Title BGM (Donkey Kong)
| "Title BGM" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| "Title BGM" in the NES version of Donkey Kong | |||
Image from Nintendo Music | |||
| Composed by: Yukio Kaneoka | |||
| Key | F major | ||
| First appearance | Donkey Kong (Nintendo Entertainment System) (1983) | ||
| Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Bananza (2025) | ||
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"Title BGM"[1] is a musical theme composed by Yukio Kaneoka for the Nintendo Entertainment System version of Donkey Kong, where it plays in the game's title screen. This theme is often paired in later arrangements with "Game Start" from the same game. This theme is often used as a leitmotif for Donkey Kong in subsequent games and other media in the Donkey Kong and Super Mario franchises.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong[edit]
| It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The Atari 7800 arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
Though not present in the original arcade version of Donkey Kong, the Nintendo Entertainment System version of the game marks the first appearance of "Title BGM", and it returns in the e-Reader and Classic NES Series ports for the same purpose.
In the Atari 7800 version of Donkey Kong, an arrangement of "Title BGM" that uses a different chiptune soundfont due to hardware differences plays for the same purpose as in the NES game.
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country[edit]
- Main articles: Theme (Donkey Kong Country), Cranky's Theme
Donkey Kong Country features two arrangements of "Title BGM" arranged by David Wise, both of which develop into their own original melodies for the second half.
An arrangement of "Title BGM" plays in the game's title and main menu screens. It is titled "Theme" in the Nintendo Music app.
An arrangement of "Title BGM" plays in Cranky's Cabin. It is titled "Cranky's Theme" in the Nintendo Music app.
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Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance)[edit]
Exclusively in the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 3, a music box arrangement of "Title BGM" plays in the Game Over screen, replacing the ominous music box theme from the original version of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! It is titled "Game Over" in the game's sound test.
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Mario Tennis series[edit]
All arrangements in the Mario Tennis series were arranged by Motoi Sakuraba.
Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)[edit]
| It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: "Trophy Award - Donkey Kong" Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
- Main article: Donkey Kong Court (theme)
The Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis features two arrangements of "Title BGM".
A medley arrangement of "Title BGM", "Game Start", and "Round Start BGM" from Donkey Kong plays in the Donkey Kong Court. It is titled 「ドンキーコングコート」 (Donkī Kongu Kōto, "Donkey Kong Court") in the official Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack album.
A brief medley arrangement of "Title BGM" and "Game Start" from Donkey Kong plays during Donkey Kong's trophy award cutscene. It is titled 「トロフィー 授与 ドンキーコング」 (Torofī Juyo - Donkī Kongu, "Trophy Award - Donkey Kong") in the Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack album.
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Mario Power Tennis / New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis[edit]
In Mario Power Tennis and the Wii port, New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis, a medley arrangement of "Title BGM" and "Game Start" from Donkey Kong plays plays during Donkey Kong's trophy award cutscene.
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Mario vs. Donkey Kong series[edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong[edit]
- Main article: Title Theme (Mario vs. Donkey Kong)
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong, a mashup arrangement of "Title BGM" and "Ground BGM" from Super Mario Bros. arranged by Lawrence Schwedler plays in the game's title screen.
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Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![edit]
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, an arrangement of "Title BGM" arranged by Lawrence Schwedler plays in the results screen after completing a level. It is in the key of G major and adds additional instrumentation every time it repeats. The first time is played only on brass instruments with the main melody played on the trumpet, the second repetition adds snare drum percussion, the third repetition removes the trumpet and adds concert flute trills, and the fourth and final repetition adds the trumpet playing the main melody back into the mix.
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Donkey Konga 3[edit]
| Donkey Kong | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artist | Yukio Kaneoka | |||||
| Game(s) | Donkey Konga 3 | |||||
| Length | 0:18 | |||||
| ||||||
Donkey Konga 3 features the original version of "Title BGM" as an extremely short playable song available in the Famicom Room. It is simply titled "Donkey Kong".
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[edit]
| It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The "Title BGM" section of the arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
- Main article: Moustache, Barrel, and Gorilla
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix features a medley arrangement of "Round Start BGM", "Game Start", "Round 1 BGM", "Hammer BGM", and "Title BGM" from Donkey Kong as a playable song. It is titled "Moustache, Barrel, and Gorilla".
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a medley arrangement of "Title BGM", "Game Start", "Round 1 BGM", and "Hammer BGM" from Donkey Kong arranged by Shota Kageyama can play in the 75 m stage. It is titled "Opening (Donkey Kong)" in the game's sound test.
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Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, "Opening (Donkey Kong)" from Super Smash Bros. Brawl can once again play in the 75 m stage.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, "Opening (Donkey Kong)" from Super Smash Bros. Brawl can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Donkey Kong-series stage. It is formatted as "Opening - Donkey Kong" in the game's sound test.
WarioWare: D.I.Y.[edit]
- “Donkey Kong rules. So does this!”
- —In-game description
In WarioWare: D.I.Y., one of 9-Volt's records is a medley arrangement of "Round 1 BGM" and "Title BGM" from Donkey Kong and "Title BGM" from Donkey Kong Jr. It is simply titled "Donkey Kong".
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Nintendo Land[edit]
In Nintendo Land, the original version of "Title BGM" plays in the setup screen for Donkey Kong's Crash Course.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle[edit]
| It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The battle preparations arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
The Donkey Kong Adventure DLC for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle features two arrangements of "Title BGM" arranged by Grant Kirkhope.
An arrangement of "Title BGM" plays during battle preparations.
An arrangement of "Title BGM" is incorporated in the theme that plays during mid-boss battles.
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Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]
| It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: Both arrangements Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
- Main article: Breaking Through (Heart of Gold)
Donkey Kong Bananza features two arrangements of "Title BGM".
A lullaby arrangement of "Title BGM" plays when Donkey Kong and Pauline sleep on a bed.
A reharmonized arrangement of "Title BGM" sung by Pauline is included as the bridge in the song "Breaking Through (Heart of Gold)".
Other appearances[edit]
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)[edit]
| It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
In The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), a brief arrangement of "Title BGM" arranged by Brian Tyler is incorporated in the track "Drivin' Me Bananas". This arrangement is not present in The Super Mario Bros. Movie itself, as "Take On Me" plays instead.
Gallery[edit]
Image for "Theme" from Donkey Kong Country on Nintendo Music
Image for "Cranky's Theme" from Donkey Kong Country on Nintendo Music
Icon for the "Donkey Kong" record in WarioWare: D.I.Y.
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donkey Kong | Nintendo Entertainment System | 1983 | Original | "Title BGM"[1] | Yukio Kaneoka |
| Donkey Kong | Atari 7800 | 1988 | Arrangement | ||
| Donkey Kong Country | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1994 | Arrangement | "Theme"[1] | David Wise |
| "Cranky's Theme"[1] | |||||
| Mario Tennis | Nintendo 64 | 2000 | Arrangement | 「ドンキーコングコート」 (Donkī Kongu Kōto)[2] | Motoi Sakuraba |
| 「トロフィー 授与 ドンキーコング」 (Torofī Juyo - Donkī Kongu)[2] | |||||
| Donkey Kong-e | e-Reader | 2002 | Original | "Title BGM"[1] | Yukio Kaneoka |
| Classic NES Series: Donkey Kong | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Original | "Title BGM"[1] | Yukio Kaneoka |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Arrangement | Lawrence Schwedler | |
| Mario Power Tennis | Nintendo GameCube | 2004 | Arrangement | Motoi Sakuraba | |
| Donkey Konga 3 | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 | Original | "Donkey Kong" | Yukio Kaneoka |
| Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 | Arrangement | "Moustache, Barrel, and Gorilla" | |
| Donkey Kong Country 3 | Game Boy Advance | 2005 | Arrangement | "Game Over"[3] | |
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Wii | 2008 | Arrangement | "Opening (Donkey Kong)"[4] | Shota Kageyama |
| New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis | Wii | 2009 | Past arrangement (Mario Power Tennis) | Motoi Sakuraba | |
| WarioWare: D.I.Y. | Nintendo DS | 2009 | Arrangement | "Donkey Kong"[5] | |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! | Nintendo DS | 2010 | Arrangement | Lawrence Schwedler | |
| Nintendo Land | Wii U | 2012 | Original | Yukio Kaneoka | |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Wii U | 2014 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "Opening (Donkey Kong)"[6] | Shota Kageyama |
| Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle | Nintendo Switch | 2018[a] | Arrangement | Grant Kirkhope | |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "Opening - Donkey Kong"[7] | Shota Kageyama |
| Donkey Kong Bananza | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Breaking Through (Heart of Gold)"[8] |
- ^ Added in the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC on June 26, 2018
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack | 2000 | Past arrangement (Mario Tennis [Nintendo 64]) | 「トロフィー 授与 ドンキーコング」 (Torofī Juyo - Donkī Kongu) | Motoi Sakuraba |
| Game Sound Museum: Donkey Kong | 2004 | Original | 「タイトルBGM」 (Taitoru BGM) | Yukio Kaneoka |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | 2023 | Arrangement | "Drivin' Me Bananas" | Brian Tyler |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Music | 2025[a] | Original | "Title BGM" | Yukio Kaneoka |
- ^ Added on July 21, 2025
Names in other languages[edit]
"Title BGM"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | タイトルBGM Taitoru BGM |
Title BGM | [1] |
"Game Over"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French | Game Over | - | [9] | |
| German | Game Over | - | [10] | |
| Italian | Game Over | - | [11] | |
| Spanish | Fin del juego | End of the game | [12] |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Nintendo Music
- ^ a b Mario Tennis 64 Original Soundtrack
- ^ Donkey Kong Country 3 (Game Boy Advance) sound test
- ^ Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test
- ^ WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase record name
- ^ Super Smash Bros. Wii U sound test
- ^ Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test
- ^ Donkey Kong Bananza sound test
- ^ Musiques (2005). Donkey Kong Country 3. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
- ^ Musik-Maschine (2005). Donkey Kong Country 3. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German).
- ^ Jukebox (2005). Donkey Kong Country 3. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
- ^ Reproductor (2005). Donkey Kong Country 3. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Spanish).
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