One of the unexpected highlights at this year’s British Country Music Festival was a cover of the theme tune to classic sitcom ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’. Wales-based duo The Goudies fashioned a completely new take on this beloved song, with surprisingly successful results. Its popularity with live audiences is perhaps one of the reasons why they have now released it as a single, the second from their ‘East Street Deli Session’. It flips the humorous hip-hop of the original on its head, drawing out a depth of emotion that borders on the melancholic thanks to Sam’s gruff vocals and the sweeping acoustic arrangement. The slight grittiness evokes a heartfelt rather than forlorn response however, calling the listener to notice fresh meaning in the lyrics; while the retention of the line “smell ya later” ensures that the track isn’t taken so seriously that it loses its entertainment value. There is also an intimacy about this song, no doubt conjured from the space in which they recorded it: a small, family-run café in Dorset. It means, altogether, The Goudies bring real heart to ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’, showing it the respect it deserves whilst breathing new life into this still-beloved record.

Originally written for and published on Belles & Gals on November 25th 2022.