Stan (song)

The 45 King was first inspired to develop a production sampling "Thank You" whilst watching the 1998 film Sliding Doors, in which the song is featured, at his home. Upon hearing the song, he immediately switched the film off, went into his studio and looped a sample of "Thank You" as well as adding a bassline. He sent the production to his contacts at Interscope Records, through whom it would eventually find its way to Eminem after his manager Paul Rosenberg sent him a tape of the 45 King's production work.{{Cite web |title=Ultimate Albums: The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem interview |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/series/ultimate_albums/marshall/interview_eminem.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031230030718/http://www.vh1.com/shows/series/ultimate_albums/marshall/interview_eminem.jhtml |archive-date=December 30, 2003 |access-date=December 19, 2024 |website=VH1}} When listening to the 45 King's loop, the "Thank You" lyric "put your picture on my wall... It reminds me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad" immediately resonated with Eminem, who felt it would be perfectly suited to a song about an obsessed fan.{{Cite web |last=Power |first=Ed |date=May 22, 2020 |title=The Stan effect: did Eminem's song about a crazed fan just make fans crazier? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/stan-effect-did-eminems-song-crazed-fan-just-make-fans-crazier/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601000933/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/stan-effect-did-eminems-song-crazed-fan-just-make-fans-crazier/ |archive-date=June 1, 2020 |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=The Daily Telegraph}} Since the release of his previous album The Slim Shady LP (1999), Eminem had received many disturbing letters from fans who appeared to have taken the album's violent content seriously, encouraging him to write a song addressing these fans directly. Therefore the story he tells in the song is not true. {{Cite web |last=Lavin |first=Will |date=May 23, 2020 |title=Eminem's 'The Marshall Mathers LP' at 20: why it's a misunderstood masterpiece |url=https://www.nme.com/features/eminem-the-marshall-mathers-lp-20-years-anniversary-stan-2674681 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601180451/https://www.nme.com/features/eminem-the-marshall-mathers-lp-20-years-anniversary-stan-2674681 |archive-date=June 1, 2020 |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=NME}}

{{Blockquote

|text=When I heard "your picture on my wall," I was like "Yo, this could be about somebody who takes me too seriously." So I knew what I was going to write about before I wrote it. A lot of times when I'm writing songs, I see visions for everything I'm writing. This was one of those.

|author=Eminem, describing the origins of "Stan" to Genius in 2016{{Cite web |title=Eminem – Stan Lyrics |url=https://genius.com/5140305 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525211516/https://prebid-server.rubiconproject.com/setuid?bidder=amx&uid=5019ba8b-d8c7-4a1d-ac69-0d8e408e2bfb&do=genius.com |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=Genius}}

}}

The third verse of the song had to be entirely re-recorded after the engineer, whom Eminem had never worked with before, accidentally taped over the original take against Eminem's wishes. Eminem asked to re-record the final three lines, but the engineer – who Eminem claims was smoking marijuana during the session – mistakenly rewound the 2-inch recording tape right back to the start and began recording again. Eminem immediately realised the error and unsuccessfully tried to alert the engineer, but the take would be completely written over. When revealing this anecdote to music website Genius in 2016, Eminem stated that, in his opinion, the original take was "significantly better" than the re-recorded one, expressing his disappointment that it would never be heard.{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Nikita |date=May 28, 2016 |title=In Genius Annotation, Eminem Reveals How "Stan" Was Almost Destroyed |url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/05/28/in-genius-eminem-stan-almost-destroyed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529114652/https://www.thefader.com/2016/05/28/in-genius-eminem-stan-almost-destroyed |archive-date=May 29, 2016 |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=The Fader}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}

The song tells the story of a person named Stanley "Stan" Mitchell (voiced by Eminem) who claims to be Eminem's biggest fan. It has been suggested the name "Stan" is a portmanteau of the words "stalker" and "fan", though it is unknown if the name was chosen with that intention.{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Maia |date=2022-05-04 |title="Stans" are changing the music industry as we know it - but how? |url=https://www.soundspheremag.com/news/stans-are-changing-the-music-industry-as-we-know-it-but-how/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Soundsphere magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=May 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504152953/https://www.soundspheremag.com/news/stans-are-changing-the-music-industry-as-we-know-it-but-how/ |url-status=live }} The term "stan" has since become an internet slang term for an extremely obsessed fan of something or someone and is derived from the song's title. He writes Eminem several letters; over two verses, he is shown to be obsessive over the rapper, and grows increasingly frustrated and angry when there is no reply. He finally creates a voice recording of himself while driving his car on the highway, having consumed large quantities of depressants and alcohol; this verse includes a call-back to Eminem's "My Name Is" with the lyrics "I drank a fifth of vodka, you dare me to drive?", as well as a reference to a common urban legend surrounding Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" ("about that guy who coulda saved that other guy from drownin', but didn't..."). He reveals that his pregnant girlfriend is tied up in the trunk as he approaches a bridge, realizing in a panic that he has no way to send the tape to Eminem, but it is too late. The verse ends at the sound of his car swerving off the bridge and hitting the water below.

The fourth verse features Eminem as himself, writing back to Stan and attempting to reason with him. Eminem tries to explain to Stan that while he does appreciate having him as a fan and is incredibly grateful, he worries that Stan might not always be taking the lyrics of his songs in the right way. In an example of dramatic irony, Eminem also urges Stan to receive help for his mental health issues and to treat his girlfriend better, lest he end up like a man he had just seen on the news who had driven his car off a bridge in a drunken stupor, killing himself and his pregnant girlfriend. Eminem then realizes halfway through writing his letter that the man he saw on the news was in fact Stan.

Directed by Dr. Dre and Philip Atwell, the video is a literal interpretation of the story. The video features Devon Sawa as Stan and Dido as his pregnant girlfriend.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/kzvk8z/we-asked-the-actor-from-eminems-stan-video-who-he-stans-for|title=We Asked the Actor from Eminem's 'Stan' Video Who He Stans For|last=Berman|first=Sarah|date=December 12, 2018|website=Vice|access-date=December 12, 2018|archive-date=December 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213193155/https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/kzvk8z/we-asked-the-actor-from-eminems-stan-video-who-he-stans-for|url-status=live}} According to Sawa, he got the part because Dr. Dre was a fan of Final Destination, which Sawa starred in.{{cite web |last1=Kile |first1=Meredith B. |title=Devon Sawa Reveals the Surprising Reason He Was Cast in Eminem's Iconic 'Stan' Video |url=https://www.etonline.com/devon-sawa-reveals-surprising-reason-he-was-cast-eminems-iconic-stan-video-89901 |website=ETOnline |publisher=Entertainment Tonight |access-date=5 February 2024 |archive-date=February 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205094428/https://www.etonline.com/devon-sawa-reveals-surprising-reason-he-was-cast-eminems-iconic-stan-video-89901 |url-status=live }} He also stated that Macaulay Culkin was the first choice of the role.{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |title=Home Alone star, was the original choice for the title role |url=https://www.people.com/devon-sawa-reveals-macaulay-culkin-was-supposed-to-star-in-eminem-stan-video-8636330 |access-date=30 April 2024 |archive-date=April 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430194307/https://people.com/devon-sawa-reveals-macaulay-culkin-was-supposed-to-star-in-eminem-stan-video-8636330 |url-status=live }}

The video starts with a prologue that involved Stan dyeing his hair blonde and reacting angrily to being called "Stanley" by his girlfriend. Later, he sits in a basement full of Eminem's posters, writing letters that express his devotion as "[Eminem's] biggest fan". He is aware of every development in Eminem's personal life. Stan gets angry at his girlfriend when she interrupts him watching Eminem's "The Way I Am" video.

Stan wants Eminem to contact him through a personal letter or a phone call; but, due to unfortunate circumstances, Eminem fails to respond in a timely manner. Believing he has been ignored, Stan uses a tape recorder to record himself driving along a rain-soaked highway while his girlfriend is locked up in the trunk, which he does with the intention of driving off a bridge. In the process, Stan references both "My Name Is" ("I drank a fifth of vodka, dare me to drive?") and an urban legend about Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight", before realizing that there is no way of transmitting this final tape to Eminem. The car then breaks through the bridge barrier, sealing both occupants' fates.

Stan's mother and his little brother Matthew visit his grave. When Matthew opens his hoodie, he has dyed his hair blonde like Stan. Eminem finally gets around to responding to Stan. He apologizes for being late, thanks him for being a fan, and expresses interest in Stan's personal life. Eminem worries about Stan's mental state and says he does not want Stan to end up like a story he had seen on the news recently — a man who had driven drunk off a bridge with his girlfriend in the trunk, about whom he then realizes, "It was you. Damn." Unbeknownst to Eminem, flashes of lightning shine on his window, revealing the ghost of Stan silently glaring, smiling after he sees Eminem finally writing the letter he wanted for so long. The video ends with Matthew staring at Stan's grave.

In the MTV "clean" version, the song and video were censored. Significant portions from the first two verses and most of the third verse were removed. MTV also cut out all references of Stan's girlfriend bound in the trunk of the car and removed one scene showing him guzzling vodka while driving.{{cite magazine|last=Goodman|first=Fred|title=Protests Don't Slow Eminem's Fire: "the Marshall Mathers LP" Stays at Number One Despite Controversy|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 17, 2000|page=38}} In the MTV full version, which is 8:15 long, the third verse censors Stan mentioning his girlfriend in the trunk (so "Shut up bitch" and "screaming in the trunk" is censored), and about him not slitting her throat, but tied her up, and "if she suffocates, she'll suffer more, then she'll die too", which "slit", "tied her up", "suffocates", and "die" is censored.

Dido has stated that she was gagged in the third verse of the video;{{cite news|last=Simpson|first=Dave|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/jan/29/artsfeatures|title=Interview: Dido|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 29, 2001|access-date=August 25, 2011|archive-date=February 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182335/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/jan/29/artsfeatures|url-status=live}} however, this was censored so widely that versions with her gagged are rare.{{cite news|url=http://www.gigwise.com/photos/47455/10/The-50-Most-Shocking-Music-Videos-Ever|title=The 50 Most Shocking Music Videos Ever!|work=Gigwise|date=November 12, 2008|access-date=August 25, 2011|archive-date=May 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506112401/http://www.gigwise.com/photos/47455/10/the-50-most-shocking-music-videos-ever|url-status=live}} In the uncensored version, Stan is shown drinking at the wheel of the car before showing Dido struggling in the trunk of the car. She manages to remove the duct tape from her mouth and screams before struggling for breath. Most versions were censored so that there is only a brief clip of Dido in the trunk of the car towards the end of the verse. It also censors when Stan says he "drank a fifth of vodka", which censors "drank" and "vodka"; and censors when he says he is on "a thousand downers", with "downers" censored; and also censors Stan drinking while driving. At the end of the third verse, "Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the bridge now" is changed to "Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the end of the bridge now". In the fourth verse, the line "[And what's this] shit about us meant to be together" is completely censored. All references to the girlfriend in the trunk are censored, including the screaming in the background, and the line: "And had his girlfriend in his trunk, and she was pregnant with his kid."

In the MTV short version, which was used for radio airplay due to time constraints, the second verse lines that are missing are from "I ain't that mad though, I just don't like bein' lied to" to "I even got a tattoo of your name across the chest"; the video cuts showing Stan meeting Eminem, talking about how his father cheated and beat his mother and showed him getting a "Slim Shady" tattoo on his chest. The missing lyrics from the third verse are of Stan talking about drinking while driving and referencing "In the Air Tonight" (Eminem quotes the title as "In the Air of the Night"), which in the video, skips from showing Stan narrowly missing another car and swerving to avoid crashing into it. The lines that are missing are from "Hey Slim, I drank a fifth of vodka, you dare to me to drive?" to "I hope you know I ripped all of your pictures off the wall". It also removes the chorus after the third verse and goes straight to the fourth verse; the video then cuts to Eminem at last receiving the letter from Stan, and the car sinking deeper into the water.

In Fuse's original state as a rock and alternative station, the same versions of the video were shown as on MTV. However, in later Fuse airings, more lines and words are silenced than on the clean version of the LP; half of one of the beginning verses are cut out, and then the song fades out about halfway through the second verse, after playing for approximately two minutes. "Stan" was also released on track 17 of Curtain Call: The Hits; on the clean and explicit versions, the live track censored only the profanity, unlike the clean version of the studio track.

"Stan" was met with critical acclaim, with praise directed to the song's epistolary narrative structure, emotional range and lyrical depth. Stephen Thomas Erlewine highlighted the song.{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-marshall-mathers-lp-mw0000062949|title=The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem|website=AllMusic|date=May 23, 2000|access-date=January 9, 2014|archive-date=December 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218163437/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r480358|url-status=live}} Entertainment Weekly praised the song, too: "Eminem proves himself a peerless rap poet with a profound understanding of the power of language. Stan, an epistolary exchange between the artist and a dangerously obsessive fan, may be the most moving song about star worship ever recorded" and added that "Stan" blazes significant new ground for rap.{{cite magazine|author=Will Hermes|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/06/02/marshall-mathers-lp-2/|title=The Marshall Mathers LP Review|magazine=EW.com|date=June 2, 2000|access-date=January 9, 2014|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203013747/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,276305,00.html|url-status=live}} Entertainment Weekly would later select "Stan" as the best single of the year 2000.{{cite magazine|last=Seymour|first=Craig|date=December 22, 2000|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/12/22/eminems-stan-ews-single-year/|title=Eminem's "Stan" is EW's single of the year|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=January 8, 2025}} The Los Angeles Times was also positive: {{"'}}Stan', the album's most haunting track, is superb storytelling with a point. It has the affecting tone of such rap high points as Ice Cube's 'It Was a Good Day' and Tupac's 'Dear Mama'."{{cite news|author=ROBERT HILBURN|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-20-ca-31967-story.html|title=Eminem's Latest Seems Sure to Delight Fans, Anger Parents|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 20, 2000|access-date=January 9, 2014|archive-date=August 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812004414/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/may/20/entertainment/ca-31967|url-status=live}}

NME magazine praised the song: {{"'}}Stan' is a wonderful short story, an astute study in extreme fandom."{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/eminem/2338|title=NME Album Reviews - The Marshall Mathers LP|publisher=Nme.Com|date=May 30, 2000|access-date=January 9, 2014|archive-date=July 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725014310/http://www.nme.com/reviews/eminem/2338|url-status=live}} Sputnik Music described that "Stan's sampling of Dido and use of rain and writing sound effects" make the album versatile. The same critic listed the song in the Recommended Downloads list and reviewed it:

If you haven't heard this, you probably make a career out of living under rocks. It tells the story of an obsessive fan who kills themselves because their idol (Eminem) never writes back, and introduces one of the album's key themes – the scary power of fame. Ironic, then, that this album made him the biggest cultural figurehead on the planet. It starts with a sample of Dido's 'Thank You' under a sample of rain. This sample goes on to form the song's hook, relating the level of Stan's obsession and almost making him a sympathetic character (Your picture on my wall/It reminds me that it's not so bad....). Offsetting this is Eminem's raps under the persona of Stan, which reveal him as a reprehensible character; mentally unstable, self-mutilating, sexually confused, volatile, and abusive to his pregnant girlfriend (whose life he takes too, when he takes his own). Eminem's final verse is him attempting to write back, asking him not to be like this guy he saw on the news....Overplayed? Yes. But even so, of all of Eminem's singles, this one demonstrates his power as a rapper and his skill as a poet best.{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/1440/Eminem-The-Marshall-Mathers-LP/|title=Review: Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP|website=Sputnikmusic|access-date=January 9, 2014|archive-date=February 3, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203042244/http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/1440/Eminem-The-Marshall-Mathers-LP/|url-status=live}}

{{see|Stan Twitter}}

"Stan" is one of Eminem's most acclaimed songs and has been called a "cultural milestone",[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17456/Eminem_Curtain_Call_The_Hits Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Eminem: Curtain Call: The Hits] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303203149/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17456/Eminem_Curtain_Call_The_Hits|date=March 3, 2009}}. Pitchforkmedia.com (December 5, 2005). Retrieved on January 19, 2011. referred to as "Eminem's best song" by About.com.{{Cite web|title=Top Eminem 10 songs|work=About.com Entertainment |url=http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/TopEminemSongs.htm|publisher=Rap.about.com|access-date=August 25, 2011|archive-date=August 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829080309/http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/TopEminemSongs.htm|url-status=live}} Analyzing "Stan" in The Guardian, writer and literary critic Giles Foden compared Eminem to Robert Browning.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2001/feb/06/poetry.features|title=Giles Foden on why Eminem is a brilliant poet|work=The Guardian|access-date=January 19, 2011|archive-date=February 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219025358/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2001/feb/06/poetry.features|url-status=live}}

At the 2001 Grammy Awards, when he was facing criticism from GLAAD over his lyrics, Eminem responded by performing "Stan" with singer-songwriter Elton John singing Dido's lines.{{Cite web|title=Eminem feat Elton John – Stan (Live)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4dZ2pcLMCs| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102083722/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4dZ2pcLMCs| archive-date=2012-01-02 | url-status=dead|date=September 18, 2009|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 9, 2014}} Many of the profanities were substituted, for example, "You're like his favorite idol" in place of "You're like his fucking idol", and "stuff" for "shit". Recordings of this performance were available for download on Eminem's official website Eminem.com and, later, on his 2005 greatest hits album Curtain Call: The Hits.

Rapper Canibus released a response track to "Stan" titled "U Didn't Care" in which Canibus, imitating Stan, accused Eminem of not caring about him.

Christian rap artist KJ-52 recorded two songs: "Dear Slim" and "Dear Slim, Part II", which attempted to contact Eminem in an allusion to "Stan". Eminem later referenced a fan who had written a letter saying he was praying for him in "Careful What You Wish For". "My Life" by The Game samples "Stan". Conservative rapper Tom MacDonald recorded a response track to Stan in 2021. After Eminem released a series of NFTs as part of his "Shady Con" event with Nifty Gateway, MacDonald purchased one — an Eminem-produced instrumental called "Stan's Revenge" — for $100,000.{{cite web |last1=Aubrey |first1=Elizabeth |title=Eminem fan spends £71,000 on 'Stan's Revenge' NFT |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/eminem-fan-spends-71000-on-stans-revenge-nft-2942468 |website=NME |access-date=July 19, 2021 |language=en |date=May 17, 2021 |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719215233/https://www.nme.com/news/music/eminem-fan-spends-71000-on-stans-revenge-nft-2942468 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Blake |first1=Cole |title=Eminem Fan, Tom MacDonald, Drops $100,000 On "Stan's Revenge" NFT |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/eminem-fan-tom-macdonald-drops-s100-000-on-stans-revenge-nft-news.132029.html |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=July 19, 2021 |language=en |date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719215234/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/eminem-fan-tom-macdonald-drops-s100-000-on-stans-revenge-nft-news.132029.html |url-status=live }} MacDonald used the instrumental to create his song "Dear Slim", released in May 2021. The song's accompanying music video paid homage to the music video for "Stan".{{cite web |title=Lifelong Eminem Stan Purchases Shady's NFT Beat For $100K |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.62144/title.lifelong-eminem-stan-purchases-shadys-nft-beat-for-100k#comment-widget |website=HipHopDX |access-date=July 19, 2021 |language=en |date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719215232/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.62144/title.lifelong-eminem-stan-purchases-shadys-nft-beat-for-100k#comment-widget |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Millard |first1=Drew |title=Welcome to the New Roaring 20s |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvz7e4/welcome-to-the-new-roaring-20s |website=Vice |access-date=July 19, 2021 |language=en |date=June 23, 2021 |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719215238/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvz7e4/welcome-to-the-new-roaring-20s |url-status=live }}

"Stan" has entered the lexicon as a term for an overly obsessed fan of someone or something and is used colloquially to express fandom of all kinds. The term is especially popular in the rap community; in "Ether", a diss track against rapper Jay-Z, Nas notably called Jay a "stan" of both himself and The Notorious B.I.G. The term was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2017 and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary in 2019.{{Cite news|date=June 2, 2017|title=Stan, an Eminem song from 2000, is now in the Oxford English Dictionary|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/40129462/stan-an-eminem-song-from-2000-is-now-in-the-oxford-english-dictionary|access-date=June 2, 2017|archive-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219033800/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/40129462/stan-an-eminem-song-from-2000-is-now-in-the-oxford-english-dictionary|url-status=live}}{{cite book |last1=Vanlalawmpuia |first1=C |title=The Impact of Slang from Pop Songs in Modern English Language: with reference to Eminem's song Stan |date=2023 |publisher=Research journal of English Language and Literature |pages=259–263 |url=http://www.rjelal.com/11.1.23/259-263%20C.%20VANLALAWMPUIA.pdf}}

"Stan" has been listed by many as one of the greatest rap songs of all time. It was ranked number three on a list of the greatest rap songs in history by Q magazine{{Cite web |title=Q Mag: 150 Rock Lists |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/q150lists.htm |publisher=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |access-date=August 25, 2011 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718180112/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/q150lists.htm |url-status=live }} and came tenth in a similar survey conducted by Top40-Charts.com.{{Cite web |title=40 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 25 Countries |url=http://top40-charts.com/features/top100_greatest_hiphop2.php |publisher=Top40-charts.com |access-date=August 25, 2011 |archive-date=May 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529034642/http://top40-charts.com/features/top100_greatest_hiphop2.php |url-status=live }} Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" ranked it number 290, one of Eminem's two songs on the list along with "Lose Yourself"; in the updated 2010 list, it was ranked at number 296. It ranked number 45 on About.com's "Top 100 Rap Songs".{{Cite web |title=Top 100 Rap Songs |url=http://rap.about.com/od/top10songs/ss/Top100RapSongs_6.htm |publisher=Rap.about.com |access-date=August 25, 2011 |archive-date=August 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829015358/http://rap.about.com/od/top10songs/ss/Top100RapSongs_6.htm |url-status=live }}

The song ranked number 15 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop", and number two on their "Countdown Millennium Songs". It was also named the "46th Best Song of the Decade" by Complex magazine,{{cite magazine|url=http://best.complex.com/2000s/Top-100-Songs/stan|title=Stan|magazine=Complex|date=December 2, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205205804/http://best.complex.com/2000s/Top-100-Songs/stan|archive-date=December 5, 2009|access-date=January 19, 2011}} and the 10th Best Song of the decade by Rolling Stone.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31248926/100_best_songs_of_the_decade/27|title=100 Best Songs of the Decade|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416021005/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31248926/100_best_songs_of_the_decade/27|archive-date=April 16, 2010|access-date=December 19, 2009}} The song was ranked at number 58 in Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of "100 Greatest Hip-Hop songs of all time".{{cite magazine|url=http://feature.rollingstone.com/100-greatest-hip-hop-songs/eminem-feat-dido/|title=Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop songs of all time|date=April 7, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507205149/http://feature.rollingstone.com/100-greatest-hip-hop-songs/eminem-feat-dido/|archive-date=May 7, 2016|access-date=April 19, 2016}} In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked the song number two on their list of the 50 greatest Eminem songs,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/eminem-50-greatest-songs-197850/stan-2000-114739/|title=Eminem: 50 Greatest Songs|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 21, 2017|accessdate=March 23, 2022|archive-date=April 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412000338/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/eminem-50-greatest-songs-197850/stan-2000-114739/|url-status=live}} and in 2020, The Guardian ranked the song number one on their list of the 30 greatest Eminem songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/20/eminem-his-30-greatest-tracks-ranked|title=Eminem: his 30 greatest tracks, ranked!|first=Thomas|last=Hobbs|work=The Guardian|date=February 20, 2020|accessdate=March 23, 2022|archive-date=August 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831101928/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/20/eminem-his-30-greatest-tracks-ranked|url-status=live}}

"Stan" has influenced many other hip-hop songs, including Tyler, the Creator's 2013 song "Colossus", from his album Wolf. This track dwells on similar themes as "Stan", such as growing up without a father, feeling like an outsider, and deep emotional attachment to a rapper.

Eminem has referenced "Stan" in some of his later songs, including "River", "Walk on Water", "The Ringer",{{Cite web |title=Listen to this: One ugly moment ruins an otherwise amazing return for Eminem |url=https://www.theweekender.com/insidestories/31019/listen-to-this-one-ugly-moment-ruins-an-otherwise-amazing-return-for-eminem |last=Kernan |first=Patrick |date=September 4, 2018 |website=The Weekender |access-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215225308/https://www.theweekender.com/insidestories/31019/listen-to-this-one-ugly-moment-ruins-an-otherwise-amazing-return-for-eminem |url-status=live }} "Killshot",{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2023 |title=Amazing Facts About Eminem's 'Killshot' Which You Never Knew |url=https://hiphop24x7.com/news/amazing-facts-about-eminems-killshot-which-you-never-knew-2nd-anniversary-of-mgk-diss/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=HipHop24x7 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731065021/https://hiphop24x7.com/news/amazing-facts-about-eminems-killshot-which-you-never-knew-2nd-anniversary-of-mgk-diss/ |url-status=live }} and his verse on "Calm Down" by Busta Rhymes.

Eminem's song "Bad Guy", the opening track on The Marshall Mathers LP 2, is a sequel to "Stan". The song is Matthew tracking down Eminem in an attempt to kill him, which he succeeds in doing so. After he dies in the song, Eminem is sent to hell in the song as a punishment for Stan's death.{{cite web |title=Did You Find The Secret Buried In 'The Marshall Mathers 2 LP'? Eminem Opens The Closet |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/qj5779/eminem-marshall-mathers-lp-2-bad-guy-stan-connection |website=MTV.com |access-date=November 10, 2022 |archive-date=November 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110201624/https://www.mtv.com/news/qj5779/eminem-marshall-mathers-lp-2-bad-guy-stan-connection |url-status=dead }}

In 2020, Saturday Night Live featured a Christmas parody of "Stan" called "Stu", featuring Pete Davidson as Stu writing to Santa and becoming increasingly angry when he does not answer his requests for a PlayStation 5, with a cameo appearance from Eminem himself, who does receive the system for Christmas.{{Cite web|last=Turchiano|first=Danielle|date=2020-12-06|title='Saturday Night Live': Eminem Appears in Pete Davidson's Christmas 'Stan' Parody|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/saturday-night-live-pete-davidson-eminem-stan-santa-claus-1234847211/|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224180736/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/saturday-night-live-pete-davidson-eminem-stan-santa-claus-1234847211/|url-status=live}} Unlike the final verse in the actual song, Santa, sensing Stu's rising instability, blows off Stu in his reply, claiming he had the wrong address the whole time. The skit also features cast members Kate McKinnon as Dido and Bowen Yang as Elton John, as well as guest host Jason Bateman as Santa Claus.

In 2022 at Eminem's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony performance, he performed the song with Ed Sheeran, who played guitar during the song and sang Dido's lines.{{cite web |title=Watch Eminem Bring Out Ed Sheeran, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler for Career-Spanning Rock Hall Performance |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eminem-ed-sheeran-steven-tyler-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-performance-1234625607/ |website=RollingStones.com |date=November 6, 2022 |access-date=November 9, 2022 |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330134505/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eminem-ed-sheeran-steven-tyler-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-performance-1234625607/ |url-status=live }} In 2024, it was announced that a new documentary on the phenomenon of stan culture, Stans, directed by Steven Leckart and produced by Eminem, will be released.{{cite web|title=Eminem to Co-Produce 'Stans,' a Documentary on the World of Superfans|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/eminem-stans-documentary-superfans-1235910241/|author=Jem Aswad|date=February 14, 2024|access-date=March 23, 2024|archive-date=March 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323175401/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/eminem-stans-documentary-superfans-1235910241/|url-status=live}}

{{see also|List of awards and nominations received by Eminem}}

{{track_listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Stan

| note1 = radio edit

| writer1 = {{hlist|Marshall Mathers|Dido Armstrong|Paul Herman}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|The 45 King|Eminem{{small|{{ref|a|[a]}}}}}}

| length1 = {{duration|m=5|s=33}}

| title2 = Guilty Conscience

| note2 = radio version with gunshot

| writer2 = {{hlist|Mathers|Andre Young}}

| extra2 = {{hlist||Dr. Dre|Eminem{{small|{{ref|a|[a]}}}}}}

| length2 = {{duration|m=3|s=21}}

| title3 = Hazardous Youth

| note3 = acapella version

| writer3 = {{hlist|Mathers}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|}}

| length3 = {{duration|m=0|s=46}}

| title4 = Get You Mad

| note4 = Sway & King Tech featuring DJ Revolution with Eminem

| writer4 = {{hlist|Mathers}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|DJ King Tech}}

| length4 = {{duration|m=4|s=22}}

| total_length = {{duration|m=14|s=2}}

}}

;Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer.

• Singing and lyrics: Eminem, Dido
• Production: Eminem, The 45 King
• Mixing: Eminem
• Guitar and bass: Mike Elizondo
• Keyboard: Mike Elizondo, Tommy Coster
• Composer: Marshall Mathers, Dido Armstrong, The 45 King
• Executive producer: Dr. Dre
• Producer video: Chris Palladino
• Cinematographer: Dariusz Wolski
• Directors: Philip G. Atwell & Dr. Dre
• Appearances in the clip: Devon Sawa, Dido, Dakota, Nathan Mathers, Eminem

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Eminem|certyear=2024|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=June 29, 2024|award=Platinum|number=9}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|artist=Eminem|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=September 25, 2018|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|artist=Eminem feat. Dido|certyear=2001|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=September 25, 2018|award=Platinum}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Eminem|certyear=2024|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=February 6, 2024|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Eminem|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=April 26, 2022|award=Platinum|certyear=2022|id=11241}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=Eminem|title=Stan|award=Platinum|source=archive|certyear=2001|relyear=2000|access-date=November 9, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Eminem feat. Dido|title=Stan|award=Gold|number=3|type=single|relyear=2000|certyear=2023|access-date=February 11, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Eminem feat. Dido|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=December 12, 2023|award=Platinum|certyear=2023|id=11754|note=sales since 2009}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=single|artist=Eminem|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=September 25, 2018|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Eminem feat. Dido|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=December 18, 2024|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2024|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Eminem feat. Dido|title=Stan|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2000|certyear=2020|id=file_2021-03-26-10-09-12.pdf|access-date=October 3, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Eminem / Dido|certyear=2024|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=November 4, 2024|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=single|artist=Eminem|relyear=2000|title=Stan|access-date=September 25, 2018|award=Gold|certyear=2000}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Eminem feat. Dido|title=Stan|award=Platinum|number=4|id=6227-438-1|salesamount=1,470,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/eminems-biggest-songs-on-the-official-chart__20973/|title=Eminem's biggest songs on the Official Chart|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=January 17, 2020|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 17, 2020|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715083357/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/eminems-biggest-songs-on-the-official-chart__20973/|url-status=live}}|relyear=2000|certyear=2018|access-date=December 14, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Eminem|title=Stan|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2002|certyear=2022|access-date=March 8, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

• List of best-selling singles
• List of European number-one hits of 2000
• List of number-one singles of 2000 (Ireland)
• List of number-one hits of 2000 (Switzerland)
• List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 2000s
• List of Austrian number-one hits of 2001
• List of number-one singles in Australia in 2001
• List of number-one hits in Denmark
• List of number-one hits of 2001 (Germany)
• List of number-one hits of 2001 (Italy)
• List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s
• Parasocial relationship
• "Bad Guy" (Eminem song)
• "Mi Bebito Fiu Fiu", a parody song

{{Reflist}}

{{Wiktionary|stan}}

• {{Cite web |last1=Herman |first1=Paul |last2=Armstrong |first2=Dido |last3=Mathers |first3=Marshall |title=Stan |url=https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5360715/Eminem/Stan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127151958/https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5360715/Eminem/Stan |archive-date=2020-11-27 |access-date=24 June 2021 |website=Lyrics.com |quote=Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind}}

{{Eminem singles}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stan (Song)}}

Category:2000 songs

Category:2000 singles

Category:Eminem songs

Category:Songs about driving under the influence

Category:Songs about suicide

Category:2000s ballads

Category:2000s fads and trends

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Vehicle wreck ballads

Category:Horrorcore songs

Category:Fiction about uxoricide

Category:Murder–suicide in fiction

Category:Music video controversies

Category:Number-one singles in Australia

Category:Number-one singles in Austria

Category:Number-one singles in Denmark

Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Finland

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:Number-one singles in Iceland

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Italy

Category:Number-one singles in Romania

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Songs written by Dido (singer)

Category:Songs written by Eminem

Category:Song recordings produced by Eminem

Category:Songs about domestic violence

Category:Songs about mental health

Category:Songs about fictional male characters

Category:Songs about stalking

Category:Songs about letters (message)

Category:Songs about pregnancy

Category:Shady Records singles

Category:Aftermath Entertainment singles

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Fiction about self-harm

Category:Murder ballads

Category:Obscenity controversies in music

Category:Songs about fandom