Phenomenal

Album: Southpaw (2015)
Charted: 57 47
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This DJ Khalil produced song was recorded by Eminem for the boxing movie Southpaw. The rapper's label Shady Records produced the OST for the film. Originally Eminem was earmarked to star in the movie when it was announced in December 2010 but he later dropped out and was replaced by actor Jake Gyllenhaal.
  • The song was previewed in a Beats By Dre advert, which features Eminem's fellow Michigan native Draymond Green, a forward for the Golden State Warriors.
  • Filmed in Tokyo, the 7-minute video features Eminem as a person with superhuman abilities. The clip starts off with the Detroit rapper waking up in a hospital then breaking out as he wishes to find out his true identity. We then see Eminem encounter a stranger played by John Malkovich with whom he has a conversation, before getting chased across the city where the stunts include Slim Shady riding a flaming motorbike and jumping out of an exploding helicopter. Eventually Em lands on stage at a massive gig with Dr Dre.
  • Asked during a Twitter Q&A how he approached this song as the title track, given the success of the 8 Mile theme tune "Lose Yourself," Eminem replied: "'Phenomenal' is different from 'Lose Yourself.' Its just grit and determination. 'Lose Yourself' was more of a theme for the film."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.