Besides that classic tune that you're probably hearing in your head right now, the most well-known game franchise in the world has some pretty damn good tunes under its belt.
Main series games with their own pages:
- Super Mario World
- Super Mario 64
- Super Mario Galaxy
- Super Mario Galaxy 2
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Spinoff series with their own page:
- Mario & Luigi
- Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
- Mario Kart
- Mario Kart 8 (Deluxe)
- Mario Paint
- Mario Party
- Paper Mario
- Super Mario RPG
Sports games with their own pages:
For spinoffs not starring Mario, see:
- Donkey Kong Country
- Luigi's Mansion (Series)
- Wario Land
- WarioWare
- Wario: Master of Disguise
- Yoshi's Island
For other media:
- The original Super Mario Bros. theme. It may have been a simple MIDI tune, but it will be remembered till the end of time. Nearly every Mario game has had a remix of it somewhere. For example, the remake of the original in Super Mario All-Stars.
- Here's the one from Super Mario Galaxy. And Super Mario Galaxy 2, which adds more instruments.
- A medley of the songs from Super Mario Bros appears in the arcade version of pop'n music 14 FEVER!, a completely different game by a completely different company. For obvious reasons, it was excluded from the PlayStation 2 version of the game.
- The special zone version from Super Mario World.
- Ever wonder what Mario music would sound like if Motoi Sakuraba composed it? Well...
- The Mario Superstar Baseball commercial has a beautiful rendition played on a stadium organ.
- The a cappella scat version from Super Mario Sunshine. Great enough in its synthesized version from the game, but the concert recording makes it even more awesome. It returned slightly arranged as a mini-game music in New Super Mario Bros..
- Yoko Shimomura's arrangement of it from Super Mario RPG, which was recycled for Mario & Luigi.
- Speaking of Mario & Luigi, which also features music composed by Shimomura, every game in the series uses an arrangement of the World 1-1 theme as a tutorial theme:
- From Superstar Saga: Koopa Tutorials, Jump! (remake).
- From Partners in Time: The Road to Holli Jolly.
- From Bowser's Inside Story: Tutorial Time, Doing It Right (remake).
- From Dream Team: Go with the Bros..
- From Paper Jam: Prepare Yourself.
- S.S.H. rock remix of it. Amazing. Those who liked this will also like Mario Minor by Powerglove.
- How about Shell Rider, another awesome rock remix of this classic tune? Created by CarboHydroM, and all his works are free to download!
- There's a Billboard chart for Ringtones. This song spent over 200 weeks in it. It sold over seven hundred thousand units in 2006.
- This one from Tetris DS. Just, wow.
- Super Mario 64's title. Our very first "It's-a me! Mario!" Hit those cymbals!
- The version orchestrated by those possessed instruments in Luigi's Mansion!
- And yet another remix appearance in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games!
- The Super Mario 3D Land remix.
- Mario Party 9 has the aptly-titled Super-Duper Mario Bros. Also in Mario Party 9, we have Museum, a soothing calm piano mix; and Freshen Up!, which is an excellent remix of the tune in the vein of Mario Kart.
- The Just Dance 3 version, which mixes the original theme with the All-Stars version with original rhythms.
- The Tekken Tag Tournament 2 version. Yes, you read that right, a Tekken version. First seen in the trailer of the Wii U version; here's the full version found in the game.
- Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix gives us a techno-reggae style remix titled, "Here We Go!"
- Paper Mario: Sticker Star gives us Gooper Blooper's boss theme while poisoned. Gooper Blooper actually claps along to the song.
- From NES Remix 2, the winter version.
- Super Mario Odyssey features a live band rendition in New Donk City. Made even better in-game with the amassed crowd clapping along to the rhythm.
- Super Nintendo World features a brand new arrangement of the theme that plays throughout the entire amusement park, and anyone who hears it will be guaranteed a huge smile on their face.
- The underground theme is minimalist, but still makes you feel like you're traveling through mysterious subterranean worlds. Like the overworld theme, it's been remixed countless themes across the franchise, such as a groovier electronic remix from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
- The underwater theme really gives off the vibe of swimming deep in the ocean. It gives off a light, floaty feeling, but it's fast-paced enough not to feel boring. There's a reason why many future games would use this as a title screen theme.
- The ground theme is ridiculously catchy and upbeat. There must be some love given for this brilliant jazz remix of it (kicks in around 0:25). The bass line keeps going when you pause the game; players often would pause and unpause the game to make their own remix.
- Even the character select music is good. Its fast and memorable melody will get you in the mood to start the game.
- The beautiful and evocative ending music (starts around 0:57).
- Another oft-remixed classic is the Airship Theme that debuted in SMB3. The low drum beats and menacing rhythm befit the journeys across Bowser's fleet. It was remixed, among other things, for Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
- The underwater theme gives any player a feeling of relief and calm, but also hints at the dangers that lay ahead.
- The main Ground theme. Its pleasant nature fits the early levels quite well.
- TheTetris DS remix of the first Ground theme starts out as the original before unexpectedly launching into an energetic dance remix.
- The Super Smash Bros. Melee remix updates the original with added guitar and also incorporates the World 1 Map theme.
- The athletic theme is as peppy and energetic as you would expect for an athletic level.
- The Hammer Bros' theme has a fun groove to it. Perfect for battling enemies that are stronger, but not that threatening.
- The Koopalings' theme, which is more intense than the Hammer Bros./Enemy Battle theme, ups the intensity to match the tougher battles. Remixed for Brawl. Remixed again for Ultimate.
- Hear the awesomeness that is SMB3's World One Theme. Another classic that has seen many remixes, it's a good song to hear when frolicking through the fields.
- The Super Mario Advance 4 remake has a unique theme for bonus areas with a playful and curious vibe.
- From Advance 4 is the majestic World-e Castle theme.
- The remix of the first game's underworld music was so catchy, Nintendo used it for the underworld levels in the All-Stars version of the first game.
- Bowser's music, while short, is appropriately climactic for the final showdown between Mario and his arch-nemesis.
- The fortress/castle theme is rather short, only clocking in at around 18 seconds, but it provides a rather sinister feeling to it that fits just how cryptic these fortresses are and what awaits inside of them (especially in the original NES version, where most of them just have a pitch-black background, occasionally having a few windows here and there).
- The Super Mario Land Ground Theme gets overshadowed by the Super Mario Brothers 1-1 theme, but it has its fans thanks to its joyful mood and a melody that's instantly recognizable to those who've heard it.
- This remix rearranges the song in a Ska style.
- This arranged mix from the Mario Freaks Orchestra Album is even more cheerful than the original, with new instruments such as drums and guitars.
- The World 2-1 and 2-2 theme has a beautiful, nostalgic feeling.
- The underground theme/Easton Kingdom theme is a darker and more mysterious level theme with an Egyptian-sounding melody. The awesome remix from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, as heard here, packs a greater punch than the original, being distinctly more rhythmic, and the Mario Freaks Orchestra remix is slower and is evocative of a dangerous trek through the desert.
- The Chai Kingdom (Worlds 4-1 and 4-2) ties in to the world's inspiration of Ancient China and has a slight sense of finality to it.
- The Marine Pop/Sky Pop theme provides a faster pace while having a happy-go-lucky melody.
- And then the perfect conclusion, the credits brings a wonderful sense of closure.
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
- Super Mario Land 2 has the Star Maze. One of the few songs in the game that isn't a remix of another, and an amazing piece of work for the Game Boy of all things. Of course, the level in question is That One Level, with That One Boss at the end, so you'll be listening to it a lot. Not that that's bad.
- The Ground theme of the second game is another theme presented in the classic Mario style: very high-spirited with a melody that might get stuck in your head.
- Wario's Castle. Sinister and elegant at the same time.
- The All-Stars versions of SMB1, Lost Levels, and SMB3 use the latter game's drum-led version of the classic Underworld theme, with slight echo effects added to the "melody" to create an audible sense of being in a cavernous yet enclosed space.
- All-Stars adds an echo effect to the melody of the classic SMB Underwater theme that makes it even more ideally suited for an aquatic level.note
- The SMB Castle theme dials down the volume of the accompaniment to make it sound almost as though it's coming from behind the walls of Bowser's castles, creating something appropriately tense and sinister for the game's confrontations with the head Koopa (or, in Worlds 1-7 - and A-C in Lost Levels - Mooks disguised as him).
- All-Stars dials up the sense of fun and adventure of the SMB2 Ground theme by varying the instrumentation for different parts of the melody.
- The SMB3 Ground theme gets the All-Stars treatment, and the already peppy melody becomes even more so thanks to the greater capabilities of the 16-bit sound chips.
- All-Stars doesn't just re-vamp the existing tunes - for both SMB1 and Lost Levels, it adds a few new ones as well!
- The Bonus Levels are set against an appropriately celebratory theme that practically shouts, "Get those coins, Mario!"
- The Fake Bowser Battles get a new theme that starts with a four-note motif referencing the Hammer Brothers fight theme from SMB3 before moving on to an urgent-sounding tune with pounding drums to underscore the tension as Mario either tries to sneak over or under "Bowser" to take out the bridge under his feet or unload enough fireballs into him to knock off his disguise.
- The True Bowser Battle theme dials up the adrenaline even further, with a frantic-sounding tune that makes it clear how much is at stake in this, the game's final battle. Bowser is all that stands between Mario and saving Peach this time, but he's not going to make it easy!
- All-Stars' version of Super Mario Bros. 3's World 7 map theme only consists of a few notes, but boy is it catchy. That's not a bad thing, because the confusing nature of World 7's map as well as the difficulty of its levels means a lot of time will be spent on the map screen. And then remixed for Fortune Street for every time you invest in stocks, which happens nearly as often.
- Delfino Plaza is just plain awesome with its composition and rather upbeat tune. Perfect for the largest town on the island that also serves as the game's hub world.
- Bianco Hills is a sort of "remix" of Delfino Plaza but it's more relaxed; fitting for the environment it's set in, which is a pleasant windmill village.
- Underwater Exploration. Simply beautiful as well as very relaxing, which is fitting for the more laid-back tone of the level it plays in.
- Sky and Sea plays whenever you're in a "secret" level, such as Red Coins in a Bottle and some of the other assorted levels that are scattered throughout Delfino Plaza. It's ironic that the music is so relaxing when the levels are not.
- Boss Battle is a chilling and frantic theme for clearing out the messy bosses themselves.
- Noki Bay has a fitting mysterious vibe to it.
- Pinna Park. The fun rhythm of the song really makes it clear that it's in a fun Theme Park.
- The final boss has an amazingly dramatic piano.
- The Casino Delfino music is very fitting for its setting. It even appeared as a minigame theme in Mario 64 DS!
- Sirena Beach. Don't you just want to say "Screw the mission", park Mario on the beach somewhere and just chill out for a while? Bonus points for the theme sounding slightly off, as if foreboding for the horrors lurking in the hotel. Vaguely ominous yet chill and relaxing? Not easy for a beach theme to pull off.
- Delfino Airstrip has a mysterious and wary feeling even with its tropical instrumentation due to a darker version of the Underground theme melody.
- Corona Mountain, a fast and ominous drum-heavy track that really captures the heat and tension of piloting a boat through an active volcano.
New Super Mario Bros. (2006)
This game's soundtrack stands out because almost none of it was used in later New Super Mario Bros. installments; the vast majority of tracks from this game were dropped entirely, and the few that did get reused were all rearranged and remixed starting with NSMBWii. A real shame, because there are several great tracks in this mix:
- The Ground theme, an upbeat Latin/Samba-esque piece and a great way to get you pumped for a brand new adventure.
- The beach theme uses a swinging tropical tune to match the stage. It makes you want to samba under the sunny sky.
- The castle theme. Menacing and foreboding as always, it builds up tension as you progress onward to the boss, especially if it's Bowser himself.
- Remixed and improved even more in Mario Super Sluggers. It's got better instrumentation as a slightly faster variation, but it still retains all its tension.
- The Fortune Street version has better instruments, an organ and its original tempo, fully bringing out the dread in the number.
- The desert theme boasts a catchy, dry tune with Arabic and/or Egyptian inspirations in its melodies.
- The athletic theme rolls in the same Ground Theme level motif, only this time, it's jaunty and brings in 8-bit instrumentation, making a grand amalgamation of old and new. Now in Super Smash Bros where it's a big band that's performing this thing, making it much more stunning, brass and all!
- The final boss theme. Rolling in franticness, desperation, tension and dread all into one track, this is fitting for your final showdown with the menacing Koopa King Bowser and Bowser Junior.
- The remix of the Koopalings theme from Super Mario Bros. 3, an excellent remix of a memorable tune.
- The underwater theme. Preserving the same light-heartedness of the original underwater theme, this piece can make you relax with its floaty melodies without getting boring.
- The volcano theme, from the second half of World 8 is a jumpy piece with its percussion, a fitting description of how hot this stage is.
- The hub music is simple and pretty catchy, but special mention goes to the World 9 Map theme, especially when the riff from Mario Kart 64's Rainbow Road kicks in.
- The Ground theme, a remix of the DS Ground theme, with a more mellow, retro electronic vibe to it. Players will feel that they're once again on an exciting, crazy, and fun adventure that is all around awesome.
- The beach theme. It gives off a tropical and vibrant feel, and its unpredictable beat matches how you're gonna be feeling when you try to go through these levels.
- The volcano theme welcomes players of all ages to World 8 with a fast-paced song that reflects the oppressing heat and boiling lava that threatens to break you every step of the way. The fact that Peach is waiting for you in Bowser's Castle after all the dangers and adventures you've endured makes this song feel even more daring and like an adrenaline rush.
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii's castle theme is filled with suspense and danger as players fight their way through the obstacle-filled madhouses that hold the Koopalings that have taken over each world.
- The forest theme has a lighthearted and adventurous mood, like going on a trek in the woods.
- The title music introduces players to the first 2D Mario game on a home console since Super Mario World in style.
- Their remix of 3's classic Hammer Bros. Theme might be even groovier than the original due to its faster pace and updated synthesized composition.
- The remix of SMB3's airship theme. It sounds like Mario joined the military.
- Another excellent remix of the Koopaling theme from Super Mario Bros. 3. Once again, updated with better instrumentation and still having the catchy rhythms.
- The underwater theme is slow and serene, almost like a lullaby. It's a good accompaniment for the general slower pace of the underwater sections.
- The underground theme remixes the iconic theme from past Super Mario games in a more electronic style, with some shades of hip-hop.
- Somehow, New Super Mario Bros. Wii's athletic theme makes accordions awesome.
- The final boss theme is absolutely amazing, and is quite possibly one of the best boss themes Bowser's ever had. Its slow yet imposing beat, eerie chimes and orchestral strings, which are topped by a dark operatic choir, make for a final battle theme you won't forget. Bowser's preceding boss theme takes the regular Ground theme, and turns it into a Bowserized Dark Reprise. And it works perfectly.
- Can you believe they actually orchestrated a medley of songs from NSMBW? They even have the "bah" down.
- The title theme establishes this game with one of the most upbeat remixes of the Mario Bros. 3 theme you will ever hear.
- The Final Bowser Battle! Suitably epic and fitting for said battle which involves climbing to the top of Bowser's crumbling castle while he does everything he can to stop you.
- The castle theme with its dramatic orchestration is up to par with the songs in the Galaxy series despite having synthesized instruments.
- The clock tower music is a catchy mechanical melody for a mechanical level.
- This music makes the beat block levels something special. A slow techno loop where the beats match the disappearing and reappearing blocks, its steady rhythm gives room for thinking about your next move.
- The attack theme which plays on the final Bowser castle is a march-like theme that has a sense of impending danger, but is also triumphant enough to keep the player going.
- And then there's the main theme, which plays throughout many overworld stages, is another great addition to the collection of Mario game themes - infectious and happy as ever! Its rendition in the credits has a jazzier, more swinging feel, and is as cheerful as the original.
- The beach music. An upbeat mood, tropical feeling, and bright melody - it's the whole package for beach stages.
- The desert music is incredibly catchy; one of the best desert themes in the series. It provides a sense of adventure as you navigate the deserts.
- The map theme for Special World 8 is beautiful, with its merry main melody signifying how far you've come to reach this point. The variation that plays after unlocking S8-Crown is even better, with its added drum beat and groovy bassline making you feel like you've truly accomplished something.
- World Mushroom Map has a peaceful and relaxing melody.
- World Flower Map manages to be even more serene and peaceful than World Mushroom's map theme.
- World Star Map has a faster pace than the other two Special World themes and it feels like you're floating through space.
- The remixes of the SMW boss theme and the NSMBW title screen are awesome. The former breathes new life into the original due to the higher quality instruments (the original already being a great piece), and the latter is very similar to the original while also sounding distinct due to its incorporation of other elements such as the "bah" sounds.
- The credits theme, even if it is very similar to the NSMBW credits theme, is a fitting sendoff to your journey, done in the signature happy Mario style. Much like the game's version of the NSMBW title theme, this version adds acapella vocals to the mix.
- This track fits perfectly with the completion of a Coin Rush pack. It's a catchy dance loop that is good enough on its own, but becomes better when combined with the satisfaction of completing Coin Rush.
- The DLC shop theme sounds pretty soothing, doesn't it?
- The Athletic Theme is a slightly faster variation of the game's first stage theme, but its instrumentation and jaunty tune can leave you humming to its tune even after you're done with its stages.
- The Snow Level theme uses jingle bells to fit the game's stage and give off a Christmas feeling, even if Christmas isn't here yet.
- Peach's Castle Map theme, a Dark Reprise of the castle's theme from Super Mario 64, boasts grim electronic instrumentation along with some strings to give off the urgency to rescue Peach from Bowser's clutches as you near the evil Koopa King himself.
- Soda Jungle Haunted Swamp theme manages to give off suspense through its choice of instrumentation, especially with a metal xylophone providing a creepy melody to fit this spooky stage.
- Meringue Clouds Map theme is a relaxing piece with an accordion to help you chill out in the sky stage.
- The credits theme makes you feel so accomplished, all set to a lively swinging beat and melody to celebrate your successful journey to beat Bowser and save Peach.
- The Frosted Glacier Map theme is similar to Meringue Clouds, only this time, it boasts the same Christmas feel of the game's snow level theme.
- The Superstar Road map theme is cool, especially with instruments and/or synthesisers linked to outer space itself and some pipe-like instruments for good measure.
- The final showdown with Bowser, an intense guitar and organ-led piece, is easily one of the best final boss themes of any Mario game. The first phase is no slouch either, providing appropriate battle music for a final fight.
Super Mario 3D World and Bowser's Fury
- To give you an overall idea, most of the tracks in the game were recorded live, with real instruments, much as Super Mario Galaxy's soundtrack was orchestrated. This should already clue you in on how great they are.
- Switch Scramble Circus is a brilliant track that builds up as you progress through the stage and ends once you hit the flagpole. It's also perfect for a circus-themed level.
- The SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD Theme (a.k.a. "Super Bell Hill") is an instant classic for those who have played the game. It combines a smooth brass melody with a joyful rhythm and synthesized beat, creating something to be remembered for the ages.
- The Credits Roll theme, a jazz rendition of the main theme which is nothing short of pure, unfiltered awesome.
- Chain-Link Charge is a vibrant and swinging jazz piece.
- Double Cherry Pass is a lively, jaunty romp, perfect music for the introduction of the Double Cherry.
- Sprawling Savanna gives the feeling of a fun journey through the wilderness, especially with the pan flute melody.
- Shifty Boo Mansion is an eerily beautiful track made even better by the violin.
- The theme for Sunshine Seaside, a track heavily reminiscent of "Make Eggs, Throw Eggs" from Yoshi's Island. It sounds perfectly tropical, to the point you'd almost imagine yourself chilling on a beach.
- Hands-on Hall, which plays on the Wutai levels, and mixes traditional Japanese and Chinese styles of music.
- Beep Block Skyway, which plays in that level, has an exciting dance beat that provides a great rhythm for the Beep Blocks to alternate to.
- Mount Must Dash, a remix of the Mario Circuit theme from Super Mario Kart. Similar to the original, but with a better groove.
- Fort Fire Bros., which plays during that level and some of the other lava and castle levels (4-Castle, 5-3, 5-Castle, 7-4, and 7-7, among others). You wouldn't usually associate a pan flute and strings with lava levels, but this theme pulls it off splendidly. It also sounds a bit like Crash Bandicoot.
- There is also Piranha Creeper Creek, which has a great beat and atmospheric feel...and also sounds a bit like Crash Bandicoot.
- The first battles with Bowser are accompanied by Bowser's Highway Showdown, made from pure rock music goodness.
- These three tracks are awesome remixes of already awesome tracks from Super Mario 3D Land.
- This track which plays on the tank levels is an epic, military-sounding song, and a worthy successor to Super Mario Bros. 3's Airship theme.
- The World Map theme for World Bowser is an amazingly jazzy beat that matches the Egopolis Big Amusement Park of Doom theme for the world. Here's an 8-bit version.
- Hisstrocrat's theme, featuring a fantastic Benny Goodman-esque breakdown on sax, bass, piano and drums.
- Footlight Lane, a beautiful, relaxing lullaby heard in starry places reminiscent of Super Mario Galaxy.
- The Great Tower Showdown 1 and 2. An epic pair of boss themes to accompany an epic final boss.
- The Bullet Bill Express' Theme is loaded with a menacing yet urging theme for the stage leading to its boss with the snare simulating the train's chugging, adding to the tension as the players near the boss arena.
- Motley Bossblob's theme sounds like your typical bouncy Mario-series boss battle theme at first... but then it breaks out the electric guitar. Then it becomes pure awesome.
- Champion Road. Thought the Gusty Garden theme couldn't get any better? Oh, you'd be wrong. It carries the same adventurous air as the original except with a greater sense of finality and encouragement in this context, as it's the last level of the game.
- Bowser's Fury starts off foreboding and ominous... then it breaks into Heavy Metal, complete with honest-to-god death metal chanting. Did we mention it's almost 20 minutes long?
- "Chase Giga Bowser!" is a frantic and chaotic piece carrying a rocking reprise of Bowser's 3D World theme backed by heavy metal chants, a metal band and foreboding choir. This is a track basically hurrying you to defeat the Kaiju-sized Bowser fast.
- The edit theme for the castle levels in the Super Mario Bros. 3 style rearranges the song into something that's very menacing and sinister, and will likely help fuel your ideas for what could be inside them, especially if they're Nintendo Hard.
- The ghost house theme in the Super Mario Bros. 3 style compliments the castle theme well as, like it, it's a very short and simplistic, yet chilling, atmospheric and depressing song that nails down the creepy factor to a tee. Its edit theme is arguably just as good, if not more spooky to listen to.
- Piranha Creeper Creek returns as the theme for the jungle levels in the Super Mario 3D World style, and just listen to its edit theme; it manages to make it a chill tune that anybody can jam out to.
- 3D World's Ghost House edit theme is an even more spooky and surreal arrangement of Shifty Boo Mansion.
- 3D World's Airship edit theme is an arrangement of the Bullet Bill Express, and it's an absolute banger with a great bass line.
- 3D World's Castle edit theme manages to take the castle theme from 3D World and make it a more menacing and fiery tune that's perfect to listen to while you create your own castle stages.
- It would have been so easy for the creators to simply reuse the "Star Road" theme from Super Mario World for the Space map in World Maker, both because elements of Star Road were borrowed for the Space map and because music was already being reused from that game for the majority of their maps. Instead, they went with something completely original, and it works.
- Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix's soundtrack comprises nothing BUT awesome remixes of classic Mario songs. Great examples include Underground Mozart, Destruction Dance, Blooper Bop, Boo Boogie, Bowser's Castle, Jump! Jump! Jump! and singing along to Always Smiling.
- The Mario & Zelda Big Band Live concert is a live concert of Mario and Zelda music arranged and covered by a big band. Predictably enough, each and every one of the Mario tracks is in itself a crater-sized vat of raw, pure, concentrated, high-density, undiluted AWESOME.
- Dr. Mario! Both main gameplay themes, Fever and Chill are well-known to fans of the series, and even the mode select song.
- Naturally, Fever and Chill have been remixed several times, and have recently been given two other companions, Cough/Cube and Sneeze/Que Que.
- One of the few cases when they changed it, but now it rocks. Custom soundtrack of the ZX Spectrum homebrew port.
- Mario Super Sluggers has an amazing upbeat rock song that plays over its staff roll, complete with the main cast...not really rapping, but just making noises along with the music.
- Even Mario Is Missing! (SNES version, at least) gets a piece of awesome audio. Just listen to the catchy Super Mario World theme mix that is the Moscow/Cairo music.
- The PC version also has some good tunes to listen to! Primarly, the song that's played in Madrid, Spain. This is basically an extended mix of the SNES Mexico theme, which is excellent in its own right.
- The Beijing/Tokyo and the Athens/Nairobi themes are also pleasant to listen to.
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong has a few outstanding pieces. In particular, there's the title theme that blends the main Mario and Donkey Kong themes together, the third Spooky House theme, the Mini Mario Level theme (and its remix) that would become the theme of the series, and the awesome TRUE final battle with DK.
- Mario Pinball Land has some pretty nice music, like the Puffer Cheep Boss theme, Bowser's Themes and the theme for King Tut which seems to be a remix of the Culex theme from Super Mario RPG.
- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 was the solo debut of Masayoshi Soken as a game composer, years before his work on Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI:
- Jr. Street is an absolute joy to listen to.
- The game version of Sherbet Land is beautiful, but the CD version....damn.
- Donkey Kong '94 has Showdown At The Tower, the "final" boss theme.
- Being by Grant Kirkhope (the composer behind games like Donkey Kong 64 and Banjo-Kazooie), it's no surprise that Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle has some fantastic songs. These include but are not limited to...
- The Rabbid Kong boss theme, which mixes in Jungle Japes from Donkey Kong 64 and sounds a lot like one of the boss songs from said game.
- As does the mini boss theme, which strikes just the right mix of quirky and epic.
- Phantom of the Bwahpera's opera song is great as well, and surprisingly has more epic verses in game than it did in the combat trailer. It's been compared to the Great Mighty Poo's song from Conker's Bad Fur Day for its quality.
- Peach's Castle gets covered in this game, and since it's arranged by Kirkhope, it's amazing.
- All three phases of the final boss theme, which gives off the feeling of a big threat that, if not taken care of soon, could spell destruction.
- The Donkey Kong Adventure DLC brings us some new music:
- Lagoon Promenade, which has Kirkhope go back and arrange the DK Isles theme from Donkey Kong 64, and it sounds absolutely phenomenal.
- Jungle Joust, an epic rearrangement of the Jungle Japes/DK Island Swing music.
- Jungle Jabber, the return of the Bonus Room Blitz.
- Grant Kirkhope returns with Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. Sillyfish chuck challenge, similarly to "Jungle Jabber", is an epic uptempo remix of the Super Mario World athletic theme.
- You may have heard the story a million times, but The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! managed to use covers of copyrighted songs for many of their action-packed moments, and rarely even the quieter moments. But due to music licensing rights, they were replaced with instrumental versions of the future cartoons' original songs, leaving the true magic to disappear from existence... for a while.
- "Bad". There's something satisfying about seeing Mario and King Koopa swordfighting for an Awesome Moment of Crowning to Michael Jackson.
- "Rawhide" is perfect for this western tale, complete with a rolling boulder.
- "Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce is quite a fun pick—and not just because Mario is Italian.
- "I Heard it Through the Beanvine". A Marvin Gaye song had its title changed from "grape" to "bean" specifically for "Mario and the Beanstalk", and it's great.
- "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins. The creators apparently liked it so much, they used it again in a later episode!
- The "Thriller" cover from "Count Koopula" is not only awesome, but very fitting, for obvious reasons.
- "Peter Gunn", the only instrumental cover song.
- "White Wedding" by Billy Idol. The sinister wedding feel speaks for itself.
- "Hit the Road, Jack" by Ray Charles. Koopa has officially been beaten at his own game!
- Tired of the action-packed songs? Need something more relaxing? "That's Amore" by Dean Martin has you covered. And once again, we don't just love it because Mario is Italian.
- The second of the calmer songs the show has to offer is "Jingle Bell Rock", appropriately used for the Christmas Episode. We just hope the dialogue isn't too distracting.
- "Beat It" by Michael Jackson. They clearly love his music if they use three songs by him. Plus, there's something adorable about Koopa cowering in fear of vegetables over Jackson's music.
- "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas, appropriately used in the episode "Karate Koopa" as Mario, Luigi and Misaki fight off an army of Ninjis, is the last song used in the series (at least in airing order) and ends the trend with a bang.
- Whatever you may think of the singing voices, The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 began an era of more original songs for their action scenes, and it shows:
- "Burn Baby Burn" note is appropriately used for Mario and Luigi's workout montage in "Tag Team Trouble". There's a reason this song's instrumental version was among the ones chosen to replace the copyrighted songs in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show.
- "The Double Cross". You know it's awesome when Mario's dancing to it!
- "Do the Koopa" is a catchy tune... and we're not just saying that because of the Mind-Control Music.
- "Sizzle" was apparently so good that they used it twice. Same goes for "I'm a Hurricane".
- "Brotherly Love" is among the sweetest tracks on the show, certainly different from the more upbeat tunes the show usually favors.
- "Town Painting". What better pick for a Very Special Episode about racism?
- Similarly to "Brotherly Love", among this show's slower tracks is "What Goes Up". When Super Show reused this song's instrumental version, it was often used for the quieter or more heartwarming moments, and for good reason.
- It's impressive that they managed to cover "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper. Thank goodness someone was able to dig this up.
- "Mega Move" is a pretty cool song... that is, if you don't hold a grudge against it for replacing the copyrighted songs in this show.
- Super Mario World is generally considered the weakest of the three Mario cartoons, with a lot of their songs being either lower in quality or too similar to the cover songs from Super Show. All that considered, there's still some good stuff to be found in this Short-Runner.
- "Motor City" was the only song to have its instrumental version reused for Super Show. Not a bad pick for basically Mario Kart: The Origin Story.
- "Time to Run" is definitely one of the more dramatic chase songs on this show. And given that King Koopa's plans are much darker this time around, it oddly works.
- Even if "Wizard" mostly copies from "Thriller", it's a fitting pick for the show's Halloween Episode that can be summed up as Kamek Begins.
- "Cheatsy's Life" is a proper Villain Song for Larry—err, Cheatsy Koopa.
- We don't usually think much of the cartoons' production music as it's mostly remixes of the games they were based on, but one particular track unique to this show is dramatic enough to stand out. It's used for the show's more intense moments, almost leaning toward Sad Battle Music. It's first heard when the Paragoombas attack in "Fire Sale."