The Eminem Debate, Cont.

As a music publisher, I was most interested in the legendary Jimmy Webb’s take on Eminem (“No, Just Missing the Art of the Song,” Feb. 18). While Eminem can’t match Webb’s tremendous abilities as a composer and his obvious melodic gifts, Eminem still managed to create a unique product that will be remembered as a timepiece for the year 2000.

The irony of Webb’s negative reaction to Eminem is that Webb’s masterpieces “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “MacArthur Park” exhibited similar stream-of-consciousness lyrical poetry that Eminem’s style exhibits.

If Webb complains about a lack of great melodies from 2000, he should explore U2, Shelby Lynne, David Gray and Coldplay’s recent offerings. The art of melody writing has never died and never will. However, Eminem caught a moment of “nowness” with a piece of art that is controversial and unique, and to some, quite disturbing. He is shaking people up the way Webb did with “MacArthur Park.”

JASON DAUMAN

Los Angeles

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In his baffling article about Eminem (“Missing the Point of the Many Masks,” Feb. 18), Robert Christgau writes, “Eminem’s defenders rarely pin down his precise achievement.” How ironic that Christgau not only failed to pin down a precise achievement, he failed to pin down much of anything.

All I learned was that Christgau is the senior editor of the Village Voice and that he really likes Steely Dan. What a pity. Christgau had a golden opportunity to explain to Los Angeles why Eminem is deserving of a Grammy, and all he did was flaunt his own mastering of Roget’s Thesaurus.

JOSH BLOOMBERG

Brentwood

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Still wondering if hateful blood and gore in the media bring on real-world violence? Watch a teenager die and you’ll make up your mind real fast. As a former teacher at Hoover High School in Glendale, where a student was murdered last year and three others are expected to waste a good part of their lives in prison, I am horrified by the level of acceptance Eminem and other gangsta rappers have won for themselves.

In your coverage last Sunday, several prominent pop artists defend Eminem’s exercise of his freedom of speech and Madonna asks, “What’s the big deal?” I’ll tell you what the big deal is: Kids are dying.

Very much enamored of and deeply confused by the extreme decadence of our culture, Robert Christgau argues that teenagers are much more sophisticated than many give them credit for. According to Christgau, they understand that Eminem is making some eminently profound statement about the ills of our society. I don’t think the teenagers involved in the violence last year got that message from gangsta rap. Why should we expect that others will?

I am strongly in favor of some kind of new R rating for CDs and music via the Internet that will prevent kids from getting ahold of this filth without their parents’ permission. I don’t care if it comes from Eminem, Steely Dan or any other artist.

MARK POMEROY

Glendale

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A big thank-you to Randy Newman and Elton John for letting us know that Eminem ranks so high on the laugh meter. I’m going to pass that information along to this therapist who runs a support group for parents of murdered children. Playing Eminem’s CD at meetings should really crack everybody up.

SUZY SIMON

Sherman Oaks

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It seems to me Jimmy Webb has it just about right: Rap may be about many things, but it is definitely not music, since music must have rhythm and melody. Rap has the first but is missing the second. It really belongs in the category called “spoken word,” which is where, if you look, you’ll find rap’s true, 1970s antecedents, the Last Poets.

DAVID SCARDINO

Sacramento

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Eminem, or rap in general, may or may not fit Webb’s irrelevant criteria, but even if it’s not song, it’s still music, and should not be written off because it’s different from the rock ‘n’ roll that dominated popular music for several decades.

RANI SITTY

Berkeley

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Having Jimmy Webb pass opinion on today’s popular music is like asking Kenny G for a critique of straight-ahead jazz!

JON MILLER

La Jolla

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“I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die”; “I’ll be in my basement room, with a needle and a spoon”; “I’ll stick my knife right down your throat baby, and it hurts!” Which snotty, young, degenerate musicians penned those words that drove untold youths to perdition? Oh, those golden oldie classics--Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones.

And let’s not forget Robert Johnson, and Leadbelly, and countless other blues, soul, rock, country and popular artists singing about murder, misogyny, booze and dope. Whether it’s Robert Christgau polysyllabically pontificating about Em’s virtues as an artist, or Jimmy Webb kvetchily displaying the rings in his trunk (oh, yes, “MacArthur Park” was a sterling example of lyricism and melody!), everyone needs to take a deep breath and relax a little bit.

I’m 46 years old, and the last record I loved was “Nevermind,” but I do find Mr. Mathers pretty amusing, doing the prescribed rock ‘n’ roll job of mixing it up and causing controversy in this bland, neo-Pat Boone era.

DEBORAH SROLOFF MORRIS

Sherman Oaks

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The debate over Eminem and his Grammy nomination, like most disagreements, will never be completely settled. If we think his music is going to have a negative effect on those who listen to his songs, rather than just complain and attack Eminem, why don’t we find someone who likes the music, like a son or daughter, niece or nephew, or whoever, and talk to them. Be nice to them. Be open to their likes and dislikes. Respect them.

I think we will realize that this has more of an impact on them than what Slim Shady has to say.

STEVE DONNELLY

Los Angeles

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I am dismayed that so much thought and space was devoted to two sides of the Eminem controversy and still missed GLAAD’s point. We have been consistent in our opposition to Eminem’s lyrics, which advocate hate and violence targeted against gays and lesbians. GLAAD is not interested in debate about his artistic merits or the private beliefs of public figures.

We are concerned because his lyrics are for public consumption. We are concerned because a large part of his fan base are young males in the same age range as the largest number of hate crime perpetrators. We are concerned because not only does Eminem deflect any responsibility for his lyrics’ potentially negative impact, but also because he denies that his words are defamatory.

Eminem claims his references to “fags and lez” are irony and that we don’t get the joke. But in the same Calendar you devote almost two full pages to the dangers and repercussions of the irresponsible and disrespectful use of the “N-word.” I believe devoting two pages to one dehumanizing slur and not even two paragraphs to the other is truly ironic.

SCOTT SEOMIN

Entertainment Media Director,

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against

Defamation, Los Angeles