Most celebrities who pop by the talk show circuit are all about plugging their upcoming projects, but Will Smith seems almost as interested in reviving his stalled music career than he is in telling people about his new movie Focus. But you’ll find no complaints here about seeing the former TV star hyping up the Ellen DeGeneres Show crowd earlier today with a live performance of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song. Just try to not sing along.
Smith’s impromptu performance came during a commercial break on Ellen, but the gracious host uploaded it to her EllenTube website, so that the world can join together in smelling a cabbie later. You gotta hand it to Smith, as he gets the entire crowd up and dancing. (Getting jiggy was not yet a thing that people did to his songs when Fresh Prince started.)
Of course, he starts the video off by calling out the “real fans in the house,” and even though the crowd is perfectly capable of assisting Smith in belting out that first verse, the second one gives them a little more trouble. This is what a crowd of people that don’t know the words looks like.
At least that woman in the front figured it out before Smith gave them some wide eyes. To be fair, they were following his lead, as did a bajillion people throughout the 1990s. Thankfully, everybody got back on board for the rest of the song, and his throne is secure.
That’s not even the only music performance he graced Ellen’s crowd with, as he also took everyone back to the year 1991 for his hit single “Summertime.” I can’t remember the last time I heard this track not on a commercial for a CD compilation.
Smith recently brought out his jiggiest dance moves for a spot on Late Night with David Letterman, and he last year went through a mini-history of hip-hop dancing on The Tonight Show. (Jimmy Fallon himself is no stranger to the Fresh Prince theme.) Now Smith just needs to do “Nightmare on My Street” for a Halloween gig, and all will be okay with the world.
In closing, we miss you Uncle Phil!
