Prince (August 15 1994) – “Vibe Magazine Tries to Shed Light on the Unpronounceable Man” Feature – The Oregonian

This Oregonian article from August 1994 reviews Vibe magazine’s cover story on Prince, exploring his decision to change his name to an unpronounceable symbol.

The piece examines the artistic, personal, and business motivations behind the transformation, while reflecting on the public’s confusion and fascination with his evolving identity.

Publication: The Oregonian   Date: August 15 1994 Country: United States

Under the headline “Vibe Magazine Tries to Shed Light on the Unpronounceable Man,” the article discusses Vibe’s August issue featuring Prince — or “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince” — on its cover. Writer Alan Light, described as one of Prince’s few trusted confidants among music journalists, attempts to explain the reasoning behind the name change and its implications for his career.

Prince compares his decision to Muhammad Ali’s renunciation of the name Cassius Clay, saying, “It’s fun to draw a line in the sand and say, ‘Things change here.’ You find out quickly who respects you and who disrespects you.”

The piece suggests that the change was both symbolic and strategic, freeing Prince from contractual constraints with Warner Bros. and allowing him to release new material independently.

The article notes that Prince’s upcoming album Come was due out in September 1994, with the single Let It Go described as “an irresistibly relaxed bit of funk/swing.”

It also mentions that Prince had extensive unreleased recordings in his vaults, hinting at future releases under his new identity. While acknowledging the practicality of the name change, the writer critiques the public confusion surrounding the glyph, arguing that language remains a spoken construct: “We can’t call him by his new name. If he won’t play by the rules, why should we?”

The piece closes with a mix of admiration and exasperation, calling him “the pretentious twit formerly known as Prince.”

CONTEXT AND NOTES  

By 1994, Prince’s name change had become one of the most discussed events in pop culture. It symbolized his rebellion against record‑label control and his insistence on artistic autonomy.

The Vibe cover marked one of his first major interviews since adopting the symbol, offering rare insight into his mindset during a period of creative reinvention.

The Oregonian article captures the tension between Prince’s genius and eccentricity — a theme that defined his mid‑1990s output and public persona. It also reflects the broader media struggle to reconcile his artistic independence with the practicalities of fame and communication.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS   Event: Vibe magazine’s August 1994 cover story on Prince’s name change Era: 1994 – Symbol Period / Post‑Warner Bros. Transition

Tone: Analytical, witty, and slightly sardonic

Photography: Black‑and‑white image of Prince on Vibe’s cover, wearing textured clothing with intense gaze and cropped hair

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Vibe magazine cover featuring Prince and headline “Breaks the Silence”

• Discussion of Prince’s name change and its artistic/business motivations

• Mention of upcoming album Come and single Let It Go

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

---