Cranky's Theme
| "Cranky's Theme" | |
|---|---|
| "Cranky's Theme" in Donkey Kong Country | |
 Image from Nintendo Music | |
| Composed by: David Wise | |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country (1994) |
| Latest appearance | Tetris 99 (45th Maximus Cup) (2025) |
- “Did you notice in DKC that my tune sounded like the title tune? How dare they! I'm worth two different tunes at least!”
- —Cranky Kong, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
"Cranky's Theme,"[1][2] also known as "CRANKY KONG PAGE,"[1][3] is a musical theme composed by David Wise for Donkey Kong Country, where it plays in Cranky's Cabin, as well as when inside DK's Tree House in Jungle Hijinxs. It is an arrangement of "Title BGM" from the NES version of Donkey Kong, with an additional, original melody for the second part of the theme. In subsequent games in the Donkey Kong franchise, this theme is often used as a leitmotif for Cranky Kong.
History[edit]
Donkey Kong Country series[edit]
Donkey Kong Country[edit]
Donkey Kong Country marks the first appearance of "Cranky's Theme." It is also included in the official albums DK Jamz, Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy, and Donkey Kong Country Trilogy.
The Game Boy Color remake of Donkey Kong Country contains its own chiptune arrangement of "Cranky's Theme," which plays in Cranky's Cabin like in the original game. Unlike the original theme, it does not play when inside DK's Tree House in Jungle Hijinxs, instead using the title theme from Donkey Kong Land.
The Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country contains its own arrangement of "Cranky's Theme," which plays in Cranky's Cabin like in the original game, as well as during Cranky Kong's dialogue following every boss fight prior to King K. Rool's. Unlike the original theme, it does not play when inside DK's Tree House in Jungle Hijinxs, instead using the game's arrangement of "Bonus Room Blitz."
 Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Color remake of Donkey Kong Country | File info 0:30 |
| Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country | File info 0:30 |
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[edit]
In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, an arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" plays in the Monkey Museum. It is titled "Cranky's Conga (Cranky's Theme)" in the Nintendo Music app and The Original Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack album. It is also included in the official albums Super Donkey Kong 2: Dixie & Diddy Original Sound Version and Donkey Kong Country Trilogy.
The Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2 contains its own arrangement of the theme. In the game's hidden Music Player, the theme's name is given without its parenthetical.
| Cranky's Conga (Cranky's Theme) - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | File info 0:30 |
| Cranky's Conga - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2 | File info 0:30 |
Donkey Kong Country Returns[edit]
In Donkey Kong Country Returns, the Nintendo 3DS port, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, and the Nintendo Switch port, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, an arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" 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") in the official Donkey Kong Returns Original Sound Track album.
| クランキーコングの店 - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country Returns | File info 0:28 |
DK series[edit]
DK: King of Swing[edit]
In DK: King of Swing, an arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" arranged by Takashi Kouga plays in Cranky's Lectures.
| Cranky's Lectures - The arrangement heard in DK: King of Swing | File info 0:30 |
DK: Jungle Climber[edit]
In DK: Jungle Climber, an arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" plays during some cutscenes featuring Cranky Kong.
| Cranky's Theme - The arrangement heard in DK: Jungle Climber | File info 0:28 |
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[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: Cranky's Flight School arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast features two arrangements of "Cranky's Theme," both of which were arranged by Takashi Kouga.
A very elongated arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" in D-flat major played on the synthesizer with frantic backing accompaniment plays in Cosmic Highway.
A faithful arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" plays in Cranky's Flight School.
| Cosmic Highway - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast | File info 0:26 |
Nintendo Land[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: Staff credits arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
Nintendo Land features three arrangements of "Cranky's Theme," all of which were arranged by Ryo Nagamatsu.
Two different arrangements of the second half of "Cranky's Theme" plays in all courses of Donkey Kong's Crash Course.
A brief arrangement of "Cranky's Theme" is incorporated in the staff credits theme, which is a medley arrangement of many themes from the attractions' source games.
| Donkey Kong's Crash Course - Courses 1 & 3 - The arrangement heard in Nintendo Land | File info 0:30 |
| Donkey Kong's Crash Course - Courses 2 & 4 - The arrangement heard in Nintendo Land | File info 0:30 |
Tetris 99[edit]
In Tetris 99, the Donkey Kong Country Returns version of "Cranky's Theme" serves as the victory music for the Donkey Kong Country Returns HD theme.
Gallery[edit]
Image for "Cranky's Conga (Cranky's Theme)" 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 | "Cranky's Theme"[2] | David Wise |
| Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1995 | Arrangement | "Cranky's Conga (Cranky's Theme)"[4] | David Wise |
| Donkey Kong Country | Game Boy Color | 2000 | Arrangement | ||
| Donkey Kong Country | Game Boy Advance | 2003 | Arrangement | "Cranky's Theme"[5] | |
| Donkey Kong Country 2 | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Arrangement | "Cranky's Conga"[6] | |
| DK: King of Swing | Game Boy Advance | 2005 | Arrangement | Takashi Kouga | |
| Donkey Kong Barrel Blast | Wii | 2007 | Arrangement | Takashi Kouga | |
| DK: Jungle Climber | Nintendo DS | 2007 | Arrangement | ||
| Donkey Kong Country Returns | Wii | 2010 | Arrangement | 「クランキーコングの店」 (Kurankī Kongu no Mise)[7] | |
| Nintendo Land | Wii U | 2012 | Arrangement | Ryo Nagamatsu | |
| Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country Returns) | 「クランキーコングの店」 (Kurankī Kongu no Mise)[7] | |
| Donkey Kong Country Returns HD | Nintendo Switch | 2025 | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country Returns) | 「クランキーコングの店」 (Kurankī Kongu no Mise)[7] | |
| Tetris 99 | Nintendo Switch | 2025[g 1] | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country Returns) |
- ^ Added in the 45th Maximus Cup on February 13, 2025
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK Jamz | 1994 | Original | "Cranky's Theme" | David Wise |
| Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy | 1995 | Original | "CRANKY KONG PAGE" | David Wise |
| The Original Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack | 1995 | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest) | "Cranky's Conga (Cranky's Theme)" | David Wise |
| Donkey Kong Country Trilogy | 1996 | Original | "Cranky's Theme" | David Wise |
| Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest) | "Cranky's Conga" | |||
| Donkey Kong Returns Original Sound Track | 2011 | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Country Returns) | 「クランキーコングの店」 (Kurankī Kongu no Mise) |
Names in other languages[edit]
- Cranky's Theme
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | Cranky's Theme[8] | - | |
| German | Crankys Thema[9] | Cranky's Theme | |
| Italian | Tema di Cranky[10] | Cranky's Theme | |
| Spanish | Tema de Cranky[11] | Cranky's Theme |
- Cranky's Conga
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | Cranky's Conga[12] | - | |
| German | Crankys Conga[13] | Cranky's Conga | |
| Italian | Cranky Conga[14] | - | |
| Spanish | Cranky's Conga[15] | - |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Nintendo Music
- ^ a b DK Jamz
- ^ Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy
- ^ The Original Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack
- ^ Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance) Sound Player
- ^ Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance) Music Player
- ^ a b c Donkey Kong Returns Original Sound Track
- ^ Sound Player (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
- ^ Song-Player (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German).
- ^ Juke Box (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
- ^ Juke Box (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Spanish).
- ^ Musique (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
- ^ Jukebox (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German).
- ^ Jukebox (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
- ^ Reproductor (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Spanish).
