10 TV Backstories Revealed In Opening Credits

Of the many television series that introduced the backstory in a song, the one that did it arguably better than any that came before or after was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. When this show was first released, most people only knew Will Smith as a recording artist, so having him sing the intro didn't hurt in drawing an audience.

The song is one of those that you may not have heard since the nineties, but you probably still know all the words. In the intro, Smith explains that he grew up in West Philadelphia, but after a run-in with a local gang, his mother insisted he move to Bel Air, Los Angeles.

He then explains how he made his way to California to live with his auntie and uncle in Bel-Air, and he comments on everything from the cab driver to the mansion when he arrives. Recognizing that he's about to live in a significantly better neighborhood, he concludes by saying that's how he became the "Prince of Bel-Air."

The series launched Smith's acting career, and while it probably would have done that without the famous song and credit scene, it didn't hurt that he wrote and performed it himself.