Mockingbird (Eminem song)

"Mockingbird"
Single by Eminem
from the album Encore
Released April 25, 2005
Format
Recorded 2004
Genre Hip hop
Length 4:11
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Eminem
  • Luis Resto (add.)
Eminem singles chronology
"Like Toy Soldiers"
(2005)		 "Mockingbird"
(2005)		 "Ass Like That"
(2005)

"Like Toy Soldiers"
(2005)		 "Mockingbird"
(2005)		 "Ass Like That"
(2005)
Curtain Call: The Hits track listing
"The Real Slim Shady"
(11)		 "Mockingbird"
(12)		 "Guilty Conscience"
(13)
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 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).

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. This song was also featured on the 2005 compilation album Now That's What I Call Music 19 (U.S. series).

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 about Eminem's failed marriage, as he apologizes to his daughters with a straight melodic version of the traditional "Mockingbird" lullaby called "Hush, Little Baby". The second verse is about the difficulties including Kim and Eminem's divorce and the beginning of Eminem's fame.

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 his empty house watching home movies about his daughters. It also features footage with his mentor, Dr. Dre. This is the second video to feature Eminem with his glasses, the first being "Stan".

Track listing

  1. "Mockingbird" - 4:11
  2. "Encore" (UMI Fade Version) (featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent) - 5:12
  1. "Mockingbird" - 4:11
  2. "Mockingbird" (Instrumental) - 4:11
  3. "Just Lose It" (DJ Green Lantern Remix) - 3:30
  4. "Mockingbird" (Video) - 4:11
  1. "Mockingbird" - 4:11
  2. "Encore" (UMI Fade Version) (featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent) - 5:12
  1. "Mockingbird" - 4:11
  2. "Mockingbird" (Instrumental) - 4:11
  3. "Just Lose It" (DJ Green Lantern Remix) - 3:30
  1. "Mockingbird" - 4:11
  2. "Encore" (UMI Fade Version) (featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent) - 5:12
  1. "Mockingbird" - 4:11
  2. "Encore" (UMI Fade Version) (featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent) - 5:12
  3. "Mockingbird" (Instrumental) - 4:11
  4. "Mockingbird" (Video) - 4:11

Charts and certifications

Peak positions

Chart (2005) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[17] 9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 18
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[19] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 20
Brazilian Singles Chart (ABPD)[21] 38
Czech Republic (IFPI)[22] 14
Denmark (Tracklisten)[23] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 19
European Hot 100 8
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 15
Irish Singles Chart 7
Italy (FIMI)[26] 20
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 8
Norway (VG-lista)[28] 7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 14
UK Singles Chart 4
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 11
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[30] 51
US Billboard Rap Songs[30] 10
US Billboard Pop Songs[30] 6

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Gold 35,000^
Italy (FIMI)[32] Gold 25,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Gold 400,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 500,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales+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. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Mockingbird: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Mockingbird [CD 2]: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Mockingbird - Single by Eminem". iTunes. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Mockingbird (UK Only Version) by Eminem". iTunes. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Mockingbird (pock It) by Eminem: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Mockingbird: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Eminem – Mockingbird" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Eminem – Mockingbird" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Eminem – Mockingbird" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Brazil" (PDF). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  22. ↑ "musicserver.cz - Hitparády IFPI". Archived from the original on November 6, 2005. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". Tracklisten.
  24. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eminem search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Musicline.de – Eminem Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". Top Digital Download. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Eminem – Mockingbird". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". VG-lista. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Eminem – Mockingbird". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  30. 1 2 3 4 http://www.billboard.com/artist/301722/eminem/chart
  31. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Eminem – Mockingbird" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  33. ↑ "British single certifications – Eminem – Mockingbird". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 19, 2016. Enter Mockingbird in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  34. ↑ "American single certifications – Eminem – Mockingbird". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 12, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
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