13 years ago today, Eminem began what remains his longest stay atop the Billboard Hot 100 when “Lose Yourself” reached No. 1. The rap hit held onto the top spot for 12 weeks.
Written during breaks on set while filming “8 Mile,” the song loosely follows the storyline of the leading character”s struggle to break from poverty and launch a rap career. Eminem created an intense and memorable sound for the song with a moody electric guitar riff and his trademark tinkling piano punctuating hip-hop beats.
Its stay atop the chart began a day after the theatrical release of “8 Mile.” The track was the first rap song to ever win an Oscar for Best Original Song, beating fellow nominees U2 and Paul Simon.
Other notable November 9 happenings in pop culture history:
• 1961: Brian Epstein, the Beatles” famed manager, first saw a performance by the group that would become the Fab Four (though with Pete Best on drums instead of Ringo Starr at the time). Epstein saw the group play at a lunchtime show at The Cavern Club in Liverpool. In his autobiography, he recounted the fateful encounter: “I was immediately struck by their music, their beat, and their sense of humour on stage – and, even afterwards, when I met them, I was struck again by their personal charm.”
• 1975: David Bowie appeared on Cher”s CBS variety show. The two sang a medley that began with “Young Americans,” Bowie”s soul single from earlier in the year, the Beatles” “Day Tripper” and Rodgers and Hart”s “Blue Moon.”
• 1984: “A Nightmare on Elm Street” opened in U.S. theaters. (Check out where the film landed in the top 10 of HitFix's Ultimate Horror Poll.)
• 1988: “Child”s Play” was released theatrically.
• 1990: “Dances with Wolves” began a limited U.S. release.
• 1996: Blackstreet”s “No Diggity,” featuring Dr. Dre began hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, knocking “Macarena” from the top spot.
• 2004: Stieg Larsson, author of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” died of a heart attack. Manuscripts for “Dragon Tattoo” and its two sequels were discovered after his death.
• 2006: Linda Blair (who played the possessed child Regan in “The Exorcist”) appeared in a season 2 episode of “Supernatural.”
• 2010: Gene Shalit announced that he was leaving the “Today” show, on which he had reviewed movies for 40 years.
Birthdays: “Grey”s Anatomy” actor Eric Dane (turns 43 today), “Hairspray” actress Nikki Blonsky (27), “The Incredible Hulk” actor Lou Ferrigno (64), 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey (42), “Crazy, Stupid, Love” actress Analeigh Tipton (27)