Stan — Eminem

Eminem's 'Stan' redefined the concept of the obsessive fan through a chilling narrative of violence and mental illness, earning both critical acclaim for its storytelling and condemnation for its graphic content. Released in 2000, the song features a character who, after writing four desperate letters to Eminem, kills his pregnant girlfriend and himself, with lyrics detailing a drowning in a lake. It was rated by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, yet it also prompted debates about artistic responsibility. Its cultural lexicon survived through the verb 'stan' itself.