TV THEME SONG-ville -- Episode 2
08/20/10 02:40 PM
By ED BARK
This is from the old set-up-the-premise school of theme song writing, utilized in sitcoms such as Gilligan's Island and The Beverly Hillbillies.
Basically viewers learned all they needed to know by listening to the musical buildup. In this case, rapper Will Smith did the honors, tracking his journey from a rough Philadelphia neighborhood to his aunt and uncle's posh digs in sunny Southern Cal.
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air aired from 1990-'96 on NBC, with Smith then moving on to become one of Hollywood's most bankable movie stars. This theme remains dead-catchy while also going down as one of the most squeaky clean raps ever recorded. Give a look and a listen.