My Name Is Prince

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My Name Is Prince

Symbolalbum.jpg
from the album SymbolSmallerBlue.png
Mynameisprince single.jpg
single art for My Name Is Prince
Song details
Performer: Prince and the New Power Generation
First Released: 29 September 1992 - My Name Is Prince single
Album(s): SymbolSmallerBlue.png

Ultimate
4Ever

Writer(s): Prince and Tony M.
Producer(s): Prince (credited to Prince and the New Power Generation)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
Performed occasionally in shows:

My Name Is Prince is the first track on Prince’s 14th album SymbolSmallerBlue.png, the second album to be credited to Prince and the New Power Generation, and, two weeks before the album’s release, My Name Is Prince was released as the album’s second single. In 2006, the track was included as the 17th and final track on the first disc of Ultimate.

Basic tracking took place on 18 September 1991, at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, during the same set of sessions that produced songs and remixes for the Cream maxi-single (notable since some of the tracks on the maxi-single contain musical elements used also in My Name Is Prince). The track is essentially a solo recording by Prince, with Tony M. adding a rap. It contains brief repeated samples of I Wanna Be Your Lover, Partyup and Controversy before Prince’s vocals begin.

The track was not initially intended for an album, but was added as the second track (first song) on a March 1992, configuration of SymbolSmallerBlue.png, displacing Sexy M.F. as the opening song. It was kept as the second track (first song) on a late Summer configuration, before many of the album’s segues were removed for release, making My Name Is Prince the opening track. Remixes by outside producers were made in Summer 1992, for use on the My Name Is Prince maxi-single.

In 1993, Prince gave the creators of The Simpsons TV show permission to use the backing track to create the track My Name Is Bart, with new lyrics and lead vocals delivered by Bart Simpson (played by Nancy Cartwright), for The Yellow Album. The album was delayed from 1993 to 1999, and Prince withdrew the track during the delay. Although the new track had no direct input by Prince, he was involved in the creation of the track, so it is included here.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
18 September 1991 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
Tracking
Summer 1992 Larrabee Sound Studios, North Hollywood, CA, USA Remix by Keith "K.C." Cohen
Summer 1992 Larrabee Sound Studios, North Hollywood, CA, USA Remix by Greg Royal
Recording Personnel
  • Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted
  • Tony M. - rap

Versions
Released Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
My Name Is Prince 6:37 SymbolSmallerBlue.png album Studio
My Name Is Prince 6:37 SymbolSmallerBlue.png album (clean version) Alternate Clean version, edited to remove cursing
My Name Is Prince (Edit) 4:05 My Name Is Prince single

Peach single
Ultimate
4Ever

Edit Alternate opening to album version (not a straightforward edit)
My Name Is Prince (Original Mix Edit) 8:06 My Name Is Prince single Remix Remix by Keith "K.C." Cohen; a.k.a. Original 12" Mix Edit on an in house promo-cassette.
My Name Is Prince (12" Club Mix) 8:11 My Name Is Prince single Remix Remix by Keith "K.C." Cohen
My Name Is Prince (Hard Core 12" Mix) 7:55 My Name Is Prince single Remix Remix by Keith "K.C." Cohen
My Name Is Prince (House Mix) 7:18 My Name Is Prince single Remix Remix by Greg Royal
Video Versions
Title Length Released Version Additional info
My Name Is Prince 5:19 Promotional release only Promo video See My Name Is Prince video for more details
My Name Is Prince 3:50 Promotional release only Promo video Alternate version without Vanessa Bartholomew footage; see My Name Is Prince video for more details
My Name Is Prince 3:52 3 Chains O’ Gold VHS/laserdisc Promo video Edited version of My Name Is Prince video above
Broadcasts/streaming (only)
Title Length Released Version Additional info
My Name Is Prince 2:45 Act I TV-special Video version edited version of the video version. Used as an intro for the Act I TV-special.
My Name Is Prince ?:?? Delayed performance TV broadcast Live 23 February 1993, Arsenio Hall Show, Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA, USA
Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
Title Length Released Version Additional info
2 Whom It May Concern 4:02 My Name Is Prince single

7 single
Damn U single

Studio medley See 2 Whom It May Concern for more details
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
My Name Is Prince Full-length version Original full-length track, edited for release
My Name Is Prince (Alternative Club Mix) Remix Remix intended for My Name Is Prince maxi-single
My Name Is Prince (Extended Mix) Remix Remix intended for My Name Is Prince maxi-single
My Name Is Prince (Remix Edit - Dirty) Remix edit Remix intended for My Name Is Prince maxi-single. A.k.a Radio Remix on an in house promo-cassette
My Name Is Prince (Techno Club Mix) Remix Remix intended for My Name Is Prince maxi-single
My Name Is Prince (Radio Remix) Remix On an in house promo-cassette
My Name Is Prince (Contemporary Hit Radio Mix #1) Remix On an in house promo-cassette
My Name Is Prince (Contemporary Hit Radio Mix #2) Remix On an in house promo-cassette
My Name Is Prince (Contemporary Hit Radio Mix #3) Remix On an in house promo-cassette
My Name Is Prince (Contemporary Hit Radio Mix #4) Remix On an in house promo-cassette
My Name Is Prince (Original 12" Mix) Remix On an in house promo-cassette
My Name Is Bart Remix Version intended for The Simpsons' The Yellow Album, with Prince’s vocals replaced by Bart Simpson’s (Nancy Cartwright) with new lyrics
 
Additional Information

See also Trivia

  • It was rumored at the time of this song’s release that it was written in response to Michael Jackson proclaiming himself "the king of pop" in 1991 (especially the line "U must become a Prince before U’re king anyway"). Tony M. refuted this, but it is open to interpretation.
  • My Name Is Prince was performed as the opening song on the Act II tour, shortly after the announcement that Prince was changing his name to SymbolSmallerBlue.png, causing some confusion. Prince/SymbolSmallerBlue.png sang the song from backstage while Mayte was onstage dressed liked him with the chain-hat mouthing the words to the song.
  • The "Prince and the New Power Generation!" in the intro is the voice of television announcer Burton Richardson, sampled from him introducing Prince and the New Power Generation when they performed on The Arsenio Hall Show, taped at Paramount Studios Stage 29 in Hollywood, California on 4 September 1991 and first broadcast on 9 September 1991. This introduction was also used for the Cream N.P.G. Mix
  • A repeated sample of a moan was initially attributed to Kim Basinger, but is actually from Indeep’s 1982 song When Boys Talk (also heavily sampled on numerous songs by other acts in the eighties and nineties). Things Have Gotta Change (Tony M. Rap), 2 The Wire (Creamy Instrumental), Get Some Solo and However Much U Want also use the same sample.

References
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