Stan

Stan
Genre	Alternative hip hop, conscious hip hop
Released	December 9, 2000
Album	The Marshall Mathers LP
Recorded	1999
Length	6:44 (Album Version) 5:32 (Radio Edit)
Label	Aftermath, Interscope
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Last Song Kill You	Next Song Paul (skit)

Stan is a song by American rap artist Eminem, it was released as the third and final single from The Marshall Mathers LP. The song features a sample of "Thank You" by British singer Dido after The 45 King heard the song in a commercial for the movie Sliding Doors while siting at home and added a drum and bass line. The song is Eminem's most famous song and plays it the most during live performances, it's placed at #296 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest song of all time.

Story of the song

FULL FIRST VERSE: The song is about a fictional character Stanley "Stan" Mitchell who is obsessed with Eminem and claims to be his biggest fan. In the first verse, Stan writes for the 3rd time to Eminem hoping he will write back, the verse references different events in Em's life including the Suicide of his uncle Ronnie, a song he did with underground rapper "Skam", he later talks about his wife who is pregnant and tells him he named it "Bonnie" which is a reference to '97 Bonnie and Clyde from The Slim Shady LP.

FULL SECOND VERSE: In the second verse, Stan becomes frustrated with Em cause he didn't write and begins to lose his temper in the second line as the thunder in the background gets louder giving off his anger rising and says he cuts himself to feel the pain and see the blood.

FULL THIRD VERSE: In the third verse, Stan is driving a car during a rain storm and recording a message on a cassette tape and about to commit suicide by driving off a bridge into a river and reveals that he puts his girlfriend in the trunk of the car. In one verse, he references In the air tonight by Phil Collins and the urban legend that Collins saw a man drowning which gave him the inspiration to write the song.

FULL FINAL VERSE: In the final verse, Em writes a letter to Stan saying how he's flattered that his child is gonna be call Bonnie but thinks he needs help cause he cuts his wrists and treats his wife badly and he doesn't want anything bad to happen to him. He says that he saw a news story about a guy who drive his car off a bridge with his pregnant girlfriend and a tape then he realizes that it was Stan.

Grammy performance

With the controversy surrounding The Marshall Mathers LP and  GLADD protesting the 2001 Grammy Awards, Eminem half jokingly said that he would perform Stan with openly gay musician Elton John he asked Elton if he could and said yes. Even though the performance was highly praised, GLADD felt like that the performance was a publicity stunt and felt that the Grammys were promoting Marshall's "Hate speech".

Legacy

The song was been called a cultural milestone in music and is called Eminem's best song and his signature song. The term "Stan" has been used in today's English meaning an overzealous fan to a one specific artist or person.

Track listing

• UK CD single

1. "Stan" (featuring Dido) – 6:45
2. "Get You Mad" (featuring Sway & King Tech and DJ Revolution) – 4:22
3. "My Name Is" – 4:32
4. "Stan" (Video) – 8:08

• UK cassette

1. "Stan" (featuring Dido) – 6:45
2. "My Name Is" – 4:32

• German CD single

1. "Stan" (Radio Edit) - 5:33
2. "Guilty Conscience" (Radio Version w/ Gunshot) (featuring Dr. Dre) - 3:22

• German maxi CD single

1. "Stan" (Radio Edit) - 5:33
2. "Guilty Conscience" (Radio Version w/ Gunshot) (featuring Dr. Dre) - 3:22
3. "Hazardous Youth" (Acapella version) - 0:46
4. "Get You Mad" (featuring Sway & King Tech and DJ Revolution) – 4:22

Charts

Chart (2000-01)	Peak position
Europe (European Hot 100)	1
Ireland (IRMA)	1
Italy (FIMI)	1
Romania (Romanian Top 100)	1
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	51
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	36
U.S. Billboard Pop Songs	33

End of year charts

End of year chart (2000/01)	Position
Australian Singles Chart	6
Austrian Singles Chart	6
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart	31
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart	20
French Singles Chart	29
Swiss Singles Chart	3
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	4

Decade-end charts

(2000–2009)	Position
German Singles Chart	79

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Australia	2x Platinum	2001	140,000
Austria	Gold	December 30, 2001	15,000
Belgium	Platinum	2001	40,000
France	Platinum	2001	500,000
Germany	Platinum	June 2001	500,000
Netherlands	Gold	2001	20,000
Sweden	Platinum	2001	20,000
Switzerland	Gold	2001	25,000
UK	Platinum	June 21, 2002	805,000