"Temporary" is an ode to Eminem's daughter Hailie. It also features archival audio of her as a baby. Over a piano-driven instrumental, Eminem says the song is intended for Hailie to listen to when he dies and remember his love for her,[2][3][4] before telling her to look after her siblings and uncle after his death. He also admits the song is "the hardest thing I ever wrote".[2] The chorus, as well as the first verse, are sung by Skylar Grey.[2][4]
Music video
On October 3, 2024, a music video promoting Temporary was released on Eminem's official YouTube channel. The music video alternates between old late-1990's to early-2000's home video footage of Hailie and her father Eminem, and new video footage from more recent years when Hailie tells him about her pregnancy.[5]
Critical reception
Steven J. Horowitz of Variety described the song as "Eminem at his best",[3] while Jordan Bassett of NME called it "a genuinely moving ode to his daughter, Hailie, which proves Marshall Mathers can say something that matters when he wants to."[6] Merlin Alderslade of Louder commented the song "is heartfelt and well executed but feels out of place."[7] Simon K. of Sputnikmusic named it as one of the particular songs from The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) whose "instrumentals retain issues I've had with Eminem's works for decades now".[8] Stevie Chick of The Independent described the song as having a "gloomy, somewhat mawkish thread".[9] Paul Attard of Slant Magazine regarded the song to be among the album's "overblown ballads dedicated to his family".[10]