Editing N64 Rainbow Road (theme)

{{classic title}}
{{Media missing}}
{{Theme infobox
|title={{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}
|composer=[[Kenta Nagata]]
|file=[[File:MK64-Music-RainbowRoad.oga]]<br>"{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road" in ''Mario Kart 64}}''
|key={{wp|E major}}
|first_appearance=''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' ([[List of games by date#1996|1996]])
|latest_appearance=[[Super Nintendo World]] (2021)
}}
"'''{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}'''"<ref name=MK8>''[[Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack]]''</ref> is the theme from ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' for [[N64 Rainbow Road|the course of the same name]] composed by [[Kenta Nagata]]. The theme and elements from it have been integrated into the themes of almost every [[Rainbow Road]] course in the mainline ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series since ''Mario Kart 64''{{'}}s debut, missing only in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''.<ref name="8-bit Music Theory">8-bit Music Theory (March 20, 2018). [https://youtu.be/E0Ux3ULOuAU "The Musical Evolution of Rainbow Road"]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved July 3, 2023.</ref>

==Composition==
"{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" debuted in ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' for the [[N64 Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] course, originally titled simply "'''Rainbow Road'''" in the ''[[Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks]]'' soundtrack album. It is a dramatic arrangement in key of {{wp|E major}} divided into two main sections with a static chugging bassline and {{wp|Triad (music)|triadic}} {{wp|chord (Music)|chord}}. The theme repeatedly features an extended I - ♭VII - I {{wp|chord progression}}, which has gone on to be established as a recurring {{wp|motif}} in "Rainbow Road" themes throughout the ''Mario Kart'' series.

The theme also shares some elements with "[[SNES Rainbow Road (theme)|{{classic|SNES|Rainbow Road}}]]". Like the ''Super Mario Kart'' theme, "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" begins with a Isus {{wp|chord (music)|chord}} to I {{wp|chord progression}}. Also like "{{classic|SNES|Rainbow Road}}", the melody of the theme is based on jumping and walking between the 1st and 5th notes of the chord.<ref name="8-bit Music Theory"></ref>

{{Media table
|file=MK64-Music-RainbowRoad.oga
|title=Rainbow Road
|description=The arrangement heard in ''Mario Kart 64''
}}

==Arrangements==
===''Mario Kart'' series===
====''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''====
The theme heard on ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''{{'}}s iteration of [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)|Rainbow Road]] features the I - ♭VII - I chord progression motif in the key of {{wp|D major}} throughout the theme. However, this version is much {{wp|funk|funkier}} and the chord progression occurs much quicker than the ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' original.<ref name="8-bit Music Theory"></ref>

{{Media table
|file1=MKSC-Music-RainbowRoad.oga
|title1={{Conjectural|Rainbow Road}}
|description1=The arrangement heard in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''
}}

====''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''====
The last section of the theme for ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''{{'}}s [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)|Rainbow Road]] features a direct quote from the second section of "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}", now in the key of {{wp|C major}}. Additionally, this arrangement has a very similar overall tone to the ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' original and features the extended I - ♭VII - I chord progression motif throughout.<ref name="8-bit Music Theory"></ref>

This arrangement returns in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', titled "Rainbow Road (''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'')", where it can be played on the [[Mario Circuit (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U)|Mario Circuit]] stage, and in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', now titled "Rainbow Road - ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''", where it can be played on any ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]''-series and ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]''-series stage.

{{Media table
|file=MKDD-Music-RainbowRoad.oga
|title=Rainbow Road - ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''
|description=The arrangement heard in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''
}}

====''Mario Kart DS''====
The theme for [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart DS)|Rainbow Road]] in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' once again features the I - ♭VII - I chord progression motif from "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}", this time in the key of {{wp|D major}}. This version also includes a slightly modified I - ♭VI - ♭VII - I chord progression.<ref name="8-bit Music Theory"></ref>

{{Media table
|file1=MKDS-Music-RainbowRoad.oga
|title1={{Conjectural|Rainbow Road}}
|description1=The arrangement heard in ''Mario Kart DS''
}}

====''Mario Kart 7''====
The theme heard on the ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' iteration of [[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] sees the return of the chugging bassline from the original "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}". Similar to ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', the second section of this theme features a direct quote from "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}", this time in the key of {{wp|E major}}.<ref name="8-bit Music Theory"></ref>

When the player drives on the moon section of [[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]], a softer, more ethereal arrangement of the course's theme can be heard.

''Mario Kart 7''{{'}}s "Rainbow Road" also returns in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', titled "Rainbow Road (''Mario Kart 7'')", where it can be played on the [[Rainbow Road (stage)|Rainbow Road]] stage, in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', where it can be played on the [[Mario Circuit (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U)|Mario Circuit]] stage, and in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', now titled "Rainbow Road - ''Mario Kart 7''", where it can be played on any ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]''-series and ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]''-series stage. 

The arrangement of ''Mario Kart 7''{{'}}s "Rainbow Road" is also reused in ''Mario Kart Tour'' for the same course with its introduction in the [[Holiday Tour (2019)|2019 Holiday Tour]].

{{media table
|file2=MK7 Rainbow Road Theme.oga
|title2=Rainbow Road - ''Mario Kart 7''
|description2=The arrangement heard in ''Mario Kart 7''
|file3=MK7 Rainbow Road Planet Theme.oga
|title3=Rainbow Road - ''Mario Kart 7''
|description3=The version of the arrangement heard on the moon in ''Mario Kart 7''
}}

====''Mario Kart 8''====
''Mario Kart 8'' features {{classic-link|N64|Rainbow Road}} as a retro course along with a new arrangement of the course's theme, retitled "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" in the game's [[Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack|original soundtrack]]. This arrangement is more orchestral than the original version and prominently uses trumpets for the theme's main melody.

The theme heard in the ''Mario Kart 8'' [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 8)|iteration of Rainbow Road]], titled simply "Rainbow Road" in the original soundtrack, once again utilizes the I - ♭VII - I chord progression motif. Every phrase of the first section of the theme begins with a I - ♭VII progression. However, this motif is made more subtle by the tonic bass pedal and the fact that the ♭VII chord doesn't resolve back to the I chord immediately afterward.<ref name="8-bit Music Theory"></ref>

Like other courses in ''Mario Kart 8'' and ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'', additional percussion is added to all of these arrangements when the player is in first place during the race.

The arrangements of "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" and "Rainbow Road" both return in the base game of ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''. ''Mario Kart 8''{{'}}s "Rainbow Road" also returns in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', titled "Rainbow Road (''Mario Kart 8'')", where it can be played on the [[Mario Circuit (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U)|Mario Circuit]] stage, and in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', retitled "Rainbow Road - ''Mario Kart 8''", where it can be played on any ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]''-series and ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]''-series stage. 

This arrangement of "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" is reused in the [[Rainbow Road (Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit)|Rainbow Road]] course in ''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]''.

{{media table
|file5=MK8-Music-N64-RainbowRoad.oga
|title5={{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}
|description5=The arrangement heard in ''Mario Kart 8''
|file6=WiiU N64 RainbowRoad Frontrunning.oga
|title6={{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}
|description6=The version of arrangement heard while in first place in ''Mario Kart 8''
|file3=MK8-Music-RainbowRoad.oga
|title3=Rainbow Road
|description3=The arrangement heard in ''Mario Kart 8''
|file4=WiiU_RainbowRoad_Frontrunning.oga
|title4=Rainbow Road
|description4=The version of arrangement heard while in first place in ''Mario Kart 8''
}}

====''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''====
''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' sees the return of ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''{{'}}s Rainbow Road, now titled {{classic-link|3DS|Rainbow Road}}, along with a new arrangement of the course's theme in Wave 3 of the [[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]] DLC, once again featuring a direct quote from "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" The arrangement includes the standard version heard in the majority of the course as well as the ethereal arrangement heard in the moon section. Additional percussion is also added to both of these arrangements when the player is in first place during the race.

{{media table
|file1=Switch 3DS RainbowRoad BCP.oga
|title1={{Conjectural|{{classic|3DS|Rainbow Road}}}}
|description1=The arrangement heard in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|file2=Switch 3DS RainbowRoad Moon BCP.oga
|title2={{Conjectural|{{classic|3DS|Rainbow Road}}}}
|description2=The version of the arrangement heard on the moon in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|file3=Switch 3DS RainbowRoad Frontrunning BCP.oga
|title3={{Conjectural|{{classic|3DS|Rainbow Road}}}}
|description3=The version of the arrangement heard while in first place in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
|file4=Switch 3DS RainbowRoad Moon Frontrunning BCP.oga
|title4={{Conjectural|{{classic|3DS|Rainbow Road}}}}
|description4=The version of the arrangement heard while on the moon and in first place in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''
}}

===''New Super Mario Bros. Wii''===
In ''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]'', a brief arrangement of "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" can be heard in the theme that plays on the [[World 9 (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)|World 9]] map.

===''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS''===
''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' includes a medley arrangement of "Rainbow Road" from ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'', ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'' titled "Rainbow Road Medley". It can be played on the [[Rainbow Road (stage)|Rainbow Road]] stage. The first section of this arrangement includes the excerpt of "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" heard in ''Mario Kart 7''.

The arrangement returns in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', where it can be played on the [[Mario Circuit (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U)|Mario Circuit]] stage, and in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', where it can be played on any ''[[Super Smash Bros. (series)|Super Smash Bros.]]''-series and ''[[Super Mario (franchise)|Super Mario]]''-series stage.

===''Paper Mario: Color Splash''===
In ''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]'', an arrangement of "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" can be heard when [[Luigi]] drives [[Mario]] and [[Huey]] on Rainbow Road to [[Black Bowser's Castle]]. The arrangement is titled simply "Rainbow Road" in the [[Prisma Museum]].

{{Media table
|file1=PMCS Rainbow Road.oga
|title1=Rainbow Road
|description1=The arrangement heard in ''Paper Mario: Color Splash''
}}

===Super Nintendo World===
An arrangement of "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" plays during the Rainbow Road section of the Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge attraction in the [[Super Nintendo World]] theme park area.

===Other arrangements===
====''Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit''====
A {{wp|funk}} arrangement of "{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}" simply named "'''rainbow'''" is included in the album ''[[Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit]]''. The arrangement is arranged and performed by the Dance-Matics and mixes funk instrumentation with samples from the original arrangement as well as game sound effects and character voice samples.

====''F-Zero X''====
''[[fzerowiki:F-Zero X|F-Zero X]]'' features a {{wp|Rock music|rock}} arrangement of the theme, titled simply "'''Rainbow Road'''" in the ''[[Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music]]'' album, that can be heard in the [[fzerowiki:Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] course when using the [[Nintendo 64DD]], itself based on the [[N64 Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] course from ''[[Mario Kart 64]]''.

{{Media table
|file=FZX Rainbow Road.oga
|title=Rainbow Road
|description=The arrangement heard in ''F-Zero X''
}}

==List of ''Super Mario'' appearances==
===Games===
{|class=sortable border=1 cellspacing=2 cellpadding=2 style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%"
!Work
!System
!Year
!Type
!Title
!Credits
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 64]]''
|[[Nintendo 64]]
|1996
|Original
|"Rainbow Road"<ref name="MK64 Race Tracks">''[[Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks]]''</ref>
|[[Kenta Nagata]]
|-
|''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''
|[[Game Boy Advance]]
|2001
|Arrangement
|
|
|-
|''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]''
|[[Nintendo GameCube]]
|2003
|Arrangement
|
|[[Shinobu Nagata]]
|-
|''[[Mario Kart DS]]''
|[[Nintendo DS]]
|2005
|Arrangement
|
|Shinobu Nagata
|-
|''[[New Super Mario Bros. Wii]]''
|[[Wii]]
|2009
|Arrangement
|
|
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 7]]''
|[[Nintendo 3DS]]
|2011
|Arrangement
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[Mario Kart 8]]''
|rowspan=2|[[Wii U]]
|rowspan=2|2014
|rowspan=2|Arrangement
|"Rainbow Road"<ref name=MK8/>
|[[Shiho Fujii]]
|-
|"{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}"<ref name=MK8/>
|[[Ryo Nagamatsu]]
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]''
|rowspan=2|Nintendo 3DS
|rowspan=2|2014
|Arrangement
|"Rainbow Road Medley"
|Ryo Watanabe
|-
|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart 7'')
|"Rainbow Road (''Mario Kart 7'')"
|
|-
|rowspan=4|''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''
|rowspan=4|Wii U
|rowspan=4|2014
|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'')
|"Rainbow Road (''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'')"
|Shinobu Nagata
|-
|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart 8'')
|"Rainbow Road (''Mario Kart 8'')"
|Shiho Fujii
|-
|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart 7'')
|"Rainbow Road (''Mario Kart 7'')"
|
|-
|Past arrangement (''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'')
|"Rainbow Road Medley"
|Ryo Watanabe
|-
|''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''
|Wii U
|2016
|Arrangement
|"Rainbow Road"
|
|-
|rowspan=3|''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]''
|rowspan=3|[[Nintendo Switch]]
|rowspan=2|2017
|rowspan=2|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart 8'')
|"Rainbow Road"<ref name=MK8/>
|Shiho Fujii
|-
|"{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}"<ref name=MK8/>
|Ryo Nagamatsu
|-
|2022{{footnote|main|1}}
|Arrangement
|
|-
|rowspan=4|''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''
|rowspan=4|Nintendo Switch
|rowspan=4|2018
|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'')
|"Rainbow Road - ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''"
|Shinobu Nagata
|-
|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart 7'')
|"Rainbow Road - ''Mario Kart 7''"
|
|-
|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart 8'')
|"Rainbow Road - ''Mario Kart 8''"
|
|-
|Past arrangement (''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'')
|"Rainbow Road Medley"
|Ryo Watanabe
|-
|''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''
|{{wp|Android (operating system)|Android}}, {{wp|iOS}}
|2019{{footnote|main|2}}
|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart 7'')
|
|
|-
|''[[Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit]]''
|Nintendo Switch
|2020
|Past arrangement (''Mario Kart 8'')
|
|Ryo Nagamatsu
|}
{{footnote|note|1|Added in Wave 3 of the [[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'' – Booster Course Pass]] on December 7, 2022}}
{{footnote|note|2|Added in the [[Holiday Tour (2019)|2019 Holiday Tour]] on December 17, 2019}}
===Albums===
{|class=sortable border=1 cellspacing=2 cellpadding=2 style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%"
!Work
!Year
!Type
!Title
!Credits
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks]]''
|1997
|Original
|"Rainbow Road"
|[[Kenta Nagata]]
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 64 Original Soundtrack]]''
|1997
|Original
|「レインボーロード」 (''Reinbō Rōdo'')
|Kenta Nagata
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 64: Greatest Hits Soundtrack]]''
|1997
|Original
|"Rainbow Road"
|Kenta Nagata
|-
|''[[Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit]]''
|1997
|Arrangement
|"rainbow"
|Dance-Matics
|-
|''[[Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music]]''
|2004
|Past arrangement (''F-Zero X'')
|"Rainbow Road"
|Taro Bando
|-
|''[[Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.3: B-Side Music]]''
|2005
|Original
|「レインボーロード」 (''Reinbō Rōdo'')
|Kenta Nagata
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack]]''
|rowspan=2|2015
|rowspan=2|Arrangement
|"Rainbow Road"
|[[Shiho Fujii]]
|-
|"{{classic|N64|Rainbow Road}}"
|[[Ryo Nagamatsu]]
|}
===Other media===
{|class=sortable border=1 cellspacing=2 cellpadding=2 style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%"
!Work
!Year
!Type
!Title
!Credits
|-
|[[Super Nintendo World]]
|2021
|Arrangement
|
|
|}

==References==
<references/>

{{Themes}}
{{MK64}}
[[Category:Recurring themes]]
[[Category:Mario Kart 64]]