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.

Audio.svg タイトルBGM - The arrangement heard in the NES version of Donkey Kong
File infoMedia:Title Theme DK NES.oga
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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]

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.

Audio.svg Theme - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country
File infoMedia:DKC SNES Theme.oga
Audio.svg Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country
File infoMedia:DKC SNES Cranky's Theme.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Steel Drum Rhumba - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
File infoMedia:DKC2 SNES Steel Drum Rhumba.oga
Audio.svg Cranky's Conga - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
File infoMedia:DKC2 SNES Cranky's Conga.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Color version of Donkey Kong Country
File infoMedia:DKC GBC Theme.oga
Audio.svg Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Color version of Donkey Kong Country
File infoMedia:DKC GBC Cranky's Theme.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country
File infoMedia:DKC GBA Theme.oga
Audio.svg Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country
File infoMedia:DKC GBA Cranky's Theme.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Steel Drum Rhumba - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2
File infoMedia:DKC2 GBA Steel Drum Rhumba.oga
Audio.svg Cranky's Conga - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2
File infoMedia:DKC2 GBA Cranky's Conga.oga
Help:MediaHaving trouble playing?

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.

Audio.svg Donkey Kong Country Returns - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country Returns
File infoMedia:DKCR Title Theme.oga
Audio.svg クランキーコングの店 - The arrangement heard in Cranky Kong's Shop in Donkey Kong Country Returns
File infoMedia:Cranky Kong Donkey Kong Country Returns 2.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Opening - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
File infoMedia:DKCTF - Opening.oga
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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.

Audio.svg File Select - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Land 2
File infoMedia:DKL2 File Select.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Donkey Kong Court - The arrangement heard in the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis
File infoMedia:MT64 Donkey Kong Court.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Jungle Court / Banana Bunch - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis
File infoMedia:MTGBC Jungle Court.oga
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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".

Audio.svg Title Theme - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong
File infoMedia:MVDK-Title Screen Theme.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Title Theme - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
File infoMedia:MvDK2 Title Theme.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Title Screen - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
File infoMedia:MVDKMMA Title Screen Theme.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Title Theme - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
File infoMedia:MvDKMLM Theme.oga
Audio.svg Results - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
File infoMedia:MvDKMLM Results.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Title Theme - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars - The arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
File infoMedia:MvDKTS TitleScreen.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Title Screen - The arrangement heard in Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge
File infoMedia:MM&FaC TitleScreen.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Cranky's Lectures - The arrangement heard in DK: King of Swing
File infoMedia:DKKOSCrankysLectures.oga
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DK: Jungle Climber[edit]

DK: Jungle Climber features a new arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" from Donkey Kong Country.

Audio.svg Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in DK: Jungle Climber
File infoMedia:Cranky Kong (DK Jungle Climber).oga
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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".

Audio.svg Moustache, Barrel, and Gorilla - The arrangement heard in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
File infoMedia:DDRMM Moustache Barrel and Gorilla.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Cosmic Highway - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
File infoMedia:DKBB Cranky Kong.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Opening (Donkey Kong) - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
File infoMedia:SSBB Opening Donkey Kong.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Donkey Kong Country Returns (Vocals) - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
File infoMedia:SSBWiiU Donkey Kong Country Returns Vocals.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Courses 1 & 3 - The arrangement heard in Nintendo Land
File infoMedia:NL DKCC Jukebox 1.oga
Audio.svg Courses 2 & 4 - The arrangement heard in Nintendo Land
File infoMedia:NL DKCC Jukebox 2.oga
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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.

Audio.svg Midboss Melody - The arrangement heard in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
File infoMedia:MRKB Cranky Kong.oga
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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]