Eminem’s “Stan” Turns 20.
On this day in 2000, Eminem released his iconic track ‘Stan‘ as the third single from his third studio album ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’. The track featured English singer and songwriter Dido and it topped the charts in 12 countries including Germany, UK, Ireland, and Australia.
20 year ago today, @Eminem released “Stan.”
The track was met with critical acclaim and topped charts in 13 countries. It is widely credited for coining the term “stan,” which at the time referred to a stalker fan and later made its way into the Oxford English Dictionary. pic.twitter.com/fUg7Jig7J7
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 21, 2020
Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP, his debut album after becoming the world’s most renowned rapper, twenty years ago this week. There were plenty of noteworthy tunes to choose from. “The Real Slim Shady” and “The Way I Am,” for example, were MTV-ready reckonings with his newfound fame. “Kill You” and “Kim,” for example, were shockingly detailed homicidal eruptions. The CD was a master lesson in rhyming and strategically inciting anger. But there was one song in particular that stood out as a standout in his repertoire.
At the MTV Video Music Honors, the song was nominated for many awards, including Best Song, Video of the Year, Best Rap Video, Best Direction, and Best Cinematography. At the MuchMusic Video Awards, it was named Best International Artist Video.
The song did not do well on the charts, reaching at No. 51 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in December 2000. However, in the 20 years after its debut, “Stan” has been hailed as one of the best rap songs ever recorded by numerous publications, and has become a culturally significant phrase encompassing a full culture of online fan groups in the twenty-first century.
Eminem unfolded a narrative about Stan, whose adoration for Eminem turned into an insane fixation, set over a melancholy Dido sample that was softer and gentler than his normal rhythms. (His name was a combination of the words “stalker” and “fan.”) Each stanza was written in the style of a fan letter, progressing from complaints about Em’s lack of acknowledgment to a proposal that they should date. Stan eventually locks his pregnant girlfriend in the vehicle and drives off a bridge in a warped homage to his hero’s horrorcore dreams. It’s too late by the time Eminem, who is obviously busy, responds with some advice.
Do you know that Stan is an official Oxford dictionary word. Click here to read more.
Stan’s admiration grows from tame (“I got a room full of your posters and your pictures, man”) to obsessive and crazed (“You ruined it now, I hope you can’t sleep and you dream about it…”), culminating in the murder-suicide of himself and his pregnant girlfriend by drowning — all of which is brought to life in the chilling video for the song. Eminem (as himself) offers a far-too-late apology letter and suggests that Stan get mental assistance at the end of the song.
The narrative of Stanley Mitchell that we are all familiar with now differs significantly from the original version. During a 2011 appearance on Shade 45 radio, Eminem said that the original version is even more twisted. “There was a verse where (Stan) got out of the water. He escaped and came to my house to kill me,” he said. “Then I had to kill him first, (but) I missed him, and he was in the hospital for like three weeks. Then he was pissed off that I didn’t write him get-well cards, so he came to kill me again, and in the last verse, finally, I just blew his head off.”
The track was listed at number 15 on VH1’s list of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time and ranked at number 296 in Rolling Stone’s ‘The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time‘ list. The ‘Stan‘ word is also included in the Oxford English Dictionary which states that as an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity. The word is now widely used by fans of all other celebrities as well.
In 2020, Saturday Night Live aired “Stu,” a Christmas parody of “Stan,” starring Pete Davidson as Stu, who writes to Santa and becomes increasingly enraged when he does not respond to his demands for a PlayStation 5, with a cameo appearance from Eminem, who receives the system for Christmas.
Eminem replied to GLAAD’s criticism of his lyrics by playing “Stan” at the 2001 Grammy Awards, with singer Elton John singing Dido’s words. For example, “You’re like his favourite idol” was used instead of “You’re like his f**king idol,” and “stuff” was used instead of “s**t.” This performance was recorded and made available for download on Eminem’s official website, Eminem.com, and later on his greatest hits collection, Curtain Call: The Hits, released in 2005.
Stan producer Mark Howard James, professionally known as DJ Mark the 45 King, passed away in October 2023. Eminem took to his social media to post a tribute for the producer. “Legends are never over. #RIP Mark Howard James aka The 45 King … I’m 4ever grateful!!!,” he wrote, with a clip of Mark James talking about working on Stan.
Legends are never over. #RIP Mark Howard James aka The 45 King … I’m 4ever grateful!!! https://t.co/s4ywAw6r03
— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) October 19, 2023
