# The melody under Eminem’s “Without Me” ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2002, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542 "2002-06-17T16:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KXL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KXL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KXL)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/1 "2002-06-17T16:10:10Z")
As Eminem is doing his rap, we here a little flute tune in the background and he even hums it at the very end Nuh-nuh-nuh-NA-NA Nuh-nuh-nuh-NA-NA Nu-nuh-nuh-NA Did he make that up, or is that “sampled” from somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/2 "2002-06-17T16:21:50Z")
I’m pretty sure thats made up. It just sounds familiar because its been done a million times before. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/3 "2002-06-17T16:28:19Z")
According to the CD sleeve, the only sampled part on that track are the resung elements from “Buffalo Gals.” ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/4 "2002-06-17T16:52:56Z")
He does it twice but the first time it’s the Batman TV show theme. The second time I don’t recognize it. If you’ve seen the video, he plays a Robin like character and Dr. Dre, Batman. Nanananannananana–Batman!! ---
**Author:** ![KXL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KXL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KXL)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/5 "2002-06-17T18:20:35Z")
I can’t believe I’m discussing the detailed artistic levels of an Eminem song. But … Yes, earlier he does the “Batman” theme, but the thing he hums at the very end is different and it’s heard quietly in the background throughout the whole song. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/6 "2002-06-17T18:41:55Z")
That’s definitely a familiar tune, but I haven’t been able to place it either. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/7 "2002-06-18T03:03:47Z")
why is sampled in inverted commas? ---
**Author:** ![KXL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KXL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KXL)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/8 "2002-06-18T12:18:48Z")
“Sampled” is in quotes because it isn’t actually sampled. A true sample is to take something right from a recording. I think that Eminem is performing this mystery tune himself (in the case of the hum at the end) and someone else is playing the tune on the quiet instrument that we hear in the background. Using sampled in quotes was just my lazy way of asking “Does anyone know who first performed/ recorded this catchy ditty and where is it from?” ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Big\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/9 "2002-06-18T17:21:21Z")
I thought it sounded like Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean”. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-melody-under-eminem-s-without-me/114542/10 "2002-06-18T17:29:34Z")
You know, I think Eminem is a juvenile attention whore who is Not To Be Taken Seriously, but damn if he doesn’t have some catchy songs and funny videos. Then again, I did very much enjoy The Chronic, so maybe Dr. Dre has more to do with this than Eminem. I should probably also add that I hate about 99% of all rap music.