Eminem: Mosh
Film, Music, Politics 10/26/2004 |
I’ve never been a fan of Eminem. I tend to find his music boring, and his lyrics violent, misogynistic, homophobic, and offensive.
That said…
Hot damn this video is a powerful piece of work.
From Salon’s writeup:
With his history of homophobia and his long-running beef with MoveOn supporter Moby, Eminem is an even less likely lefty hero than Howard Stern. But the just-released video for his new anti-Bush song “Mosh,” makes “Fahrenheit 9/11” look like a GOP campaign spot, and it will almost certainly reach an audience that wouldn’t think of shelling out for a documentary.
The beautifully animated video, which is directed by Ian Inaba, opens with a classroom. At the front is a man in a blue suit, his face buried in an upside down children’s book that says “My Pet,” with a picture of a bush. Just as the man is revealed to be Eminem, the scene changes, and we see the singer taping up newspaper stories to a wall — “Sick Wounded Troops Held in Squalor,” says one. “Civil Liberties at Stake,” says another. “Bush Knew,” says a third. In five minutes, Eminem manages a furious indictment of the administration that will likely resonate among many troops in Iraq as well as disaffected kids here at home.
<
p>After watching the video, I’m still no fan of the music. But wow.
This is good.
Pity it didn’t come out a few months ago.
“Closer (Further Away)” by Nine Inch Nails from the album Closer to God (1994, 5:45).
[See also: Pinocchio | Bring ‘em on! | Acapella Nintendo | Sources said… | Visual Halo ]
8 Responses to “Eminem: Mosh”
Leave a Reply
Bryan
Michael Hanscom
Prairie
Ryan Waddell
October 26th, 2004 at 7:40 pm
Eminem - Mosh
Eminem hits a political nerve with his new video for the song “Mosh.” “In five minutes, Eminem manages a furious indictment of the administration that will likely resonate among many troops in Iraq as well as disaffected kids here at home.”
October 26th, 2004 at 7:44 pm
“Pity it didn’t come out a few months ago.”
I’d suppose that those this would swing have a shorter attention span..
(The beat is really lame in my opinion—I don’t know why he’s doing so many slow militaristic songs for the last couple years—so as far as judging his music goes, check out ‘Rabbit Run’ from the 8 Mile soundtrack or ‘Rock Bottom’ from the Slim Shady LP if you haven’t..)
October 26th, 2004 at 8:57 pm
Yowsa, he’s not mincing words, is he? I’m no fan, either, but I think he may reach some people who don’t tune into the usual channels.
October 26th, 2004 at 11:51 pm
i disagree, the timing is actually quite good. consider, this is targeting the young adult demographic, and began playing on MTV today after it got voted into their requested video shows.
this isn’t the 60s, this is the internet generation - protests have to be short, quick, feel extremely unified for very short periods of time, and especially demand little long-term involvement or focus. think flash mobbing - it’s perfectly suited to the person who sees this as an effective method of protest. the video puts out an incredible amount of information quickly and in a way that’s sure to garner a lot of attention; creates a visceral, emotional reaction for the intended audience (i only wish some mention of a possible draft had been included); and while that feeling is still real and at the forefront of a young adults mind, the video encourages action. Action NOW, not in two months when a person who felt moved before shrugs it off because it’s beyond them now.
Michael Moore handled the ‘few months ago’ bit, and targeted that demographic perfectly. This serves its own purpose, and serves it damn well.
October 27th, 2004 at 1:20 am
It’s a powerful video. Moore’s 9/11 is now in video stores on DVD and is being checked out by lots of people (reference: Video Vault in WSeattle). Let’s hope the Eminem groupies in Iowa, Ohio, Tennessee, et al. all see this and that their parents see 9/11. We’re not through taking back this country from the neocons. It has to be bad for Eminem to go this far -
October 27th, 2004 at 9:08 pm
I really like the song and the animated video is well done. I guess if you see anyone headed to the polls in a black hoodie you don’t have to ask who they voted for. I think it would be interesting to see a new symbol come into place to repersent being politically opposed to the current administration, much like the black armband did during the Vietnam war. Thanks for the link.
October 28th, 2004 at 5:10 am
Well done!
At this point in time I now have a bit of respect for Eminem. I still don’t like his music and I still think he’s a homophobic thug. But he has power and he’s using that power for the betterment of mankind. He could have just sat back and counted his money. Instead he worked to produce a video that was political, current, and needed to motivate the young vote.
Well done sir…Well done.
October 28th, 2004 at 6:50 pm
This video and song will make a great impact on people that don’t normally vote. The only problem is that many of those people may not be registered yet….so lets hope they are…
I for one have already voted and know a huge amount of younger persons’ that this will be their first time. (good sign)