Super Mario World – “Ending” (Koji Kondo)

Super Mario World was the first Mario game I ever beat, and the first Mario game I really played. It still holds a special place for me as being my favorite of the 2D Marios for this reason – difficulty was a little higher than my skill level, so it was quite a challenge, there were tons of secrets (including a whole new world!), and a massive tropical archipelago full of dinosaurs. The music was also pretty good, if a little cheesy (and maybe a bit too long). So here you have it, as a nice farewell to VGM Daily, the Super Mario World “Ending” music.

Super Mario World – “Ending” (Koji Kondo)

The “Ending” theme is divided into four movements, which means there’s a LOT of repetition here! There’s the first joyful exit from Bowser’s castle where Mario leads Princess Peach (riding Yoshi) and being trailed by the seven eggs rescued from the other castles (that funky dance you see is not normal – you have to hold Up, L, R, X, and Y when you beat Bowser). What begins is a tour of all the worlds (pretty standard stuff) that ends with the arrival at Yoshi’s house (1:36). Here, the eggs all hatch and Mario and the gang have a wonderful celebration! (You can’t see it though because you have to watch the character credits). Next follows a review of all the enemies in the game along with their names (unfortunately, the little ninja guys are missing!). This part is divided into two sections, the first with a cheerful section played on strings and tuba (1:58) and then again with organ and strings (3:11) to illustrate the castle enemies and bosses. So in all, you’ll get to hear that main theme played about a dozen times!

However, what I really like about this theme is not just the nostalgia and familiarity, but the instruments and composition. The instruments are actually a little abstract – it’s hard to pinpoint what they are supposed to be. Is that a pipe or an ocarina? And then there’s a mix of guitar, bass, and violin, as well as accordion and tuba! It’s some sort of mad Italian polka! It’s just the kind of thing you’d expect really from a game like this.

Super Mario World – “Peaceful Kinoko-World” (Soichi Noriki)

If you find this version overlong, check out Soichi Noriki‘s arrange, “Peaceful Kinoko-World”, from the official soundtrack!

Dr. Mario – “Fever” (Hirokazu Tanaka)

One of the games I remember playing as a kid was Tetris & Dr. Mario for the SNES. Dr. Mario is a puzzle game where you have to line up different-colored pills so they wipe out a virus of the same color. If the bottle fills up with pills, you’ve lost. It also had this really funny commercial. In the SNES version, there was a multiplayer option that was a lot of fun at the time, but I kind of lost interest in the game after I selected the hardest level and played through it for about an hour or two until I cleared it, saw the ending screen, and then was prompted to play another level. Then I realized it was pointless! Still, the game had some pretty trippy tunes that were so funny to hear, we couldn’t play some of them, or we’d mess up because we were laughing so hard! So yes, another classic from Hip Tanaka.

Dr. Mario (SNES version) – “Fever” (Hirokazu “Hip” Tanaka)

“Fever” is a pretty cheeky tune – actually, all of them are, thanks to the jeering faces of the little viruses. The designers must have been inspired by Space Invaders, as you can’t help but enjoy squashing them with the pills. The SNES version uses an organ as well as provides chirps and insults from the viruses. At 0:29 there are a few bars from a famous classical tune that I have trouble identifying… You will also want to check out the classic Hip Tanaka bass line at 0:50, definitely a little reminiscent of Balloon Fight (especially with the bubbling pops).

I’d also like to point out that Dr. Mario was a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and so his theme saw a remix. However, I like the arrange of “Chill”  by Masaaki Iwasaki (Mother 3, Heavy Barrel) from Super Smash Bros. Brawl more, with its combination of original chip music and grunge guitars. Awesome high hat past the one-minute mark, too.

Finally, there is this incredibly awesome music video by Brentalfloss about Dr. Mario. Warning – it’s a tad NSFW!

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island – “Crystalline Caverns” (arr. McVaffe)

Here’s another old favorite. I loved Yoshi’s Island for the SNES, and while the Athletic theme is by far the most widely known, I have a soft spot for the “Underground BGM”. OCRemix staple McVaffe‘s arrange comes from 2002 and is a nice blast from the past.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island – “Crystalline Caverns” (arr. McVaffe)

“Crystalline Caverns” follows the same method as Koji Kondo’s original, possessing a meandering flow through the underground that turns and twists winding paths through the earth. The caverns are big, hollow, and full of shining rock. The piece certainly has an American feel through the bubbling synth beat and the calming swish of the drums and cymbals. However, what really makes it stand out is the minimal acoustic piano that echoes and tiptoes along with the beat, seeking a path through the dark. Though there is no piano solo, there is a nice synth break at 2:25.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 – “Main Theme” (Mahito Yokota)

To wrap up Mario week, here’s a special feature, the live recording of the Main Theme from Super Mario Galaxy 2, courtesy of Minna no Wii, the Japanese equivalent of the Nintendo Channel for Wii. When the first Galaxy was released, Nintendo did a similar thing with the excellent “Gusty Garden Galaxy” two years ago (and this theme actually includes a leitmotif from that game. This piece wasn’t used in its entirety in the game, but elements can be found in “Space Station Galaxy 1″, which is also included below. The track is performed by the impeccable Super Mario Galaxy Orchestra, which also did the first game. In the video, keep your eyes open for Mahito Yokota, Koji Kondo, and Shigeru Miyamoto as they listen to the performance with critical ears. Oh yeah – the drum guy also gets his own sound booth!

The Main Theme is perfect for exploring vast space vistas, the urge to jump forward and see what’s out there, thus capturing the game’s spirit. It does this through use of brass and has an epic opening, with upward and downward sweeping of the music before launching right into the main section with a cymbal crash. The first segment is multi-layered with brass and strings, each interweaving to create depth and make it easy to always here something new with each playback. The second main section has a spacey sound that could be a synth (or maybe it’s created with strings). Here, strings and flute interact in call and response while the drums fill in the low section. Finally, the main theme from Super Mario Galaxy (or “Gusty Garden Galaxy”) makes its triumphant return to fondly recall experiences of the original.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 – “Koopa’s Road” (Mahito Yokota)

It feels odd using yet another Super Mario Galaxy 2 remix from Super Mario 64 (after all, that’s what yesterday’s was!). However, “Koopa’s Road” is another track that stands out for me. Whether it’s the song’s driving beat, its atmosphere of a grueling obstacle course from which the track’s name is derived.

Super Mario 64 – “Koopa’s Road”

The snare drums, sticks, and trumpets make for a very precise rhythm, a forward march through conjured images of flames, bubbling lava, and baked stone. The song is simultaneously melancholic and determined, a multi-layered beat and rhythm that drives the player forward, but also a steady upward movement in intensity that never achieves tones of triumph, lying instead in the minor key. Another fine defining point is the exotic synth line in the final section of the loop, a very Kondo-esque plucking that is similar to both Super Mario World and also the Middle East.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 – “Koopa’s Road” (Mahito Yokota)

“Koopa’s Road” from Super Mario Galaxy 2 in contrast is a step to the side of Ravel’s “Bolero”,

Super Mario Galaxy 2 – “Super Mario 64 Main Theme” (arr. Mahito Yokota)

It is difficult to discuss the Mario series without discussing the main theme to the original Super Mario Bros., but I feel it is also difficult to do so as well without the main theme to Super Mario 64 (1996). The “Super Mario 64 Main Theme” was one of the songs that defined the game and stands as one of Koji Kondo’s strongest compositions.  Defined by a well-defined melody with steplike punctuations, the track is very memorable, capturing the sheer joy of running around in a 3D world for the first time. Kondo was able to capture the sense of Mario’s feet as he moves as well as the slopes, hops, and slides of his world. However, the original composition seems rooted in earlier technology – though the midi are unique (particularly the cute ‘doo doo dee doo’ instrument) and purring trumpets, the track gains far more flesh and stature in modern interpretations, particularly Mahito Yokota’s arrangement from Super Mario Galaxy 2. (The image below is because the track is defined more by Mario 64 than Galaxy 2). As such, the original theme was more about melody than depth, though it accomplished the former superbly. Now I won’t give away where this appears, but let me say it’s one of my favorite galaxies in the game, which is a little surprising! It’s also one of the perfect discoveries to make at about 10 PM at night!

Super Mario Galaxy 2 – “Super Mario 64 Main Theme” (arr. Mahito Yokota)

There is something about the “Super Mario 64 Main Theme” that makes it particularly easy to orchestrate in a Big Band (a kind of jazz band from the 1930s and 40s Swing era, which this song seems to work best with). Maybe it’s the midi trumpets and the steady, punctuated beats, but in any case, nearly all arrangers seem to agree that a band mix with sax and brass is the best way. Mahito Yokota took this straight-up approach in Super Mario Galaxy 2, playing the main melody on saxophone with some excellent brass support – everything is simply fleshed out better. The percussion encourages clapping and toe-tapping, and is supported by an electric guitar taken straight out of the score for the original. There’s also a great ‘UNH!’ cheer at 1:08 followed by the reintroduction of the sax, which transitions nicely back into the main theme. When listening to this track, you can’t help but smile – this is the pure joy of exploration and running beneath the sun, play in melody.

The “Super Mario 64 Main Theme” has seen two other excellent orchestral arranges

Super Mario Galaxy – “Ship Plant” (Mahito Yokota)

“Ship Plant” is the famous “Airship Theme” from Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988). Originally composed by Koji Kondo, the track was orchestrally arranged for Super Mario Galaxy (2007) by Mahito Yokota, who also composed the majority of the Galaxy and Galaxy 2 soundtracks. The song was only available in the Platinum version of the soundtrack CD released through the Japanese Club Nintendo. The track is memorable for its steady rhythm and punctuated notes, a short theme that is easily recognizable and instantly oppressive.

Super Mario Galaxy – “Ship Plant” (Mahito Yokota)

“Ship Plant” is full of slowly building menace through the ominous drums, trumpets calling out gloom and disaster, and twirling strings that signal the steady twirl of the airship propellers. What one gets is the overwhelming sense of an unstoppable juggernaut, Bowser’s massive fleet of warships, a threat that must be conquered by Mario’s steady advance for the Mushroom Kingdom to be saved. The steady beat and punctuated notes of the main melody make for a readily memorable track that does great justice to the original version. The recording quality is also superb – listen for the cellos at 0:24 and the snare break at 0:33. It’s a shame the soundtrack was never widely available. The track was so good it was reused in Super Mario Galaxy 2.

The “Airship Theme” has begun to reappear in the Mario games, most recently in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which uses Super Mario Bros. 3 as its template. It’s not that great, but a welcome comeback nonetheless (the airship sfx for the propellers are excellent though).

The best arrange this side of Galaxy is Motoi Sakuraba’s fantastic remix of this theme for Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008).

Super Mario 64 – “Dire, Dire Docks” (Koji Kondo)

Super Mario 64 (1996) was one of Koji Kondo’s best soundtracks. Thanks to Kondo’s excellent composition skills as well as the new power and storage space of the Nintendo 64, Kondo was able to create a true masterpiece. Nearly every song in the game is a joy to behold, and can be listened to on their own. In fact, they are fun for people who have never played the game before and also bring back fond memories when you hear the music again, even long after playing. Of course, there are many other songs I like from this game (particularly the main theme and ending), but “Dire, Dire Docks” (aka “Water Land”) is one of my favorites due to its calm, rolling nature and the wonderful instrument selection.

Super Mario 64 – “Dire, Dire Docks” (Koji Kondo)

“Dire, Dire Docks” on the Super Mario 64 soundtrack is an arrangement of the different versions of the theme, first above the water, then inside, and finally, in the underwater cave. It’s an absolutely divine swim into the waters of Mario’s world, capturing the rolling nature of the waves and the overall feel of swimming in the vast 3D seas, something that players had not done prior to this game.

The instruments are liquid and seem to have been created from water. The base of the track is built on two rolling loops of piano and harp that create a soft, gentle ripple like small waves on the surface. 20 seconds in the main theme begins with delicate twinklings from an ice-like piano that does not seem quite solid, but more floating in the fluid space between synth and simulation. One minute in, and Kondo adds strings to provide greater atmosphere and depth of space. They add a graceful layer to the track that is soon accompanied by drums and high hat, which plays inside the underwater cave. These instruments were added to indicate a sense of danger to the player – it’s time to be on your toes!

There have been many remixes of “Dire, Dire Docks” . Out of all the remixes, djpretzel’s magnificent orchestral mix, “SunkenSuite” is one of the best.

Super Mario World – “Athletic BGM” (Koji Kondo)

Anyone who has played a lot of Super Mario World (1991) will recognize the music to it – particularly since the main theme was arranged for nearly every song in the game. That’s right, with Super Mario World, Koji Kondo did something that hadn’t quite been done in previous games: create a main theme and create a large variety of variations depending on the atmosphere of each level. Thus, the main theme plays in the regular overworld levels, it has a rocky, lava feel for the caves, intense action for the athletic, etc. All told, there are six variations on this theme. This technique would later be used for Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins and the above ground/underwater/high above/etc variations of level themes in Super Mario Sunshine and Banjo Kazooie. It was really quite influential – as well as memorable. Koji Kondo feels this creates a “multi-colored production” through the transformation of themes that also surprises the player and increases the enjoyment of the game.

Super Mario World – “Athletic BGM” (Koji Kondo)

“Athletic” happens to be my favorite rendition, but it’s a tough pick – each one has a great sound, but “Athletic” seems the happiest of them all. It’s a kind of ragtime piece with very quick action befitting of a complex platforming level. The midi pianos have a unique sound to them as well, not sounding quite like the pianos of later SNES games, and so having a Mario touch to them as a result.

The second half of this song is the ‘Yoshi’ variation, which adds a layer of bongo drums for Yoshi’s active movement. This not only gives the player an indication that he has gained a power-up but also emphasizes the movement of Yoshi – where movement and handling of the controls is something Kondo finds very important to Mario soundtracks. (This might be why Kondo has stayed away from orchestral music until lately, as he seems to feel that the rhythm of the music becomes that of the conductor rather than that of the game).

The “Athletic BGM” recently received an update in Super Mario Galaxy 2. Check out a recording of the song here!

8-Bit Mondays: Super Mario Bros. 3 – “Underground Theme” (Koji Kondo)

To help celebrate the release of Super Mario Galaxy 2 (which if you haven’t played it, give it a shot – just don’t be scared away by the big purple star who acts as copilot), I’m going to do a week of Mario music. First up is “Underground BGM” from Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990). ”Underground Theme” aka “Underworld BGM” is one of the most widely recognized Mario tunes, which is unsurprising since it has appeared in practically every game since the original. However, I like the Super Mario Bros. 3 rendition because it contains that extra sound channel for the drum samples, which makes ALL the difference. Better understanding of the 2A03 sound chip simply allowed the developers to create a soundtrack with much more color and depth than the original. The soundtrack was included in both the Super Mario World soundtrack (1991, a nice collection) as well as the Famicom 20th Anniversary Original Sound Tracks Vol. 1 (2004), among other releases. This version is from the Super Mario World soundtrack.

Super Mario Bros. 3 – “Underground Theme” (Koji Kondo)

“Underground Theme” is an excellent example of Koji Kondo’s work in composing game music that mimics the feel of the game world. The high and low notes mimic the structure of the caverns – ‘stalactites’ and ‘stalagmites’ of bricks, rock, and pipe create obstacles that prevent easy traversal of space as well and communicate this through the rapid upward and downward movement of the notes. Further, the short loop creates tension, making the player want to exit this space as quickly as possible. It is notable that in the original game, there was a short above-ground sequence in which Mario boldly walked into a pipe leading to the underground – a brief moment of blue sky followed by the darkness of the cave.

The “Underground Theme” has appeared in different forms in many different Mario games, including