Will Smith Recalls Quincy Jones Saying the Original “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” Theme Song Was a 'Piece of S---'
The actor recalled how the theme song fans know and love came to be
The actor recalled how the theme song fans know and love came to be Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch/Alamy Will Smith and Quincy Jones in 1990:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/will-smith-quincy-jones-120624-3fe94e1d864746fab15fd6595b8ee1c1.jpg "Will Smith and Quincy Jones in 1990")
The original Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song wasn't the one fans know and love.
On the Dec. 2 episode of VICE's docuseries Black Comedy in America, Will Smith shared that the original opening music proposed for the sitcom was 'a piece of s---' according to the legendary Quincy Jones, who wrote it.
"So, Quincy presented a theme song," the actor, 56, recalled.
Despite Jones' track record, including his work with Michael Jackson, Smith "hated it." He consulted DJ Jazzy Jeff and told him "I can't say nothing" because of who Jones was. "What am I supposed to say?" Ron Galella Collection/Getty Will Smith and Quincy Jones in 1990
DJ Jazzy Jeff then recommended he and Smith record what they think the theme song should sound like. They made a demo that basically "tells the story of the show," Smith said. They brought their song to Jones and asked him to take a listen.
Jones obliged. "He said, 'That's good. Mine's a piece of s---,'" Smith remembered, adding that the Grammy-winning producer said their demo was "what it needs to be." The Bad Boys star said the originally proposed song was a bit out of style for what the '90s sitcom was all about.
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Jones and Smith met in 1989 when Benny Medina pitched the idea for Fresh Prince to him and insisted on introducing him to the composer who served as the show's executive producer during Jones' own house party.
“[Jones] said, ‘Hey, man, I saw your music videos, I love you what’re doing, I love what you’re doing. Tell me what your rap name was again?'" Smith recalled.
When he said it was the Fresh Prince, Jones' response was, "All right, good, that’s what we’ll call the show."
The songwriter handed Smith a script, and he auditioned on the spot. The try-out was successful, he signed a contract with Jones, and three months later the Fresh Prince of Bel Air was in production. Ron Tom/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Quincy Jones and Will Smith
Related: Will Smith Releases New Song 'You Can Make It': 'Music Has Always Been There for Me'
Jones died on Nov. 3 at 91 years old. Smith paid tribute to him on Instagram on Nov. 4 with a throwback photo of them together. "Quincy Jones is the true definition of a Mentor, a Father and a Friend," the Oscar winner wrote.
"He pointed me toward the greatest parts of myself. He defended me. He nurtured me. He encouraged me. He inspired me. He checked me when he needed to," he added. "He let me use his wings until mine were strong enough to fly."
