Dawnn Lewis was offered the chance to both star in and write the theme song for the 1987 NBC sitcom A Different World. Producers later realized the conflict and barred her from performing the song herself.
Lewis received two separate offers in one week before filming began. One was to write and record the theme song. The other was to join the cast as a regular.
"Neither the musical director nor the casting director knew that they hired the same person," Lewis told Vanity Fair. Producers decided against letting her sing because they wanted the focus on Lisa Bonet's character Denise.
Phoebe Snow recorded the first version. Aretha Franklin performed it for four seasons starting in Season 2. Boyz II Men covered the song in Season 6.
Lewis left the series after Season 5. She is set to return in the Netflix 2026 reboot.