Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Born a Prince, Left a King
Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down, and I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-air. These are the opening lines to the intro song of the television comedy “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, that me and every 90’s kids with a TV has had memorized since the day we first heard it. Even as you read that first sentence, you can’t help but to rap the words, and hum the tune as you envision a young Will Smith spinning on his royal chair with the graffiti background. The effect of the lyrics and the music video to this intro song goes way beyond pure entertainment value. The music video and lyrics spread happiness, smiles, and even helped to usher in a new generation of kids with the carefree fresh prince mindset.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a show that comes around once every generation. This show broke through all racial barriers and stereotypes and introduced pure comedy and valued life lessons through a televisions set. Through the success of the show, naturally the popularity of the music video and theme song grew as well. The intro music video serves as a prologue that sets up the narrative of the show. The music video illustrates how the main character Will Smith, who lives in an economically poor neighborhood, arrives at a high class town known as Bel-Air. The music video plays up to traditional African American stereotypes by showing Will spraying graffiti and playing basketball. This stereotype connects to the viewers and helps to contribute to certain appeals
One of the appeals that the stereotype contributes to is that of ethical appeal. By showing the young teenage Will Smith participating in illegal activities like spray painting, and recreational activities such as playing basketball; It helps Will’s credibility to connect to the target audience. The target audience consisting primarily of teenage viewers. The
Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down, and I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-air. These are the opening lines to the intro song of the television comedy “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, that me and every 90’s kids with a TV has had memorized since the day we first heard it. Even as you read that first sentence, you can’t help but to rap the words, and hum the tune as you envision a young Will Smith spinning on his royal chair with the graffiti background. The effect of the lyrics and the music video to this intro song goes way beyond pure entertainment value. The music video and lyrics spread happiness, smiles, and even helped to usher in a new generation of kids with the carefree fresh prince mindset.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a show that comes around once every generation. This show broke through all racial barriers and stereotypes and introduced pure comedy and valued life lessons through a televisions set. Through the success of the show, naturally the popularity of the music video and theme song grew as well. The intro music video serves as a prologue that sets up the narrative of the show. The music video illustrates how the main character Will Smith, who lives in an economically poor neighborhood, arrives at a high class town known as Bel-Air. The music video plays up to traditional African American stereotypes by showing Will spraying graffiti and playing basketball. This stereotype connects to the viewers and helps to contribute to certain appeals
One of the appeals that the stereotype contributes to is that of ethical appeal. By showing the young teenage Will Smith participating in illegal activities like spray painting, and recreational activities such as playing basketball; It helps Will’s credibility to connect to the target audience. The target audience consisting primarily of teenage viewers. The