Alabama A&M's band surprises Brandy with the "A Different World" theme and she lights up

Brandy came to Alabama A&M to cheer on the band. The band ended up serenading her instead.

During homecoming week in Huntsville the R&B star stopped by to meet the Marching Maroon and White, the university's famous show band. The musicians had a surprise waiting. They lifted their horns and played the theme from "A Different World," the very song Brandy recorded for Netflix's new sequel series.

In a clip now making the rounds online, Brandy stands in a bright red hat and a coral jacket and listens closely as the sousaphones carry the melody. By the end a huge smile has spread across her face.

"Yes, it's a different world"

"Yes, it's a different world," she called out when the music stopped. "Thank you guys. Wow, that's beautiful."

She admitted she was feeling a little shy. She told the students she was thrilled to meet them, congratulated them and said she could not wait to watch them perform.

The band had love for her family too. Members gave a warm shout-out to her mother, Sonja Norwood, calling her a second mom.

A song with a lot of history

The theme first opened the original series in 1987, when Aretha Franklin sang it over scenes of students at the fictional HBCU Hillman College. Original cast member Dawnn Lewis helped write it.

The Netflix sequel arrived in September. It follows Deborah Wayne, the daughter of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, as she starts her first year at Hillman. Brandy's voice now opens all 10 episodes.

The singer has said the old show shaped her as a kid. "It made me feel like I could go out into the world and become my own person," she said when her version was released.

A big week on the Hill

Alabama A&M already had a tie to the new series. A student video made for a Netflix challenge built around the show finished as a runner-up among HBCU entries. The band had a starring role in it.

The Marching Maroon and White traces its roots to 1890. Director of bands William J. Young took over this spring and has promised to honor that legacy while adding fresh energy. Homecoming week also brought a performance with gospel star Kirk Franklin.

For the students it was a moment they will talk about for years. For Brandy it was a chance to hear the song that inspired her played the HBCU way.