After winning his first Grammy award in 1989, Will Smith dropped a single so electric in 1991 that it became the catalyst for his second Grammy win. This was, of course, ‘Summertime’ by the hip-hop group, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. A jazz enthusiast is bound to notice the common name shared by the duo’s song and another classic from the 50s by the father of jazz, Louis Armstrong. Unlike the genres, the themes of the two tracks also coincide like their names.

For those wondering if a thread connects the two ‘Summertime’ tracks, here is the full picture. 

The tale of the two Summertime songs

Despite what the songs’ names suggest, there is no connection between Armstrong and DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s tracks except for their topics. In their ways, both songs sing praises of the glorious season of the year when the sun shines, birds chirp and rejuvenated folks are buzzing with joy. Armstrong’s ‘Summertime’ originated from an inspiration set by George Gershwin’s opera piece in 1934.

Meanwhile, Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, who just reunited last year for a Grammy event, used Kool & the Gang’s ‘Summer Madness’ as a base for ‘Summertime’s’ background beats. While their track was recognized by the Grammy Awards body within a year of its release, Armstrong’s album, which contained this song, was awarded a Grammy Hall of Fame award almost half a century after its release.

One thing that Smith’s fans noticed about ‘Summertime’ was a difference in his voice. There is an intriguing tale behind how this happened. 

Why does Will Smith sound different in the 1991 track? 

In ‘Summertime’ Smith’s vocals sound a lot more low-pitched than his usual music. Not only was this fact picked up by fans but also by rap mogul, Snoop Dogg. During a Brotherly Love Sessions episode, he asked Smith why he sounded like the iconic rap star Rakim in it. The Men in Black actor explained that although Rakim was his “favorite rapper” back then, his voice turned raspy simply because his vocal cords were tired.

The now 55-year-old had been partying the night before. After finishing work on his previous album, he and DJ Jazzy Jeff went clubbing, so when the task of recording ‘Summertime’ was sprung on him out of nowhere the next day, his “voice was blown out”. While telling this story, Smith also disclosed that he had penned down the entire track which would win him a Grammy award the next year!

Between Will Smith and Louis Armstrong, whose ‘Summertime’ do you like more? Share your thoughts in the comments.