"Mockingbird" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fifth studio albumEncore (2004). It was released as the fifth single from the album in April 2005. It peaked at number 4 on the US Bubbling Under 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 albumCurtain Call: The Hits (2005).
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.
Critical responseedit
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]
Samplingedit
Baby Keem's song "Apologize" from his 2019 mixtape Die for My Bitch samples his unique, but well-known flow, using a similar melodic tone as Eminem's "Mockingbird", in his pre-chis 2021 album Montero) samples "Mockingbird" for its chorus; being similar in word pattern and lyrics.[11]
British Rapper E1 (3x3) released a remix to the song in 2022.
Resurgenceedit
In 2023, after the song garnered massive interest on social networking site TikTok, "Mockingbird" reached 1 billion streams on Spotify[12] and placed on numerous music charts worldwide.[13][14][15][16][17]
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
Referencesedit
^Browne, David (2004-11-19). "Encore". Entertainment Weekly. No. 793. p. 80. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
^Jones, Steve (November 11, 2004). "Eminem's edgy 'Encore' deserves an ovation". USA Today. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
^Corne, James (2004-11-09). "Eminem :: Encore :: Shady/Aftermath/Interscope". RapReviews. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
^Sanneh, Kelefa (2004-11-15). "All the Time in the World, Slim Shady? That's Scary". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
^Love, Josh (2004-11-12). "Eminem - Encore - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 2014-02-09. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
^Rabin, Nathan (2004-11-22). "Encore". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
^Hilburn, Robert (2004-11-08). "With 'Encore', Eminem melts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
^Gray, Christopher (2004-11-26). "Eminem: Encore". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
^Soults, Franklin (November 26, 2004). "Eminem: Encore". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
^"Lil Nas X uses same sample on a new song "Don't Want It" as Eminem on "Mockingbird"". Southpawers. September 17, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
^Ahmed, Insanul (16 March 2023). "TikTok helps Eminem's "Mockingbird" get 1 billion Spotify streams". XXL. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
^"Track Top-40 Uge 46, 2022". Hitlisten. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
^"Top Singles (Week 2, 2023)" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
^ ab"OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 06.01.2023–12.01.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
^"IMI International Top 20 singles for week ending 2nd January 2023 – Week 52 of 52". Indian Music Industry. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
^ ab"Veckolista Singlar, vecka 47". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
^ abcd"Eminem Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
^"Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 2, 2017" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
^"Eminem – Mockingbird" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202245 into search. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
^"Track Top-40 Uge 46, 2022". Hitlisten. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
^"Eminem: Mockingbird" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
^"Top Singles (Week 2, 2023)" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
^"Eminem Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
^"Official IFPI Charts — Digital Singles Chart (International) — Εβδομάδα: 48/2022" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
^"IMI International Top 20 singles for week ending 2nd January 2023 – Week 52 of 52". Indian Music Industry. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
^"Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 15. nedēļa" (in English and Latvian). LAIPA. April 16, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
^"2022 47-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. November 25, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
^"Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Εβδομάδα: 02/2023" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 4, 2023.