Toronto Skydome

A 14-year-old's-eye view of the real [b]Slim Shady[/b]...

14-year-old Jamie Mitchell reviews the show for NME.COM

[a]Eminem[/a] (aka Slim Shady): a name that brings controversy or thousands of screaming fans wherever it goes. Personally, I’m one of those fans.

Marshall Mathers III, as he was born, is my favourite artist, so a chance to see him on the Anger Management Tour is not a chance I would pass up. I was amazed when I learned that I had gotten a ticket to the Toronto show (October 26), and then close to being disappointed when I learned that certain politicians were trying to stop him from crossing the border into Canada because of his violent lyrics. But I knew that even an appeal from the mayor couldn’t stop him from performing. Personally, I don’t think it needed that much media attention because, so far, no one’s gone out and beaten up their wives or killed anyone because of his music. And I don’t think they will, ever.

After the two opening acts, Papa Roach and Xzibit, had finished and the lights went down, everyone knew what was coming. The screen lowered and a ‘Blair Witch’-type video started. The main idea was: two inquiring young kids, with a video camera, pay a visit to the house where Marshall grew up. After one visits his room, covered in ‘Kill You’-painted walls, they end up dying a gory death by an unseen man. The video screen retracted and Eminem appeared onstage, wearing a ‘Jason’ mask and wielding a chainsaw.

The show was a mix of songs from ‘The Slim Shady LP’, his first CD, such as ‘Role Model’, in which he tells young kids to “follow me and do exactly what the song says”; ‘Just Don’t Give A Fuck’, about ignoring all the critics and being able to do what he does; and ‘Brain Damage’, a song about the troubles he had being the new kid in school. He also played songs from his newest CD, ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’. He played various songs, ranging from ‘Kill You’, a song that authorities said he wouldn’t be allowed to play; and ‘The Way I Am’, which was dedicated to Valerie Smith, the leader of the group that was trying to stop him from entering Canada. He also played other songs with fellow band members from D-12 (Dirty Dozen), such as ‘B*tch Please II’, ‘Criminal’ and ‘Under The Influence’. He played ‘Stan’, a song that lets all his fans know that he’s “just clowning” in his lyrics.

In conclusion, it was a great show and, amid all the swearing and violent lyrics, there’s a very great rapper behind it all: [a]Eminem[/a]. And tomorrow, I’m not going to go out waving a chainsaw.

Jamie Mitchell, aged 14

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