"Headlights"
Single by Eminem featuring Nate Ruess
from the album The Marshall Mathers LP 2
ReleasedFebruary 5, 2014
Recorded2013
StudioEffigy Studios (Ferndale, Michigan)
Genre
Length5:43 (album version)
4:10 (music video)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Eminem singles chronology
"The Monster"
(2013)		 "Headlights"
(2014)		 "Calm Down"
(2014)
Nate Ruess singles chronology
"Just Give Me a Reason"
(2013)		 "Headlights"
(2014)		 "Nothing Without Love"
(2015)
Music video
"Headlights" on YouTube

"Headlights" is a song by American rapper Eminem, featuring American singer Nate Ruess of the band Fun. It was written by Eminem, Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker, Luis Riesto, and Ruess, while being produced by the former three. In the song, Eminem apologizes to his mother, Debbie Mathers, for criticizing her in his earlier songs and for showing scorn and resentment towards her in the past. It was released on February 5, 2014, as the album's fifth and the final single. It peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background and composition

Eminem had a difficult relationship with his mother since childhood. In his music, Eminem dissed her on various songs, including his breakthrough hit, "My Name Is", "Role Model", "Kill You", "My Mom", "Without Me", "Marshall Mathers", "Criminal", and most notably "Cleanin' Out My Closet."[1] "Headlights" is an apology to his mother for the years of insults and "his plea for a united (or at least less dysfunctional) family."[2] The title "Headlights" is a reference to their last meeting. As she drove away, he became fixated on the headlights of her car as he coped with feelings of "overwhelming sadness." He admits to his recklessness with lyrics directed towards his mom in the very first line, not really knowing his words would hurt her that much. In the song, Eminem references a few incidences from their rocky relationship, getting kicked out of the house on Christmas Eve, constant fighting, and his younger brother Nathan's removal to foster care. He also expresses regret that he has never let his mother be involved in his children's lives. In the song he acknowledges that his mother wrongfully endured the brunt of the blame for his tough upbringing and even gives her credit for her efforts to raise him as a single parent.[3] Eminem admits that he remains estranged from his mother to this day.[4] He also states that he cringes when he hears "Cleanin' Out My Closet" on the radio and he no longer performs it at shows.[5][6]

In an interview with Sway Calloway, Eminem stated that, "everything he wanted to address" in regard to his mother is on "Headlights" and he likely will not speak on the topic outside of that particular song.[7] He also told Zane Lowe that;

"It was one of those things that’s bothered me for a little bit. It was one of those things that I needed to get off my chest. So I don’t really have anything to elaborate or expand on that record other than everything that I needed to say, I put on that record."[8]

Recording

"Headlights" was produced by Emile and Jeff Bhasker, with additional production by Eminem and additional keyboards by Luis Resto. The song was written by Eminem, Nate Ruess, Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker, and Luis Resto. Recording for the song was done at Effigy Studios in Ferndale, Michigan by Mike Strange, Joe Strange and Tony Campana.[9] The song's intro, bridge, and refrain is sung by Fun.'s lead singer Nate Ruess.[10]

Critical reception

"Headlights" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Julie Leconte of Now said: "The track's genius partially lies in the anticipatory tension it creates in the listener. Em loves to set us up with faux sentimentality, then laugh when we’re duped. But on 'Headlights' the shoe never drops, leaving us with really sad insight into their non-relationship."[11] Colin McGuire of PopMatters said that the song "gives us quite possibly the most touching moment Em has ever put on wax".[12]

DJ Booth stated that "even though the hook on 'Headlights', by Fun's Nate Ruess, is light and airy exactly where it should have been deep, the raw and crushingly emotional lyrics from Eminem, especially ones that put an end to his running feud with his mother, are more than powerful enough to make 'Headlights' remarkable".[13] Andy Gill of The Independent also praised the track, calling it "an almost shockingly apologetic love-letter to the mother he once denigrated so viciously".[14] Edna Gundersen of USA Today stated that "it's an admirable confession" but "a so-so track".[15]

Music video

The music video was filmed in Detroit, Michigan on April 5, 2014, and directed by Academy Award winning film director Spike Lee.[16] It was released on May 11, 2014, Mother's Day in the United States.[17] The video takes a non-chronological look at the turbulent relationship from his mother's first-person perspective.[18] This music video, running at 4 minutes and 10 seconds, uses the shortened version, in which Ruess' first chorus before Eminem's first verse, and the bridge (containing the lines from both Eminem and Ruess) before the end of its album version, are omitted.

Track listing

Notes
  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34] Platinum 1,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Australia[35][36] February 5, 2014 Contemporary hit radio Universal Music
United States[37][38] March 4, 2014 Rhythmic contemporary radio
Contemporary hit radio
Italy[39] April 11, 2014 Contemporary hit radio
  • Aftermath
  • Interscope
United Kingdom[40] May 19, 2014

References

  1. ↑ Tardio, Andres (October 30, 2013). "Eminem Apologizes To His Mother On "Headlights" | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ Jon Caramanica (November 5, 2013). "Eminem Grows Older, but Not Up". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ Billy Johnson, Jr. (October 31, 2013). "Eminem Finally Apologizes to Mom on Headlights | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Eminem Apologizes To His Mother In New Track "Headlights" - AOL On". On.aol.com. October 31, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Eminem Apologizes to His Mother on 'Headlights'". Rap-Up.com. October 30, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Eminem Apologizes To Mother Debbie Mathers In 'Headlights' [AUDIO]". Ibtimes.com. October 30, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  7. ↑ Harling, Danielle (November 6, 2013). "Eminem Says Pharoahe Monch Is Ahead Of His Time | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Eminem in Zane Lowe Interview (Part 3)". Theboombox.com. November 21, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Here Are Eminem's Real Production Credits For 'MMLP 2' - XXL". Xxlmag.com. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Eminem Embraces Pop On 'Love Game' Featuring Kendrick Lamar + 'Headlights' Featuring fun.'s Nate Ruess (NSFW)". Buzzworthy.mtv.com. October 30, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  11. ↑ Julia LeConte (November 5, 2013). "Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2 | NOW Magazine". Nowtoronto.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ McGuire, Colin. "Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP2". PopMatters. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  13. ↑ Eminem. "Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2 - Stream & Read Album Review". Djbooth.net. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  14. ↑ Andy Gill (November 8, 2013). "Album review: Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Shady/Interscope) - Reviews - Music". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  15. ↑ Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY 10:07 a.m. EST November 5, 2013 (November 5, 2013). "Review: Eminem's 'MMLP2' returns to original's wild wit". Usatoday.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ "Eminem Recruits Spike Lee For 'Headlights' Video In Detroit". Vibe.com. April 5, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Watch Eminem's "Headlights" Video (Directed by Spike Lee)". Complex Media. May 11, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Eminem Reconciles With Mother In "Headlights" Video - XXL". XXL Mag. May 11, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Eminem feat. Nate Ruess – Headlights". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  20. ↑ "ARIA Report" (PDF). ARIA Charts. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 18, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Eminem feat. Nate Ruess – Headlights" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Eminem feat. Nate Ruess – Headlights" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Eminem Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  24. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 11, 2014". Irish Singles Chart.
  25. ↑ Zywietz, Tobias (February 15, 2014). "Chart Log UK". Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  27. ↑ "Eminem Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  28. ↑ "Eminem Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  29. ↑ "Eminem Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  30. ↑ "Eminem Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  32. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  33. ↑ "British single certifications – Eminem Ft Nate Ruess – Headlights". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  34. ↑ "American single certifications – Eminem – Headlights". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  35. ↑ Mulherin, Daniel (February 3, 2014). "Chart Wrap: Pharrell gets happy, Avicii and Vance hit new highs". The Music Network. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  36. ↑ "The Music Network Chart Wrap: Feb 5". Radio Today. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Top 40/Rhythmic-Crossover > Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Top 40/Mainstream > Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Eminem – Headlights (feat. Nate Ruess) (Aftermath Records)". Radio Airplay SRL. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  40. ↑ Lane, Daniel. "This Week's New Releases 19-05-2014". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
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