Summary
Legendary music composer Koji Kondo, best known for creating the classicSuper Mario Bros.theme, recently shared a fun little story about how another icon, former Beatle Paul McCartney, acknowledged him and his most popular work. His timelessSuper Mario Bros.song is so famous that it earned Kondo a major industry awardin what is said to be the gaming equivalent of the Oscars.
Super Mario Bros.turns 40 next year, celebrating four decades of highly acclaimed games and a sprawling universe that’s created many classic characters and elements. TheSuper Mario Bros.theme isn’t the only famous piece of video game music that Kondo has composed, as he’s also created many songs for other Nintendo franchises, but it is the one that will likely be most associated with him.
In a recentinterview with The Washington Post, Kondo recounts the story of how he and fellow Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto were attending a Paul McCartney concert in Japan a year afterSuper Mario Bros.launched for the Famicom. He says that the Beatle learned that they were in the crowd and asked to meet them backstage. When they met, McCartney and his then-wife, the late Linda McCartney, sang the unmistakable opening passage of theSuper Mariotheme to them. Kondo described it as quite the “incredible moment” for a well-known figure like McCartney to be a fan of his work.
How the Super Mario Bros. Theme Became Iconic
If the classictheme feels like it’s perfect for the way the game is played, that’s becauseKondo specifically matched it to theSuper Marioexperience. His initial composition was gentle and relaxing, which didn’t line up with the gameplay—with all the jumping and running around, it was more 8-bit adrenaline rush than light stress reliever. After scrapping a different second draft, Kondo went back to the original idea and sped it up once he got a feel for the game, and the classic piece was born.
For younger gamers who might want to have that experience from nearly 40 years ago, theoriginalSuper Mario Bros.is available via Nintendo Switch Online. Though it has some modern additions, it’s still true to the gameplay of the time with its classic challenges and arcade-style design. It remains a game that anyone can pick up and play, but takes hours of effort to master.
Meanwhile, the franchise is still going pretty strong, with aslate ofSuper Mario Bros.games set for release this year. The pipeline includesLuigi’s Mansion 2, a remake ofMario vs. Donkey Kongfrom the Game Boy Advance era, andPrincess Peach: Showtime!, the character’s first-ever solo title. While the newer games have explored different genres, the classic side-scrollingMariogameplay still resonates with people everywhere, proving that the style continues to be a winning formula.
Super Mario Bros.
WHERE TO PLAY
Do you have what it takes to save the Mushroom Princess?You’ll have to think fast and move even faster to complete this quest! The Mushroom Princess is being held captive by the evil Koopa tribe of turtles. It’s up to you to rescue her from the clutches of the Koopa King before time runs out. But it won’t be easy. To get to the Princess, you’ll have to climb mountains, cross seas, avoid bottomless pits, fight off turtle soldiers and a host of black magic traps that only Bowser, the Koopa King, can devise. It’s another non-stop adventure as the Mario Bros. become “Super”!
