Will Smith made his comeback at yesterdayâs (June 30) BET Awards in Los Angeles, following his highly publicised slapping incident with Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Smith performed his new song âYou Can Make Itâ at the ceremony. On stage, Smith stood in a circle of fire with a setting that resembled an apocalyptic landscape. Behind him, a large sun rose on a screen.
Opening his performance on Sunday, Smith told the audience: “I don’t know who needs to hear this right now, but whatever’s going on in your life, I’m here to tell you, you can make it.â
Lyrics to the song included: “The darker the hell you gotta endure, the brighter the heaven you get to enjoyâŠThe harder the fall, the higher you soar, God opens a window when the devil closes the door.
“Believe me, they tried to bleed Will Smith, in the rearview, I see adversity was the gift.”
You can watch the performance here:
Smith was also joined on stage by musician Fridayy and the gospel choir Sunday Service, who circled above him on a high platform.
Smith’s collaborator on the song, Kirk Franklin, also appeared on stage and rapped during the song. At one point he told the audience no one “is on a bad chapter forever”.
Ahead of his song’s release on Friday, Smith shared a video of him at the piano on social media, saying: “Through some of my darkest moments, music has always been there for me – to lift me and help me grow.
“It’s my humble wish that it can do the same for you and bring you all the joy and light you deserve.”
Smith first teased his upcoming album, âDance In Your Darkest Momentsâ, last month.
Best know musically for âGettinâ Jiggy Wit Itâ, âMen In Blackâ and âWild Wild Westâ, Will Smith has yet to release an album since 2005. His most recent solo release comes in the form of 2017âs âGet Litâ, while his most recent output was the 2020 Joyner Lucas cut âWill (Remix)â. Smith most recently joined J Balvin onstage at Coachella in April, where he performed âMen In Blackâ.
Earlier this month, singer-songwriter Teddy Swims revealed to NME that he recently recorded a song with his âheroâ Will Smith. âI donât know whatâs going to happen with it and canât confirm anything, but just being with him and learning knowledge and wisdom from someone whoâs been through it all was crazy,â he said. âHeâs the sweetest guy ever,â the Atlanta-born soul-pop singer-songwriter added.
In a two-star review of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die for NME, James Mottram wrote: âMartin Lawrence and Will Smith are on the beat once more with Bad Boys: Ride or Die â a noisy, unfunny fourth instalment thatâs only made endurable by some raucous action scenes.â
The post Watch Will Smith perform new song at BET Awards appeared first on NME.
