Michael Bublé is the man who owns Christmas. His velvety voice is unavoidable for a month in winter. Everybody’s granny has at least three of his CDs, all obtained as Christmas presents. So why would he talk about Eminem?
Christmas Miracles
His sales and streaming numbers spike every December, very much like another seasonal superstar – Mariah Carey. But Mariah’s history with Eminem is a mess of rumoured romance, bitter disappointment and subliminal jabs (who is “Obsessed”?), and a bizarre response to the recent revelation that Em once wanted her to play his mother in 8 Mile, a request she obviously found offensive. Meanwhile, Bublé stepped forward with a sincere and unexpected confession.
That happened on Bublé’s first ever episode of his new Apple Music show Higher Radio. It’s all about promoting his new album, titled, you guessed it, Higher. So, he’s going to talk about the backstories behind each song and discuss his own vocal performances. And in the first episode, he talks about an artist who seems to exist in a completely different universe from the crooner, Eminem.
Unexpected Recognition
Yet still, Eminem’s influence, as we know, transcends the genre boundaries. It is impossible to go through life without hearing some key Marshall’s songs. And for an artist of any persuasion, it is usually a pivotal moment. Certainly, it was like that for Bublé. “I remember hearing ‘My Name Is’ and being absolutely blown away”, the Canadian singer confessed.
Eminem’s ability Bublé is fascinated with the most is actually something universal in its appeal and complexity. Whatever genre an artist works in, this is the main characteristic that would make them heard and admired, and only because of that, successful. It is the power to tell a story in a way that makes everyone stop and listen.
“Many times, we talk about the unique ability for a singer, a songwriter to put something across”, muses the crooner. “Well, Eminem has shown us, he has proven to us that he is one of the greatest interpreters, songwriters of the last century. He’s special, and he’s unique”.
However, besides this unique ability, which you can master only to some extent, there is another one, maybe less obvious for the general public but very important to a professional. Bublé points out the impeccable sense of rhythm that Eminem possesses: “His sense of internal rhythm is unlike anyone else’s. He’s obviously a genius”. Be it Em’s ear for beats and production, his grip on the flow, or his way with the words, which he bends to his will – the assessment is correct.
Respectful Nod From Behind the Genre Divide
This type of praise, coming from the unlikely source, carries special weight exactly because these artists have so seemingly little in common. Nevertheless, Bublé, a symbol of cozy nostalgia and warmth, cannot help but feel admiration for an artist whose whole career is a symphony of pain, survival, and unfiltered truth. He salutes Em because he cannot not to. It is not a shout-out in the hope of recording a genre defying collaboration. Simply, another proof that there is no divide that art cannot bridge.
