I immediately appreciated how Houdini seemed to be an ‘answer’ to Without Me’s line, “Now, let's go, just give me the signal. I'll be there with a whole list full of new insults.” Yet, more than that, how it played with the passing of time. It’s been a while indeed and things have changed plenty. It packaged and delivered the nostalgia outstandingly, bringing it into today. It did come across as pretty random, though, nevertheless, clever. And I was hooked by the line, “And for my last trick, I’m ‘bout to reach in my bag, bruh.” I suppose it was referring to the insane content within the album?
Not gonna lie. This one was triggering the heck out of me. I had to force myself to actually listen to what was being said. Or attempting to communicate. And remind myself that it wasn’t catering to me and my sensitivities, in particular. That ~I’m not the only one with issues~. My snap judgment was that it was such a defeatist pity party, and I, forever the ~where there’s a will there’s a way~, despised that. It might be that it painfully reminded me of my own powerlessness to help people dealing with addiction problems (been there, not a happy ending story) and the sad reality that you can only help those who want to be helped and who will also help themselves. But taking myself and my personal issues out of the equation, and valuing it for what it is, I’m so grateful that such an intimate look at the struggles one could find themselves in was given. Somebody Save Me is heartbreaking, especially if you’re the kind who’s there for others or wishes to be.
Then, Temporary broke me. Confused or not, damn it. I was not ready to cry this much over a freakin’ song by no other than EMINEM. I ended up MAD. Like, what even was this about? Some hypothetical death and being asked to move on? But then again, it’s a family thing, and I’m only a stranger on the outside looking in, so what can I even say? I don’t know, but it messed me up regardless. ‘Cuz wutcha talkin’ about? I don’t want to move on! SIGH. Anyway, I listened to it recently, and it doesn’t stir me like that anymore. But it’s still so damn upsetting and unsettling. Jeez. The girl in me, with an absent father, was made to experience a multitude of feelings.
In general, though, gotta keep applauding Eminem’s genius.
