrack. "Lose Yourself" describes the frustration of the central character, Rabbit, played by Eminem. The song describes the intoxication that Rabbit feels in the current affairs of his life and how he desires to overcome them with the "one shot" he has at changing everything for the good of his family. It wouldn't be surprising the see this song at next year's Grammy nominations.

"The Eminem Show," the album that features the first three singles in this article, has been nominated for Best Album at the Grammies. Eminem has received this award before for his album "The Slim Shady LP" in 1999. The reason why Eminem is so appreciated is because his music is appealing to all kinds of music fans including Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, and Rock (maybe not Country).

--Written by Hemant Tavathia

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Read MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT 2: 2003 Golden Globes: Motion Picture Nominees