Lost a Life

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"Lost a Life"

"Lost a Life" in Super Mario Bros.
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
First appearance Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Latest appearance Super Mario Bros. Wonder (2023)

"Lost a Life"[1] is a recurring musical theme composed by Koji Kondo, first appearing in Super Mario Bros. In its original appearance, as well as in most of its reappearances, the theme can be heard whenever the player loses a life. It is a brief arrangement of the Super Mario Bros. "Ground Theme."

Composition[edit]

"Lost a Life" is an arranged excerpt of the "Ground Theme" taken from the last several notes of the theme before it loops. Koji Kondo's idea behind this theme was to motivate players to try again, rather than using sounds that would otherwise discourage them.[2][3]

Reuses[edit]

Super Mario-related media[edit]

The following list does not include ports or remakes of Super Mario Bros.

Work Description
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels reuses the soundtrack from Super Mario Bros., including "Lost a Life"
WarioWare: Twisted! / WarioWare Gold "Lost a Life" plays if the player is defeated in the Super Mario Bros. boss microgame.
NES Remix 2 / NES Remix Pack "Lost a Life" plays when the player loses a life in the Super Luigi Bros. game mode.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2 "Lost a Life" plays in the Super Mario Bros. style when the player loses a life.
Super Mario Odyssey "Lost a Life" plays if Mario loses all of his health while in a 2D 8-bit segment.
WarioWare: Get It Together! "Lost a Life" plays if the player is defeated in the Super Mario Bros. microgame.

Other media[edit]

Work Description
Wii Sports Resort In the Island Flyover event, if the player flies near the Hillside Cabins, "Lost a Life," as well as the "Ground Theme" and "Game Over," can sometimes be heard.

Arrangements[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario Bros. Special[edit]

Super Mario Bros. Special features a slightly slower and much choppier arrangement of "Lost a Life." It is used for the same purpose as in Super Mario Bros.

Audio.svg Lost a Life - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Bros. Special
File infoMedia:SMBS Lost a Life.oga
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Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch)[edit]

In 1986, a very short arrangement of the theme was made for Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch, Crystal Screen series). This arrangement would reappear unchanged for the Special Edition (1987) and New Wide Screen (1988) versions.

Audio.svg Lose a Life - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch)
File infoMedia:Smbgwlose.wav
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Super Mario All-Stars[edit]

Super Mario All-Stars features a 16-bit arrangement of "Lost a Life." This arrangement is used in both Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.

This arrangement is reused for the same purpose in Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World and Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition.

Audio.svg Lost a Life (Super Mario Bros. / Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels) - The arrangement heard in Super Mario All-Stars
File infoMedia:SMAS SMB Player Down.oga
0:03
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Super Mario Sunshine[edit]

In Super Mario Sunshine, an arrangement of "Lost a Life" titled "Too Bad!" played with horns and percussion plays when Mario loses all of his health.

This arrangement is reused for the same purpose in Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

Audio.svg Too Bad! - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Sunshine
File infoMedia:SMS Too Bad! Theme.oga
0:05
Help:MediaHaving trouble playing?

Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

In Super Mario 64 DS, an arrangement of "Lost a Life" similar to the original plays after losing a minigame. A unique variation of this arrangement plays after losing the Super Mario Slot minigame.

This arrangement is reused whenever the player loses a life in New Super Mario Bros., New Super Mario Bros. Wii, New Super Mario Bros. 2, New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, Super Mario Run, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. It is also reused in Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2 when playing New Super Mario Bros. U-styled levels. It also is heard in WarioWare: Get It Together! in the New Super Mario Bros. U microgame when the player is knocked out by a Fuzzy.

Audio.svg Lost a Life - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64 DS
File infoMedia:New Super Mario Bros - Dead.oga
0:03
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Super Mario Galaxy[edit]

In Super Mario Galaxy, an arrangement of "Lost a Life" plays whenever the player loses a life.

This arrangement is reused for the same purpose in Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

Audio.svg Lost a Life / Game Over - The arrangements heard in Super Mario Galaxy
File infoMedia:Super Mario Galaxy Game Over.oga
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Super Mario 3D Land[edit]

In Super Mario 3D Land, another arrangement of "Lost a Life" can be heard when the player loses a life.

In the demo build of the game showcased in E3 2011, the last few notes of the jingle had a banjo part, but were replaced by the bass in the final game.

Audio.svg Lost a Life - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 3D Land
File infoMedia:SM3DL Lost a Life.mp3
0:02
Audio.svg Lost a Life (Beta) - The E3 2011 demo version of the theme.
File infoMedia:SM3DL Lost a Life E3 2011 Beta.mp3
0:02
Help:MediaHaving trouble playing?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder[edit]

In Super Mario Bros. Wonder, an arrangement of "Lost a Life" plays when all players are defeated.[4]

Mario Kart Arcade GP[edit]

In Mario Kart Arcade GP, the fanfare heard when the player loses a race is an arrangement of "Lost a Life."

This arrangement is reused for the same purpose in Mario Kart Arcade GP 2.

Paper Mario series[edit]

Paper Mario[edit]

In Paper Mario, an arrangement of "Lost a Life", followed by "Game Over", plays whenever the player loses all of their HP in battle.

Audio.svg Lost a Life / Game Over - The arrangement heard in Paper Mario
File infoMedia:PM Game Over Theme.oga
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Super Paper Mario[edit]

Similar to Paper Mario, Super Paper Mario has arrangements of "Lost a Life" and "Game Over" that play when the player loses all of their HP.

Mario & Luigi series[edit]

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[edit]

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, an arrangement of "Lost a Life" plays when both Mario and Luigi lose all their HP.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey[edit]

In Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, an arrangement of "Lost a Life" plays when either Mario and Luigi or Bowser reach zero HP.

Art Style: PiCTOBiTS[edit]

In Art Style: PiCTOBiTS, arrangements of "Lost a Life" and "Game Over" arranged by chiptune band YMCK are featured in the game's credits theme.

Audio.svg Credits - The arrangement heard in Art Style: PiCTOBiTS
File infoMedia:PiCTOBiTS End Credits SMB Lose a Life & Game Over.oga
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Mario Sports Mix[edit]

In Mario Sports Mix, an arrangement of "Lost a Life" can be found in the game's files.[citation needed]

Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition[edit]

In Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, an arrangement of "Lost a Life" plays if the player loses.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games[edit]

In the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, an arrangement of "Lost a Life" plays after losing in the Mario League.

Other arrangements[edit]

Brain Age Express[edit]

In Brain Age Express, if the player acquires a rank of "Walking Speed" after an exercise, the man walking on-screen whistles "Lost a Life" when tapped.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos[edit]

The New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos sheet music book features a solo piano arrangement of the version of "Lost a Life" heard in Super Mario 64 DS and New Super Mario Bros. Wii titled "Player Down."

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)[edit]

In The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), the end of the track "Press Start" features the original version of "Lost a Life" pitched to a higher key. This part of the track is not heard in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and can only be heard in the soundtrack release.

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario Bros. Nintendo Entertainment System 1985 Original "Lost a Life"[1] Koji Kondo
Super Mario Bros. Special NEC PC-88, Sharp X1, Samsung SPC-1500 1986 Arrangement
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Family Computer Disk System 1986 Original Koji Kondo
VS. Super Mario Bros. VS. System 1986 Original Koji Kondo[5]
Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch (Crystal Screen) 1986 Arrangement
Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch (Special Edition) 1987 Past arrangement (Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch, Crystal Screen))
Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch (New Wide Screen) 1988 Past arrangement (Super Mario Bros. (Game & Watch, Crystal Screen))
Super Mario All-Stars Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1993 Arrangement Soyo Oka
Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1994 Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) Soyo Oka
Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch (Mini Classics) 1998
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe Game Boy Color 1999 Original Koji Kondo
Paper Mario Nintendo 64 1999 Original
Super Mario Sunshine Nintendo GameCube 2002 Arrangement "Too Bad!"[6]
WarioWare: Twisted! Game Boy Advance 2004 Original Koji Kondo
Super Mario 64 DS Nintendo DS 2004 Arrangement
Mario Kart Arcade GP Arcade 2005 Arrangement
New Super Mario Bros. Nintendo DS 2006 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 Arcade 2007 Past arrangement (Mario Kart Arcade GP)
Super Paper Mario Wii 2007 Arrangement
Super Mario Galaxy Wii 2007 Arrangement Mahito Yokota
Art Style: PiCTOBiTS Nintendo DSi 2009 Arrangement
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Wii 2009 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS) "Player Down"[7]
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wii 2010 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy) Mahito Yokota
Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition Wii 2010 Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) Soyo Oka
Mario Sports Mix Wii 2010 Arrangement
Super Mario 3D Land Nintendo 3DS 2011 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy) Mahito Yokota
New Super Mario Bros. 2 Nintendo 3DS 2012 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
New Super Mario Bros. U Wii U 2012 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
New Super Luigi U Wii U 2013 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U Wii U 2013 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
NES Remix 2 Wii U 2014 Original Koji Kondo
NES Remix Pack Wii U 2014 Original Koji Kondo
Ultimate NES Remix Nintendo 3DS 2014 Original Koji Kondo
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition Nintendo 3DS 2015 Arrangement
Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition Nintendo 3DS 2015 Past arrangement (Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition)
Super Mario Maker Wii U 2015 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Wii U 2016 Arrangement
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS 2016 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions Nintendo 3DS 2018 Original
Super Mario Odyssey Nintendo Switch 2017 Original Koji Kondo
WarioWare Gold Nintendo 3DS 2018 Original Koji Kondo
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey Nintendo 3DS 2018 Original
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Nintendo Switch 2019 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
Super Mario Maker 2 Nintendo Switch 2019 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
Super Mario 3D All-Stars Nintendo Switch 2020 Past arrangement (Super Mario Sunshine) "Too Bad!"
Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy)
Super Mario Bros. 35 Nintendo Switch 2020 Original Koji Kondo
Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch 2020 Original Koji Kondo
WarioWare: Get It Together! Nintendo Switch 2021 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2023 Arrangement

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario World 1991 Original 「プレイヤーダウン」 (Pureiyā Daun) Koji Kondo
Super Mario Compact Disco 1993 Arrangement "Mario & Yoshi" Simon Harris
Super Mario Compact Disco (Cassette) 1993 Arrangement 「ヨッシーのテーマ(インスト・ヴァージョン)」
(Yosshī no Tēma (Insuto Vu~ājon))
Simon Harris
Famicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music 2004 Original 「ミス~ゲームオーバー」 (Misu ~ Gēmu Ōbā) Koji Kondo
Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection 2005 Original 「ミス~ゲームオーバー」 (Misu ~ Gēmu Ōbā) Koji Kondo
Super Mario History 1985-2010 2010 Original "Lost a Life" Koji Kondo
SUPER MARIO BROS. 25th Anniversary Special Sound Track PRESS START Edition 2010 Arrangement 「New スーパーマリオブラザーズ Wii 〜PRESS START 2010より〜」
(New Sūpā Mario Burazāzu Wii 〜 PRESS START 2010 Yori 〜)
Takeshi Hama
Super Mario Compact Disco: The iOS Release 2016 Past arrangement (Super Mario Compact Disco) "Mario & Yoshi" Simon Harris
Super Mario Sunshine Original Soundtrack 2020 Past arrangement (Super Mario Sunshine) "Too Bad!"
Super Mario Compact Disco – 35th Anniversary Edition 2020 Arrangement "Mario & Yoshi [Remastered]" Simon Harris
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2023 Arrangement "Press Start" Brian Tyler

Other media[edit]

Work Format Year Type Title Credits
New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos Book 2010 Arrangement "Player Down" Shinobu Amayake

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Italian Persa una vita[8]
Lost a life

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Super Mario History 1985-2010 tracklist
  2. ^ Iwata Asks : Super Mario All-Stars : Music Follows Function. Nintendo. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  3. ^ Schartmann, Andrew (June 25, 2015). The Genius of the Super Mario Bros. “Game Over” Theme. Slate. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  4. ^ GameXplain (October 6, 2023). TONS of Mario Wonder Gameplay from GameStop Demo + SECRET Game Over Bonus Stage?! YouTube. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Super Mario World. VGMdb. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  6. ^ Super Mario Sunshine Original Soundtrack tracklist
  7. ^ New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Simplified Piano Solos
  8. ^ Super Mario History 1985-2010 track list on Nintendo.it