Everyone who says Seattleites are standoffish should watch this.
That’s right, it’s the Emerald City’s own living legend Sir Mix-a-Lot performing his seminal hit “Baby Got Back” with the Seattle Symphony and a crew of more than 30 dancing ladies who volunteered from the audience.
Word came back in April that Mix would perform with the symphony, which commissioned London-based musician Gabriel Prokofiev to orchestrate the piece as part of its Sonic Evolution series. The series features music inspired by local musical icons, such as Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Hey Marseilles and Quincy Jones.
The rapper showed up in his black leather jacket and black hat.
“Since tonight is orchestral movements from the ‘hood night, I’m going to leave some of this open,” he said before the performance. “If a couple of ladies would like to get up on the stage, I don’t touch. We will not bite unless you want us to.”
The response seemed to overwhelm the rapper.
“OK, we’ve got enough,” he said as women flowed up stairs onto the stage. “Lord have mercy. Wow.”
The ladies crowded around for a selfie, and then Mix and the orchestra hit it.
The audience knew the lyrics. The women knew how to grind. One dancer even Mileyed it up with Sir Mix-a-Lot, but just for a second.
People who weren’t there will be telling their grandkids they were.
