Intertextual References in Music Videos: Eminem

Eminem: Just Lose It

This video is a great example of intertextual referencing in music videos. As one of Eminem's spoof songs, it parodies many different musicians, films and TV shows and characters including Michael Jackson, MC Hammer Pee-wee Herman and Madonna. Controversial at the time, it mocks the issues and image of the artists he refers to.
In the video, Eminem dresses up as a number of people. He strongly parodies Michael Jackson and plays on the controversy surrounding him at the time the video was made involving child molestation and his court cases. Dancing in the style of MJ whilst dressed in a costume including a white glove on his right hand, the audience are able to immediately realise who he is parodying, enabling them to enjoy the video and song with more understanding. However, Michael Jackson was not happy with the representation of him and openly said that he was "very angry at Eminem's depiction of [him] in his video".

His reference to Pee-wee Herman is an older one, and this would appeal more to an older audience who perhaps watched or are aware of who Pee-wee Herman is. He strongly references him in the video, including his signature shout in the chorus. Already known as a comical figure, the exploitation of Herman’s humour was successful and would have been nostalgic for older audiences.  

The combination of comical celebrities and references mixed with more serious performers such as Madonna meant that the video received mixed reviews, and took a lot of criticism from fans of some of the artists and by other celebrities. Banned on MTV, this was an excellent marketing scheme that meant hype was generated around the video and more people were inclined to watch it to see what the fuss was about. Eminem has used this tactic before on such videos and songs as Ass Like That and Without You where he parodies a large number of celebrities and has guest stars appear within it and the image that he portrays them as is insulting or scandalous.

The audience for the One Show within the video is of a much older age range which highlights the older intertextual references within the video such as Pee-wee Herman and MC Hammer. Although not very old, the references could have been lost on Eminem’s younger, primary audience of late teenagers. This meant that he was appealing to a wider audience thus increasing the interest in his music. Another musician he parodies is Madonna. The reaction of the audience within the video to his parody of her is of shock and distaste as he plays on her own sexualisation of herself on a more grotesque level. There is more of a shock at parodying her due to the lack of humour in her own work in comparison to other celebrities such as Pee-wee, and his already jokey persona. The sexualisation is also different to Pee-wee’s obvious naivety and childish behaviour, so he accepts through the showing of the audience’s response that what he is rapping about can be taken negatively but that he is happy to do it anyway.

There is also a reference to Eminem’s own film, 8 Mile and another one of his music videos, Lose Yourself. At 2:26 there is a scene at an underground rap battle. This is a strong link to Eminem’s rise and start of his career whist also advertising his own film. We are able to see into his life as a rapper and how it started which connects the audience to him and satisfied the needs and gratifications of the audience by connecting them to him on a more personal level. He refers to a number of his other music videos within the music video and lyrics, “Shady’s back” is an exert from the lyrics of Without Me and “Girl you know you’re my world” is from Superman. For fans that know his music well, these links add another layer to his work and making them connect more with him as it gives a sense of knowing a joke that only his “true fans” can appreciate.

Other references/guest stars:

There is a reference to the film, Bad Santa throughout the video, and guest stars one of the actual cast from the film, Tony Cox, as the elf that he played in it.

Paris Hilton, Dr. Dre, Katie Cassidy and Alyson Stoner all make guest appearances.