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Stan song meanings
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  • +12
    General Comment

    Now that Eminem is highly prased as a rapper today, I can actually look back and see the deeper meaning of this song. It is very morbid and no doubt one of Eminem's most controversial songs. However if you analyze the overall meaning it's really brillant. First I agree the Stan part means ST as in stalker and AN as in fan, symbolism of Stan. When you think about it, a lot of Eminem's songs are about his personal problems as well as society's problems. I think he used himself to represent a society problem, the media and music influencing people. Stan becomes so obsessed with Slim, and lives his life for Slim. I think he's trying to show the person's side rather than the music/media. It almost reminds me of the Columbine Tragedy, many people thought Marilyn Manson's music had an influence on the boys behavior and indirectly caused them to shoot innocent people. I think Eminem is trying to show that music may influence it, it is always initially the person who has the problem and not the music. You can clearly see Stan has mental issues which leads to his suicide and killing of his pregnant girlfriend (when he kills his girlfriend it actually really seems to symbolize Columbine because innocent people were killed because of madness). In the end, you hear Slim saying "You cut your wrists too, I was clowin man, I think you need some help, why you so mad, I don't want you to do some crazy shit." This part is the strongest in saying how you can't literally take all controversial music or use it to blame people's problems.

    Nancecowaon October 01, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I think that this song is to send a warning out to his fans. Of course we all know that Eminem's next best talent is stirring up controversy. If you listen to the songs on The Marshall Mathers LP, there are many reoccurrences of a message that says to his fans that a lot of the things he says should not be taken seriously, and that he doesn't really mean what he means.

    I think this song is that same warning, except he's trying to use an example of what would happen if you take him too seriously. Stan is writing to Eminem about how he takes everything that Eminem says seriously, and Eminem writes back saying that Stan doesn't really understand him and that Stan should seek some help. Finally, we know what happened to Stan. I think the point of the song was to send out a message to his fans to not take everything he says seriously.

    dingeron June 22, 2003   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Also stan could be a combination of the word stalker and fan

    Stalker + Fan = Stan

    Brassmonker2on March 22, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    like everyone else says the song is really deep it touches the surface of the soul i mean this is where a drunk would have a clear moment of clarity..and someone whos thoughtfully deep..the truth is that em put alot of thought into this song, this definetley came from the heart and it has multiple meanings mainley towards what us the fans think of it you could just say it was a song expressing how it is for a famous person a dealing with all fans which is impossible because you cant satisfy everyone and for someone like em you can only do that through your songs ..one of the points is you cant write just write him or any famous person and expect them too respond because they got a life just like you ..i mean damn all of us are only human..he speaks too us through all of his songs, which show his personality and his life think of it from his concept not just your own.

    allstar***on July 18, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    naw...really.

    linkkon April 28, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think that this song shows the "deeper" side of Eminem, he isn't ALL about what people think he is. I also think that this song has more meaning then the obvious.......yes I'm talking about you Kevin..... I think this also goes to say that life isn't as easy for people like Eminem (famous) as some people think it is. But that is just my outlook on it. Thsi song is deep and I think that it will be in peoples minds for a long time to come.

    Kaekuraon May 13, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I don't think anyone should get offended by the way Stan killed his girlfriend. Eminem was actually trying to send a real message in this video. Maybe he could have done it less morbidly, but then, he could have been more morbid, as well. The point is, if Stan had just killed himself, it would have been sad. But the fact that he took this poor woman and her baby with him adds to the horrific poignancy of the song. This song was about pain, about someone trying to find himself by living through another person. And in the end, when his sanity came crumbling down...well. The part of the song that hit me the hardest was actually at the very end, when Eminem is writing back and suddenly realizes who Stan was, and you know that maybe (lost cause though he was), if Stan had held out just a little longer, all that death would never have occured.

    Seattleon May 23, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    was that Devon Sawa as Stan???:S

    lokrockgurlon June 14, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I believe the term you're looking for is redundant, not double negative, chief.

    SoBrokenHeartedon September 27, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ok, look look, i got something to say, and i ain't dissin Dre, but this song is makin everyone feel grey, great song and all but not the happy mood, while Eminem's showing his bare ass in the nude, maybe Stan was on drugs like coke, maybe before he drowned he choked, cause at the end of this song he croaked, and when the police found him he was soaked, his wife was dead in the trunk, maybe if he played basketball he'd be able to dunk, sounds like a punk, talkin on a recorder while yellin at Bonnie, thinkin about Eminem's uncle Ronnie, what a good guy, but he just had to die, Stan stay alive? he won't even try, he's gonna kill himself in the water, he thinks this could have taught her, his wife...to learn how to understand, that Eminem's his best friend, never again will be able to come back, i think he was smokin crack on this track, cause it's so crazy, and he says"now did my mother raise me?"

    i_love_amyjayneon March 22, 2003   Link

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