https://youtu.be/FvvZaBf9QQI
The trailer for the warily-anticipated Sonic The Hedgehog live-action movie has arrived and while it’s quite something, fans are split on some of the choices the trailer makes, especially with regards to its musical selection. For some inscrutable reason, the trailer is scored by the Stevie Wonder-sampling strains of Coolio’s 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” and the reactions have been mixed, to say the least.
For some, the use of the ’90s rap classic constitutes an egregious misstep on the part of the trailer’s editors. One fan called the decision to set the trailer’s action to “Gangsta’s Paradise” “inexplicable” and seemed pretty discontent with the whole thing all around.
I don't know if I want to start with the awful compositing or the % of this trailer that's devoted to a single unfunny joke or the inexplicable decision to set the entire trailer to a looping sample from Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio.https://t.co/lcwJckX4Ic
— Dan Olson (@FoldableHuman) April 30, 2019
For others, it’s an enticing reason to buy opening night tickets. Another fan joked: “I’m a simple man, add gangsters paradise by coolio to your movie trailer and I’ll see it opening night.”
I’m a simple man, add gangsters paradise by coolio to your movie trailer and I’ll see it opening night. Also, wtf did I just watch? https://t.co/heePbQ5A8T
— Andrew Wink (@andrewwink) April 30, 2019
One more fan remembered the unlikely feud that the song once sparked between Coolio and humorist musician Weird Al Yankovic, who parodied “Gansta’s Paradise” as “Amish Paradise” due to the original’s immense success and cultural ubiquity on its release. Coolio, who had intended the song as a serious-minded commentary on street violence and the social conditions that spawn the street gang mentality, took the parody personally, saying Yankovic “desecrated the song.” Yankovic himself joked “I’m not sure how comfortable I am with them using a parody of ‘Amish Paradise’ in the Sonic the Hedgehog trailer.”
https://twitter.com/_thatmoviechick/status/1123243900850720769
I'm not sure how comfortable I am with them using a parody of "Amish Paradise" in the Sonic the Hedgehog trailer.
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) April 30, 2019
All in all, it seems plenty of folks have opinions about the trailer’s song choice, but Coolio himself has remained mysteriously silent on the subject. Maybe it’s like Weird Al noted on Behind The Music when the two were still feuding over “Amish Paradise” (they’ve since made amends and Coolio even says he likes it now) — Coolio didn’t have many complaints when he received the royalty check for his share of the splits.
Sonic the Hedgehog set to Amish Paradise: pic.twitter.com/kHWwgU7BYt
— Fandango (@Fandango) April 30, 2019
Perhaps Paramount Pictures made Coolio an offer he just couldn’t refuse. Besides, the trailer’s editor’s probably needed something to distract from Sonic’s creepy human teeth. Check out more of fans’ outraged, bemused, and baffled responses below.
Coolio: "So I wrote Gangsta's Paradise as a commentary on how gang life provides a false safe haven for minorities but also leads them into more misery due to often resulting in more turmoil."
Movie producers: "Sonic is going to go really fast to this because he's a gangsta."
— Romanii: Cringe Gamer Girl @ TXSD (@RomanticCancell) April 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/Sir_H_Caulfield/status/1123235779730219010
https://twitter.com/ERodBuster1/status/1123235160957255680
https://twitter.com/radiocolin/status/1123226949990723585
Finally Coolio's vision has been realized
— Frank Cifaldi @ GDC (@frankcifaldi) April 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/Patwhit01/status/1123237481913114630
Coolio seriously decided that approving the use of this song for this trailer was in his best interest.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 30, 2019
The Sonic trailer makes the mistake of playing Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" and neglecting the origin of his sample, Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise"… which would have been a nice critique of selling a movie that markets nostalgia.
Opening lyrics: pic.twitter.com/bsbM7xTX75— Nick Garcia (@foothands) April 30, 2019
everyone wants to focus on negativity like sonic looking like a wild dirt freak and jim carrey being arguably TOO funny but i want to focus on coolio being able to add guac on all his chipotle for the next few years tbh
— Villalobos (@RamonVillalobos) April 30, 2019
god that fucking sonic trailer has been an atomic bomb of various word associations for my adhd ass brain to disappear down on. right now it's at "hey, coolio's cookbook is actually pretty legit" pic.twitter.com/dFLgT2Cxnj
— Colin Spacetwinks (@spacetwinks) April 30, 2019
