{{Short description|1992 single by Prince and the New Power Generation}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox song | name = My Name Is Prince | cover = Prince MyName.jpg | alt = | caption = UK 7-inch single | type = single | artist = Prince and the New Power Generation | album = Love Symbol Album | B-side = Sexy Mutha | released = {{start date|1992|9|28}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/Music-Week-1992-09-26-S-OCR.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=September 26, 1992|access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> | recorded = {{start date|1991|9|18}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.princevault.com/index.php?title=My_Name_Is_Prince |title = My Name Is Prince - Prince Vault}}</ref> | studio = Paisley Park (Chanhassen, Minnesota) | venue = | genre = * New jack swing * hip hop * funk | length = * 6:37 (album version) * 4:05 (7-inch edit) | label = * Paisley Park * Warner Bros. | writer = * Prince * Tony M. | producer = Prince | prev_title = Sexy MF | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = 7 | next_year = 1992 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|w0g9Qkrc8nE|"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 accompanying music video was directed by Parris Patton and featured Kirstie Alley and Lauren Green.
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'' magazine 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."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= October 10, 1992 |page= 78 |access-date= October 25, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-10-10.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}}</ref> ''Bray People'' described "My Name Is Prince" as a "self-mocking explosion of throbbing funk."<ref>''Bray People''. November 6, 1992. p. 30.</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Randy |last= Clark |title= Music Reviews: Singles |magazine= Cashbox |date= October 10, 1992 |page= 7 |access-date= November 1, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1992/CB-1992-10-10.pdf}}</ref>
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."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Dave |last= Sholin |title= Singles |magazine= Gavin Report |date= September 25, 1992 |page= 56 |access-date= October 17, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-09-25.pdf}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dave|last=Bennun|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52717812346/|title=Singles|magazine=Melody Maker|date=October 10, 1992|page=35|access-date=February 6, 2023}}</ref> 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."<ref>Gettelman, Parry (October 23, 1992). "Prince and the New Power Generation". ''Orlando Sentinel''.</ref>
==Retrospective response== In a 2020 retrospective review, Andy Healy from Albumism remarked that the song is "ironically titled”.<ref>{{cite web|first= Andy |last= Healy |title= Prince's 'Love Symbol' Album Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective |publisher= Albumism |date= October 12, 2017 |access-date= November 16, 2020 |url= https://www.albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-25-years-of-prince-love-symbol-album?}}</ref> Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called it a "dance smash", stating that the album "has Prince's best dance tracks since ''The Black Album''."<ref>{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |title= Prince & the New Power Generation / Prince - The Love Symbol Album |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= November 2, 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-love-symbol-album-mw0000615356 |author-link= Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|first= Alexis |last= Petridis |title= Prince's 50 greatest singles – ranked! |work= The Guardian |date= September 12, 2019 |access-date= November 16, 2020 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/12/prince-50-greatest-singles-ranked |author-link= Alexis Petridis}}</ref>
==Music video== The music video for "My Name Is Prince" was filmed in August and September 1992<ref>{{cite web |title=Video: My Name Is Prince |url=https://princevault.com/index.php?title=Video:_My_Name_Is_Prince |website=Prince Vault}}</ref> and directed by Parris Patton.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://imvdb.com/video/prince/my-name-is-prince |title= My Name Is Prince (1992) by Prince feat. The New Power Generation |publisher= IMVDb |access-date= November 28, 2020}}</ref> It features American actress Kirstie Alley as news reporter Vanessa Bartholomew<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/kirstie_alley/ |title=Kirstie Alley: People.com |access-date=June 7, 2016}}</ref> and Lauren Green as a studio anchor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aleteia.org/2017/08/28/fox-news-lauren-green-shines-light-on-faith/ |title = Fox News' Lauren Green shines light on faith}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/the-death-of-prince-reported-by-some-media-others-more-cautious/291248 |title = The Death of Prince Dominates TV News Today | date=April 21, 2016 }}</ref> 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== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''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 {{col-2}} * '''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 {{col-end}}
==Personnel== Credits from Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud<ref>{{cite book|last=Clerc |first=Benoît |date=October 2022 |title=Prince: All the Songs |publisher=Octopus |isbn=9781784728816}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Love Symbol Album|url=http://guitarcloud.org/era/love-symbol-album|access-date=2023-05-11|website=guitarcloud.org}}</ref>
*Prince – lead and backing vocals, synthesizers, electric guitar, bass guitar, programming *Tony M. – rap
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Weekly chart performance for "My Name Is Prince" !scope="col"|Chart (1992) !scope="col"|Peak<br/>position |- {{single chart|Australia|9|artist=Prince & The New Power Generation|song=My Name Is Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2016}} |- {{single chart|Austria|7|artist=Prince & The New Power Generation|song=My Name Is Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2016}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|11|artist=Prince & The New Power Generation|song=My Name Is Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2016}} |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|80|chartid=1863|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2019}} |- !scope="row"|Denmark (IFPI)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-10-31.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=44|page=22|date=October 31, 1992|access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref> | 7 |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-10-31.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=44|date=October 31, 1992|page=23|access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref> | 10 |- !scope="row"|Europe (European Dance Radio)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-11-07.pdf|title=European Dance Radio|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=45|date=November 7, 1992|page=48|accessdate=October 24, 2021}}</ref> | 1 |- {{single chart|France|29|artist=Prince & The New Power Generation|song=My Name Is Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2016}} |- {{single chart|Germany|19|artist=Prince & The New Power Generation|song=My Name Is Prince|songid=2529|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2016}} |- !scope="row"|Greece (''Pop + Rock'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-12.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=50|date=December 12, 1992|page=22|access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref> | 3 |- {{single chart|Hungary|32|year=1992|week=44|rowheader=true|access-date=June 25, 2025}} |- {{single chart|Ireland2|5|song=My Name Is Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2019}} |- !scope="row"|Italy (''Musica e dischi'')<ref name="m&m">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-11-14.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=46|date=November 14, 1992|page=22|access-date=November 23, 2019}}</ref> | 2 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|7|year=1992|week=44|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|8|artist=Prince & The New Power Generation|song=My Name Is Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2016}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|7|artist=Prince & The New Power Generation|song=My Name Is Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2016}} |- !scope="row"|Portugal (AFP)<ref name="m&m"/> | 2 |- !scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE)<ref>{{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> | 6 |- {{single chart|Sweden|15|artist=Prince & The New Power Generation|song=My Name Is Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2016}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|14|artist=Prince & The New Power Generation|song=My Name Is Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=May 2, 2016}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|7|artist=Prince|artistid=17019|rowheader=true|access-date=January 16, 2021}} |- {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|51|artist=Prince|artistid=17019|rowheader=true|access-date=January 16, 2021|refname="UK2"|note=Remixes}} |- !scope="row"|UK Airplay (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-10-24.pdf|title=Top 50 Airplay Chart|magazine=Music Week|date=October 24, 1992|page=16|access-date=November 11, 2025}}</ref> | 11 |- !scope="row"|UK Dance (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-10-17.pdf |title= Top 60 Dance Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= October 17, 1992 |page= 18 |access-date= September 29, 2020}}</ref> | 15 |- !scope="row"|UK Dance (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-11-14.pdf |title= Top 60 Dance Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= November 14, 1992 |page= 26 |access-date= September 29, 2020}}</ref><br/>{{small|''Remixes''}} | 26 |- !scope="row"|UK Club Chart (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-11-14.pdf|title=The Record Mirror Club Chart|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=November 14, 1992|page=6|access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref> | 60 |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|36|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|25|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|20|artist=Prince|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2019}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Year-end chart performance for "My Name Is Prince" !scope="col"|Chart (1992) !scope="col"|Position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref> | 85 |- !scope="row"|Europe (European Dance Radio)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-19.pdf|title=1992 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio|magazine=Music & Media|volume=9|issue=51/52|date=December 19, 1992|page=20|access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref> | 17 |- !scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp92singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1992, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010225021610/http://www.grammotex.se/topp92singlar.htm|archive-date=February 25, 2001|access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref> | 87 |} {{col-end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Prince singles}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Prince (musician) songs Category:1992 singles Category:1992 songs Category:Paisley Park Records singles Category:Song recordings produced by Prince (musician) Category:Songs written by Prince (musician) Category:Warner Records singles Category:Songs about real people