Songs for the Summer: “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

🎶Here it is the groove slightly transformed

Just a bit of a break from the norm

Just a little somethin' to break the monotony

Of all that hardcore dance that has gotten to be

A little bit out of control it's cool to dance

But what about the groove that soothes that moves romance

Give me a soft subtle mix

And if ain't broke then don't try to fix it (don't try to fix it)

And think of the summers of the past

Adjust the base and let the alpine blast

Pop in my CD and let me run a rhyme

And put your car on cruise

And lay back 'cause this is summertime🎶

There is no way to not mention this song when asking the question what songs are the definition of summer if you were making a summer music playlist. “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince brings out the spirit of the summer like no other song can.

Released on May 20, 1991, “Summertime” was the first single released of the duo’s fourth studio album Homebase. Sampling the song “Summer Madness” by Kool and the Gang, “Summertime” chronicles the ongoings of the summer spirit through the eyes of Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff. Will Smith’s opening immediately acknowledge the much needed break from normalcy that summer provides through the metaphors of musical enjoyment.

🎶Summer, summer, summertime

(Summertime)

Time to sit back and unwind

Summertime🎶

The chorus is the crème de la crème of the song that catches your attention the most. You can’t help but feel good when hearing that angelic voice tell you it’s summertime and it’s time to suck back and unwind. Going into the second verse Will makes note of the summer setting and thinks back to how in his younger years he didn’t really give much thought to its significance and impact, but as he’s gotten older he now understands why everyone loves the summer like they do, himself included. He also starts making note of his daily summer activities in during his youth, realizing how fun it all was.

🎶It's late in the day and I ain't been on the court yet

Hustle to the mall to get me a short set

Yeah, I gotta on sneaks but I need a new pair

'Cause basketball courts in the summer got girls there

The temperature's about 88

Hop in the water plug just for old times sake

Break to ya crib, change your clothes once more

'Cause you're invited to a barbeque that's starting at four

Sitting with your friends as y'all reminisce

About the days growing up and the first person you kissed

And as I think back, makes me wonder how

The smell from a grill could spark up nostalgia

All the kids playing out front

Little boys messin' round with the girls playing double-dutch

While the DJ's spinning a tune

As the old folks dance at your family reunion🎶

The third verse of this song is the one that strikes the most relatable chord for not only me, but everyone who enjoys this song. Everyone can either relate to the sport all day long with their friends line or atleast knows someone who does. The lines that really land the hardest for me is how the smell of a grill during a cookout can spark up ALOT of nostalgia. Which leads to the line about old folks dancing at your family reunion. Even today as an adult whenever I go for a walk over the summer and smell the grills of my neighbors I remember going to all my family reunions as a kid and dancing to the best music with my loved ones. Will and Jazz spoke to every one of us with that last verse.

The resonance of this song was massive. Of course it shot to the top of all the music charts, but the song also won the Grammy for best rap performance by a duo or group, further solidifying the greatness of Will and Jazz. To this day this song is still one of not only the greatest Hip Hop records ever, but one of the greatest summer anthems known to man and we all owe this classic song of the summer to DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince.

🎶Every moment frontin' and maxin'

Chillin' in the car, they spent all day waxin'

Leanin' to the side but you can't speed through

Two miles an hour so everybody sees you

There's an air of love and of happiness

And this is the Fresh Prince's new defintion of summer madness🎶