Gang-Plank Galleon (theme)
"Gang-Plank Galleon" | |
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"Gang-Plank Galleon" in Donkey Kong Country | |
![]() Image from Nintendo Music | |
Composed by: David Wise | |
Genres | Sea shanty, heavy metal |
Key | F major |
First appearance | Donkey Kong Country (1994) |
Latest appearance | Donkey Kong Bananza (2025) |
"Gang-Plank Galleon,"[1][2] also known as "THE PIRATE SHIP,"[1][3] is a musical theme composed by David Wise for the final boss level of Donkey Kong Country. In subsequent games in the Donkey Kong franchise, this theme is often used as a leitmotif for King K. Rool and the eponymous Gangplank Galleon.
Composition[edit]
The theme starts as a sea shanty played on an accordion, representing the pirate theme of the stage where the theme is originally heard, though it quickly segues into a more intense battle theme with a "galloping" drum rhythm and an electric guitar. Wise describes the theme as "sea shanty-meets-Iron Maiden," and listened to CDs of sea shanties and an album of barrel organ music for inspiration when composing it.[4] The theme is also loosely based on the title theme from the NES port of Sid Meier's Pirates! developed by Rare, also composed by Wise.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country[edit]
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It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The GBA arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
The theme's first appears is in the original Donkey Kong Country, where it serves as the theme for the level of the same name and the boss fight against King K. Rool.
The Game Boy Color version of the game reuses Donkey Kong Land's arrangement of the theme, "Gangplank Galleon Ahoy!", while the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country has its own arrangement.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[edit]
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It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: All three GBA arrangements Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest features a few arrangements based on "Gang-Plank Galleon." "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic),"[1][5] also known as simply "Klomp's Romp"[6] and "Ship Deck,"[7] is a loose arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon," with the motif being slower and subdued, playing in Pirate Panic and Gangplank Galley.
This particular version of the theme also serves as the basis for "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle),"[1][5] also known as simply "Snakey Chantey"[6] and "Ship Deck 2,"[7] with its intro being a little more accurate to the original theme. This arrangement plays in Rattle Battle and on the ship hold in Glimmer's Galleon.
The "Game Over"[6] theme also incorporates an arrangement of "Klomp's Romp."
The Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2 features its own versions of these three tracks. In this version, Rattle Battle's theme is spelled "Snakey Shanty", and is no longer present in the exterior portions of Glimmer's Galleon, being replaced with "Klomp's Romp".
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Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, a brief arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by Eveline Fischer plays when Krematoa surfaces.
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Donkey Kong Land series[edit]
Donkey Kong Land[edit]
In Donkey Kong Land, a chiptune arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon," titled "Gangplank Galleon Ahoy!"[8] and arranged by David Wise, plays in the ship levels. The second part of the theme is drastically different from the original version, instead sounding similar to the introduction but with a more serious tone. This arrangement returns in the Game Boy Color remake of Donkey Kong Country.
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Donkey Kong Land 2[edit]
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It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: Both arrangements Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
In Donkey Kong Land 2 a chiptune arrangement of "Snakey Chantey" from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and arranged by Grant Kirkhope plays in the level Pirate Panic. A chiptune arrangement of "Game Over" is also present.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
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In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon," titled "King K.Rool / Ship Deck 2" and arranged by Shōgo Sakai, can play in the Rumble Falls stage, during Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong's roll call after completing Classic or All-Star mode, and in The Lake level in The Subspace Emissary. This arrangement begins as a sea shanty like the original, but it incorporates a hard rock tone midway through. Despite the name of the arrangement suggesting that it incorporates two different pieces of music, it only takes after "Gang-Plank Galleon" from Donkey Kong Country. The name "Ship Deck 2" refers to "Snakey Chantey" in the sound test of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, but no elements from that arrangement are present, and the game isn't credited for its appearance. This arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where it can play in the Kongo Jungle 64 stage, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Donkey Kong-series stage.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
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It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: "Gang-Plank Galleon" and "Snakey Chantey" Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features three arrangements of "Gang-Plank Galleon."
An arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" by ACE can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Donkey Kong-series stage, and also serves as the credits theme for King K. Rool in Classic Mode. It heavily focuses on the brass and features a unique solo section with seemingly gibberish vocals. Before the theme's second section, a few monkey noises are present.
An arrangement of "Snakey Chantey" arranged by Kumi Tanioka, like "Gang-Plank Galleon," can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Donkey Kong-series stage. It has an orchestra march-like feel and incorporates the last sections of "Gang-Plank Galleon."
A brief arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" serves as King K. Rool's victory theme, which plays whenever he wins a fight.
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Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]
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It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
In Donkey Kong Bananza, an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon," titled "Banandium Root Tower" in the game's Music Player, plays during the Kredits sequence, which segues into the second phase of the battle against King K. Rool where he chases Donkey Kong and Pauline during their ascent. This arrangement also incorporates "Big Boss Blues" from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and "K. Rool Returns (Title Theme)" from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
Gallery[edit]
Image for "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)" from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Donkey Kong Country | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1994 | Original | "Gang-Plank Galleon"[2] | David Wise |
Donkey Kong Land | Game Boy | 1995 | Arrangement | "Gangplank Galleon Ahoy!"[8] | David Wise |
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1995 | Arrangement | "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)"[5] | David Wise |
"Shakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)"[5] | |||||
"Game Over" | |||||
Donkey Kong Land 2 | Game Boy | 1996 | Arrangement | Grant Kirkhope | |
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1996 | Arrangement | Eveline Fischer | |
Donkey Kong Country | Game Boy Color | 2000 | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Land) | David Wise | |
Donkey Kong Country | Game Boy Advance | 2003 | Arrangement | David Wise | |
Donkey Kong Country 2 | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Arrangement | "Klomp's Romp" | David Wise |
"Snakey Shanty" | |||||
"Game Over" | |||||
Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Wii | 2008 | Arrangement | "King K.Rool / Ship Deck 2" | Shogo Sakai |
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Wii U | 2014 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "King K.Rool / Ship Deck 2" | Shogo Sakai |
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Arrangement | "Snakey Chantey" | Kumi Tanioka |
"Gang-Plank Galleon" | ACE (TOMOri Kudo / CHiCO) | ||||
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "King K.Rool / Ship Deck 2" | Shogo Sakai | |||
Donkey Kong Bananza | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Banandium Root Tower"[9] |
Albums[edit]
Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|
DK Jamz | 1994 | Original | "Gang-Plank Galleon" | David Wise |
Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy | 1995 | Original | "キング・クルールの船 THE PIRATE SHIP" | David Wise |
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Original Soundtrack | 1995 | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest) | "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)" | David Wise |
Donkey Kong Country Trilogy | 1996 | Original | Gang-Plank Galleon | David Wise |
Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest) | "Snakey Chantey" | |||
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U: A Smashing Soundtrack | 2015 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "King K.Rool / Ship Deck 2" | Shogo Sakai |
Names in other languages[edit]
- Gang-Plank Galleon 1
Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
French | Gang-Plank Galleon 1[10] | - | |
German | Galions-Planken 1[11] | Gang-Plank Galleon 1 | |
Italian | Nave soave[12] | Suave ship | |
Spanish | Galeón del Gang-Plank 1[13] | Gang-Plank Galleon 1 |
- Gang-Plank Galleon 2
Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
French | Gang-Plank Galleon 2[10] | - | |
German | Galions-Planken 2[11] | Gang-Plank Galleon 2 | |
Italian | Nave grave[12] | Serious ship | |
Spanish | Galeón del Gang-Plank 2[13] | Gang-Plank Galleon 2 |
- Klomp's Romp
Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
French | Klomp's Romp[14] | - | |
German | Klomps Rabatz[15] | Klomp's Rumpus | |
Italian | Canzone Krudel[16] | Klomp Song | |
Spanish | Klomp's Romp[17] | - |
- Snakey Chantey
Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
French | Snakey Shantey[14] | - | |
German | Snakey Shaky[15] | Snakey Shake | |
Italian | Sonata Serpentina[16] | Snakey Sonata | |
Spanish | Snakey Shanty[17] | - |
- Banandium Root Tower
Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Italian | Torre di Banandium[18] | Banandium tower |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Nintendo Music
- ^ a b DK Jamz
- ^ Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy
- ^ King, D. (November 19, 2024). The Man Behind the Legendary Donkey Kong Country Soundtracks. The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c d The Original Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack
- ^ a b c Donkey Kong Country Trilogy
- ^ a b Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Sound Test
- ^ a b Graeme Norgate's website
- ^ Donkey Kong Bananza Music Player
- ^ a b Sound Player (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
- ^ a b Song-Player (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German).
- ^ a b Juke Box (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
- ^ a b Juke Box (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Spanish).
- ^ a b Musique (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
- ^ a b JukeboxDE (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German).
- ^ a b Jukebox (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
- ^ a b Reproductor (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Spanish).
- ^ Disc selection screen (2025). Donkey Kong Bananza. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).