My Name Is Prince

"My Name Is Prince" is a song by American musician Prince and his backing band the New Power Generation, released in September 1992 by Paisley Park and Warner Bros. as the second single from their 1992 Love Symbol album. The song is about Prince himself and his musical prowess. The rap sequence is performed by NPG member Tony M. The intro to the song features vocal samples from Prince's earlier songs "I Wanna Be Your Lover", "Partyup", and "Controversy". Its music video was directed by Parris Patton and featured Kirstie Alley and Lauren Green.

"My Name Is Prince"
UK 7-inch single
Single by Prince and the New Power Generation
from the album Love Symbol Album
B-side	"Sexy Mutha"
Released	September 28, 1992 (1992-09-28)[1]
Recorded	September 18, 1991 (1991-09-18)[2]
Studio	Paisley Park (Chanhassen, Minnesota)
Genre	New jack swing hip hop Funk
Length	6:37 (album version) 4:05 (7-inch edit)
Label	Paisley Park Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Prince Tony M.
Producer(s)	Prince
Prince and the New Power Generation singles chronology
"Sexy MF" (1992) "My Name Is Prince" (1992) "7" (1992)
Music video
"My Name Is Prince" on YouTube

The B-sides to the single are "Sexy Mutha", a clean remix of "Sexy MF", and "2 Whom It May Concern", a preview of songs from the then-upcoming Love Symbol album.

Chart performance

"My Name Is Prince" returned Prince and the NPG to radio and the Top 40 in the US after their previous single, the provocative "Sexy MF" failed to chart on any airplay charts. "My Name Is Prince" received modest airplay on Mainstream Urban and Rhythmic radio stations, earning respectable positions of number 25 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, number 20 on the Rhythmic Top 40, and number 36 on the Hot 100. In the UK, "My Name Is Prince" was another Top 10 hit for Prince and the NPG, peaking at number seven.

The remixes single also charted, hitting number 51 in the UK.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The prolific Paisley One introduces his new album with a percussive ditty that earns high marks for its appealing live sound and ferocious, scratch-happy funk beat. Because the tune is taken out of the conceptualized context of the album, the lyrics seem a bit curious at times."^[3] A reviewer from Bray People described "My Name Is Prince" as a "self-mocking explosion of throbbing funk."^[4] Randy Clark from Cashbox commented, "Well, all hail his funky high-ness. Sure, he's got $100,000,000.00 and now he can blow his own horn louder than anyone. This song can be interpreted a few ways. 1) a slammin' funky, but meaningless dance track; 2) his self-obsession is blocking his ability to write anything poignant; 3) the man is a full-blown, Napoleonistic, megalomaniac who has now launched himself into the same self-glorifying world as Michael Jackson and Madonna. Naturally, he produces himself."^[5]

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report said, "Clever as ever and fuuunnky to the max, this track once again displays how versatile, creative and unpredictable Prince truly is, and why he must be considered musical royalty."^[6] Dave Bennun from Melody Maker wrote, "Here we find Prince in hard and funky work-out mode, no great shakes compared to the likes of "Erotic City", "Gett Off" and "Sexy Muthaf***a", but a moderate-to-acceptable taster for his new concept album".^[7] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel felt it's "one of the weaker numbers" of the album, adding, "It's a killer parody of Hammer-style hip-hop. The beat is funkier than anything Hammer ever came up with, and the braggadocio is hilarious. However, the repetitive chorus and Prince's uncharacteristically harsh vocals don't wear well."^[8]

Retrospective response

In a 2020 retrospective review, Andy Healy from Albumism remarked that the song is "ironically titled”.^[9] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called it a "dance smash", stating that the album "has Prince's best dance tracks since The Black Album."^[10] In 2019, Alexis Petridis from The Guardian ranked "My Name Is Prince" number 27 in his list of "Prince's 50 Greatest Singles", stating that it reasserted the musician's authority "in style." He added, "Its intro listed his hits, its lyric switched between proclaiming himself divinely chosen and fretting about judgment day, and its music dealt in heavy breakbeats and noise that suggested he had been listening to Public Enemy."^[11]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was filmed in August and September 1992^[12] and directed by Parris Patton.^[13] It features American actress Kirstie Alley as news reporter Vanessa Bartholomew^[14] and Lauren Green as a studio anchor.^[15][16] In the video, fans are rioting to see Prince perform onstage. However, instead of performing onstage, he dances with his band in an alleyway while shooting his latest music video, wearing the outfit from the single's artwork (a police uniform and cap with chainmail obscuring his face), singing into a microphone in the shape of a gun, and inciting riots and general chaos.

Track listing

UK 7-inch "My Name Is Prince" (Edit) – 4:05 "2 Whom It May Concern" – 4:02 US 7-inch "My Name Is Prince" (Edit) – 4:05 "Sexy Mutha" – 3:55 UK 12-inch picture disc "My Name Is Prince" (LP version) – 6:38 "Sexy Mutha" – 3:55 "2 Whom It May Concern" – 4:02 UK CD1 "My Name Is Prince" (Edit) – 4:05 "Sexy Mutha" – 3:55 "2 Whom It May Concern" – 4:02 "My Name Is Prince" (LP version) – 6:38 UK CD2 "My Name Is Prince" (Original Mix Edit) – 8:06 "My Name Is Prince" (12-inch Club Mix) – 8:11 "Sexy M.F." (12-inch Remix) – 7:34

US CD single "My Name Is Prince" (Original Mix Edit) – 8:06 "My Name Is Prince" (12-inch Club Mix) – 8:11 "My Name Is Prince" (House Mix) – 7:18 "My Name Is Prince" (Hard Core 12-inch Mix) – 7:55 "Sexy M.F." (12-inch Remix) – 7:34 Japan CD maxi-single "My Name Is Prince" (Original Mix Edit) – 8:06 "My Name Is Prince" (12-inch Club Mix) – 8:11 "My Name Is Prince" (House Mix) – 7:18 "My Name Is Prince" (Hard Core 12-inch Mix) – 7:55 "Sexy M.F." (12-inch Remix) – 7:34 "Sexy Mutha" – 3:55 "Sexy M.F." (Clean version) – 5:24 "2 Whom It May Concern" – 4:02

Personnel

Credits from Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud^[17][18]

• Prince – lead and backing vocals, synthesizers, electric guitar, bass guitar, programming
• Tony M. – rap

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "My Name Is Prince" Chart (1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[19] 9 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[21] 11 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[22] 80 Denmark (IFPI)[23] 7 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[24] 10 Europe (European Dance Radio)[25] 1 France (SNEP)[26] 29 Germany (GfK)[27] 19 Greece (Pop + Rock)[28] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[29] 5 Italy (Musica e dischi)[30] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 7 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 7 Portugal (AFP)[30] 2 Spain (AFYVE)[34] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 15 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 14 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 7 UK Singles (OCC)[38] Remixes 51 UK Dance (Music Week)[39] 15 UK Dance (Music Week)[40] Remixes 26 US Billboard Hot 100[41] 36 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[42] 25 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[43] 20

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "My Name Is Prince" Chart (1992) Position Australia (ARIA)[44] 85 Europe (European Dance Radio)[45] 17

References

1. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 26, 1992. p. 25. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
2. "My Name Is Prince - Prince Vault".
3. Flick, Larry (October 10, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 78. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
4. Bray People. November 6, 1992. p. 30.
5. Clark, Randy (October 10, 1992). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 7. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
6. Sholin, Dave (September 25, 1992). "Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 56. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
7. Bennun, Dave (October 10, 1992). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 35. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
8. Gettelman, Parry (October 23, 1992). "Prince and the New Power Generation". Orlando Sentinel.
9. Healy, Andy (October 12, 2017). "Prince's 'Love Symbol' Album Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
10. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince & the New Power Generation / Prince - The Love Symbol Album". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
11. Petridis, Alexis (September 12, 2019). "Prince's 50 greatest singles – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
12. "Video: My Name Is Prince". Prince Vault.
13. "My Name Is Prince (1992) by Prince feat. The New Power Generation". IMVDb. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
14. "Kirstie Alley: People.com". Retrieved June 7, 2016.
15. "Fox News' Lauren Green shines light on faith".
16. "The Death of Prince Dominates TV News Today".
17. Clerc, Benoît (October 2022). Prince: All the Songs. Octopus. ISBN 9781784728816.
18. "The Love Symbol Album". guitarcloud.org. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
19. "Prince & The New Power Generation – My Name Is Prince". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
20. "Prince & The New Power Generation – My Name Is Prince" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
21. "Prince & The New Power Generation – My Name Is Prince" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
22. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1863." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
23. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 44. October 31, 1992. p. 22. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
24. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 44. October 31, 1992. p. 23. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
25. "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 45. November 7, 1992. p. 48. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
26. "Prince & The New Power Generation – My Name Is Prince" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
27. "Prince & The New Power Generation – My Name Is Prince" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
28. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 50. December 12, 1992. p. 22. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
29. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – My Name Is Prince". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
30. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 46. November 14, 1992. p. 22. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
32. "Prince & The New Power Generation – My Name Is Prince" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
33. "Prince & The New Power Generation – My Name Is Prince". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
34. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
35. "Prince & The New Power Generation – My Name Is Prince". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
36. "Prince & The New Power Generation – My Name Is Prince". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
37. "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
38. "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
39. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. October 17, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
40. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 14, 1992. p. 26. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
41. "Prince Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
42. "Prince Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
43. "Prince Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
44. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
45. "1992 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved February 25, 2024.