Stan
by Eminem (featuring Dido)

Album: Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
Charted: 1 51
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The English language needed a word for an obsessive fan, and Eminem delivered one in 2000 with "Stan," which was added to the Oxford American Dictionary in 2017, defined as "An overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity." It can be used as a noun ("He's a total stan for Beyoncé") or a verb ("When I was a teenager, I stanned Justin Bieber"). This song is listed as the origin of the word.

    "Stan" - the song - tells the story of a fan obsessed with Eminem. When his letters are not answered, he gets more and more agitated until he finally snaps, putting his pregnant girlfriend in his trunk and driving off a bridge. The song ends with Eminem finally writing him back, but it's too late: As Eminem is finishing his letter, he realizes Stan was the man in the news story who drove off the bridge.
  • The song's hook is a sample of "Thank You," a track from the British singer-songwriter Dido that first appeared in the 1998 Gwyneth Paltrow movie Sliding Doors, then on her 1999 debut album, No Angel. Dido's song is about the guy who turned her topsy turvy in love, helping her escape a long depression. "Stan" uses the entire first verse, including the very British opening line:

    My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why
    I got out of bed alone


    Dido gets out of her funk by seeing a picture of her guy and looking forward to seeing him again. Stan, though, has a picture of Eminem that keeps him going - a very unhealthy relationship.
  • Eminem talked about the character Stan in Rolling Stone magazine's Top 500 Songs: "He's crazy for real, and he thinks I'm crazy, but I try to help him at the end of the song. It kinda shows the real side of me."
  • The song's producer, Mark "The 45" King, found the Dido song and incorporated the sample into the track. He played it for Eminem, who gave his stamp of approval, and they produced the song before asking permission. Dido got a letter out of the blue with a demo so she could hear how they used her song, and she was thrilled.

    Dido enthusiastically granted permission, and because her sample is so important to the song, was given a songwriting credit along with her co-writer Paul Herman.
  • "Stan" was the third single from Eminem's second major-label album, The Marshall Mathers LP, following "The Real Slim Shady" and "The Way I Am." He did indeed have some very fervent fans, the kind he rapped about in "The Real Slim Shady" who "dress like me, walk, talk and act like me." After "Stan," he had a lot more; the album sold over 10 million copies just in America.
  • The music video stars Devon Sawa as Stan and Dido as his pregnant wife. We see him take on Eminem's look as his wife tries unsuccessfully to snap him into reality. He goes into his basement, a shrine to Eminem, and scribbles out his letters. The rest of the video plays out with the lyrics, as Stan drives off the bridge.

    Eminem's mentor, Dr. Dre, directed the video along with Philip Atwell, who shot Eminem's "My Name Is." The song runs 5:26, but the video is longer because of added dialogue, running 6:04. There's also an 8-minute version with additional scenes.

    As for Devon Sawa, he really was a huge Eminem fan. He played the human version of Casper in the 1995 movie and was also in the 1999 film Idle Hands.
  • Eminem performed this with Dido on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live on October 7, 2000. She also joined him on some of his tour dates.
  • Dido went up a few rungs of celebrity thanks to this song. She was a third-stage artist on the Lilith Fair in 1999 and was gradually making inroads with her album No Angel, which had sold about 200,000 copies by the time it was used in "Stan" about 18 months after its release. She was signed to Arista Records, which helped her seize the opportunity. "Thank You" was released as a single and went to #3 in the US in April 2001. She went on a headline tour, made the rounds on talk shows, and watched as album sales took off, reaching 4 million in the US.

    The "Stan" bump also broke her in her native UK, where the song was huge. No Angel sold an amazing 3 million copies there to become the biggest debut by a solo female artist. Dido's next album, released in 2003, contained the hit "White Flag" and sold well. After six years of touring, she stopped in 2005 and took it easy for a while, releasing an album every few years and also starting a family.
  • In his last letter, Stan writes how he is like the drowning man in the Phil Collins song "In The Air Tonight." The rumor, which is not true, is that Collins saw a man watch another man drown, then sang the song to him at a concert to let him know he knew.
  • In America, "Stan" was just a modest hit, with a surprisingly low chart position of #51, in part because most radio stations didn't want a five-and-a-half minute song about a guy who drives his pregnant wife off a bridge on the air. But in the UK, which gave Eminem a lot more love early on, it was his second chart-topper, following "The Real Slim Shady." He didn't top the American Hot 100 until 2002 with "Lose Yourself."
  • Eminem performed this at the 2001 Grammys with Elton John playing piano and singing the Dido part. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) took umbrage, claiming Eminem promoted hatred with the line where Stan writes, "We could have been together" and Eminem replies, "That's the kind of thing that makes me think we shouldn't meet each other." Elton John didn't have a problem with it and came to Eminem's defense. The two became friends.
  • Eminem's Grammy performance with Elton John quickly became a very popular download on Napster, the file sharing service that toed a legal boundary. The producers of the Grammy Awards sued Napster in response, claiming they couldn't sell the performance as a single if everyone could just get it for free. The performance was eventually released as a single, with some of the proceeds going to charity.
  • Dido met Eminem for the first time the day before the video shoot, and got on quite well with the controversial rapper. "People confuse him with the characters in his songs," she told The Guardian. "It's like Stephen King. He does some scary s--t, and it's warped beyond belief. But it's not real. I got close enough to Eminem to know that he's not misogynist or homophobic."
  • The music video reveals the title character's name via his tombstone: Stanley Mitchell. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brett - Edmonton, Canada
  • In this song, Stan says, "I drank a fifth of vodka, dare me to drive?" This line comes from Eminem's song "My Name Is." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Khnemu - Fayetteville, NC
  • At the end of the video, after Eminem realizes he is writing to the Stan who killed himself, lightning flashes and in the window beside him you can see Stan staring in at Eminem. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Lex - Dayton, OH
  • The song structure and storyline of "Stan" seems to be based on "Fans" by Malcolm McLaren from 1984, which includes an opera aria excerpt instead of a Dido song and tells the tale of an obsessed fan with spoken word rather than a rap. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jim - Oklahoma City, OK
  • Dido's first child was born at the private Portman Hospital in London in July 2011. So why are we telling you this? Because she named him Stanley.

    The Guardian asked the singer if it was in tribute to this track, which kickstarted her career. Dido said it wasn't, it just happened to have always been her favorite name. She added: "I don't mind people thinking that anyway because it was such a great period in my life."
  • Eminem revisited this song on the Marshall Mathers LP 2 track "Bad Guy," where Stan's vengeful little brother, Matthew, kidnaps the rapper in retaliation for destroying his sibling's life.
  • The original version of the third verse was deleted because the engineer was stoned. "When we recorded 'Stan' I worked with a couple different engineers but this particular engineer I had never worked with before," Eminem wrote on Genius. "While we were recording the third verse of 'Stan,' he started rolling a joint and asked me if I minded if he smoked while we cut. What was I gonna do? Say no? He was already rolling it so I told him 'no problem.'"

    "Back then we were recording on 2-inch tape, so once you recorded over something it's gone forever," he continued. "So I'm in the booth waiting and he backs the tape up all the way to the beginning of the verse and punches me in. I realize he's in the wrong spot and I can't hear any of my vocals so I start waving my arms and yelling in the mic to try to get his attention. He doesn't notice so I run into the control room through a cloud of smoke and yell 'Yo, I wanted to keep those vocals' he just looked at me and said 'My bad man... you wanna hit this?' The first half of the verse was GONE. I re-recorded it but you should have heard the original take that s--t was WAY better... oh well!"
  • On December 5, 2020, Saturday Night Live spoofed this song in a skit where a basement-dweller named "Stu" (played by Pete Davidson) writes increasingly disturbing letters to Santa asking for a Playstation 5. At the end of the skit, Eminem appears on Christmas morning unwrapping a PS5.
  • It took a while for Eminem to realize he was famous. Even after his first major-label album, The Slim Shady LP, took off, he was surprised when fans adulated him. These interactions led to this song.

    "I wasn't sure before then if this was a one-time thing, but I had people knocking on the door and I realized that it was getting crazy," he told XXL. "It inspired songs like 'Stan' because to have fans is a dream come true, but it's also so bizarre and so surreal."

Comments: 82

  • Marita Mcgilvery from Olympia WaEminem is the best. Period. And if it didnt bother him or affect him in some way, he would not have wrote this, plus you can hear every emotion in his voice and in his lyrics, which he himself wrote and dedicated to all which whom were effected by this tragic siuation and mabey put a spotlight on this issue of overly obsessed fans. He does care and to all you out there saying hes homophobic, y'all just got to have SOMETHING to b**ch about dont ya? Forget the haters. Always been a fan, always will be. #Be
    afannotastan
  • Just Donna from Florida"The part of this song that was deemed anti-gay was the line where Stan writes, "We could have been together" and Eminem replies, "That's the kind of thing that makes me think we shouldn't meet each other." Elton John didn't have a problem with it."

    I never saw that part of the song as anti gay, cause I don't think stan is gay. That part came about cause stan says they could've been together, I see it as Bros, friends. Why would ppl jump to thinking he's gay?

    Eminem says, that makes him think they shouldn't meet because crazy fans think they are the same as their obsession, that stan believed him and Em were the same and they should be bros, but as a fan who only sees media and hears the rhymes, thinks he knows Em but he doesn't know s--t. He knows the public persona that Em allows. Personally that would scare me too. Nothing to do with homophobia, imo, but all to do with a stalker fan, who could be dangerous.
  • Luke from London, UkI'm surprised this song didn't do so well in the US. You couldn't get away from it here. Every time you turned on the radio, it was either this or Ms. Jackson by Outkast.
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesMercedes - sorry if you think I'm an idiot, but you are wrong about a couple of things in your post. Dido was NOT nothing before Eminem made her a hit, she was already known for being the younger sister of Rowland "Rollo" Armstrong from Faithless, who had several hits between 1995 and 2002 - she occasionally recorded with Faithless and in fact it was her connection to Rollo that landed her the chance to record the song "Thank Yuo" for the film "Sliding Doors", and it was this that led to her being invited to record "Here With Me" as the theme to Roswell, which was completed in 1999 - a whole year before she ever collaborated with Eminem, let alone before Stan became a hit - so that actually had nothing to do with Eminem at all. There were calls for "Here With Me" to be relased as a single before "Stan" was even released. Also, Dido certainly isn't a one-hit wonder either - between 2000 and 2004 she actually had a run of seven Top 30 hits (including four Top 10 entries in "Here With Me" (#4), Thank You (#3)", "White Flag (#2)" and Life For Rent" (#8). If you don't agree with my views then that's fine - but don't go around calling others idiots just because you don't shre their opinions
  • Jake from Clarksville, ArI'm pretty sure that when lighting flashes it's just em's reflection....
  • John from Stockport, United KingdomI too, have to agree with 95% of the comments here. A great song, well structured and written in a style only Eminem knows how to...this is why he is as popular as he is. He doesn't mince his words with any of his songs. It shows though, if true, how some fans can be obsessive and sends them over the edge if they don't get that acknowledgement from a star. Phew, glad I'm not famous...YET.
  • Mercedes from Corona, CaDave & John,
    You're both idiots. Dido was nothing before Eminem made her a hit. If he hadn't made her well-known from "Stan", Dido's song would probably have never been used for Roswell, because nobody would know her. Adding "Thank You" to "Stan" did make it a more touching song, but he could have used a myriad of song clips that would have done just as well or perhaps better. I'm not saying Dido doesn't have any talent, but it takes more than that to make it in the music industry. Almost everyone in the industry got a leg up from someone, and Eminem was clearly her leg up. Plus, I don't know if y'all noticed, but Dido couldn't even keep her popularity. In all actuality, She's a one-hit wonder; "Thank You" was the only song of hers to make it on the radio. So she really does owe it to Eminem, not the other way around. Think about it.
  • Alec from Gilbert, AzI'm not exactly sure when I heard Stan. All I know is, it's one of the most phenomenal experiences, one of the most groundbreaking in music history.

    Now, I'm not used to Eminem being so serious. Looking at albums like The Slim Shady LP, Eminem Show, and even Relapse (which, to me really sucks), it seems that Marshal Mathers really does enjoy using his now-famous Slim Shady persona: A homophobic psycho, who is overwhelmingly violent and sarcastic.

    Stan's got a great story. First off, we have an absolutely obsessed fanatic, named Stan. He's got everything: rare albums like The Slim Shady EP, underground music, posters, everything. He's written to Eminem a few times before ("I wrote a couple letters back in autumn / You must not of got 'em, there must of been a problem at the post office or somethin'). He's an absolute maniac. He's an abusive asshole to his girlfriend (whom Dido sings lines for and plays in the Music Video), whom is very depressed because of this ("My tea's gone cold" / "I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all"), but tries to make something out of the relationship ("With your picture on my wall" / "It reminds me that it's not so bad... it's not so bad...")

    His anger issues are verbally and mentally obvious. ("I ain't mad that you haven't wrote back / "I just it's f--kED UP that you don't answer fans") He's even so addicted to Eminem he loves him. ("Sincerely, Stan." / "P.S. We should be together.") And this is him with his pregnant girlfriend. Granted, he does respect his family ("My little brother Matthew, you're like his idol, man"), and seems to really blame the rapper ("We waited four hours in the blistering cold for an autograph, and you said no.") for someone else's mistakes.

    And the end part is quite possibly the most sadistic part of the song, both in writing AND in nature. Stan's drinking, under depressants, and has locked his girlfriend in the trunk, suffocating. ("I ain't slit her throat or nothin'" / "I just tied her up") He's going to drive over a bridge. His anger level is at its highest. The details in this particular verse in the song are extraordinary, and shows the rap artists' poetic skills, clearly. (" I hope you can't sleep and you dream about it" / "And when you dream about it I hope you can't sleep and you SCREAM about it" / "I hope your conscience EATS at you and you can't BREATHE WITHOUT ME!") Absolutely poetic. And when the sound effects of the car smashing through the bridge rails and splashing into the water, killing Stan and his pregnant girlfriend, you feel SYMPATHY.

    It's actually kind of amazing, really.
  • Jez from London, United Kingdom'Stan' did indeed make UK #1 (for one week in December 2000, after which it was displaced by BTB) - as it did in ten other countries. In the US, restricted airplay meant that the cut didn't even make the Top 40. Bizarre.
  • Alison from Sydney, AustraliaStan is a great song but I do't like the video clip.
  • Becca from Sunland Park, Nmstan is such a great song the way he goes withh it its so great... emenim is the greatest
  • Dare_in from Springfield, IlI don't think anyone has mentioned it being "dark" humor...it did strike me that way.
    Sometimes kids take themselves too seriously...and then again...sometimes parents should take them seriously!
  • Brian from Ann Arbor, MiStan is by far my favorite song of all time. I cant stop listening to it. All of Em's new stuff doesn't even compare to this Stan. Eminem is the greatest rapper of all time.. and will forever live in fame for his natural talent behind the mic.. songs like this were written straight from the heart and get under the skin if its listeners.
  • Ivy from Springfield, Negood goood gooooooood song. i heard the original dido song playing on the radio, so after the part in this song came on, i turned off the radio and rapped the rest. my seven year old sister and her friends were AMAZAED at my freestylin skills. lol. 9/10
  • Sheldon from Surrey, ArEminemis hands down the best rapper who ever lived. I this song is proof.Its insanely genius, everytime i hear this song, i feel it in my bones. I feel very fortunate to have been in my prime age to listen to this song, and allow me to reflect on things in my life. This song is straight up sick. If anyone thinks there is one more song, in this world, rock, rap, jazz, that is more real than this i wanna hear it. Because i think no such thing exists. This is as real asit getsand it give me the f*cken chills.
  • Martini from Cologne, Nigeria1.The song refers to 97' Bonnie and Clyde[actual name] to the more common name:(Just the two of us[chorus formed name]).form The Slim Shady LP
    "If I get a daughter...I'm a name her Bonnie."

    2.As someone else stated earlier in Bonnie and Clyde Eminem Slit his "girlfriend"'s throat.

    3."I drank a fifth of vodka dare me to drive?" as another person already mentioned comes from the song "My Name Is"

    4.Eminem did an underground song with Skam called Old world Order.
  • Paul from Boston, MaThis song is about Stan "the Man" Musial, the great baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals. When eminem was growing up he had a Topps baseball card of Musial. He lost it when he used it in the spokes of his bicycle to make the bike sound like a motorcycle. He was riding over a bridge at the time and the card fell into a stream. Hewrote to Stan Musial to try to get another card, but never got a reply. A genuine tragedy in is life and beautifully captured in this song.
  • Saltine from Htown, TxGreat song one of best of his
  • Dallas from San Antonio, Txdis song is awsum. its the only one em did that i actualy thot about.iv heard all his songs and he is my idol.
  • Tosheouna from Cadiz, KyI think that its really sad and ppl i looked this up and everything that goes on in this song is true. all of this happened. the guys full name was stanley mitchell. and if u pay attention to the video and at the tombstone it says his name on it.
  • Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnGood song thanks to Dido.
  • Kayla from St. Paul, MnThis song.... Im speechless I can't explain this song is so addicting. I love Eminem..
  • Stafler from Durban, South Africai've played this song over hundred times. i don't understand why it's so addictive
  • Ian from Durand, Ilwhen i watch it at the end when matthew stans lil bro, his mom is shocked when he pulls back his hood and its just going to be a cycle only wit mattew not with stan
  • Kenneth Reid from Petal, MsI don't know if anyone said this about the song: but I figured since everyone is making random comments about it, I would fill this in:

    When Stan is recording the cassette right before he runs the car off the bridge he makes the statement: "But I didn't slit her throat, I just tied her up."
    -Stan's making a reference to Em's song "Just the Two of Us": which is sort of a humorous song in-which Em slits a particular woman's throat(not gonna say any names) and he and his daughter toss the woman in a river.
  • Jasmin from Ogden, UtI like the song, I love the song Thankyou. my cousin and my family are mormon and she was not allowed to listen to eminem so when she was baby sitting me she put in the cd and she says " don't tell anyone I listen to him" I was like eight. I never new the song name of it untill now! I love it. An im surprised that they would work together.
  • Austin from Smallsville,new England, --It was ranked number 15 on Vh1's 100 greatest hip-hop sonsg.
  • Austin from Smallsville, NePowerful song. I was just wondering is it based on a real story.
  • The Walrus from Uralla, AustraliaThis is easily Emenem's BEST song. Most of the others are needlessly offensive and mind-numbingly repetitive. This song actually means something.
  • Allox from Qld, AustraliaThe guitar chords in the background are really cool. I find it so smart how Eminem changes the tone of his voice to effectively to make it sound like Stan changing, then Eminem's cool, calm voice.....
  • Jailene from K-town, WaWow, based on the comments, this song is pretty popular, and I have to say I love it. For some reason though, it always sends these chills up and down my spine, just cause it's so...I don't know, there's just something about it, ya know?
  • Stefano from Rome, ItalyThough I don't like hip hop at all, I really like this song.
  • Max from New Brunswick, NjI hate RAP and eminem, but this is the one song that I actually REALLY REALLY LIKE. It is a good song with a referece to another good song.
  • Bob from Detroit, Dethis is the best song in the world and for all you ppl who think otherwise then talk to my fists. i would do what stan did just to get him to notice me. he is my hero so all u ppl get lost
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesAaron - Eminem owes a lot to Dido, remember, he sampled her, not the other way round
  • Bryanna from New York, Nyi like this song cuz it shows how fans can go crazy and over obbsessed with their idols. I love Eminem but I would never do what Stan did
    Bryanna NY
  • Aaron from Brisbane, Australiaeminem owes it all to dido? John, Millersville, your so naiive. dont be so ignorant and stop just making up your opinion on an artist from what u hear from others without actually listening to their music.
  • Sean from London, EnglandStan is my favorite song of all time. eminem makes me proud to like rap and hip hop!
  • Jon from Oakridge, OrI wouldn't say that I'm not a rap fan but I hate most mainstream rap. There's some good rap/hip hop but it's more of like alternative rap/hip hop. I hate the crap that just keeps repeating itself and says nothing. Anyway, I DO love this song; one of Eminems best.
  • Jt from Tullahoma, TnI think this just might be Eminem's best song and I'm not really a big Eminem fan.
  • Ruy from Lima, PeruI think this song is really great and sad, and this song's bass is really cool also
  • Alex from St Louis, MoI think this eminems most critically acclaimed song but on my list number 2 his best song in my eye is loose your self because it it very inspirational but this is #2 then mosh
  • K from M, ChileBest moment? Three.

    1) Hit me back, just to chat, truly yours, your biggest fan, this is Stan.

    Just makes it so unbearably real, especially when you've heard the song before and know where it's going. It sounds like something that would, and could, happen, and that makes it so much more disturbing.

    2) We waited in the blistering cold for four hours and you just said no. That's pretty s****y man, you're like his f**king idol... I ain't mad.

    Up until then you can see where Stan's coming from, and you can see that he's right, that was a really selfish thing to do, but then he just swings suddenly to not being upset: it shows how f**ked up this actually is for him, and how unstable he's become.

    3) I hope you can't sleep and you dream about it. And when you dream I hope you can't sleep and you scream about it. I hope your conscience eats at you and you can't breathe without me.


    Do I need to explain? The rhythm and the intensity in his voice.... wow.
  • Aaron from Winnemucca, Nvhe made the song to answer crittics saying that he was corrupting kids and stuff. and how could he be dead for two years he performed at the grammys last year
  • Ashley Jade from Cleveland, GaEminem did not die in Vegas 2 years ago. He's been seen in the public eye hasn't he?
  • Randy from Lexington, KyThis could be a rumor but i heard that eminem died 2 years ago in vegas and 50 cent has been writing his songs and used recordings of his voice 2 cover the songs
  • Jeevan from Brampton, CanadaThis song is one of Eminem's best songs ever! It tells the truth, though.
  • Nikki from Brampton, Canadai love this song so much. people think this song encourages people to go crazy like how stan did but i think em is just tryna say that thats what fans do. they go crazy with celebs. im pretty sure tho that i would go crazy too but not that crazy.
  • Tony from Ningbo, ChinaOf course,I love Eminem .I wonder When he will come to China to have the Eminem show.He is the person I admire most.I always listen to his songs when I am unhappy.The best relaxation I ever have had.
  • Ankur from Moonman, CanadaI only know three musicians that could think of something as talented as this: Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Eminem
  • Chris from Darwen, Englandbest eminem song ever!!!!!!!! your the man e!!!!
  • Chrissy from ManchesterEminem's best song by far in my opinion. I think John has a point, Eminem does owe some of this song's success to Dido, but this song also started her career in the USA. Great song, very meaningful and super.
  • Chris from Slidell, LaThis is one of Eminem's best songs. It is impressive. I hate that new s**t he's coming out with now though.
  • Claudia from Los Angeles,california, AzI love this song,It made me cry because when i was 7 i first heard it recorded on a tape.(my bro had recorded it)And 3 years later when i asked my sister's friend if he knew about it he told me yes and i asked the name of the song and he told me stan.So i looked it up and watched the music video,it was the most touching thing i had ever been through.At first when i heard it i thought it was Dido and Eminem talking 2 each other then when i saw the video i understood everything...
    I thought i was the only one who chose this song as a favorite but, I was wrong.I love ur talent Eminem if your reading this your my idol i look up to you and so does my boyfriend dont ever quit we love you!God Bless,Bye!^_^
    - Ur Loving fan Claudia Martinez
  • Kathleen from 561, FlI LOVE EMINEM!!!THIS SONG I LOVE! ITS ONE OF HIS BEST! ANYWAYS JUST WANTED TO SHOW SOME MAD LOVE TO HIM! I LOVE U SOOOOOO MUCH!
    KATHLEEN
  • Sum Sum from New DelhiI love the song. I guess it became superhit because of Dido. Its about a neglected fan. The video is ok..makes lot of sense! I heard eminem is anti-gay, is it true?
  • Shane from Newcastle, EnglandAt the end of this video, when the lightning strikes, you can see Stans face in the window: looking in on Eminem writing his letter.
  • John from Sydney, AustraliaI've never really liked Eminem, but I really like this song a lot. I think it's very clever. I suppose what got me into it was the fact that it's based on "Thank You". I don't actually like all of Dido's songs that much - but I really like that first verse of that song. This song deals with really heavy stuff - it's really interesting to see Eminems thoughts on the mind of someone who's suicidal. Eminem very cleverly uses sound effects and the editing of his voice (for the verse in the car and rain and stuff) in this song. It surprises me how much insight this one song gives to Eminems attitudes and values. Usually one song won't give that much of an overall impression of an artist. I suppose it's the very clever blend of text-types between letter and song. Personally, I apreciated the song for its music and it's words (but moreso the words) and I think it's great - a view i do not share of most of the rest of Eminems songs (although I do like "Lose Yourself").
  • Kevin from Indepence, Moit is such an angry song, which is clearly about the obsessed fan that takes his love for slim to a new level.
  • Jen from Nvoh this song was so good lol and the video really shocked me great song no one could beat that!!
  • Matt from Millbrae, Cathis is what separates eminem from all other rappers. do you think mike jones or that idiot trick daddy could do something like this? Never. Great song.
  • Amber from Shropshire, United StatesI think the song is mint,Eminem dragged Dido Back up from the bottom when they made this tune ! xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • John from Millersville, MdI think Eminem owes it all to Dido, actually...it seems that all the modern rap/hip-hop songs use older stuff as background music. Quite frankly, Eminem's lyrics come across (in his typical style) as crude, tactless, and certainly far from deep. When expressing vague sadness that a fan murders his pregnant girlfriend and kills himself is considered deep, the artist in question needs to evaluate his song writing tactics.

    This song is Eminem's best. It is also a terrible song.
  • Richard from Great Yarmouth, Englandas a musician myself i tend to listen to every song i can to see what the story is behind it. And does this have a story or what! My wife couldnt stand m&m b4 she listened to this song.Now she absoloutely loves him from stan to my band and superman to mockinbird, there's another great tune!!
    -richard,great yarmouth,england
  • Gabriel Maclean from Toronto, CanadaThis is an incredible song. I'd like to know if all that stuff with Stan actually happened though, if yes someone post it. Thanks
  • Jamie from London, EnglandThis is probably Ems deepest songs. Mind you The Einem Show gets pretty deep an all. Just wanted 2 say so.
    Peace
  • Daniel from Leeds, EnglandBrilliant, powerful and one of many instant classics on The Marshall Mathers LP. He's the best artist around nowadays. From a Beatles fan.
  • Stephanie from Auckland, New ZealandI like the song, and that's not becauuse i like Eminem, it kinda speaks out, i dont know how but it just does, im a person who listen to music to calm me down n while im listenin, i listen to EVERY single word in the song to find out what their message is.
  • Ken from San Diego, CaIt's a good song...awesomely written. The way he sings it sounds like that crazy stuff happened, but I don't think it did.
  • A.j. from Chicago, IlThis would be a great song for everybody if it weren't sung by a rapper known for writing songs about raping his mother and hacking up "f*ggots". Very emotional, intense song, but really graphic for something played on MTV almost every hour in 2000.
  • Vikki from New York, Nyeminem always ends up sampling the most random songs out of the blue like sing for the moment and that song in runnin. i think all those samples dont work except in stan where everything is done perfectly
  • Joe from Oshawa, Canadai was downloading music and i saw the artist for a song i love called stan featuring eminem.it is really messed eminem featured dido not the other way around.
  • Anonymousis whats in the song stan something that really happened???
    please e-mail me at
    klm51234@yahoo.com
    and tell me
    thanks,
    katie
  • Adrian from Wilmington, DeThe parody of this on Mad TV, while predictable, is hilarious. Instead of Elton John and Eminem hugging after the performance, they start making out.
  • Linda from College Station, TxI really want to know HOW IN THE WORLD Eminem hooked up with Dido to make this song? Em doesn't strike me as the kind of guy that normally listens to music like Dido.
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesSorry, my mistake, I meant Roswell, not Farscape in my previous post - I'd just been watching Farscape, and put that in by mistake!!!
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesActually, this song didn't make No.1 in England for 11 weeks at all - it was famously beaten to the top spot by cartoon character Bob The Builder. As for the view that Dido owes Eminem a lot, what people seem to forget is that Eminem sampled Dido, not the other way round. With "Here With Me" having been used as the theme to Farscape, Dido would eventually have made it big without Eminem's help anyway.
  • Jacqui from Bedford, VaSad song...
  • Shana from Radcliff, KyEm finally takes a look in, at what it's like to be the fan, and what it is to be him..........
  • Cassandra from Cobram, AustraliaEminem rox but I not allowed to listen to it. i listen to it behind mum's back1
  • Gustavo from Manteca, CaThis song just flows and has a good beat. It truly shows Eminem's artistic abilities. Dido owes him a lot.
  • Phillip from Dublin, IrelandStan is an impressive song and proves once and for all that eminem is a serios artist and not just a stupid sicko. Admittedly, its pretty sick though
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