music on the mind - eminem - love the way you lie, featuring rihanna

A. The B on my keyboard is broken. Ordered new keyboard. This will be interesting. Also, you'd be surprised how often you use the letter b.

Trigger Warning: song deals with domestic violence/violence against women

B. Eminem- Love The Way You Lie ft. Rihanna (youtube, song only)

Holy fuck. And this is why he will never stop surprising me as an artist.

ETA: Link in comments in Lj version of this post to the song if you can't get youtube to work, but this is one of those times I highly recommend buying the song. The album is available at at Amazon in CD and digital form for $9.99.

Comments

[jamafanta.livejournal.com]

Wow - intense. And very messy. I love it when intelligent and articulate people use public forums to work through their issues; it can be beautifully honest. And while I often cringe from how angry Eminem gets, I admire his honesty.

That was, surprisingly, a beautiful song.

[seperis]

I've been listening to it for hours, and the sheer escalation in abuse through the song just--it was done so well, and from the abuser's pov without even attempting to be sympathetic but is honest.

He really doesn't pull any punches when he does this.

[ariadne83]

Wow.

[seperis]

*nods*

[waketosleep]

Jesus christ, when did this guy learn how to rap?

[seperis]

*laughs*

[hollyberries]

Unsettling and honest. I can't really figure out where I stand on Eminem as an artist, but this song is amazing.

Now, to stop getting creeped out.

[seperis]

He's consistently surprised me with his music; every time I blow him off, he comes out with something like this. He's one of the few artists that I actually believe is writing and singing out his demons, literally, and it's honest and brutal when he nails it like that.

[sorrel]

Man, most of the time I really dislike his music, because I remember in high school the culture of his "fans" and how disgusting they often were, but every once in a while I've caught wind of a song of his that I really like because it was raw and honest and... I'm going to say unashamed? Like the one that's all about going big and getting famous and performing, and he talks about his first time on stage he went out with vomit on his shirt because he threw up first. Or one about loving his daughter, stuff like that. Those songs I actually really adore, and this one is even better, jesus. The moment he said "don't know my own strength" I actually, physically, flinched.

[seperis]

*nodnodnod* This one blew me away with the abuse escalation, the constant refrain of apology and excuses and promises not to do it again ending with the place abuse can escalate to, and the way he frames being in love from an abuser's pov.

I seriously can't get over how unvarnished this is; there's no sympathy for the abuser even when he's singing it, just a view of what they are and what they say and what they do.

[rike_tikki_tavi]

Oh wow! I got goose bumps all over.

Now I know which CD I'm buying next.

[seperis]

*g* It's amazing.

[brownbetty]

I listened to it and went “Woah” and then looked around to see other peoples' reactions. I can't tell if this is entirely point-missing, or if I just don't understand how music works.

(I mean, I already know I don't understand how music works; it confuses and terrifies me, but maybe my not-understanding is deeper than I thought?)

[seperis]

..no, that was some dramatic missing the point in that article. Like, massive.

*blinking at article vaguely*

Wow. I did not know anyone could be that dense and actually write that.

[dorkpie]

That's a really powerful song. He's definitely improved as an artist.

[seperis]

*nods* He has. When he's really on, he blows my mind completely.

[annaalamode.livejournal.com]

mp3 download (http://anonym.to/?http://www.sendspace.com/file/i29y2n), although this is one song where I, of course, urge everyone to support the artists.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[jamesinboots.livejournal.com]

Mrao. I can't stop listening to this song.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Thirty-eight repeats so far for me. I bought the entire album based on this song.

[boggit.livejournal.com]

Did you watch this recording of a live performance? (in LA, at e3 gaming convention) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46eac7tmXVg&

How do you like the rest of the album?

[seperis.livejournal.com]

..wow. Thanks for the link! That was--wow.

Okay so far? I'm still stuck coming back this song, so I can't judge the others quite yet. Though the one with Pink I may move to my work mix.

[marycontraire.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the link! I am so disgustingly indie that I never know about "popular" songs, but this was totally worth a purchase on iTunes, if only to support the message that, "Hi, rap/hip-hop, it is time to take domestic abuse seriously."

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Rihanna in it really drives it home, too.

[winterlive.livejournal.com]

dang.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[arueh.livejournal.com]

Hi, total lurker here /o\ but I just want to pop in and say thank you so much for linking this. I rarely pay attention to music at all so this was a delightful surprise.

This song hit home so much for me. It's brutal and honest and everything I could ask for dealing with an issue like this. And god, just when I think I was over Eminem he smacked my heart with this (uh, no pun intended). I--just, I read the warning and knew what I would be heading into but it still shook me to the core and this is the reason why I hate it so much when people try to make light of domestic violence, try to justify every kick and punch, and blame it on anger/alcohol/or got caught in the moment BS. I just got to raise my hands up to Eminem and Rihanna for doing this \o/.

Um, sorry if I sound incoherent and ramble-y; it's really late where I am and I'm typing with blurry eyes (goddamn emotional me /o\).

Honestly, I wouldn't have known about this song (that's how non-music-y I am) if I hadn't seen this post so again, thank you so much for link. And I really want my friends to listen to this.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

NP! I seriously shiver every time I listen to this song, and a coworker just fell in love with it hard when she heard it too. It's good to know a lot of people are having that reaction to it, not just me!

[moojja.livejournal.com]

Wow, that guy always surprise me with his artistic skills. When he first came out, I thought he was just another pop artist. But his lyrics has an honesty that hits on so many levels.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*nods* He doesn't hold back.

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

I love Eminem's music because much of his stuff is just so honest. Even in the tracks laden with misogyny, homophobia, et al, he comes out with some lines where you can feel real experience that drives his writing. I mean, I don't believe many rappers actually feel that way about gay people and women and I wish they'd quit with that shit, but a lot of rap and hip-hop has lost its way and Em is a refreshing voice in a cacophony of mainstream rappers talking about blunts, big-ass TVs and bitches...

Hands up to Eminem and Rhianna for tackling this issue. And in such a brutal and forceful way that is honest and give genuine viewpoints to think about.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*nod* His music still surprises me, and I remember my reaction to Stan. He does know how to sing meta with his issues.

[realpestilence.livejournal.com]

I've admired him since he did that duet with Dido. Like him or not, he knows how to build a song and tell a story, not just throw a bunch of sex references together to a backbeat. He's very ~present in his music, not just fronting it with clothes, a posse, and a 'tude.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*nods* Yes. This.

[gardinha.livejournal.com]

Another lurker stopping by just to thank you for bringing this song to my attention. I've been listening to it over and over since yesterday and it gets me every single time.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*nods* Me too. I played it for a coworker and she had the same reaction.

[miriad.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec. I'm not sure if I would have listened to it without your guidance. Eminem is always surprising to me- there's a lot to the guy and this is just more proof of that.

Thanks again.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*nodnodnod* His work is hit or miss for me, but when it hits, it hits hard.

[enna-ssu.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for this - I felt I was over Eminem a long time ago and I rarely hear radio, so I wouldn't have heard it without your rec.

I bought the album for this one song alone and have looped it for the last 24 hours.

Thanks again!