Stan (song) in the push-and-pull world of a superstar. The song's poignancy never fades, even almost five years later it's still potent." "Slant Magazine" was mixed: "'Stan' is an interesting look into the mind of a fanatic (albeit through the eyes of an equally disturbed individual), but it's structured entirely around someone else's work (Dido's 'Thank You')." "Stan" is perhaps Eminem's most critically acclaimed song, after "Lose Yourself", and has been called a "cultural milestone", referred to as "Eminem's best song" by About.com. Analyzing "Stan" in "The Guardian", writer and literary critic Giles Foden compared Eminem to Robert Browning. At the 2001
The Way I Am (Eminem song) were placing undue burdens upon him and also lashes out at overzealous fans, telling them they should respect his privacy rather than harass him and his family. It features the first beat Eminem produced on his own, featuring an ominous bass line, a piano loop, and bell chimes. In the song, Eminem lashes out at people he feels are putting too much pressure on him, including overzealous fans and record executives expecting him to top the success of his hit single "My Name Is", though in fact he went on to do so with "The Real Slim Shady," as well