Opening (Donkey Kong)
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| "Opening" | |
|---|---|
"Opening" in the NES version of Donkey Kong | |
| Composed by: Yukio Kaneoka | |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong (NES) (1983) |
| Latest appearance | Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nintendo Switch) (2024) |
"Opening"[1] is a musical theme composed by Yukio Kaneoka for the Nintendo Entertainment System version of Donkey Kong. It has become a recurring music theme throughout the Donkey Kong franchise, as well as some games in the Super Mario franchise that include Donkey Kong, most notably the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series.
Original[edit]
In Donkey Kong for the NES, the theme, titled 「タイトルBGM」 (Taitoru BGM, "Title BGM"),[2] plays on the title screen.
 タイトルBGM - The arrangement heard in the NES version of Donkey Kong | File info |
Reuses[edit]
The following list does not include ports or remakes of Donkey Kong.
| Game | Description |
|---|---|
| Nintendo Land | "Opening" plays on the setup screen for Donkey Kong's Crash Course. |
Arrangements[edit]
Donkey Kong (Atari 7800)[edit]
Like the NES version, "Opening" plays on the title screen of the Atari 7800 port of Donkey Kong, but it uses a different soundfont due to hardware differences.
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country[edit]
- “Did you notice in DKC that my tune sounded like the title tune? How dare they! I'm worth two different tunes at least!”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country features an arrangement of "Opening", titled "Theme" in the official soundtrack DK Jamz, that plays on the title screen. The arrangement includes an additional, original melody for the second part of the song.
Another arrangement of "Opening" titled "Cranky's Theme" plays in Cranky's Cabin. Both arrangements were arranged by David Wise.
"Theme" returns in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its Nintendo Switch port, where it is played on a phonograph in the secret exit of Canopy Chaos.
| Theme - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country | File info |
| Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country | File info |
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[edit]
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest features an arrangement by David Wise of "Theme" from Donkey Kong Country, titled "Steel Drum Rhumba" in the game's the original soundtrack, that plays on the file select screen.
The game also includes an arrangement by David Wise of "Cranky's Theme" from Donkey Kong Country titled "Cranky's Conga" that plays in the Monkey Museum.
| Steel Drum Rhumba - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | File info |
| Cranky's Conga - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | File info |
Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)[edit]
The Game Boy Color remake of Donkey Kong Country features chiptune arrangements of "Theme" and "Cranky's Theme" from the original SNES version of Donkey Kong Country.
| Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Color version of Donkey Kong Country | File info |
| Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Color version of Donkey Kong Country | File info |
Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)[edit]
The Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country features arrangements of "Theme" and "Cranky's Theme" very similar to the versions heard in the original SNES version of Donkey Kong Country, only using slightly different instrumentation.
| Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country | File info |
| Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country | File info |
Donkey Kong Country 2[edit]
Donkey Kong Country 2, the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, features arrangements of "Steel Drum Rhumba" and "Cranky's Conga" very similar to the versions heard in the original SNES game, only using slightly different instrumentation.
| Steel Drum Rhumba - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2 | File info |
| Cranky's Conga - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2 | File info |
Donkey Kong Country 3[edit]
A music box arrangement of "Theme" plays on the Game Over screen in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country 3, replacing the ominous music box theme from the original SNES version.
Donkey Kong Country Returns[edit]
The title screen of Donkey Kong Country Returns and its Nintendo 3DS port Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D features a new arrangement of "Theme" from Donkey Kong Country. It is titled 「ドンキーコングリターンズ」 (Donkī Kongu Ritānzu, "Donkey Kong Returns") in the game's official soundtrack.
The game also features an arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" from Donkey Kong Country that plays in Cranky Kong's Shop. It is titled 「クランキーコングの店」 (Kurankī Kongu no Mise, "Cranky Kong's Shop").
The title screen arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, titled "Donkey Kong Country Returns", where it can be played on the Kongo Jungle 64 stage, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it can be played on any Super Smash Bros.-series and Donkey Kong-series stage.
| Donkey Kong Country Returns - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country Returns | File info |
| クランキーコングの店 - The arrangement heard in Cranky Kong's Shop in Donkey Kong Country Returns | File info |
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[edit]
The opening cutscene of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its Nintendo Switch port features an arrangement of "Opening" that combines elements of the Donkey Kong original and "Theme" from Donkey Kong Country.
| Opening - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | File info |
Donkey Kong Land 2[edit]
The file select screen of Donkey Kong Land 2 features a chiptune arrangement by Grant Kirkhope of "Steel Drum Rhumba" from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
| File Select - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Land 2 | File info |
Mario Tennis series[edit]
Arrangements in the Mario Tennis series were by Motoi Sakuraba.
Mario Tennis (Nintendo 64)[edit]
The Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis features two arrangements of "Opening", both by Motoi Sakuraba. The first arrangement can be heard on the Donkey Kong Court, and the second arrangement plays during Donkey Kong's trophy celebration.
| Donkey Kong Court - The arrangement heard in the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis | File info |
Mario Tennis (Game Boy Color)[edit]
The Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis features a chiptune version of the arrangement that plays on the Donkey Kong Court in the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis. Like the Nintendo 64 original, this version was arranged by Motoi Sakuraba. This arrangement plays during the Banana Bunch minigame and on the Jungle Court.
| Jungle Court / Banana Bunch - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis | File info |
Mario Power Tennis[edit]
In Mario Power Tennis and its Wii port New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis, an arrangement of "Opening" plays during Donkey Kong's trophy celebration.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series[edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong[edit]
The title screen of Mario vs. Donkey Kong features a mashup arrangement of "Opening" and the "Ground Theme" from Super Mario Bros. The second credits theme also arranges "Opening", initially on its own before then adding elements of the "Ground Theme".
| Title Theme - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong | File info |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[edit]
The title screen of Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis features a swing jazz mashup arrangement of "Opening" and the "Ground Theme" from Super Mario Bros. The credits theme also uses an arrangement based on the second credits theme from the first Mario vs. Donkey Kong.
| Title Theme - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis | File info |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again![edit]
The title screen of Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! features a jazz arrangement of "Opening" and the "Ground Theme" from Super Mario Bros. in the key of C major. It is similar to the arrangement heard on the title screen of Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, though this version is slightly slower.
| Title Screen - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! | File info |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![edit]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! features two arrangements of "Opening". The first is a marching band mashup arrangement of "Opening" and the "Ground Theme" from Super Mario Bros. in the key of E♭ major that plays on the game's title screen. The main melody is played on trumpet with flute, tuba, snare drum and cymbal accompaniment. It also includes a new extended melody not heard in previous Mario vs. Donkey Kong games.
The second arrangement can be heard on each level's results screen and is similar to the title screen theme, but it only includes the "Opening" portion, removing the Super Mario Bros. "Ground Theme". 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.
| Title Theme - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! | File info |
| Results - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! | File info |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars[edit]
The title screen of Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars features a mashup arrangement of "Opening" and the "Ground Theme" from Super Mario Bros. extremely similar to the arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!. In this version, the main melody is played on the violin rather than the trumpet.
This arrangement returns as a playable track in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, titled "Title Theme - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars", where it can be played on any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage.
| Title Theme - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars | File info |
Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge[edit]
The title screen of Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge features an arrangement heard of the "Title Theme" from Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars with more reverb and slightly different instrumentation.
| Title Screen - The arrangement heard in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge | File info |
DK series[edit]
DK: King of Swing[edit]
DK: King of Swing features an arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" from Donkey Kong Country that can be heard in Cranky's Lectures.
| Cranky's Lectures - The arrangement heard in DK: King of Swing | File info |
DK: Jungle Climber[edit]
DK: Jungle Climber features a new arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" from Donkey Kong Country.
| Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in DK: Jungle Climber | File info |
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[edit]
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix features a medley arrangement of "Opening" along with several themes and sound effects from Donkey Kong titled "Moustache, Barrel, and Gorilla".
| Moustache, Barrel, and Gorilla - The arrangement heard in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix | File info |
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[edit]
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast features an arrangement of "Opening" that plays in Cosmic Highway. This arrangement uses a very elongated version of the original melody played on the synthesizer with frantic backing accompaniment.
Additionally, an arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" from Donkey Kong Country plays in Cranky's Flight School.
| Cosmic Highway - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast | File info |
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl features an arrangement of the theme, titled "Opening (Donkey Kong)". The arrangement also includes arrangements of the "Game Start" jingle, the 25m level music, and the music that plays when Mario uses a Hammer. It can be played on the 75 m stage. It was arranged by Shota Kageyama, who would later go on to compose for games in the Pokémon series.
This arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where it can also be played on 75m, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, now formatted as "Opening - Donkey Kong", where it can be played on any Super Smash Bros.- and Donkey Kong-series stage.
| Opening (Donkey Kong) - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Brawl | File info |
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U features an arrangement of "Donkey Kong Country Returns" from the game of the same name as a playable track titled "Donkey Kong Country Returns (Vocals)". It was arranged by Kenji Yamamoto, the music supervisor for Donkey Kong Country Returns. The arrangement adds an electric guitar and vocals similar to those heard in Grassland Groove in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze to the instrumentation. It can be played on the Kongo Jungle 64 stage.
This arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it can be played on any Super Smash Bros.-series and Donkey Kong-series stage.
| Donkey Kong Country Returns (Vocals) - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | File info |
Nintendo Land[edit]
Nintendo Land features an arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" from Donkey Kong Country that plays in all courses of Donkey Kong's Crash Course.
| Courses 1 & 3 - The arrangement heard in Nintendo Land | File info |
| Courses 2 & 4 - The arrangement heard in Nintendo Land | File info |
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle[edit]
In Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, an arrangement of "Opening" is incorporated into the mid-boss theme from the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC. The theme also plays during battle preparations and in a cutscene when the gate opens in Donkey Kong Adventure.
| Midboss Melody - The arrangement heard in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle | File info |
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was scored by Brian Tyler, arrangements of various versions of "Opening" from multiple Donkey Kong games are interspersed throughout the track "Drivin' Me Bananas". The track begins with an arrangement of the backing melody from "Donkey Kong Country Returns" from the game of the same name, an arrangement of the original melody of "Opening" can be heard about halfway through, and the track ends with the second part of "Theme" from Donkey Kong Country.
"Drivin' Me Bananas" went unused in the movie, but is still included in The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donkey Kong | Nintendo Entertainment System | 1983 | Original | 「タイトルBGM」 (Taitoru BGM)[2] | Yukio Kaneoka |
| Donkey Kong | Atari 7800 | 1988 | Arrangement | 「タイトルBGM」 (Taitoru BGM)[2] | |
| Donkey Kong Country | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1994 | Arrangement | "Theme"[3] | David Wise |
| "Cranky's Theme"[3] | |||||
| Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1995 | Arrangement | "Steel Drum Rhumba"[4] | David Wise |
| "Cranky's Conga"[4] | |||||
| Donkey Kong Land 2 | Game Boy | 1996 | Arrangement | Grant Kirkhope | |
| Mario Tennis | Nintendo 64 | 2000 | Arrangement | Motoi Sakuraba | |
| Mario Tennis | Game Boy Color | 2000 | Arrangement | Motoi Sakuraba | |
| Donkey Kong Country | Game Boy Color | 2000 | Arrangement | "Theme"[3] | |
| "Cranky's Theme"[3] | |||||
| Donkey Kong-e | Game Boy Advance e-Reader | 2002 | Original | 「タイトルBGM」 (Taitoru BGM)[2] | Yukio Kaneoka |
| Donkey Kong Country | Game Boy Advance | 2003 | Arrangement | "Theme"[3] | |
| "Cranky's Theme"[3] | |||||
| Classic NES Series: Donkey Kong | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Original | 「タイトルBGM」 (Taitoru BGM)[2] | Yukio Kaneoka |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Arrangement | Lawrence Schwedler | |
| Donkey Kong Country 2 | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Arrangement | "Steel Drum Rhumba"[4] | |
| "Cranky's Conga"[4] | |||||
| Mario Power Tennis | Nintendo GameCube | 2004 | Arrangement | Motoi Sakuraba | |
| DK: King of Swing | Game Boy Advance | 2005 | Arrangement | Takashi Kouga | |
| Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 | Arrangement | "Moustache, Barrel, and Gorilla" | |
| Donkey Kong Country 3 | Game Boy Advance | 2005 | Arrangement | ||
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis | Nintendo DS | 2006 | Arrangement | Lawrence Schwedler | |
| Donkey Kong Barrel Blast | Wii | 2007 | Arrangement | Takashi Kouga | |
| DK: Jungle Climber | Nintendo DS | 2007 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Wii | 2008 | Arrangement | "Opening (Donkey Kong)" | Shota Kageyama |
| New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis | Wii | 2009 | Past arrangement (Mario Power Tennis) | Motoi Sakuraba | |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! | Nintendo DSi | 2009 | Arrangement | Lawrence Schwedler | |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! | Nintendo DS | 2010 | Arrangement | Lawrence Schwedler | |
| Donkey Kong Country Returns | Wii | 2010 | Arrangement | 「ドンキーコングリターンズ」 (Donkī Kongu Ritānzu)[5] | |
| 「クランキーコングの店」 (Kurankī Kongu no Mise)[5] | |||||
| Nintendo Land | Wii U | 2012 | Original | Yukio Kaneoka | |
| Arrangement | Ryo Nagamatsu | ||||
| Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country Returns) | 「ドンキーコングリターンズ」 (Donkī Kongu Ritānzu)[5] | |
| 「クランキーコングの店」 (Kurankī Kongu no Mise)[5] | |||||
| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | Wii U | 2014 | Arrangement | ||
| Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country) | David Wise | ||||
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Wii U | 2014 | Arrangement | "Donkey Kong Country Returns (Vocals)" | Kenji Yamamoto |
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "Opening (Donkey Kong)" | Shota Kageyama | |||
| Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country Returns) | "Donkey Kong Country Returns" | ||||
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars | Wii U, Nintendo 3DS | 2015 | Arrangement | James Phillipsen | |
| Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge | Wii U, Nintendo 3DS | 2016 | Arrangement | James Phillipsen | |
| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Wii U)) | ||
| Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country) | David Wise | ||||
| Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle | Nintendo Switch | 20181 | Arrangement | Grant Kirkhope | |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "Opening - Donkey Kong" | Shota Kageyama |
| Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country Returns) | "Donkey Kong Country Returns" | ||||
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U) | "Donkey Kong Country Returns (Vocals)" | Kenji Yamamoto | |||
| Past arrangement (Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars) | "Title Theme - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars" | James Phillipsen |
1 - Added in the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC
Film and television[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 2023 | Arrangement | "Drivin' Me Bananas" | Brian Tyler |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | タイトルBGM[2] Taitoru BGM |
Title BGM |
References[edit]
| Donkey Kong | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Donkey Kong • Mario • Pauline |
| Levels | 25m • 50m • 75m • 100m |
| Items and objects | Bolt • Conveyor Belt • Hammer • Ladder • Lift • Parasol, Hat & Bag |
| Enemies and obstacles | Barrel • Cement tub • Fire • Fireball • Jack • Oil drum |
| Music | Opening • 25m Theme • Hammer |
| Other | Gallery • Media • Staff |
