My Name Is Not Susan

Houston worked with producers Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds at a Hollywood recording studio in the spring of 1990 for Houston's third album following some backlash from black music critics for neglecting her soul music roots, accusations Houston strongly denied to the press at the time. "My Name Is Not Susan" was one of four songs worked on by Babyface and Reid for Houston and written by Eric Foster White with its assertive and aggressive lyrics and vocal arrangement by Houston herself differing sharply from her past work. == Critical reception ==

In a retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism noted the "fresh vibe", describing the song as "thumping". Upon the release, J.D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun felt it was "emotionless", adding, "(Whitney) has no trouble navigating a state-of-the-art funk groove (as with the new jack "My Name Is Not Susan"), she's mainly going through the motions; there's absolutely nothing in her performance to suggest that she was even the slightest bit moved by these songs." Larry Flick from Billboard magazine commented, "After several ballads, Houston jacks it up on a percolating jam that features one of her more assertive vocals." Henderson and DeVaney from Cashbox stated, "This high-tech, funky, L.A. & Babyface-produced cut isn't nearly as pop as some of Houston's material." Entertainment Weekly editor David Browne panned it, writing that "in what could be seen as an audition for her pending movie career, Houston gets to act angry on My Name Is Not Susan, in which she scolds a bedmate for calling out the name of an ex-flame in his sleep." Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as a "pacey pop/dance track boasting a snappy chorus." Rolling Stone's James Hunter noted that Houston "stipulates in no uncertain terms" in this song vocally. Caroline Sullivan from Smash Hits commented, "And not only are her lyrics more adult, the music is the toughest she's come up with yet. Of course, being Whitney, that means it's still fairly sugar-sweet, but this is a most enjoyable record." == Chart performance ==

"My Name Is Not Susan" performed moderately well on the charts in the countries it charted. In the US, it debuted at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of July 27, 1991 and peaked at number 20 on September 7 in its eighth week. It would become Houston's 15th top 20 hit on the chart. It dropped out of the charts after ten cumulative weeks in total, at the time, Houston's shortest showing on the Billboard Hot 100. It spent six of its ten weeks inside the top 40. It fared better on the Hot R&B Singles chart. After debuting at number 68 on the chart for the week of July 27, it reached its peak of number eight on September 21. Its tenure on the R&B chart lasted 14 cumulative weeks. On the Cash Box charts, its peaks there were number 27 and 9 on their pop and R&B charts respectively. The song also briefly charted on the Adult Contemporary Singles chart, peaking at number 44, Houston's second lowest peak on that chart (her rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner", which also charted that year, was the lowest at number 48). It was among one of writer Eric Foster White's first chart hits. Around the same time, he had also made the charts with R&B group Hi-Five's pop-soul ballad, "I Can't Wait Another Minute", to which he also produced. Globally, the song received an even more modest reception. In Canada, the song missed the top 40 entirely, reaching number 43, becoming Houston's lowest-charting single at the time. In Australia, it peaked at number 118. The song fared better in European countries: besides a peak of 43 in Belgium, it peaked at number 14 each in Finland and Ireland, in Luxembourg, it peaked at number 18. The song barely missed the top 20 on the Netherlands' Dutch Top 40 at number 22 while its peak on the country's Single Top 100 was number 28. In the UK, it also performed modestly well, peaking at number 29 on its official singles chart, while peaking at number 25 on its dance chart while peaking at number three on the UK Airplay chart. It charted twice in Germany, initially peaking at number 57. Seven years later, in 1998, a remixed version of the song (remixed by Snap! in 1991 as the '70s Flange Mix), sent the song to a new peak at number 52. It reached the top 30 on the Eurochart Hot 100, peaking at number 26. == Live performances ==

Houston performed the song on her ''I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour'' (1991). Three different performances of the song were taped; in Yokohama, Japan on March 15, 1991; Oakland, California on May 11, 1991; and A Coruña, Spain on September 29, 1991. The Yokohama concert was broadcast on a Japanese TV channel and the show in Oakland was aired during The Simple Truth: A Concert for Kurdish Refugees, a telethon held to aid the Kurds on May 12, 1991. She also performed the song on Welcome Home Heroes, broadcast live on HBO, March 31, 1991. This performance can be found on the video, Welcome Home Heroes with Whitney Houston ― Live in Concert. At the 19th American Music Awards of 1992, Houston performed the remixed version of the song as a part of the "I'm Your Baby Tonight Medley," along with "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "Who Do You Love." In addition, she performed the song on The Concert for a New South Africa, the first of three concerts was aired live on HBO in November 1994, and on a private gig to celebrate for the wedding of Princess Rashidah, the eldest daughter of the Sultan of Brunei on August 24, 1996. The song was also performed throughout Houston's nine-date Pacific Rim Tour in 1997. == Music video ==

The song's accompanying music video was directed by American music video director, film director and VJ Lionel C. Martin. Houston is featured playing both herself and a character named "Susan", both of whom are obsessively pursued by a photographer named Martin Diamond, played by G. Rodney Owens. Several specific scenes that are parallel include a visit to a park, dining in a restaurant, and the photographer's buying clothes for the girl, having her hair also dyed blonde, and the way she emerges from the bathroom. The boyfriend, who is a photographer may have been suggested by another Hitchcock film, Rear Window. The video featured guest appearances by heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, who was a friend of Houston's, and British rapper Monie Love. The two versions of the video were uploaded to Houston's YouTube channel, with the "rap remix" version uploaded first in October 2009 and the video in its original "non-rap" version in September 2013. ==Legacy, usage in popular culture and accolades==

The remix of the single featuring British female rapper Monie Love marked one of the earliest examples of a contemporary pop and R&B artist adding a remix with a rapper before the practice became commonplace. Israeli performer Dana International launched her career with the single "Sa'Ida Sultana (The Great Sa'Ida)", a satirical version of "My Name is Not Susan". == Track listings and formats ==

• UK, CD maxi-single • "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell 7-inch) – 4:08 • "My Name Is Not Susan" (Breakthrough mix) – 7:45 • "My Name Is Not Susan" (album edit) — 4:37 • Germany, CD maxi-single (The Remixes) • "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell Alternate mix) – 7:40 • "My Name Is Not Susan" (L.A. Reid & Babyface remix) – 5:56 • "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell Straight mix) – 6:17 • UK, Germany, CD maxi-single • "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell 7-inch) – 4:08 • "My Name Is Not Susan" ('70's Flange mix) – 5:34 • "My Name Is Not Susan" (Logic remix extended) – 5:39 • "My Name Is Not Susan" (Ambiente mix) – 5:08 • US, CD single • "My Name Is Not Susan" (album edit) – 4:08 • "My Name Is Not Susan" (Power Radio Mix w/Rap) (featuring Monie Love) – 4:39 • "My Name Is Not Susan" (Power Radio Mix w/o Rap) — 4:04 • "My Name Is Not Susan" (U.K. mix) – 4:10 • US, 12-inch vinyl single :A1: "My Name Is Not Susan" (extended mix) – 5:56 :A2: "My Name Is Not Susan" (dub) – 4:28 :B1: "My Name Is Not Susan" (extended U.K. mix) – 6:16 :B2: "My Name Is Not Susan" (alternate U.K. mix) – 7:40 • Germany, 12-inch vinyl maxi-single :A1: "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell Straight mix) – 6:17 :A2: "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell Alternate mix) – 7:40 :B1: "My Name Is Not Susan" (L.A. Reid & Babyface remix) – 5:56 :B2: "My Name Is Not Susan" (instrumental edit) – 5:19 :B3: "My Name Is Not Susan" (dub) – 4:28 • UK, 12-inch vinyl :A: "My Name Is Not Susan" (The Breakthrough mix) :B1: "My Name Is Not Susan" (The Upbeat Cut mix) :B2: "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell 7-inch mix) • Australia, 12-inch vinyl maxi-single :A1: "My Name Is Not Susan" (Logic remix extended) :A2: "My Name Is Not Susan" ('70's Flange mix) :B1: "My Name Is Not Susan" (album edit) :B2: "My Name Is Not Susan" (Ambiente mix) Notes "Logic Remix" is named the "Bellydance Mix" on some vinyl releases."Waddell Straight Mix", "Extended U.K. Mix" and "The Upbeat Cut Mix" are the same mix with alternate names."Waddell Alternate Mix", "Breakthrough Mix" and "Alternate U.K. Mix" are the same mix. == Credits and personnel ==

• Vocal arrangement: L.A. Reid, Babyface and Whitney Houston • Background vocals: Whitney Houston • Rhythm arrangement: L.A. Reid and Babyface • Additional production and remix: John Waddell • Additional production and remix [Power Radio Mix]: LaFace Family, Keith Cohen • Donald Parks: keyboard programming • Kayo: bass • Babyface: keyboards • L.A. Reid: drums, percussion Recording and mixing • Recorded at Elumba Recording (Los Angeles, California) • Mixed at Studio LaCoCo (Atlanta, Georgia) == Charts ==

Weekly charts Year-end charts == Release history ==