Publication: The Toronto Star [Can]
Date: November 4, 1996
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Title: "My Computer"
Written By: Peter Howell

Father-to-be Prince seems to be spending a lot more time at home these nights, as he awaits the arrival of a new baby with his bride, Mayte.

A song from his upcoming album Emancipation titled "My Computer", previewed to music press and retailers last week, begins with the sampled voice of a greeting familiar to America Online users: "You've got mail".

It ends with the same voice saying "Goodbye", the AOL farewell.

In between, Prince sings of the joys of being online: "I scanned by computer looking for a site / Somebody to talk to, funny and bright."

Seems he's shocked a few people that he's still around: "No, I ain't dead yet, what about you?" he sings.

"He's a computer buff," said Prince's lawyer Londell McMillan, who presented this track and others in a high-security transmission from New York.

He said Prince sought permission from AOL to use the greeting, and AOL was more than happy to get the free advertising.

So what's Prince's AOL screen name?

"The symbol is a start." McMillan hinted, referring to the unpronounceable symbol Prince now prefers to be known by.