Wikipedia

The Real Slim Shady

"The Real Slim Shady" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his third album The Marshall Mathers LP (2000). It was released as the lead single a month before the album's release.

"The Real Slim Shady"
Single by Eminem
from the album The Marshall Mathers LP
ReleasedApril 18, 2000[1]
Genre
Length4:44
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Eminem singles chronology
"Forgot About Dre"
(2000) 		"The Real Slim Shady"
(2000) 		"The Way I Am"
(2000)
Music videos
Audio sample
"The Real Slim Shady"

The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, giving him his biggest hit up to that point.[2] It was also Eminem's first song to reach number one in the UK and Ireland[3] and the song was the 14th best selling of 2000 in the UK. It won multiple awards, including MTV Video Music Awards for Best Video and Best Male Video, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 80 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[4] It was listed at number 396 on NME's 500 greatest songs of all time.

Production

edit

"The Real Slim Shady" was not originally intended to be part of The Marshall Mathers LP. Interscope Records's Jimmy Iovine wanted Eminem to get a song to introduce the album, similar to the way "My Name Is" was the first single on The Slim Shady LP. Eminem, Dr. Dre, Tommy Coster and Mike Elizondo wrote "The Real Slim Shady" just hours before the final copy of the album was due. The first single was intended to be "Who Knew."[5]

The song's first verse interpolated the 1999 novelty single "Lonely Swedish (The Bum Bum Song)" by Tom Green,[6] and the intro and chorus of the song interpolate the famous catchphrase "will the real _____ please stand up?" from the television game show To Tell the Truth.[7][8]

Critical reception

edit

PopMatters described the song as "slamming their 'enemies' with comic book intensity," while also noting its ironic themes surrounding the number of near-identical "wannabes" due to Eminem's overall appearance, citing his "signature style" which bore "bleached blond hair, pale skin, [and] humungous [sic] T-shirt".[9] AllMusic highlighted the single.[10]

Rolling Stone praised the sound of the single as "slick, bright, melodic funk that's so R&B-ish, you can dance to it".[11] Entertainment Weekly's Will Hermes was also positive, writing, "In the aftermath of Slim Shady, he married the girlfriend he imagined killing, while his mother, immortalized in his hit single 'My Name Is' (I just found out my Mom does more dope than I do), sued him for $10 million for defamation of character."[12] The defamation case was settled in 2001 for $25,000 as Debbie Mathers' former attorney was awarded $23,354—netting Ms. Mathers just over $1600 for her efforts.[13][14]

The Los Angeles Times favored The Real Slim Shady as a "modest step to the mainstream—a fresh and funny, almost PG-rated swipe at everything from the Grammy Awards to shallow teen pop",[15] while IGN wrote:

"The album's obligatory 'pop' number is exposed on 'The Real Slim Shady,' which chugs and lurches along to a boinging electro funk beat. It would be a total pop smash if it weren't for the lyrics, though. Leave it to Em to juice it up with ear candy effervescent, but keep the words in the subversive. As with the other Dre crafted tunes on the album, there's plenty of cool special effects bustling about—fart noises, heavy breathing, all of it coalescing with Em's cartoon character on crystal meth delivery. Sure it's pop, but of the most demented nature."[16]

The song has been included as part of many films, notably 21 Jump Street (2012) and Freddy Got Fingered (2001).[citation needed]

Music video

edit

Philip G. Atwell and Dr. Dre directed the music video filmed in 7–10 April 2000.[citation needed] Eminem's friends and former group-mates from D12 including rappers Denaun Porter, Proof, Swifty McVay, Bizarre, Kuniva, and Limp Bizkit vocalist Fred Durst are featured in the video along with him.

Actress and comedian Kathy Griffin, notable for insulting celebrities in her act,[17] appears in the video as an attending nurse in a psychiatric ward. Griffin said during a July 21, 2005, interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that Eminem selected her for the video because fellow rapper Snoop Dogg told him she was "really funny."[18]

The music video has 1 billion views on YouTube as of October 2024, making it Eminem's seventh video to cross the one billion mark.

Credits

edit

Information from the interior booklet of The Marshall Mathers LP

Awards

edit
See also: List of awards and nominations received by Eminem

"The Real Slim Shady" was very successful at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, winning awards for Video of the Year and Best Male Video, as well as being a nominee for Best Rap Video, Best Direction, Best Editing and Viewer's Choice. The song was also performed by Eminem at the show with look-a-likes of himself, as in the video.

Awards and nominations received by or for "The Real Slim Shady"
Year Organization Award Result
2000 Billboard Music Awards Maximum Vision Video Won
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Clip of the Year Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Video Nominated
Choice Music: Summer Song Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year Won
Best Male Video Won
Best Rap Video Nominated
Best Direction Nominated
Best Editing Nominated
Viewer's Choice Award Nominated
2001 Detroit Music Awards Outstanding National Single Won
Grammy Awards Best Rap Solo Performance Won

Track listing

edit
UK CD single[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Real Slim Shady"
4:44
2."The Real Slim Shady" (instrumental)
4:44
3."Guilty Conscience" (radio version with new hook; featuring Dr. Dre)
  • Mathers
  • Young
3:19
4."The Real Slim Shady" (video)  4:44
UK cassette
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Real Slim Shady"
4:44
2."My Fault" (pizza mix)
3:53
Total length:8:37
German CD single[20]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Real Slim Shady"
4:44
2."Bad Influence"
Bass Brothers3:40
Total length:8:24
German Maxi CD single[21]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Real Slim Shady"
4:44
2."Bad Influence"
Bass Brothers3:40
3."The Real Slim Shady" (instrumental)
4:44
4."My Fault" (pizza mix)
3:53
5."Just Don't Give a F**k" (music video)  4:39
Total length:21:40

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Certifications and sales for "The Real Slim Shady"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[77] 11× Platinum 770,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[78] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[79] Platinum 50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[80] 3× Platinum 180,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[81] 2× Platinum 160,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[82] 2× Platinum 180,000‡
France (SNEP)[83] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[84] 3× Gold 900,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[85]
sales since 2009 		2× Platinum 200,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[86] 5× Platinum 150,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[87] Gold  
Portugal (AFP)[88] 4× Platinum 40,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[89] Platinum 60,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[90] Platinum 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[91] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[92] 4× Platinum 2,400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[93] 7× Platinum 7,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[94] Gold 1,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ ""The Real Slim Shady" Was Released 21 Years Ago Today". Eminem News. April 18, 2021. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "The Real Slim Shady". Archived from the original on February 11, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Discography Eminem". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  4. ^ "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME.COM. October 6, 2011. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  5. ^ VH1's Ultimate Albums: The Marshall Mathers LP
  6. ^ Greene, Andy (July 23, 2015). "Flashback: Tom Green's 'Bum Bum Song' Tops 'TRL'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  7. ^ Moon, T. (2008). 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. 1,000... Before You Die Book. Workman Publishing Company. p. 257. ISBN 978-0-7611-5385-6. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  8. ^ VIrtel, Louis (July 29, 2014). "'To Tell The Truth' is Coming Back: 5 Classic Liar Clips". UPROXX. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP - PopMatters Music Review". Archived from the original on April 22, 2006. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  10. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 18, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  11. ^ "Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP Album Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  12. ^ "News Review: The Marshall Mathers LP". Entertainment Weekly. June 2, 2000. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "Judge Decides Against Eminem's Mother In Defamation Suit". MTV News. June 27, 2001. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "Eminem's Mom Nets Measly $1,600 From Lawsuits Against Her Son". MTV News. August 8, 2001. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  15. ^ Hilburn, Robert (May 20, 2000). "Eminem's Latest Seems Sure to Delight Fans, Anger Parents". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  16. ^ "The Marshall Mathers LP". IGN. November 12, 2004. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  17. ^ "Kathy Griffin: Dishing and Swishing". SFist. Archived from the original on November 4, 2006. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  18. ^ YouTube. Archived from the original on July 29, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  19. ^ "Real Slim Shady: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  20. ^ "Real Slim Shady: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  21. ^ "Real Slim Shady: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  22. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  23. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on September 20, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  24. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". ultratop.be (in Dutch). ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on August 29, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  25. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady" (in French). ultratop.be. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  26. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 71, No. 10, July 10, 2000". RPM. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  27. ^ "Denmark (Top 10): 29th July 2000 (Week 31)". eucharts.tripod.com. Tracklisten. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  28. ^ "Keating Bows To Five + Queen" Archived October 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media.
  29. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  30. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on December 29, 2008. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  31. ^ "Eminem – The Real Slim Shady" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  32. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 8.7. - 15.7. 2000 27. Vika)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved July 14, 2018.[dead link‍]
  33. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". italiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on December 13, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  34. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 2000". top40.nl (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  35. ^ "Eminem – The Real Slim Shady" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  36. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  37. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  38. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 39/2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 39. September 9, 2000. p. 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  39. ^ "Music & Media: Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved May 1, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  40. ^ a b "Romanian Top 100 - Topul anului 2000". rt100.ro. Media Forest Romania. Archived from the original on April 17, 2005. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  41. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  42. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". spanishcharts.com. Asociación Fonográfica Y Videográfica Española. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  43. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  44. ^ "Eminem - The Real Slim Shady". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  45. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  46. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  47. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  48. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  49. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  50. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  51. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  52. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  53. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  54. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  55. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 45. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  56. ^ "2022 3-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 21, 2022. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  57. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 01.12.2023–07.12.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  58. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 49. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  59. ^ "2000 Australian Singles Chart". aria. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  60. ^ "2000 Austrian Singles Chart" (in German). Austriancharts. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  61. ^ "2000 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  62. ^ "2000 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  63. ^ "Års Hitlister 2000: IFPI Danmark: Singles Top 50". IFPI Danmark. Archived from the original on November 16, 2001. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Musik.org.
  64. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2000". Top 40. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  65. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  66. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000 p.9" (PDF). Music & Media. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  67. ^ "2000 French Singles Chart" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  68. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  69. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2000" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  70. ^ "2000 Swiss Singles Chart" (in German). Swisscharts. Archived from the original on January 13, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  71. ^ "Yearly Best Selling Singles" (PDF). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  72. ^ "Top 40 Urban Tracks Of 2000" (PDF). Music Week. January 13, 2001. p. 20. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  73. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 2000". Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  74. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart for 2022". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  75. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  76. ^ "2022 metų klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  77. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  78. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  79. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  80. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  81. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady". Music Canada. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  82. ^ "Danish single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  83. ^ "French single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved February 27, 2001.
  84. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eminem; 'The Real Slim Shady')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  85. ^ "Italian single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  86. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  87. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved February 16, 2001.
  88. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  89. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  90. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  91. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('The Real Slim Shady')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  92. ^ "British single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  93. ^ "American single certifications – Eminem – The Real Slim Shady". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  94. ^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International)" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Real_Slim_Shady&oldid=1260210133"