Mockingbird (Eminem song)

"Mockingbird"
Single by Eminem
from the album Encore
ReleasedApril 25, 2005
Recorded2004
GenreConscious hip hop
Length4:11
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Eminem singles chronology
"Like Toy Soldiers"
(2005) 		"Mockingbird"
(2005) 		"Ass Like That"
(2005)
Music video
"Mockingbird" on YouTube

"Mockingbird" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fifth studio album Encore (2004). It was released as the fifth single from the album in April 2005. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number four in Denmark. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance. "Mockingbird" was later included on Eminem's greatest hits compilation album Curtain Call: The Hits (2005).

Composition

The song runs for 4 minutes and 11 seconds and is written in the key of E minor, with a tempo of 84 beats per minute, the song follows a chord progression sequence of Em-C-D-Em.

Content

In the song, Eminem details everything he tried to provide for his daughter Hailie before coming up against difficulties in his relationship with Kim. He laments the fact that things didn't turn out as planned, but affirms his love for his daughter.

Critical response

Entertainment Weekly's David Browne wrote: "Again he addresses a song to his daughter (Mockingbird) and explains how he's working hard at being a good father."[1] J-23 of HipHopDX praised the song: "Things get a bit better at the end, 'Mockingbird' is another song for Hailie that is most notable for flawless delivery."[2] Steve Jones of USA Today was positive: "The affectionate Mockingbird talks directly to his 9-year-old daughter, Hailie Jade, and 8-year-old niece, Alaina, trying to explain Kim's troubles with the law and his constant travel."[3] James Corne of RapReviews was also satisfied, saying, "Predictably, Eminem lays down one for Hailie with "Mockingbird," but what is not foreseeable is that it actually works."[4] The New York Times was mixed: "the I-love-my-daughter ode 'Mockingbird'" isn't the most exciting thing according to Kelefa Sanneh.[5] Stylus Magazine was negative: "Encore dutifully deploys the obligatory Hailie ode ("Mockingbird")."[6]

The A.V. Club was a bit positive: "On 'Mockingbird,' Eminem lets his hatred of his ex-wife lie dormant just long enough to provide his daughter with a haunting account of how parents sometimes just can't make it work, no matter how much both parties want to."[7] Los Angeles Times also agreed: "In the tender 'Mockingbird,' the Detroit-based rapper outlines his devotion to his daughter, Hailie. Against a restrained, almost hypnotic musical backdrop, Eminem tries to help the child make sense of a world in which her father is always on the run because of his career, and her mother, Kim, makes headlines with legal troubles, including a drug arrest last year. Normally, much of Eminem's lure as a rapper is in the speed and authority of his rapid-fire delivery, but he raps here with the gentleness of a man with his arms around his daughter: 'I know it's confusing to you/ Daddy's always on the move/ Mama's always on the news.'"[8] The Austin Chronicle is a bit negative, saying that in the song "he still hates his ... ex-wife as much as he loves his daughter. Yawn."[9] The Boston Phoenix called it "the address-to-his-daughter" song that is "more consistently remarkable than 'Mosh'".[10]

Music video

The video premiered on MTV TRL on February 21, 2005, and features Eminem sitting in a living room all alone watching home movies about his daughters. Directorial video for John "QUIG" Quigley. This is the second video to feature Eminem wearing his eyeglasses (the first being "Stan").

Sampling

Baby Keem's song "Apologize" from his 2019 mixtape Die for My Bitch samples his unique, but well-known flow, uses a similar melodic tone as Eminem's "Mockingbird", in his pre-chorus and chorus.[11]

Lil Nas X's song "Dont Want It" (from his 2021 album Montero) samples "Mockingbird" for its chorus; being similar in word pattern and lyrics.[12]

British Rapper E1 (3x3) released a remix to the song in 2022.

2023 Resurgence

In 2023, after the song garnered massive interest on social networking site TikTok, "Mockingbird" reached 1 billion streams on Spotify[13] and placed on numerous music charts worldwide.[14][15][16][17][18]

Awards and nominations

See also: List of awards and nominations received by Eminem
Year Ceremony Award Result
2005[19] Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Rap Track Won
2006 Grammy Awards Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated

Track listing

UK CD1,[20] digital download,[21] German 3" CD single[22]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Mockingbird"
4:11
2."Encore" (UMI fade version) (featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent)
5:12
Total length:9:23
UK CD2[23]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Mockingbird"
4:11
2."Mockingbird" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Resto
4:11
3."Just Lose It" (DJ Green Lantern remix)
3:30
4."Mockingbird" (video)
  • Mathers
  • Resto
4:11
Total length:16:01
Digital EP[24]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Mockingbird"
4:11
2."Mockingbird" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Resto
4:11
3."Encore" (UMI fade version) (featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent)
5:12
Total length:13:34
German CD single[25]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Mockingbird"
4:11
2."Encore" (UMI fade version) (featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent)
5:12
3."Mockingbird" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Resto
4:11
4."Mockingbird" (video)
  • Mathers
  • Resto
4:11
Total length:17:45
Notes

Chart positions

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[67] Gold 35,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[68] 2× Platinum 180,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[69] 5× Gold 750,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[70] Platinum 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[71] 3× Platinum 90,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[72] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[73] 6× Platinum 240,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[74] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[75] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[76] Platinum 2,000,000†

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

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