Mockingbird (Eminem song)

"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 eleven on the Billboard Hot 100, and number four in the United Kingdom. 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).

"Mockingbird"
Single by Eminem
from the album Encore
ReleasedApril 25, 2005
Recorded2004
GenreHip 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

The song is another that addresses Eminem's relationship with his daughter Hailie Jade, his adopted daughter Alaina and his relationship with his wife Kim. The single cover features a still from the video with Eminem sitting on the couch.

Background

The lyrics are a personal, undisguised account of his early relationship with his wife and daughters. Critics praised the song for its lyrics. This song mixes an original rap dialogue, as he apologizes to his daughters with a straight melodic version of the traditional lullaby "Hush, Little Baby".

Critical response

Entertainment Weekly's David Browne was angered: "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"; and he noted that it imitates Em himself.[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 with his glasses, the first being "Stan".

Awards and nominations
See also: List of awards and nominations received by Eminem
Year Ceremony Award Result
2005[11] Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Rap Track Won
2006 Grammy Awards Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated

Track listing
UK CD1,[12] digital download,[13] German 3" CD single[14]
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[15]
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[16]
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[17]
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 CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[37] Gold 35,000^
Germany (BVMI)[38] Gold 150,000
Italy (FIMI)[39] Platinum 50,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[41] 4× Platinum 4,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Browne, David (2004-11-19). "Encore". Entertainment Weekly. No. 793. p. 80. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  2. J-23 (2004-11-15). "Eminem - Encore". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  3. Jones, Steve (November 11, 2004). "Eminem's edgy 'Encore' deserves an ovation". USA Today. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  4. Corne, James (2004-11-09). "Eminem :: Encore :: Shady/Aftermath/Interscope". RapReviews. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  5. Sanneh, Kelefa (2004-11-15). "All the Time in the World, Slim Shady? That's Scary". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  6. Love, Josh (2004-11-12). "Eminem - Encore - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 2014-02-09. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  7. Rabin, Nathan (2004-11-22). "Encore". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  8. Hilburn, Robert (2004-11-08). "With 'Encore', Eminem melts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  9. Gray, Christopher (2004-11-26). "Eminem: Encore". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
  10. Soults, Franklin (November 26, 2004). "Eminem: Encore". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  11. "Teen Choice Awards Winners 2005". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
  12. "Mockingbird: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  13. "iTunes - Music - Mockingbird - Single by Eminem". iTunes. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  14. "Mockingbird (pock It) by Eminem: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  15. "Mockingbird [CD 2]: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  16. "iTunes - Music - Mockingbird (UK Only Version) by Eminem". iTunes. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  17. "Mockingbird: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  18. "Australian-charts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  19. "Austriancharts.at – Eminem – Mockingbird" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  20. "Ultratop.be – Eminem – Mockingbird" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  21. "Ultratop.be – Eminem – Mockingbird" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  22. "Brazil Charts" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-08. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  23. "musicserver.cz - Hitparády IFPI". Archived from the original on November 6, 2005. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  24. "Danishcharts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". Tracklisten.
  25. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eminem" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  26. "Offiziellecharts.de – Eminem – Mockingbird". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  27. "Italiancharts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". Top Digital Download. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  28. "Charts.nz – Eminem – Mockingbird". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  29. "Norwegiancharts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". VG-lista. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  30. "Notowanie nr 1217" (in Polish). 27 May 2005. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  31. "Swisscharts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  32. "Eminem: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  33. "Eminem Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  34. "2005 Annual ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  35. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  36. "Billboard Top 100 – 2005". BillboardTop100of.com. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  37. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  38. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eminem; 'Mockingbird')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  39. "Italian single certifications – Eminem – Mockingbird" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 17, 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Mockingbird" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
  40. "British single certifications – Eminem – Mockingbird". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 3, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Mockingbird in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  41. "American single certifications – Eminem – Mockingbird". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 28, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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