My Name Is Not Susan

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|filename = Whitney Houston - My Name Is Not Susan (sample).mp3

|title = "My Name Is Not Susan"

|description = Audio sample of "My Name Is Not Susan", in which Houston reprimands her lover for calling her by his ex-girlfriend's name

|format = mp3

}}

In a retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism noted the "fresh vibe", describing the song as "thumping".{{cite web|first= Matthew |last= Hocter |title= Whitney Houston's 'I'm Your Baby Tonight' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective |publisher= Albumism |date= November 2, 2020 |accessdate= November 17, 2020 |url= https://www.albumism.com/features/whitney-houston-im-your-baby-tonight-turns-30-anniversary-retrospective}} 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."{{cite news|first=J.D.|last=Considine|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1990/11/06/whitney-houstons-latest-release-never-quite-ignites/|title=Whitney Houston's latest release never quite ignites|work=The Baltimore Sun|author-link=J.D. Considine}} Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "After several ballads, Houston jacks it up on a percolating jam that features one of her more assertive vocals."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |date= July 20, 1991 |page= 72 |accessdate= October 22, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-07-20.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}} 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."{{cite magazine|first1= Alex |last1= Henderson |first2= Bryan |last2= DeVaney |title= Music Reviews: Singles |magazine= Cashbox |date= August 3, 1991 |page= 5 |accessdate= October 31, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1991/CB-1991-08-03.pdf}}

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."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Browne|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/11/23/im-your-baby-tonight/|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight - EW.com|work=Entertainment Weekly|author-link=David Browne (journalist)|date=|access-date=2013-08-03|archive-date=2012-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216232023/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318684,00.html|url-status=live}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as a "pacey pop/dance track boasting a snappy chorus."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-06-22.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|work=Music & Media|date=June 22, 1991|page=16|accessdate=February 19, 2020}} Rolling Stone's James Hunter noted that Houston "stipulates in no uncertain terms" in this song vocally.{{cite magazine|first=James|last=Hunter|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/im-your-baby-tonight-19910110|title=I'm Your Baby Tonight|work=Rolling Stone}} 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."{{cite magazine|first=Caroline|last=Sullivan|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/smashhits90s/30511250988/in/album-72157672904477018/|title=My Name Is Not Susan|type=Review|magazine=Smash Hits|date=May 1, 1991|page=43|archive-date=March 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324072013/https://www.flickr.com/photos/smashhits90s/30511250988/in/album-72157672904477018/}}

"My Name Is Not Susan" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 67, peaking at number 20. It remained in the Top 40 for six weeks, Houston's shortest showing at the time. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart. "My Name Is Not Susan" was modestly received internationally, where it peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart and a modest number 57 in Germany. In 1998, a remixed version of the song (remixed by Snap! in 1991 as the '70's Flange Mix) charted in Germany and reached number 52, five places higher than the original did in 1991.

Houston performed the song on her 1991 I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour. 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.{{cite web | author = Neil McCartney | url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055314/plotsummary | title = Plot Summary for The Simple Truth: A Concert for Kurdish Refugees (1991)| publisher = imdb.com | accessdate = January 21, 2011}} 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. ({{YouTube|iM2V3fraCe4|check the performance}}) At the 19th American Music Awards of 1992, Houston performed the remixed version of the song as a part of "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.

In the song's accompanying music video directed by American music video director, film director and VJ Lionel C. Martin, Houston is featured playing both herself and a character named "Susan". The video is inspired by several elements in the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo, both containing a man involved with an obsessive love for both a glamorous blonde and down-to-earth brunette played by the same actress. 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. There is also a version of the video with a remix with British rapper Monie Love. Outtakes from the video and alternate footage were reused for the video to the follow-up single "I Belong to You".

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• UK, CD maxi-single{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-My-Name-Is-Not-Susan/release/942651|title=Whitney Houston - My Name Is Not Susan}}

1. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell 7") — 4:08
2. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Breakthrough Mix) — 7:45
3. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Album Edit) — 4:37

• Germany, CD maxi-single (The Remixes){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-My-Name-Is-Not-Susan-The-Remixes/release/942656|title=Whitney Houston - My Name Is Not Susan (The Remixes)}}

1. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell Alternate Mix) — 7:40
2. "My Name Is Not Susan" (L.A. Reid & Babyface Remix) — 5:56
3. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell Straight Mix) — 6:17

• US, CD maxi-single promo{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-My-Name-Is-Not-Susan/release/1850833|title=Whitney Houston - My Name Is Not Susan}}

1. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Album Edit) — 4:37
2. "My Name Is Not Susan" (U.K. Mix) — 4:10
3. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Power Radio Mix w/ Rap) — 4:39
4. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Power Radio Mix w/o Rap) — 4:04

• UK, Germany, CD maxi-single

1. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Waddell 7") — 4:08
2. "My Name Is Not Susan" ('70's Flange Mix) — 5:34
3. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Logic Remix Extended) — 5:39
4. "My Name Is Not Susan" (Ambiente Mix) — 5:08

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• US, 12" vinyl{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-My-Name-Is-Not-Susan/release/460532|title=Whitney Houston - My Name Is Not Susan}}

: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" vinyl maxi-single{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-My-Name-Is-Not-Susan-Remixes/release/532850|title=Whitney Houston - My Name Is Not Susan (Remixes)}}

: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" vinyl{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-My-Name-Is-Not-Susan/release/1068457|title=Whitney Houston - My Name Is Not Susan}}

: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" Mix)

• Australia, 12" vinyl maxi-single{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-My-Name-Is-Not-Susan/release/2579231|title=Whitney Houston - My Name Is Not Susan}}

: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)

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;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.

• Vocal arrangement: L.A. Reid, Babyface and Whitney Houston
• Background vocals: Whitney Houston
• Donald Parks: Keyboard programming
• Kayo: Bass
• Rhythm arrangement: L.A. Reid and Babyface
• Additional production and remix: John Waddell
• Babyface: Keyboards
• L.A. Reid: Drums, percussion

;Recording and mixing

• Recorded at Elumba Recording, Los Angeles, CA
• Mixed at Studio LaCoCo, Atlanta, GA

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• "Whatta Man", a song that includes the lyric "he knows that my name is not Susan"

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-My-Name-Is-Not-Susan/master/51711 My Name Is Not Susan] at Discogs

{{Whitney Houston}}

{{Whitney Houston Singles}}

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Category:1990 songs

Category:1991 singles

Category:Whitney Houston songs

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Lionel C. Martin

Category:New jack swing songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Babyface (musician)

Category:Songs written by Eric Foster White