When it comes to rapper Eminem, I´m guessing that, deep down, many fans harbor feelings similar to mine.

On the one hand, I find him irresistible. He´s a wickedly clever, highly imaginative lyricist. He also has a special, intangible star quality.

On the other hand, I would never want to hang with the dude. Whether he´s flipping the bird to the universe after dueting with Sir Elton John, or waving a handgun around in a Detroit parking lot, Eminem exudes the persona of a self-centered, 30-year-old child: He feels like the kind of person that can dish it out but can´t take it.

Eminem added credence to that theory recently: He refused to give Weird Al Yankovic permission to shoot a video for his new song, "Couch Potato," which is a parody of Eminem´s Oscar-winning "Lose Yourself." (In an act of inexplicable generosity, Eminem did grant Weird Al permission to perform the song itself.)

You´d think that Eminem would be the first guy to appreciate Weird Al´s: In his own videos, Eminem has trashed everyone from Christina Aguilera to Osama bin Laden.

But, suddenly, if someone wants to spoof Eminem on screen, it´s not cool anymore?

Talk about zero sense of humor. It´s an honor to be parodied by Weird Al. Someone who´s sold as many records as Eminem doesn´t need any validation, but let´s be honest: If Weird Al goes after you, you´ve pretty much made it, kid.

Weird Al transformed Michael Jackson´s "Beat It" into the classic "Eat It." Madonna´s "Like a Virgin" became the scalpel-sharp "Like a Surgeon." He warped Coolio´s "Gangsta´s Paradise" into a butter-churning "Amish Paradise."

Truth be told, I remember those videos better than I remember the originals.

Apparently, that´s Em´s big fear.

"It´s an important personal piece of music for him, a piece of art," an Interscope Records spokesman told The Associated Press. "He doesn´t mind him doing the song, but he didn´t want to change kids´ visual perception on what that image was. He wanted to make sure the image would remain intact."

First of all, why can´t celebrities speak for themselves?

Second of all, what "image"?

The "Lose Yourself" video was about as memorable as the movie it came from: "8 Mile." Sure, they were decent. But come on. Without a gut-busting Weird Al parody, "Lose Yourself" will have vanished from the public consciousness within, say, six months.

The video spoof for "Couch Potato" -- a song that pokes fun at TV addicts -- could have kept "Lose Yourself" alive for years.

Weird Al had planned an ambitious video, which would have supported the release of his new album, "Poodle Hat." (Eminem also refuses to let Weird Al release "Couch Potato" as a single, probably hurting CD sales.)

"It´s very disappointing," Weird Al said. "This could have been my best video ever."

It´s one of Eminem´s worst decisions ever. And it saddens me, because it makes you wonder how insecure the guy really is.

Swallowed by fame, perhaps Eminem really is losing himself.

EntertainmentIdaho.com