| Above Ground BGM |
| Composer |
Koji Kondo |
| Released |
1985-09-13 |
| Title Origin |
Official |
| Loops |
Yes |
|
- This page is for the Super Mario Bros. song, for more titles see Above Ground BGM.
Above Ground BGM is one of the most popular songs in all of video game music, as it is the most played tune on one of the best selling video games of all time. The song appears on numerous official soundtracks, remixes, and fan albums.
The title comes from the Famicom 20th Anniversary Original Sound Tracks Vol.1 album.
Listeners have compared the melody of this song (especially the beginning) with some parts from T-Square - Sister Marian (especially 1:03 of it and onwards).
Composition
Looking at the original version of the song, it is in 4/4 time and plays in the key of C major. It plays at a tempo of 100 beats per minute, whilst playing in a swing/shuffle beat, in which every 16th note is slightly delayed.
The song was heavily influenced by the Japanese group The Square's song Sister Marian from their album Adventures, particularly the segment at 1:03.
Games
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Above Ground BGM plays during all of the above ground levels. The song plays twice as fast as normal when you're running out of time to create a sense of urgency. Both versions of the song loop. The Hurry Up version is never played in its entirety because it's longer than the Hurry Up time. The first two seconds of the song are also heard during the short intermissions between the underground levels.
Sheet Music
Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
In Super Mario Bros. 2 the original Above Ground BGM is used for the game's Sub Space. Only the first 14 seconds of the tune are used and played on a loop. Interestingly, the song is left off the official soundtrack.
The song is track 6 in the NSF file.
Super Mario World (SNES)
It plays in the Special World map after an extended period of time.
Super Mario All-Stars (SNES)
The song was arranged by Soyo Oka in its entirety. It sports a steel pan for its lead instrument, and the rest of the instrumentation plays along in a reggae style.
The song play in both Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, and the subspace segments of Super Mario Bros. 2.
Super Mario 64 (N64)
Plays at the title screen.
Wii Music (WII)
A rendition of Above Ground BGM is located in /Sound/MusicShared/rp_Music_sound.brsar, but isn't played anywhere during the game, leaving it unused.
Lyrics
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show featured Captain Lou Albano as Mario. At the end of each show, Mario sang lyrics to Above Ground BGM that acted as instructions for a little dance which he performed as the credits rolled.
Do the Mario!
Swing your arms from side to side.
Come on, it's time to go. Do the Mario!
Take one step, and then again.
Let's do the Mario, all together now!
You got it! It's the Mario! Do the Mario!
Swing your arms from side to side.
Come on, it's time to go. Do the Mario!
Take one step, and then again.
Let's do the Mario, all together now!
Come on now. Just like that!
Guitar Tabs
Links
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_-_Sheet_-_2.png)
