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%% When adding music, please list them in order of the cups in which they appear or, in Tour's case, in order of release.
%% Also, make sure to check for and replace any links that no longer work. Thank you!
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For [[LongRunners over 30 years]], the ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' series has attracted players of all ages with its easy-to-understand game mechanics, its creative and varied course design, and of course, its consistently excellent music. Hey, it's a ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]'' series, [[AwesomeMusic/SuperMarioBros what did you expect]]?

''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' has its own page [[AwesomeMusic/MarioKart8 here]], which also encompasses its UpdatedRerelease, ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''.
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[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:''Super Mario Kart'']]
* The lively [[https://youtu.be/0cWb4DN44WU Mario Circuit]] theme is an excellent opener for the game, and indeed the entire ''Mario Kart'' series. It even got [[https://youtu.be/h9gvuWPPZPM remixed]] for ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.
* ''Mario Kart'' courses are generally cheery and lighthearted, but even as early as the first game, [[https://youtu.be/EkGHNfb39hM Ghost Valley]] demonstrates that that's not always the case. Its music, an [[NightmareFuel even creepier]] remix of the Ghost House theme from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', goes a long way towards setting the mood.
* [[https://youtu.be/7NMQUBOXu1g Bowser Castle]]'s music is also derived from ''Super Mario World'', being a remix of Bowser's intro and boss theme from that game. It makes the track sound truly threatening as you race through the course.
* The music for [[https://youtu.be/VWwGKT5jU-4 Koopa Beach]] has a ''very'' relaxing tropical island vibe to it. Both Koopa Beach courses in this game kicked off the franchise's longstanding reputation for [[OnceAnEpisode making great beach stages and great music to accompany them]].
* [[https://youtu.be/btG1GTXgYvo Vanilla Lake]]'s theme embodies the jolly feel of a snow level. Of course, for other people, this theme takes on [[ThatOneLevel a different meaning]] entirely.
* [[https://youtu.be/K03ATBNi3Vw Rainbow Road]] is the only course in the game to get completely unique music, and it really helps to set the stage for the game's grand finale: [[AstralFinale a multicoloured track IN SPACE!]] It may be a 16-bit composition that sounds rather blocky nowadays, but it still remains ''firmly'' VindicatedByHistory.
* The original [[https://youtu.be/XuefzdAPtQY battle theme]] is hectic and also funky, giving off a mid 80s-early 90s vibe. It received an excellent remix in ''Wii'' and another in ''8 Deluxe'', the latter of which was later reused in ''Tour''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''Mario Kart 64'']]
* [[https://youtu.be/QSc3dO3ew_E Trophy Presentations]], used [[AWinnerIsYou when you finish a Grand Prix in 3rd place or better]], embodies the triumph one may feel when winning a race. Its tune originated in the previous game, and was brought back in ''Super Circuit''. The track would later get remixed and/or modified in later games (e.g. a calypso remix for ''Double Dash!!'', a modified version in ''DS'', a majestic remix in ''Wii'', an up-beat modified version in ''7'', and a glorious, epic, and flourishing remix in ''8'').
* [[https://youtu.be/Akz_VVsX-lY No Trophy For You!]] starts off identically to "Trophy Presentations", but then gradually goes slower and darker as your character drives away deprived of a trophy, and then [[LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand the band dies out]] as they promptly [[HumiliationConga get blown the hell up by a Bomb Kart]]. It drives home the fact that [[ThisLoserIsYou you've]] ''[[ThisLoserIsYou failed]]'', and [[TheComputerShallTauntYou makes fun of your failure]] via a short jingle playing at the GP results.
* The [[https://youtu.be/kAEbY1t7qnA main raceway theme]] follows in the footsteps of the "Mario Circuit" theme from ''Super Mario Kart'' by firing up the player for the hours of racing fun (and/or frustration!) with an upbeat, energetic tune. It also plays on Wario Stadium, for some reason. Like the original Mario Circuit, it received [[https://youtu.be/EncChhtdgUY a remix]] in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.
* Another incredibly catchy tune is [[https://youtu.be/KE5v8hAlfO0 Moo Moo Farm/Yoshi Valley]]. It fits the rural setting of the former and the sheer ''confusion'' brought on by the latter.
* [[https://youtu.be/WGFAPl2uu28 Koopa Troopa Beach]] has a really upbeat, tropical flavor and a super catchy steel drum melody.
* The [[https://youtu.be/KHKzR32XTx0 Kalimari Desert]] theme is a pleasant arrangement of the ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' Grass Land map theme, dotted sporadically throughout with a flute playing the EpicRiff from ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly''[='=]s main theme.
* [[https://youtu.be/7gwdPCs9Q8w Toad's Turnpike]] might be ThatOneLevel, and a pretty straightforward one, but its music is especially relaxing without the other noises in the background.
* The smooth, laid-back [[https://youtu.be/fW-hUbIQbo0 Frappe Snowland/Sherbet Land]] theme goes very well with the ice courses. It even returned for ''DS'' and ''Wii'', mostly unremixed.
* The ''very'' infectiously catchy [[https://youtu.be/d89TbeknMjQ Choco Mountain/Block Fort/Double Deck]] music is one of the best themes in the whole series, ''period''.
* [[https://youtu.be/4CaB1p2ofeQ Bowser's Castle]] is one of the most unsettling pieces in the game, with its ominous choir, imposing percussion, and overall dark vibe that fits this version of the course very well. It's especially intense when you get to [[https://youtu.be/vaVm-6HXtAg the final lap]]. Both renditions returned in ''Mario Kart Wii'' unremixed.
* [[https://youtu.be/xXc94g3Z2g8 Banshee Boardwalk]]'s theme isn't really music so much as it is dark and spooky ambiance that almost borders on NightmareFuel.
* And now, the grand finale... [[https://youtu.be/BukCo9ebcSc Rainbow Road]] has a gloriously otherworldly feel to it, and not only conveys a real sense of finality and achievement to the player, it also sounds beautiful. No wonder why this is both one of the most liked themes [[BestLevelEver and courses]] in the entire franchise.
* The [[https://youtu.be/0f8ckObOZCY credits theme]] is nothing short of tear-jerkingly beautiful. It even contains shades of the game's Rainbow Road theme.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'']]
* [[https://youtu.be/k29shcWBc8E The title screen song]] may sound cheesy, but it's still [[NarmCharm incredibly catchy]]. [[https://youtu.be/PeVsfTsXnH0 The unlockable nighttime version]] is even better.
* [[https://youtu.be/J5DrDL_AilI The menu music]] is so catchy, you may find yourself sitting at the menu for longer than necessary just to listen to it.
* The relaxing tropical sounds of the music for [[https://youtu.be/q8U2e9hIrBs Shy Guy Beach and Cheep-Cheep Island]] continue the trend of nice beach themes... and also take a lot of the sting out of the frustration [[ThatOneLevel the stage hazards can cause]].
* This time around, [[https://youtu.be/MqrFVoyq5yE Bowser Castle]]'s music is a stripped-back, faster-paced reimagining of Bowser's boss fight theme from ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''. It's cool, it's catchy, and it invokes a real sense of urgency and desperation that you rarely get in ''Mario'' games.
* What's a ''Mario Kart'' game without a track that comes packed with NightmareFuel? Picking up from where Ghost Valley and Banshee Boardwalk left off, the music used for [[https://youtu.be/agtbhkWq9JE Boo Lake and Broken Pier]] is sure to instill a sense of dread in players [[ThatOneLevel for more reasons than one]].
* [[https://youtu.be/cJ74_iEqCkE Cheese Land]] may be an odd concept for a stage, but the sheer energy of the music is infectious.
* [[https://youtu.be/g68cHMi16vw Sky Garden]] has an appropriately easy-going soundtrack for a garden level in the clouds. It's so good that it got not one, but ''two'' very different, yet equally great remixes in early 2022, which you can find in the ''Mario Kart Tour'' folder and on the ''Mario Kart 8'' subpage, respectively.
* There's a real sense of adventure to the [[https://youtu.be/cYdUkiHjP_0 Sunset Wilds]] stage music. It brings to mind images of heroic cowboys and sheriffs saving the day.
* The music track for [[https://youtu.be/56j26cQpi2k Ribbon Road]] is just plain fun.
* [[https://youtu.be/Vtk5cp9HfWo Yoshi Desert]] is also plain fun, courtesy of its Arabian-inspired theme. Yoshi's iconic sound effect from the older games is also thrown in there for good measure.
* The [[https://youtu.be/_HmH5FK-R8Y Rainbow Road]] music begins a trend of including a MusicalNod to a previous Rainbow Road (in this case, ''Super Mario Kart''[='=]s) before moving on to something entirely new. It's arguably one of the most exciting Rainbow Road themes in the series.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'']]
* Once you listen to [[https://youtu.be/AC9aGiH8mlA the title screen's music]], you'll know you're in for one of the wackiest and most insane ''Mario Kart'' games of all time!
* Appropriately for one of the more chaotic games in the franchise, the [[https://youtu.be/s0veQ0op_TY main circuit theme]] (heard in Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi Circuits) is one of the series' most energetic music tracks. It even returned in ''Mario Kart Wii'' unremixed!
* [[https://youtu.be/ciy_FfT5BxU Peach Beach/Daisy Cruiser]] drives home the concept of beach levels with a laid-back, summery melody. And like the main circuit theme, it returned in ''Mario Kart Wii'' unremixed.
* [[https://youtu.be/fmnlHkcLcl0 Baby Park]] creates an appropriately fairground-like atmosphere for the course it accompanies.
* The music for the [[https://youtu.be/IiNtU5E4Es4 Tilt-a-Kart]] battle stage is mostly the same as Baby Park's, but it opens with a MusicalNod to the first few notes of the famous ''Mario'' theme.
* [[https://youtu.be/WRh8xUeBoHo Dry Dry Desert]], with its suitably Egyptian-sounding theme, ends the game's Mushroom Cup with a bang.
* The theme for [[https://youtu.be/l4Zu4ev589A Mushroom City and Mushroom Bridge]] is a really good and jazzy piece that fits the tone of a big-city like course.
* [[https://youtu.be/anNkuBr0LOQ Waluigi Stadium/Wario Colosseum]] is a suitably brassy, upbeat theme for tracks bearing the names of the Mario Brothers' "evil opposites". This one also returned in ''Mario Kart Wii'' unremixed.
* [[https://youtu.be/3kmS1w_QaZo Sherbet Land]], like its ''Mario Kart 64'' namesake, is ideal music for an ice course. It's catchy, wintry, and fun.
* [[https://youtu.be/Bb8upG1cBzM DK Mountain/Dino Dino Jungle]] is fast-paced and fits both levels' jungle atmosphere excellently. This was the last of four themes to return in ''Mario Kart Wii'' unremixed.
* The theme for both [[https://youtu.be/DRF6S2XWq8s Bowser's Castle and Luigi's Mansion]] fits their atmosphere to a tee, with dark, creepy choirs and scary organs playing throughout. All in all, it's awesome.
* ''Double Dash!!'' has one of the ''Mario Kart'' series' most popular [[https://youtu.be/54-1Y-KIhjY Rainbow Road]] music tracks, which includes a MusicalNod to the ''Super Mario Kart'' version in the introduction and to the ''Mario Kart 64'' version in the second half. This version was awesome enough to get into [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Brawl]] without being remixed at all.
* The boisterous music for the game's [[https://youtu.be/w_1uzjKXtfQ battle stages]] (excluding Luigi's Mansion and Tilt-A-Kart) encapsulate the anything-goes mayhem of the multiplayer battle modes.
* Reaching the end credits rewards the player with an amazing [[https://youtu.be/K-ytP4kuq_I jazz piano rendition of the main theme]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''Mario Kart DS'']]
* [[https://youtu.be/MS965GDqoyk The title screen]] manages to entice from the very moment you turn on the game. It even has a small excerpt of ''Double Dash!!''[='=]s theme.
* The theme for [[https://youtu.be/VZrakOWe930 Figure-8 Circuit/Mario Circuit]] opens up with an exciting riff, and continues on with an energetic melody.
* [[https://youtu.be/533rg-5Vk0g Luigi's Mansion]] has an appropriately spooky theme for a race through and around the titular haunted house.
* The laid-back [[https://youtu.be/QLWC6vIw3Rs Delfino Square]] music was so awesome, it got into ''Mario Kart Wii'' without a remix.
* [[https://youtu.be/Yu0JeZEZUy8 Waluigi Pinball]]'s music (also used for this game's version of Wario Stadium) dials up the excitement and energy for a wild journey up and down a pinball table. The music is surprisingly catchy and well made, and it's very chaotic and unpredictable, like Waluigi himself. The icing on the cake: the sound effects on the Waluigi Pinball course (item box roulette, Lakitu displaying the lap number cards, passing another driver or taking the lead, etc.) are rendered in mock 8-bit sound. The [[https://youtu.be/ajD_x4WTtpE Brawl remix]] is completely awesome, even sampling the original version at points.
* The electronic soundtrack of [[https://youtu.be/o20fNahW_Z4 Shroom Ridge]] is both fun and surprisingly uplifting.
* The fiddle-led music for [[https://youtu.be/nq-NE3qVbtQ DK Pass]] is surprisingly easy-going for the chaos that so often occurs on snow courses.
* Unlike in ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'', [[https://youtu.be/N9Uv9TIaA8o Tick Tock Clock]] gets its own unique music here, and it's great. It opens by imitating a ticking clock; however, the two ticking hands play at slightly different speeds, and get further and further out of sync with each other to segue into an almost urgent music track befitting the often hectic races through the giant clock.
* [[https://youtu.be/oBwC0snlYwo Airship Fortress]] follows the ''Mario'' games' long tradition of awesome music for airship levels.
* [[https://youtu.be/gfowj3UtsOg Bowser Castle]] has an appropriately sinister atmosphere for the obligatory journey through the twists and traps of the titular castle, containing creepy guitars, wailing choirs and dark bass riffs. Also, the main riff of the theme is almost identical to the main riff of Airship Fortress.
* The game keeps the trend of awesome [[https://youtu.be/jGLzPplAMXQ Rainbow Road]] music going with yet another piece of music that conveys a real sense of achievement at having made it to this, the last track in the game. (It's also longer than it might first seem; the main tune actually plays twice before wrapping around, but with subtle differences the second time.) It later got a MusicalNod in the themes for Rainbow Road in ''Wii'' and ''8''.
* Time to go back in time! ''Mario Kart DS'' has the distinction of being the first game in the franchise to bring back retro tracks,[[note]]unless one counts ''Super Circuit''[='=]s inclusion of all of ''Super Mario Kart''[='=]s courses as unlockable extras.[[/note]] allowing us to hear remixes of our favorite courses from previous games again.
** [[https://youtu.be/vUi8bk5CStk SNES Mario Circuit 1]] is back with a vengeance and, while not sounding as blocky as the original, is good to hear again.
** [[https://youtu.be/XljbTcv8_DA GBA Peach Circuit/GBA Luigi Circuit]] updates the groovy original with an even groovier bassline.
** [[https://youtu.be/_qp9ylXH7a4 GCN Luigi Circuit/GCN Yoshi Circuit]] brings back the lively and just plain fun "circuit" theme from ''Double Dash!!'', and it still sounds great (even if it is compressed via the DS soundfont).
** Despite the lack of harmonica, [[https://youtu.be/oGuf3gmWU6I N64 Choco Mountain]] manages to sound just as good as in the original. Especially the part with the steel drum.
** [[https://youtu.be/9KDBR3Zr7kY GCN Mushroom Bridge]] also manages to sound good, considering the slightly worse soundband for the DS compared to the [=GameCube=].
** [[https://youtu.be/Vw6YS5ZYQXk N64 Banshee Boardwalk]] manages to maintain the original's [[NightmareFuel nightmare-fueling]] vibe, and arguably outdoes the original thanks to the improved music effects.
** The game's remix of [[https://youtu.be/0JkDijsrBBY GBA Sky Garden]] gives new life to the ethereal ''Super Circuit'' course.
* The game's [[https://youtu.be/ZWFNBtDnJ10 battle theme]] is a jolly beat to encourage players to have a go at one another.
* True to form, [[https://youtu.be/oi46cjROslc the end credits music]] is top-notch, being rather nostalgic and laid-back this time. However, players who prove their mastery of the game by winning every single gold trophy in Grand Prix Mode are rewarded with [[https://youtu.be/jMADDKulEAw this alternate credits theme]]. It sounds exactly the same at first, but after about a minute, it suddenly takes off for a suitably triumphant finale.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' series]]
* The theme for [[https://youtu.be/7onjqk6TXuY Mario's levels]] exemplifies the feeling of being in the middle of a frantic and chaotic race.
* The music for [[https://youtu.be/N5mFiBnkjgA Rainbow Coaster and Rainbow Downhill]] (essentially the Arcade versions' equivalent to Rainbow Road) is quite catchy.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''Mario Kart Wii'']]
* [[https://youtu.be/qMtkZpd6LZs The main menu music]] is widely regarded as one of the series' best, with fast-paced drums, a groovy bass beat, and simple piano melodies at the beginning. As you progress through the options, more and more melodies fade in, resulting in an exciting tune that makes you eager to start racing.
* The first course, [[https://youtu.be/THFFP1EM3EU Luigi Circuit]], introduces the game's very catchy "main circuit" theme, which is guaranteed to get you pumped up for hours of high-speed fun. It also serves as the theme for this game's version of Mario Circuit.
* The fiddle-led [[https://youtu.be/UP0E9FxdIGU Moo Moo Meadows]] is the perfect music for the game's farm stage.
* [[https://youtu.be/_ySt8LU88NY Mushroom Gorge]] sounds very Celtic-like, frantic, and dynamic for a ''Mario Kart'' track that's also frantic and dynamic.
* The music for [[https://youtu.be/F6oDoGqSk2g Toad's Factory]] is written in an extremely infectious, brass-heavy jazz style reminiscent of the second segment of [[https://youtu.be/-jastEtNhGk?t=77 Powerhouse]], a song itself associated with factories in old cartoons. A bass guitar is featured at the end of "Toad's Factory", but the player is unlikely to hear it because the song is glitched to restart upon exiting the factory. The inside version of the track has rhythmic clapping slapped onto it to make it even more catchy.
* The generally chaotic drives through [[https://youtu.be/K1147Zn6Mw4 Coconut Mall]] are set to an appropriately boisterous and upbeat music track. It even goes well in time while racing! The catchy tune in the beginning symbolises the moment when entering the mall, while the jazzy riff at the middle symbolises going through the mall and its shops itself, and the ending with the accordions symbolise the moment you need to stop shopping and go home. No, really!
* [[https://youtu.be/ZkTzv-xZOl4 DK Summit/DK's Snowboard Cross]] has a truly majestic theme, with electronic instruments and a fast-paced attitude that goes well with the extreme sports theming of the course.
* The music for [[https://youtu.be/e9-nXDgcYDQ Daisy Circuit]] is an incredibly catchy and fun remix of the main circuit theme, ideally suited for a [[UsefulNotes/FormulaOne Monte Carlo]]-esque street circuit.
* [[https://youtu.be/Zzf6RXMgnzo Koopa Cape]] has a very energetic and catchy stage theme, with three different versions depending on where you are on the track: The starting area uses wacky beats, driving through the rapids replaces them with funky beats, and the underwater section of the track plays calm, serene beats.
* [[https://youtu.be/w4gOjCj_d3I Maple Treeway]] has a suitably laid-back feel for a race through the treetops. Especially when the second half kicks in.
* [[https://youtu.be/cAZI3XGyiag Dry Dry Ruins]] sounds like it would fit right in in a ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' battle, and transitions into a sparser, more mysterious mix when you enter the ruins proper.
* As frustrating as weaving through traffic on [[https://youtu.be/zn9C7Akcxpo Moonview Highway]] often proves, it has some of the best music in the game, complete with an alternate, jazzier mix for when you're driving through the city section. For added awesome, try listening to [[https://youtu.be/viiUSMyIlrg both versions combined]]!
* There's yet another deliciously sinister-sounding theme for [[https://youtu.be/Ut6WodESy0A Bowser's Castle]], complete with a MusicalNod to the castle theme from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' at the very beginning. It has the brutality and maliciousness of the other Bowser themes, but it seems to also display feelings of sadness and anger, representing a not usually seen side of Bowser: the lonely side. It also comes with two {{Variable Mix}}es: one for the interior of the castle with more complex percussion than the version played outside and one for the rippling hallway section that's just downright ''trippy''.
* The [[https://youtu.be/Y0kWmQUyCqk Rainbow Road]] music delivers a sense of both awe and finality yet again, this time complete with a MusicalNod to both the ''Mario Kart DS'' Rainbow Road music and the Good Egg Galaxy stage music from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy''. It's quite possibly the most magical-sounding Rainbow Road in the entire ''Mario Kart'' series.
* As for the remixed retro tracks...
** [[https://youtu.be/FnboxxWucR8 SNES Ghost Valley 2]] manages to sound just as horrifying as the original, if not more so.
** ''64''[='=]s main circuit theme returns for [[https://youtu.be/ADJne26N7U4 N64 Mario Raceway]] with a new remix. It still manages to hold its own as an exciting theme.
** [[https://youtu.be/ZN4tJ2uBxuw GBA Shy Guy Beach]]'s theme has been updated with better instrumentation, but it's still similar enough to the original to invoke a sense of nostalgia even among players who have never played ''Super Circuit'' before.
** If you thought the ''DS'' remix of ''Super Circuit''[='=]s Bowser Castle theme sounded underwhelming (likely due to the piano), you'll be thrilled to hear that ''Wii''[='=]s rendition of it for [[https://youtu.be/p8h8w0zYK7c GBA Bowser Castle 3]] sounds much closer to the original, while being more adrenaline-pumping than ever before. [[https://youtu.be/U7foQGbNLig The final lap]] amplifies it even further.
** As in ''DS'', the "Mario Circuit" theme from ''Super Mario Kart'' makes a welcome return for [[https://youtu.be/5VxIZJ2502o SNES Mario Circuit 3]]. Unlike the ''DS'' version, this remix retains more of the original's blockier feel, making for a more nostalgic-sounding track.
* [[https://youtu.be/0ztE36YB8LE Thwomp Desert]] has just the right balance of mystery and energy for a desert-based battle track.
* [[https://youtu.be/CXZeUmWtRVI SNES Battle Course 4]] gets an excellent remix for ''Mario Kart Wii''.
* [[https://youtu.be/pDpR0VDoIpY DS Twilight House]] gets a funky DJ-styled remix of the ''DS'' Battle Mode theme.
* The [[https://youtu.be/tzZ41OZsytc Galaxy Colosseum/Galaxy Arena]] battle stage was only ever used for online tournaments which have long since been discontinued, which is a shame, since its music was quite good. It trends towards the mysterious end of the scale, as befits a space-based battle course.
* [[https://youtu.be/XcuQ5cijjKM The credits theme]] caps off the game brilliantly by starting off soothing and relaxing to wind down from the race, and then [[https://youtu.be/s2TeAz8XTHM suddenly speeding up]] to celebrate your victory.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:''Mario Kart 7'']]
* [[https://youtu.be/trQ8uCFrFWE Daisy Hills]] has a catchy, mountain-climbing feeling to it and sounds perfect for a race in a peaceful village.
* [[https://youtu.be/_UMTgPzm_FM Shy Guy Bazaar]]'s string instruments give it an Arabian vibe that fits the track well.
* The music for [[https://youtu.be/lInoXk8u0-A Wuhu Loop/Wuhu Island Loop and Maka Wuhu/Wuhu Mountain Loop]] is a remix of the title theme for ''VideoGame/WiiSportsResort'', modified to fit in perfectly in a ''Mario Kart'' game.
* [[https://youtu.be/Djn0BSChhFY Music Park/Melody Motorway]]. This piece may have a simple and upbeat tune, but combine that with the fact that you can add instruments simply by drifting through pianos and xylophones, bouncing on tambourines, and passing by living musical notes as they pound down on the track, and you've got an instant classic.
* [[https://youtu.be/cvUMnUsd8Qo Rock Rock Mountain/Alpine Pass]]. The piece sounds like an 80s pop-rock song, but it's fitting to the course, since it's filled with adrenaline and awesomeness. Especially with that electric guitar.
* [[https://youtu.be/K7cwj_ewAg4 Piranha Plant Slide/Piranha Plant Pipeway]]. It includes a lot of {{Musical Nod}}s to the overworld and underground themes of the original ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' game, and has a funky riff added onto it.
* [[https://youtu.be/whBWu_Gagzs Wario Shipyard/Wario's Galleon]]. It has a MusicalNod to the original ''[[VideoGame/WarioLandSuperMarioLand3 Wario Land]]'', along with sinister and unnerving riffs in it.
* [[https://youtu.be/I3NzL4IwLew Neo Bowser City/Koopa City]] is entirely composed of excerpts from previous tracks, but remixed to sound more electric, making for an amazing homage to previous ''Mario Kart'' themes. It contains remixed parts from the main circuit and title screen themes from this game, Toad's Turnpike from ''Mario Kart 64'', and lastly the main circuit theme from ''Mario Kart Wii''. The [[https://youtu.be/8HhUHqtCdmY final lap]] is so pulse-pounding that it's practically ear candy.
* [[https://youtu.be/iM69n8JWaHA DK Jungle]]. It's a faster, more frantic remix of the good old ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' theme, and it only becomes faster and more frantic for [[https://youtu.be/-VIXvNCDLho the final lap version]].
* [[https://youtu.be/Bt-m195b5sw Rosalina's Ice World]]'s theme is a perfect fit for the course, sounding calm and spacey while still containing wintry beats and sounds.
* The [[https://youtu.be/6086Ae4LmYM Bowser's Castle]] theme has {{Musical Nod}}s to the ''Double Dash!!'' version of Bowser's Castle, while featuring an original metal guitar riff in the beginning.
* This game contains what most ''Mario Kart'' fans consider the absolute best theme for [[https://youtu.be/NuR39Y0qKoI Rainbow Road]]. It contains several {{Musical Nod}}s to ''Mario Kart 64''[='=]s iteration and its Staff Roll while also sounding more spacey compared to previous Rainbow Road themes. There's also [[https://youtu.be/FhsYBlWbkOA a calmer, more serene version that plays when you reach the moon-like section]]. What really knocks it out of the park, though, is the [[https://youtu.be/r7SrMgGAT-o final lap version]], which starts not at the beginning of the music loop, but at the chorus lifted from ''64''[='=]s Rainbow Road, perfectly timed to play as you ascend a hill straight towards the sun. In a word, the entire track can only be described as "emotional".
* [[https://youtu.be/AfySEqFcxDA GBA Bowser Castle 1]] gives us the best cover of ''Super Circuit''[='=]s Bowser Castle theme so far. While similar to the version heard in ''Wii'', it sounds noticeably cleaner here.
* [[https://youtu.be/SFzS3eTkoew SNES Rainbow Road]] hasn't been updated much, but it just goes to show how well the original song holds up when something as simple as uncompressing the drums is enough to make it sound modern again.
* [[https://youtu.be/WdlIQYAZuL8 The theme that is used when you're spectating an online race]], waiting to join the next one. [[LongSongShortScene You may not even get to hear the entire music before the race ends]], but it's surprisingly awesome.
* [[https://youtu.be/8K0OJs5rCic The credits theme]]. Basically, it's ''7''[='=]s title theme, but performed live by a jazzy piano and a sax.
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[[folder:''Mario Kart Tour'']]
* [[https://youtu.be/Mjh_SlEK0Ss Tokyo Blur]] is a vibrant and energetic band track that takes cues from Toad Circuit, with some lamenting that [[LongSongShortScene the course is too short for the song]].
* [[https://youtu.be/YYP4T3C4Gz4 Vancouver Velocity]] boasts a stylish techno melody and incredibly danceable beats fitting its colorful wintry aesthetic.
* The remastered theme for [[https://youtu.be/XFQciLj-J70 GBA Sunset Wilds]] now feels like something right out of a Western movie.
* [[https://youtu.be/tQCvky1Qo_g Berlin Byways]] starts off sounding like a {{Dubstep}} track that you'd hear at a rave... before transitioning to ''ClassicalMusic'' of all things. The very concept seems crazy on paper, but not only is the end result ''not'' a complete disaster, it's commonly agreed to be one of the highlights of ''Tour''[='=]s soundtrack.
* [[https://youtu.be/O6e2h90UYlE Ninja Hideaway]] is an awesome mixture of techno rock and traditional Japanese instruments, and it does a great job of reminding you [[GratuitousNinja just how cool ninjas really are]].
* [[https://youtu.be/rdXEhhP3nHs Sydney Sprint]] seriously rivals Berlin Byways for the title of "best music in the game". It has an upbeat, coastal vibe and a saxophone solo so incredible, words simply cannot do it justice. The kicker? ''It's all done in MIDI.'' That's right, not a single live instrument to be heard, and it ''still'' sounds nearly as good as most of ''8''[='=]s music!
* [[https://youtu.be/A_Rmy8tOkQU Singapore Speedway]]'s theme is so celebratory and high-energy, it's practically a party in and of itself! [[https://youtu.be/NcdFiMruCPw The version that plays in the Chinatown section of the course]] changes the instrumentation to sound more traditionally Asian, with surprisingly groovy results.
* [[https://youtu.be/Z1UJl41K-VI GBA Sky Garden]] gets an amazingly energetic techno remix. As soon as you hear that pounding beat, you'll just want to get up and dance to it!
* [[https://youtu.be/cL_q3FMFgi0 Piranha Plant Cove]]'s music has an air of mystery to it while still being adventurous and upbeat. It also has a [[UncommonTime 6/4 time signature]], making it one of the only ''Mario Kart'' courses to have music that's ''not'' written in 4/4.
* [[https://youtu.be/FmJPIYrVcLA Rome Avanti]] is downright ''beautiful'', sounding as if "[[WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTramp Bella Notte]]" were made into a fast-paced, jaunty race tune, complementing the track's gorgeous night aesthetic.
* [[https://youtu.be/-52IXWZzH3E Madrid Drive]] takes the sounds of flamenco and turns them into a high-octane song that'll make you want to move as fast as a charging bull. This song has two variations -- the first one plays in [[https://youtu.be/l4YwMkcUg9s the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium]], and truly captures the passion of the crowd in the stadium as you drive through it. The second variation, which plays in [[https://youtu.be/fP0a-3_S2vE the Prado Museum]], has a calm atmosphere that gives off a refreshing feeling.
[[/folder]]
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