Beautiful (Eminem song)

"Beautiful"
Single by Eminem
from the album Relapse
ReleasedAugust 11, 2009
Recorded2005–2007
GenreConscious hip hop
Length
  • 6:32 (album version)
  • 4:00 (radio edit)
  • 6:37 (instrumental version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Eminem singles chronology
"Old Time's Sake"
(2009) 		"Beautiful"
(2009) 		"Forever"
(2009)
Music video
"Beautiful" on YouTube

"Beautiful" is the fifth and final single from American rapper Eminem's sixth studio album Relapse, released on August 11, 2009. The song samples "Reaching Out", originally recorded by British rock band Rock Therapy. This version of "Reaching Out" is taken from the Queen + Paul Rodgers 2005–2006 tour, which used Eminem's "Lose Yourself" as the house music. The song was partially written during the first time Eminem went to rehab in 2005, and the song would not be finished until he got clean years later. After he got clean, he added a third verse to the song, and released the song on Relapse.[1]

Music video

The video was shot in Detroit and was directed by Anthony Mandler. It premiered on July 2, 2009, on Yahoo! music.[2] The video opens with captions stating that "In 1950, Michigan was 1 of 8 states in America that collectively produced 36% of the world's GNP" and that "Detroit was the greatest manufacturing city in the world." It then cuts to present-day images of the city, featuring Eminem walking through three abandoned structures from that era: Michigan Central Station; the former Packard plant; and Tiger Stadium, including demolition footage of the latter. In each location, he is joined by several people appropriate to each building: an older woman with a suitcase, several autoworkers holding their lunchboxes and tools, and a neighborhood youth baseball team, respectively.

Critical reception

Rolling Stone called the song a "touching attempt at an inspirational ballad". Pitchfork Media stated "Relapse hits something of a stride with 'Beautiful'".[3] "Beautiful" scored Eminem his ninth straight Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100, going back to "Smack That" with Akon. Billboard called the song "epic" and described it as "Part confessional ('I'm just so fucking depressed', begins the track's explicit version) and part 'Lose Yourself'-style motivational anthem, 'Beautiful' encapsulates the introspective nature of 'Relapse' but deviates from the shock tactics that dominate the album", adding that "The song is as much a lighters-in-the-air, arena rock power ballad as it is a lyrical showcase".[4] The song was nominated at the 52nd Grammy Awards in the Best Rap Solo Performance category, but lost to Jay-Z's "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)".[5]

Chart performance

"Beautiful" entered the UK Singles Chart on May 17, 2009 at number 38 and re-entered at number 31 due to increased airplay. The song was released as the third UK single after "We Made You" and peaked at number 12. It became Eminem's 21st Top 40 single in the UK but also his second official single to miss the Top 10. In the U.S., it debuted at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was on the A-List of the BBC Radio 1 playlist. In the week of July 23, 2009, it re-entered the Hot 100 at #98.[6]

Awards and nominations

See also: List of awards and nominations received by Eminem
Year Ceremony Award Result
2010 Grammy Awards Best Rap Solo Performance Nominated
Much Music Video Awards International Video of the Year Nominated

Track listing

Digital download[7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Beautiful"
Eminem, Jeff Bass6:32
Digital single[8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Beautiful"
Eminem, Jeff Bass6:32
2."Beautiful" (music video)
  • Mathers
  • Resto
  • Bass
  • Black
  • Hill
Eminem, Jeff Bass4:21
Total length:10:53
CD single[9]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Beautiful"
Eminem, Jeff Bass6:32
2."3 a.m." (Travis Barker remix)
Dr. Dre5:20
Total length:11:52
Digital EP[10]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Beautiful" (radio edit)
Eminem, Jeff Bass4:00
2."Beautiful"
  • Mathers
  • Resto
  • Bass
  • Black
  • Hill
Eminem, Jeff Bass6:32
3."Beautiful" (instrumental)
  • Mathers
  • Resto
  • Bass
  • Black
  • Hill
Eminem, Jeff Bass6:37
4."3 a.m." (Travis Barker remix)
Dr. Dre5:20
Total length:22:29

Personnel

Credits adapted from Relapse digital booklet.

  • Songwriters: M. Mathers, L. Resto, J. Bass, D. Black, A. Hill
  • Recorded by: Mike Strange at 54 Sound in Ferndale, Michigan
  • Assistant engineers: Tony Campana at 54 Sound in Ferndale, Michigan
  • Mixed by: Eminem and Mike Strange at Effigy Studios
  • Keyboards by: Jeffrey Bass and Luis Resto
  • Bass and guitar by: Jeffrey Bass
  • Samples: Contains samples from "Reaching Out" by Queen + Paul Rodgers, written by Don Black and Andy Hill

Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 33
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 11
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[13] 16
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 8
Denmark (Tracklisten)[15] 40
European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[16] 26
Germany (GfK)[17] 39
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 4
Scotland (OCC)[20] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 47
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 8
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[23] 7
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 17
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[26] 35
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[27] 32

Year-end charts

Chart (2009) Position
New Zealand Singles Chart[28] 40
UK Singles Chart[29] 173

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[30] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[31] Platinum 60,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[32] Gold 45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[33] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[35] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Eminem's 'Beautiful' Hits iTunes". MTV. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  2. ^ "Eminem – Beautiful Official Music Video". WeLiveThis.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  3. ^ Cohen, Ian (May 19, 2009). "Eminem: Relapse | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  4. ^ "Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009.
  5. ^ "And the 2010 Grammy Nominees Are…". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts" (in Dutch). Billboard.com. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  7. ^ "Beautiful – Single by Eminem on Apple Music". iTunes.
  8. ^ "Beautiful – Single by Eminem on Apple Music". iTunes. January 2009.
  9. ^ "Amazon.co.uk: Buying Choices: Beautiful". Amazon UK.
  10. ^ "Beautiful – EP by Eminem on Apple Music". iTunes. January 2009.
  11. ^ "Eminem – Beautiful". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  12. ^ "Eminem – Beautiful" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "Eminem – Beautiful" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  14. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  15. ^ "Eminem – Beautiful". Tracklisten. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "Eminem – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Eminem. Retrieved June 13, 2022. [dead link‍]
  17. ^ "Eminem – Beautiful" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  18. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Eminem". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  19. ^ "Eminem – Beautiful". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  21. ^ "Eminem – Beautiful". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  22. ^ "Eminem – Beautiful". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  23. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  25. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  26. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  27. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  28. ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Rianz.org.nz. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  29. ^ "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  30. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Eminem – Beautiful" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  32. ^ "Danish single certifications – Eminem – Beautiful". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  33. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Eminem – Beautiful". Radioscope. Retrieved December 18, 2024. Type Beautiful in the "Search:" field.
  34. ^ "British single certifications – Eminem – Beautiful". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  35. ^ "American single certifications – Eminem – Beautiful". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 28, 2018.