"My Name is Prince (Not Chris): A Journey of Self-Confidence"

Have you ever misheard the lyrics of a song so spectacularly that it inadvertently became the soundtrack to your life of almost delusional self-confidence? Well, my friends, I've got a tale of royal musical mayhem and a track that kickstarted my reign as "Chris," at least in my mind. Let's dive into the groovy world of "My Name is Prince" and the unintentional boost of self-esteem it provided.

It all began one sunny afternoon in 1992 when I stumbled upon the iconic track "My Name is Prince." I had already been crowned as a fan of Prince and his music, long before I misheard "My Name is Prince" as "My Name is Chris." His electrifying tunes and charismatic performances had already woven their magic into my soul, making me a devoted follower of the Purple One. But little did I know that this misheard lyric would add a quirky and unforgettable chapter to my journey as a Prince enthusiast. Now, it's no secret that Prince was the epitome of cool, and his music oozed confidence from every note. So, naturally, I was intrigued. I was like all teenagers at the time , we got our dose of new music from recording Video Hits on CBC on a cassette player,  so I turned up the TV volume and the funky bassline kicked in, accompanied by that distinctive falsetto voice. But here's the twist - I misheard the lyrics. Badly.

Instead of "My Name is Prince," my ears happily betrayed me, and I heard "My Name is Chris." Yes, you read that correctly. I spent countless listens convinced that Prince was introducing himself as "Chris." I mean, it sounded plausible enough in my head, right? I was 19, and self-absorbed, but little did I know, this misheard lyric would become the catalyst for my own journey into delusional self-confidence.

With every play of "My Name is Prince" (or should I say "Chris"), I felt like I was channeling the purple icon himself. I strutted down the street with a newfound swagger, imagining that I was the one everyone was talking about. People would whisper, "Who's that confident guy? Must be Chris!" I reveled in this newfound alter ego, embracing the cool vibes and charisma I thought Prince – or Chris, in my mind – had bestowed upon me.

The misheard lyrics became a mantra, a daily affirmation of self-assuredness. I'd sing along with gusto, belting out "My Name is Chris" with a wink and a nod to anyone who would listen. And you know what? It worked! I walked taller, talked smoother, and generally felt like I could conquer the world, all thanks to my accidental transformation into a certain "Chris" of Prince’s proportions.

Of course, reality eventually caught up with me. Friends couldn't hold back their laughter when I confidently sang out loud and introduced myself as Prince’s “Chris”, they had to set the record straight, but by then I knew the lyric was “My Name is Prince” but I held firm in my head it was otherwise. It was a moment, but I can’t help but smile at the memories of my time as the imaginary "Chris."

So, the next time you find yourself mishearing the lyrics of a favorite song, don't be too quick to correct yourself. Embrace the misinterpretation, let it fuel your self-confidence, and see where it takes you. After all, as Prince (or Chris) would say, "You don't have to be rich to be my girl." Or in my case, you don't have to be a Prince to be Chris!