All apologies to Kool and the Gang, but Will Smith predicted the future when he rhymed, “And this is the Fresh Prince’s new definition of ‘Summer Madness’.”
He and DJ Jazzy Jeff sampled Kool & the Gang’s smooth, funk lounge track to back their own, but play the original tune for anyone today, and they’d still identify it as the 1991 seasonal smash, “Summertime.” And perhaps that alone speaks to the universality that makes “Summertime” such a classic. The Fresh Prince weaves an ordinary tale of summer’s start in Anywhere, USA, but his finesse and rich storytelling bring all of your own memories to mind. Singing along and matching him word-for-word just feels so good because you’ve been there, too.
And the truth of the matter is, the video’s almost better than the song. That cookout everybody wants to go to? This is it. Adorable toddlers, a few old folks and the iconic “Soul Train” line make each scenario ridiculously endearing, but the real piece de resistance are the camera effects. A split screen opens and is interspersed throughout the video, and DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s antics play JUST right to the effect to make it kinda cute not corny. Laid back on a moving platform, hip-hop’s friendliest duo side-scroll their way through Philly’s neighborhoods, and the visual is such a perfect match for the slowly unfurling lyrics that you can’t help but smile each time you’re delighted with exactly what you’d hoped to see.
“Summertime” is such a cultural phenomenon that it’s easy to forget DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince released a whole discography from 1987 to 1993, including the hilarious “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” According to them, the pair never actually broke up as they’ve continued to record together for Will’s solo career, and even performed together in England and Croatia last fall. But honestly, I can’t imagine that the geography, year, or season makes all that much of a difference. Nearly 30 years later, few songs generate an instant good mood like the irresistible and quintessential “Summertime.”
𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘:
“Leanin’ to the side, but you can’t speed through
Two miles an hour so everybody sees you”