Gang-Plank Galleon (theme)
| "Gang-Plank Galleon" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| "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] (known as "THE PIRATE SHIP" in Japanese soundtracks) is a musical theme composed by David Wise for Donkey Kong Country, where it plays in the final boss level of the same name. This theme is often used as a leitmotif for King K. Rool in subsequent games in the Donkey Kong franchise.
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.[3] 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]
| It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The Game Boy Advance arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
Donkey Kong Country marks the first appearance of "Gang-Plank Galleon". It is also included in the official albums DK Jamz, Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy, Super Donkey Kong Original Sound Version, and Donkey Kong Country Trilogy.
In the Game Boy Color remake of Donkey Kong Country, the Donkey Kong Land arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" plays for the same purpose as in the original game.
In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country, an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" plays for the same purpose as in the original game. The first and second halves of this arrangement are split into two different tracks in the game's sound test. They are titled "Gang-Plank Galleon 1" and "Gang-Plank Galleon 2" respectively.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[edit]
| It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: All three Game Boy Advance arrangements Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
- Main article: Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest features three arrangements of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by David Wise, all of which are included in the official albums The Original Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack, Super Donkey Kong 2: Dixie & Diddy Original Sound Version and Donkey Kong Country Trilogy.
A loose arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" with a slower-paced and subdued melody plays in the levels Pirate Panic and Gangplank Galley. It is titled "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)" in the Nintendo Music app.
A medley arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" and "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)" plays in Rattle Battle and on the ship deck at the end of Glimmer's Galleon. It is titled "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)" in the Nintendo Music app.
A brief arrangement of "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)" plays in the Game Over screen. It is likewise titled "Game Over" in the Nintendo Music app.
In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2, arrangements of "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)", "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)", and "Game Over" all play for the same purposes as in the original game.
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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 Novakovic plays when Krematoa is revealed.
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Donkey Kong Land series[edit]
Donkey Kong Land[edit]
In Donkey Kong Land, a chiptune arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by David Wise plays in the ship levels. It is titled "Gangplank Galleon Ahoy!"[4] The second half of this arrangement is drastically different from the original theme.
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Donkey Kong Land 2[edit]
| 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 Land 2, a chiptune arrangement of "Game Over" from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest arranged by Grant Kirkhope plays in the Game Over screen.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
| 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 Super Smash Bros. Brawl, an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by Shōgo Sakai can play in the Rumble Falls stage. It also plays during the Character Roll Call after completing Classic Mode or All-Star Mode as Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong and in The Lake in The Subspace Emissary. It is titled "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" in the game's sound test. It is also included in the official album Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U: A Smashing Soundtrack. This arrangement begins as a sea shanty like the original, but it incorporates a hard rock tone midway through.
Despite the name of this arrangement suggesting that it incorporates two different themes, it only takes after "Gang-Plank Galleon" from Donkey Kong Country. The name "Ship Deck 2" refers to "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)" in the sound test of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, but no elements from that theme are present.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" from Super Smash Bros. Brawl can play in the Kongo Jungle 64 stage.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
| It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: "Gang-Plank Galleon" arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started. |
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" from Super Smash Bros. Brawl and a new arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by ACE can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Donkey Kong-series stage. The new arrangement also plays during the staff credits of King K. Rool's Classic Mode route. This arrangement 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.
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]
In Donkey Kong Bananza, an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" plays during the Kredits sequence and during the second phase of the boss battle against King K. Rool. It is titled "Banandium Root Tower" in the game's sound test. This theme also quotes "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.
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Gallery[edit]
Image for "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)" from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest on Nintendo Music
Image for "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)" 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!"[4] | David Wise |
| Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1995 | Arrangement | "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)"[5] | David Wise |
| "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)"[5] | |||||
| "Game Over"[5] | |||||
| 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 Novakovic | |
| Donkey Kong Country | Game Boy Color | 2000 | Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Land) | David Wise | |
| Donkey Kong Country | Game Boy Advance | 2003 | Arrangement | "Gang-Plank Galleon 1"[6] | David Wise |
| "Gang-Plank Galleon 2"[6] | |||||
| Donkey Kong Country 2 | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Arrangement | "Klomp's Romp" | David Wise |
| "Game Over" | |||||
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Wii | 2008 | Arrangement | "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" | Shōgo Sakai |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Wii U | 2014 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" | Shōgo Sakai |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Arrangement | "Gang-Plank Galleon" | ACE (TOMOri Kudo / CHiCO) |
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" | Shōgo Sakai | |||
| Donkey Kong Bananza | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Banandium Root Tower"[7] |
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 | "THE PIRATE SHIP" | David Wise |
| Super Donkey Kong Original Sound Version | 1995 | Original | "THE PIRATE SHIP" | David Wise |
| Donkey Kong Country Trilogy | 1996 | Original | Gang-Plank Galleon | David Wise |
| Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U: A Smashing Soundtrack | 2015 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" | Shōgo Sakai |
Names in other languages[edit]
"Gang-Plank Galleon 1"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French | Gang-Plank Galleon 1 | - | [8] | |
| German | Galions-Planken 1 | Gang-Plank Galleon 1 | [9] | |
| Italian | Nave soave | Suave ship | [10] | |
| Spanish | Galeón del Gang-Plank 1 | Gang-Plank Galleon 1 | [11] |
"Gang-Plank Galleon 2"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French | Gang-Plank Galleon 2 | - | [8] | |
| German | Galions-Planken 2 | Gang-Plank Galleon 2 | [9] | |
| Italian | Nave grave | Serious ship | [10] | |
| Spanish | Galeón del Gang-Plank 2 | Gang-Plank Galleon 2 | [11] |
"Klomp's Romp"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French | Klomp's Romp | - | [12] | |
| German | Klomps Rabatz | Klomp's Rumpus | [13] | |
| Italian | Canzone Krudel | Klomp Song | [14] | |
| Spanish | Klomp's Romp | - | [15] |
"Banandium Root Tower"[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| German | Banandium-Ader-Turm | Banandium Vein Tower | [7] | |
| Italian | Torre di Banandium | Banandium tower | [7] |
References[edit]
- ^ Nintendo Music
- ^ a b DK Jamz
- ^ King, D. (November 19, 2024). The Man Behind the Legendary Donkey Kong Country Soundtracks. The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ a b Graeme Norgate's website
- ^ a b c The Original Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack
- ^ a b Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance) sound test
- ^ a b c Donkey Kong Bananza sound test
- ^ 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).
- ^ Musique (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
- ^ JukeboxDE (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).