Steve Miller Comments on Eminem Sampling His Song in ‘Houdini’
Eminem made his big return last Friday (May 31) with a new single, “Houdini,” off his upcoming studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). The song featured a star-studded music video with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Pete Davidson, 50 Cent, and more. It also sampled a Steve Miller Band classic, the 1982 hit “Abracadabra.” Now, Miller has commented on Eminem sampling his song to help craft “Houdini.”
Steve Miller on Eminem Sampling ‘Abracadabra’ in ‘Houdini’
Miller is so comfy with Eminem that his message about “Houdini” starts with him calling the rapper a nickname. “Hey EM,” Miller wrote on Instagram, along with an image of The Death of Slim Shady cover art. “There is a long chain of stories, poetry, lyrics, and musical roots that have crossed cultures and generations inspiring the whole world for hundreds of years and in all those lines of thought, music, and rhythm there are special artists who take it all in and create new original ideas from their own feelings and experiences.”
He continued, talking about some of the greatest names in music and how they have influenced music over the decades. “You are one of those timeless originators building something new on a long musical legacy of original artists,” Miller wrote. “For me it’s Les Paul, T-Bone Walker, Bill Doggett, Johnny Guitar Watson, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Willy Dixon, Leiber & Stoller, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane & Miles Davis. I have always tried to credit, honor, and respect the major influencers in my life and to always credit, honor royalties and share knowledge of their work through my own work. I didn’t know it would be this way when I was a kid trying to make a living playing music and making records, I only knew I had to respect the art that came before me and fight for it too among all the crooks, thieves, and imposters.”
Miller ends the note with lots of praise for the Detroit rapper. “There aren’t many artists who take the time or make the effort to stand up for themselves and credit and respect their influencers at the same time,” he writes. “Marshall Mathers you are an exception and on my short list of people who respect the art. To be included in your process feels good while I’m still singing and playing the music I love. I’m Honored.”
Wow. As a Detroit girl, I’m happy to see Miller give Eminem some praise. Miller is obviously thrilled to have his song sampled in “Houdini.” The Death of Slim Shady will arrive this summer. No official release date has been announced yet.
25 Best Sports Anthems, Ranked
Sports Anthems: It’s amazing how they can move thousands and thousands of people all at once. Without a doubt, at least some of these songs on this list will be played at some point during MLB’s Opening Day.
Most sporting events without music nowadays just fall flat. An appropriate soundtrack is practically essential. Now, different sporting events often have different vibes. This can vary by the sport itself, the level of said sport or the region in which the sport is being played.
With this in mind, this list was crafted to have some surprises, yet also be overall universal. It’s trying to walk a very particular line of mass appeal and unexpectedness. Truth be told, this list of the best sports anthems walks that line rather brilliantly.
A general view during the 2023 Opening Day game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park on April 07, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
How This Best Sports Anthems List Was Determined
This author has been to her share of sporting events over the years. Regardless of the sport, there are just certain songs that are ubiquitous at sporting events. Whether it’s high school, minor leagues or the pros, these 25 songs deliver on at least one over more of these levels:
-Does the song help hype up a crowd?
-Does the song add a new, appropriate level of emotion to a sporting event?
-Does the song have a unique tie to a team/athlete, but can also transcend it?
-Does it have a universally recognizable hook?
-Has it been used in a sports movie, thus, increasing its reach to the general public?
Look, this list is far from scientific, but it sure is a lot of fun, which is the whole point of any list like this. Frankly, it was a lot of fun to put together. It’s even more fun to revisit when major sports events appear on the calendar, from Opening Day to the Super Bowl and everywhere in between.
From rock to hip hop to EDM to pop, here are the 25 best sports anthems, ranked.