Anyone Else Notice The Odd Sense of Joy Around Trashing Eminem's New Album?
In 2008, Frank Thomas hit .240 with 8 home runs split between the Oakland A's and Toronto Bluejays. During his final season in 2001-2002, Mitch Richmond averaged 4.1 points per game for the LA Lakers. Cal Ripken's last year as a baseball player saw him hit just .239, while Shaq (the almighty Aristotle) logged 37 games in his last season in the NBA while averaging 9.2 points per game for the Boston Celtics.
So, what is my point? My point is that farewell campaigns don't often feature a massive demonstration of excellence. Very few athletes go out like Peyton Manning or Michael Jordan (the second time he retired after leading the Bulls to their second 3-peat). The same can be said for many professions.
During my lifetime, I've been in the final class for a handful of teachers. While I am the son of a CPS teacher, taught in CPS for a few years, and currently teach at Columbia College, I must say that it was apparent in every case that it was time for that teacher to retire. I can only assume that the same can go for plumbers and there's not a plumber somewhere on the edge of retirement who would view his or her last toilet installation as their best work... No diss to teachers or plumbers. My point being that the last of something always is the last of something for a reason.
So still, where am I going with this? Over the last month or so, Eminem has been campaigning around the release of his 8th studio album, Revival. If you've seen anything about it, you've undoubtedly seen the poor reviews and reactions on social media more often than not slamming the project. I'm not here to defend Eminem's music or new album (which I know is not for sure his last). To keep it fully open, I made the mistake of thinking Eminem would be a one-hit-wonder style rapper after his first album dropped when I was a junior in high school. I was very fucking wrong.
About his new album, I streamed it on the day of its release and haven't revisited it since, nor had the burning desire to put it on. When I listened, I felt next to nothing. I thought some songs had promise, others were not very good. For every good bar or concept, there was another one that missed the mark or was just silly. That's Eminem right now. I think his recent interview with Complex was great because he was fully open about where he's at in his career. He's about rhyming. The skill of putting words together is his main skill and this is a guy who has gotten so good at it, he can't even figure out how to stop rhyming words together. He said in the interview,
"I think that there's still a lot of people that don't understand compound syllable rhyming and being able to take entire sentences and make them rhyme and stuff like that. They might not hear that, so they're not gonna be able to appreciate that, because they hear what they hear and then, "Ah, man. That shit is wack." Okay, but maybe you don't understand what I'm doing.
I feel like one of the things that's happened to me over the years is rapping getting harder, but rhyming gets easier, if that makes any sense. One of my drawbacks I feel like that I did on the last album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, was long verses, because I couldn't get the rhyme to end. In other words, when I think of a couple phrases or whatever it is, I think of so much shit that rhymes with it and connecting the syllables and doing all that, but by the time it's all said and done, is this different than anything I've done before? I've done a song like this, so now I don't like it because it may not be talking about anything. It may be just connecting words together and just to get a reaction, but it's not really that good. I don't know."
The interview was really open, and it made me think a bit more about all the criticism I'm reading online, about Em and his new album. What kind of struck, and drove me to write this article about something that in all honesty is not very important, is that a lot of the reviews seem to take pleasure in Eminem's new album not being very good. It is as if critics were hoping the album was bad so that they had something to write about. Before the album even dropped, I'd say the general pulse was that it was not going to be good, Eminem is no longer good, and now, there is the narrative that Eminem was never even that good.
As I said before, I'm not a big Eminem fan. I don't own the majority of his albums, and I'm sure you can find posts on this very site that I've written slamming some of his music. But this album really isn't that bad, and this album's performance shouldn't go back and change the impact he's had on music and how for a moment in time, the dude was fucking killing it. Em is also one of the few white artists actively going after Donald Trump and pushing his fans to recognize the institutional racism that Trump represents, benefits from, spreads, and is currently trying to make stronger. Does that earn him a cookie, no, cause that's what he should be doing, but in the reviews I've read, the actual subject matter of his music is an afterthought.
No one mentions Frank Thomas' final season or how bad Mitch Richmond was before he retired. Shit, the Beastie Boys' last album was their worst (that's even hard for me to type). In all those cases the work was reviewed but there was no joy in extreme pointing out the mistakes. The album's not that good, fantastic. But how much more attention should be paid to how bad it is, rather than finding and celebrating the next artist? Why make Em the butt of recurring jokes, where there is so much more to write about?
Even as I write this article, I am laughing at myself for spending time on something so trivial.
Why Gilmore Girls Ended Exactly As It Should Have
After waiting nearly 10 years, the Gilmore Girls have finally returned to the small screen and the town of Starts Hollow, and there is a lot to be said about the revival.
Winter
The return of Gilmore Girls is divided into four seasons, starting with Lorelai’s favorite: Winter. Throughout this first episode, the audience views how Emily, Lorelai and Rory cope with the death of Richard and how their grief impacts them in different ways as a wife, a daughter, and a granddaughter.
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Emily begins to wonder who she is and what brings her joy in life in a world without Richard.
Lorelai is also starting to struggling after a confrontation with Emily. Lorelai begins to question whether her mother was right. Is she is being selfish and compartmentalizing pieces in her relationship with Luke?
Spring
In the season Spring, we see Rory starting to struggle in her own way, grasping to find her identity within her career. Her studies and her career have always come first for Rory, with intimate relationships coming in second. Rory is questioning which direction she want to follow as a journalist.
Rory's unstable situation in her work life is paralleled in her love life, establishing a no-strings relationship with Logan Huntzberger. Logan has always represented fun and a freedom for Rory. However, it becomes apparent that this roaming free lifestyle in Rory’s work life and personal life isn’t something she can sustain forever.
Lorelai and Emily are seeing a therapist together, which is a major break for these two characters who have never been mediated together. This opportunity gives them the chance to mend their issues in the tense relationship that has build up over years.
Summer
In the Summer season, Rory steps up and decides that she is going to save the Stars Hollow Gazette, taking on the role of editor. She is ready to use her skills and education to benefit the town, and to keep a historical piece of Stars Hollow alive. The Stars Hollow Gazette has also helped to inform and shape Rory herself into the person she is today. Rory recognizes this and makes it her responsibility to return the favor.
Lorelai also worries about the structure of her career. She has lost Sookie as a chef and can’t find anyone who is up to Lorelai’s standards to replace her. Now, in the season of Summer, Lorelai faces the potential dilemma that Michel may be leaving. She fears that the team that was the foundation of her business seems to be falling apart.
Jess returns to Stars Hallow and it is evident that he is able to maintain his friendship with Rory. His advice helps to shine a light on a situation she couldn’t see herself. He provides her with insight on her career and what direction she should consider taking. Jess suggests that Rory write a book, about her and her mom and their life together.
However, Rory’s decision to pursue the book idea causes a divide between Rory and Lorelai. Lorelai has always tried to maintain her private life and keep her relationships separate; whether it was her distancing herself and Rory from Lorelai’s parents, or Lorelai keeping the men in her life at arms length from Rory growing up. It always seemed as if it was her intention to protect Rory.
Yet, Lorelai is also trying to protect herself. This parallel is also shown in Luke and Lorelai’s relationship strains. Luke claims that Lorelai has always called the shots in their relationship. The only option Lorelai has now is to take a break and to embark on a journey alone to figure out how she feels and what she wants.
Fall
During the final season of the four part series, Fall, the issue of communication arises. Jess addresses the situation between Luke and Lorelai and communication withinin their relationship. Through this, Luke comes to the realization that he may lose Lorelai.
This is not only a significant moment for Luke, but for Jess as well. Here, we see Jess’ progress in the communication department in his adult life. This is essential and allows him to break down the barriers he put up. It allows Jess to establish true friendships with Rory and Luke, people he once pushed away, and to even help them.
Logan, Collin, Robert, and Finn also return to Stars Hollow. With them, they bring back that sense of fun and freedom that they provided Rory with during her college years. They allow her to take a break from the seriousness and the stress of life and to just enjoy the stupid stunts that can make living in the moment fun. But the fun has to end at some point.
Finally, Rory runs into Dean, her first love. Her depiction of him as her first boyfriend is so important. It shows how Dean has impacted Rory's life, regardless of fans who don't approve of Dean. Rory highlights how he taught her what safety felt like, a valuable lesson she needed in her life. Rory claims that she’s glad they met when they did because she wouldn’t be the person she is today. This is a great example that shows how the people of Stars Hollow - from The Stars Hollow Gazette, to Dean, to Lorelai - have greatly shaped Rory’s life.
In a moment of clarity, Lorelai is finally able to reflect on the one instance that stood out to her about Richard. This scene finally gives Lorelai a sense of insight, understanding and closure to Lorelai’s relationship with her father. She is now starting to embrace the journey of coping through seeing her father more clearly now after he is gone.
When Lorelai returns to Stars Hallow, Luke lays it all out on the table for her. He is willing to sacrifice anything for her, telling her she can’t leave, that he needs her most of all. Lorelai responds by asking Luke to marry her. This idea of marriage has been a uneasy subject for the two and their history together. But it is this point in Lorelai and Luke’s relationship shows how valuable and meaningful time and patience are. “It needs to fit,” Lorelai states at the end.
Lorelai's complications with her work life also receive a sense of closure when Sookie returns. It shows that Lorelai, Sookie and Michel’s relationship with one another hasn’t changed. Even if they aren’t working together anymore, their bond displays how their business was always made from the foundation of friendship; and how that friendship intertwined with creating a business.
Rory eventually returns to Lorelai on her own terms. She doesn’t apologize for the book idea, because it is something she believes in and wants so desperately. Instead, Rory offers Lorelai a proposal. This scene displays exactly how Rory’s relationship with her mother is more important than her career. And in that moment, we the audience, realize that Rory’s relationship with her mother has always and will always be the number one, most important thing in her life.
Even Christopher, Rory’s father, knows that Lorelai’s relationship with Rory is exactly the way it was supposed to happen. "From the first moment I saw you two, I knew no one was getting between you two,” he says. Rory is no longer the 16 year old girl who so desperately wants her parents to be together. Rory finally understands that her relationship with her mother is more special and more important than her parents being together.
Emily comes upon her own realizations and the need for changes. She makes the decision to sell her and Richard’s home. Emily is finding who she is and who she wants to be after the loss of Richard. She finds her passions and pursues them and accepts and embraces the changes that comes with that. It is interesting to see a character who is so against change welcome it into their life. Emily not only supports the idea of change, but she needs it. Change helps Emily to keep living her life and not let "it die with Richard."
Towards the end, Lorelai tells Rory that she is not going to read Rory’s book until it is complete. By allowing Rory to follow through with her passions, this act displays the trust Lorelai has in Rory as a daughter and as a friend to write their story with honor, integrity and truth.
Finally, the final four words the creator Amy Sherman-Palladino are released into the world:
Rory: “Mom?"
Lorelai: “Yeah.”
Rory: “I'm pregnant.”
Similar to Lorelai situation when she was pregnant with Rory, Rory is now pregnant. She isn’t married, nor does she have the support of a partner. But she has something that Lorelai never had: the unconditional and full support of a mother. A mother who will help her get through this pregnancy and to help raise this child, if that is what Rory chooses to do.
Gilmore Girls always focused on the mother-daughter relationship between Lorelai and Rory. Their bond, their friendship, and their little family was always what the story was about. Rory’s decision to re-tell that story in the past through the present is deeply meaningful to these two characters and their journeys, both together and apart. But the potential to continue that story with Rory's child allows the Gilmore Girls story to come full circle while still continuing on their journey together.
In addition to the amazing job of the writers in the Gilmore Girls revival, it is extraordinarily commendable how these actors brought life back to these beloved characters. Lauren Graham returns as Lorelai, seemingly without even missing a beat. It is as if the fast talking, quick witted, bantering coffee addict never left. The growth and relationship between the characters and how these scenes were carried out is truly admirable. The banter between Lorelai and Rory seems natural, as if you can see Rory becoming more and more like her mother in her witty manner of speaking between the duo.
Although there was a scene or two there that may have been shortened, such as the 10 minute scene devoted to the Stars Hollow musical, it all great impacted the story. To some viewers, there were scenes that may seem less important or may even be deemed as 'skip-able'. But it is important to remember that every scene that involves the people of Stars Hollow is essential. These scenes bring back that same life and rhythm by the people of Stars Hollow. It brings back the same feelings to a show that began 15 years ago. But this story isn’t just about Lorelai and Rory. It is all the characters that were brought to life and made the show the great story that it is; and the great story that it will be as Rory’s book, Gilmore Girls.
The Gilmore Girls Lives On!
Since 2000, fans of the series Gilmore Girls continue to fawn over the memorable show chalk full of pop culture references, wit, and the ups and downs of everyday life and relationships. The beloved series came to an unfortunate end in 2007.
Netflix has confirmed the resurfacing of the series in a 4 part story line as early as October of 2015. For month, Gilmore Girls enthusiasts have been obsessing with the biggest question that left us on the edge: when? When will the series air? Finally, Netflix officially confirms that the return of the Gilmore Girls will air on November 25th of this year.
Throughout the early 2000s, the Gilmore Girls’ ratings remained at a constant high for the majority of the series' lifetime. According to IMDB, the show ranges between an 8 and 9 out of 10. Although the final season’s ratings were lower than in past years, the ratings show a steep incline over the course of Lorelai and Rory’s last moments together. Throughout the seven season life span, Gilmore Girls accumulated an average of between 4 and 5 million viewers.
I remember rushing home from middle school and turning the channel to abc family; curled up in the little corner of my cozy bedroom with hot chocolate and blankets around me, I was ready for a full hour of Gilmore Girls. I was raised in a town where everyone knows everybody or is a friend of a friend; Gilmore Girls reminded me of my own home a bit. Whether it was passing by EPs local gazebo with strung lights after a snowfall, or my old babysitter and family friend who always reminded me a little of Lorelai Gilmore. Watching Gilmore Girls gave me that warm, familiar feeling. Growing up watching this show at a young age influenced my taste in music, my love for coffee and even my sense of humor. I still continue to re-live the series annually through the aid of Netflix.
Now, nearly 10 years later, the story continues. I am incredible excited to see the directors, producers, cast, and crew coming together to give the story it’s proper ending. The ending that was intended by the series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino before leaving the show after season 6. Sherman-Palladino has returned for the revival. We'll finally get to see how that chapter of the Gilmore Girls was meant to end, through the creator’s eyes.
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Gilmore Girls is more than just a revival and resurfacing of a series. It’s a welcoming home of loved characters and well known places. And now, we get to see how those familiar components have evolved over the past 10 years. Hearing the well recognized tune of Sam Phillips’ voice in the background and getting a glimpse into Stars Hollow is like returning home for the holidays. It gives me great anticipation for November 25th, 2016.