Tom Jones released It's Not Unusual in 1965, and the song later became inseparable from Carlton Banks, played by Alfonso Ribeiro, in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Carlton's enthusiastic, preppy dance to the track turned it into one of television's most recognisable comedy moments and a shorthand for awkward confidence. Clips of the dance spread through compilations, reaction videos and social platforms, and creators still use the opening to signal a character who is completely unbothered and ready to dance, regardless of how the routine actually looks.
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The upbeat opening of Tom Jones's It's Not Unusual, famous as Carlton Banks's dance song from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and used for dance edits and memes.
This short clip captures the bright, brass-led opening of Tom Jones's It's Not Unusual, with its swinging rhythm, punchy horns and confident vocal hook instantly signalling a moment of swagger. The sound feels upbeat, playful and slightly cheeky, turning an ordinary entrance or reveal into a small performance. Listeners recognise it almost immediately, even before the lyrics settle in, because the melody is so closely tied to dancing, celebration and self-assured comedy. It works best when the timing lands on the beat, letting the character or creator lean into the joke with a grin rather than explaining it.
