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Gang-Plank Galleon (theme)

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"Gang-Plank Galleon"
"Gang-Plank Galleon" in Donkey Kong Country
The image for "Gang-Plank Galleon" from Donkey Kong Country on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
David Wise
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.

CompositionEdit

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.

ArrangementsEdit

Donkey Kong Country seriesEdit

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong QuestEdit

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 on a few of the pirate-themed levels. 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."

  Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic) - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
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  Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle) - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
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  Game Over - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
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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.

  Krematoa Appears - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
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Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)Edit

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In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country, an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" plays in the final boss level, Gang-Plank Galleon, just like in the original game.

Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance)Edit

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The Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2 features arrangements of "Klomp's Romp", "Snakey Chantey" (titled "Snakey Shanty" in the game's sound test)[8], and the "Game Over" theme. Like in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, "Snakey Shanty" can be heard in Rattle Battle, but it is replaced by "Klomp's Romp" in Glimmer's Galleon.

Donkey Kong Land seriesEdit

Donkey Kong LandEdit

In Donkey Kong Land, a chiptune arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon," titled "Gangplank Galleon Ahoy!"[9] 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, where it plays in the final boss level, Gang-Plank Galleon.

  Gangplank Galleon Ahoy! - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Land
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Donkey Kong Land 2Edit

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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. seriesEdit

Super Smash Bros. BrawlEdit

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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. UltimateEdit

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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.

  Victory! (King K. Rool) - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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Donkey Kong BananzaEdit

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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.

GalleryEdit

  • 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

  • Image for "Game Over" from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest on Nintendo Music

List of Super Mario appearancesEdit

GamesEdit

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!"[9] 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"[10]

AlbumsEdit

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 languagesEdit

Gang-Plank Galleon 1
Language Name Meaning Notes
French Gang-Plank Galleon 1[11] -
German Galions-Planken 1[12] Gang-Plank Galleon 1
Italian Nave soave[13] Suave ship
Spanish Galeón del Gang-Plank 1[14] Gang-Plank Galleon 1
Gang-Plank Galleon 2
Language Name Meaning Notes
French Gang-Plank Galleon 2[11] -
German Galions-Planken 2[12] Gang-Plank Galleon 2
Italian Nave grave[13] Serious ship
Spanish Galeón del Gang-Plank 2[14] Gang-Plank Galleon 2
Klomp's Romp
Language Name Meaning Notes
French Klomp's Romp[15] -
German Klomps Rabatz[16] Klomp's Rumpus
Italian Canzone Krudel[17] Klomp Song
Spanish Klomp's Romp[18] -
Snakey Chantey
Language Name Meaning Notes
French Snakey Shantey[15] -
German Snakey Shaky[16] Snakey Shake
Italian Sonata Serpentina[17] Snakey Sonata
Spanish Snakey Shanty[18] -
Banandium Root Tower
Language Name Meaning Notes
Italian Torre di Banandium[19] Banandium tower

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ a b c d Nintendo Music
  2. ^ a b DK Jamz
  3. ^ Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy
  4. ^ King, D. (November 19, 2024). The Man Behind the Legendary Donkey Kong Country Soundtracks. The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d The Original Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack
  6. ^ a b c Donkey Kong Country Trilogy
  7. ^ a b Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Sound Test
  8. ^ Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance) Sound Test
  9. ^ a b Graeme Norgate's website
  10. ^ Donkey Kong Bananza Music Player
  11. ^ a b Sound Player (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
  12. ^ a b Song-Player (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German).
  13. ^ a b Juke Box (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
  14. ^ a b Juke Box (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Spanish).
  15. ^ a b Musique (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
  16. ^ a b JukeboxDE (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German).
  17. ^ a b Jukebox (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
  18. ^ a b Reproductor (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Spanish).
  19. ^ Disc selection screen (2025). Donkey Kong Bananza. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
[Edit]
Recurring themes
Donkey Kong franchise Donkey Kong "Game Start" • "Hammer BGM" • "Round 1 BGM" • "Round Start BGM" • "Title BGM"
Donkey Kong Jr. "Game Start" • "Round 1 BGM" • "Title BGM"
Donkey Kong Country "Aquatic Ambiance" • "Bonus Room Blitz" • "Cave Dweller Concert" • "Cranky's Theme" • "The Credits Concerto" • "DK Island Swing" • "Fear Factory" • "Forest Frenzy" • "Funky's Fugue" • "Gang-Plank Galleon" • "Life in the Mines" • "Lost a Balloon" • "Mine Cart Madness" • "Northern Hemispheres" • "Simian Segue" • "Treetop Rock" • "Voices of the Temple" • "Well Done"
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest "Crocodile Cacophony (K. Rool's Theme)" • "Lockjaw's Saga (Lockjaw's Locker)" • "Run, Rambi! Run! (Parrot Chute Panic)" • "Stickerbush Symphony (Bramble Blast)"
Donkey Kong 64 "DK Rap"
Donkey Kong Country Returns "Mine Menace"
Mario Bros. series Mario Bros. "Game Start" • "Title BGM"
Wrecking Crew series Wrecking Crew "Bonus Phase" • "Phase BGM"
Super Mario series Super Mario Bros. "1-Up" • "Castle BGM" • "Course Clear" ("Power Up") • "Ending" • "Ground BGM" ("Game Over" · "Player Down") • "Invincibility BGM" • "Timer Warning" • "Underground BGM" • "Underwater BGM" • "World Clear"
VS. Super Mario Bros. "Gyōmu-yō Mario Namae-ire"
Super Mario Bros. 2 "Boss BGM" • "Ground BGM" • "Please Select Player" • "Underground BGM"
Super Mario Bros. 3 "Airship BGM" • "Athletic BGM" • "Bros. Battle" • "Ending" • "Fortress BGM" • "Fortress Boss" • "Game Over" • "Ground BGM" • "King of the Koopas" • "P Switch BGM / Toad's House" • "Player Down" • "Slot Game BGM / Memory Game BGM" • "Underwater BGM" • "Warp Zone" • "World 1 Map (Grass Land)" • "World 2 Map (Desert Land)" • "World 3 Map (Water Land)" • "World 4 Map (Giant Land)" • "World 5 Map (Sky Land) - On the Ground" • "World 5 Map (Sky Land) - In the Sky" • "World 6 Map (Ice Land)" • "World 7 Map (Pipe Land)" • "World 8 Map (Dark Land)"
Super Mario Land "Main Theme" • "Underground Theme"
Super Mario World "Bowser BGM" • "Donut Plains (Map Screen)" • "Ending" • "Ground BGM" ("Athletic BGM" · "Bonus Game BGM" · "Castle BGM" · "Course Clear" · "Ghost House BGM" · "Underground BGM" · "Underwater BGM") • "Koopalings BGM" • "P Switch BGM" • "Star World (Map Screen)" • "Title BGM" • "Vanilla Dome (Map Screen)" • "Yoshi's Island (Map Screen)"
Super Mario 64 "Bowser's Road" • "Bowser's Theme" • "Dire, Dire Docks" • "File Select" • "Main Theme" ("Cool, Cool Mountain" · "Slider") • "The Merry-Go-Round" • "Metal Mario" • "Peach's Castle" • "Piranha Plant's Lullaby" • "Staff Roll"
Super Mario Sunshine "Isle Delfino" ("Ricco Harbor") • "Secret Course"
New Super Mario Bros. "Course Clear" • "Fortress Theme" • "Main Theme" ("Athletic Theme") • "Mega Mario" • "Switch On!"
Super Mario Galaxy "Egg Planet" • "Enter Bowser Jr.!" • "Gusty Garden Galaxy" • "Luma" • "Overture" • "Purple Comet" • "Rosalina in the Observatory" • "The Toad Brigade" • "Waltz of the Boos"
New Super Mario Bros. Wii "Bonus Area" • "Castle Theme" • "Coast Theme" • "Desert Theme" • "Forest Theme" • "Ghost House Theme" • "Lava Cave / Underground Ruins Theme" • "Lava Theme" • "Title Theme" ("Game Over") • "Toad House Minigame" • "Underwater Theme"
Super Mario Galaxy 2 "Bowser's Galaxy Generator" • "Puzzle Plank" • "Theme of SMG2"
Super Mario 3D Land "Castle Theme" • "Main Theme" • "Snow Course" • "Underwater Theme"
New Super Mario Bros. U "Ground Theme"
Super Mario 3D World "A Boss Approaches" • "Chainlink Charge" • "Piranha Creeper Creek" • "Super Bell Hill"
Super Mario Maker "Title Theme"
Super Mario Odyssey "Fossil Falls" • "Jump Up, Super Star!"
Dr. Mario series Dr. Mario "Chill" • "Fever" • "Game Over" • "Selection Screen" • "Title Screen"
Mario Kart series Super Mario Kart "Award Ceremony" • "Donut Plains" • "Mario Circuit" • "Rainbow Road" • "Super Mario Kart Title Screen"
Mario Kart 64 "Battle Arenas" • "Choco Mountain" • "Frappe Snowland" • "Kalimari Desert" • "Koopa Troopa Beach" • "Luigi Raceway" • "Moo Moo Farm" • "Rainbow Road" • "Results (1st − 4th Place)" • "Staff Credits" • "Starting Grid (Time Trials / Battle)" • "Toad's Turnpike"
Mario Kart: Super Circuit "Koopa Castle Course" • "GBA Mario Circuit"
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! "GCN Baby Park" • "GCN Daisy Cruiser" • "GCN Yoshi Circuit"
Mario Kart DS "Waluigi Pinball"
Mario Kart Wii "Coconut Mall" • "Luigi Circuit/Mario Circuit" • "Wii Maple Treeway" • "Moo Moo Meadows" • "Mushroom Gorge" • "Wario's Gold Mine"
Mario Kart 7 "Neo Bowser City" • "Piranha Plant Slide" • "Toad Circuit"
Mario Kart 8 "Cloudtop Cruise"
Yoshi franchise Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island "Athletic BGM" • "Bowser" • "Flower Field BGM" • "Opening Melody" • "Powerful Mario" • "Stage Start" • "Yoshi's Island"
Yoshi's Story "Yoshi's Song" • "Yoshi's Story!" • "Yoshi's Tale"
Luigi's Mansion series Luigi's Mansion "Title Theme (Humming)"
Wario franchise WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! "Drifting Away" • "Pyoro" • "WarioWare, Inc." ("Dr. Crygor")
WarioWare: Twisted! "Mona Pizza"
WarioWare: Touched! "Ashley's Theme"
Other The Legend of Zelda "Important Item Acquired" • "Overworld Theme"
Mario Paint "Save & Load"
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars "Beware of Forest Mushrooms" • "Hello, Happy Kingdom"
Miscellaneous "Le Galop infernal d'Orphée aux Enfers" • "Totaka's Song"
[Edit]
Donkey Kong Country (SNES) / Donkey Kong Country (GBC) / Donkey Kong Country (GBA)
Protagonists Donkey Kong • Diddy Kong • Cranky Kong • Funky Kong • Candy Kong
Items and objects Animal token • Banana • Banana Bunch • Barrel • Barrel Cannon • Blast Barrel • Big Animal Token • Continue Barrel • Donkey Kong Balloon (red · green · blue) • DK Barrel • Exit • Fuel Canister • Jumbo Barrel • K-O-N-G Letters • Minecart • Mini Animal Token • On & Off Barrel • Steel keg • Stop & Go Barrel • Tire • TNT Drum • Warp Barrela
Animal Friends Rambi • Enguarde • Winky • Squawks • Expresso
Bosses Very Gnawty • Master Necky • Queen B. • Really Gnawty • Dumb Drum • Master Necky Snr. • King K. Rool
Enemies Army • Bitesize • Chomps • Chomps Jr. • Clambo • Croctopus • Gnawty • Klaptrap • Klump • Krash • Kritter • Krusha • Manky Kong • Mini-Necky • Necky • Rock Kroc • Slippa • Squidge • Zinger
Obstacles Black drum • Mincer • Oil drum
Worlds Kongo Jungle • Monkey Mines • Vine Valley • Gorilla Glacier • Kremkroc Industries, Inc. • Chimp Caverns • Gangplank Galleon
Music "Opening Fanfare" • "Simian Segue" • "DK Island Swing" • "Cave Dweller Concert" • "Aquatic Ambiance" • "Well Done" • "Cranky's Theme" • "Life in the Mines" • "Mine Cart Madness" • "Misty Menace" • "Voices of the Temple" • "Lost a Balloon" • "Funky's Fugue" • "Forest Frenzy" • "Treetop Rock" • "Bonus Room Blitz" • "Better Luck Next Time" • "Candy's Love Song" • "Northern Hemispheres" • "Ice Cave Chant" • "Fear Factory" • "Bad Boss Boogie" • "K. Rool's Cacophony" • "Gang-Plank Galleon" • "The Credits Concerto"
Other Ask Cranky • Ask Uncle Tusk • Cold Crossword Challenge • Create-N-Send A Donkey Kong Country Family Portrait • DK Attack • DK Jamz • Donkey Kong (electronic tabletop pinball) • Donkey Kong Country: Exposed • Donkey Kong Country roulette machine • Donkey Kong Country Trilogy • Gallery • Glitches • Go Ape! • Grab Bag • Kremling Krushin • Multimedia • Nintendo Music (soundtrack) • Pre-release and unused content • Primate Poll • Read the unfinished Donkey Kong Country story...and finish the adventure! • Sound testa • Staff • Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy • Super Donkey Kong Original Sound Version
a Exclusive to the Game Boy Advance version
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