Ground BGM (Super Mario Bros. 3)
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| "Ground BGM" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ground BGM" in Super Mario Bros. 3 | |||
Image from Nintendo Music | |||
| Composed by: Koji Kondo | |||
| Genre | Reggae | ||
| Key | C major | ||
| BPM | 150 | ||
| Time signature | 2 2 (with swung eighths) | ||
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) | ||
| Latest appearance | Hello, Mario! (2025) | ||
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"Ground BGM",[1] also known as "Ground Theme"[2] or "Main Theme",[3] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario Bros. 3, where it plays in the ground levels. It is a reggae composition, featuring a backbeat rhythm on woodblock and timbales that is played through PCM audio samples.
History[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
Super Mario Bros. 3 marks the first appearance of "Ground BGM". It is also included in the official albums Super Mario World, Game Sound Museum: Super Mario Bros. 3, Famicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music, Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection, and The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music.
"Ground BGM" plays in the following levels:
Super Mario All-Stars[edit]
In the SNES remake of Super Mario Bros. 3 in Super Mario All-Stars, as well as its reissues Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World and Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" plays for the same purposes as in the original game.
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Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
In the Game Boy Advance remake of Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" based on the Super Mario All-Stars arrangement plays for the same purposes as in the original game. This arrangement uses timbales instead of bongos before the transitional ones. It also plays in the following levels in World-e:
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Super Mario 3D Land[edit]
- Main article: Main Theme (Super Mario 3D Land)
In Super Mario 3D Land, the second half of the theme that plays in the ground levels is based on the second half of "Ground BGM".
New Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
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In New Super Mario Bros. 2, a brief arrangement of "Ground BGM" can somtimes play in the loading chime.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
In Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2, the original version of "Ground BGM" plays in Super Mario Bros. 3-style ground-themed levels. In Super Mario Maker 2, it also plays in Super Mario Bros. 3-style desert and forest-themed levels.
An ambient arrangement of "Ground BGM" plays while editing Super Mario Bros. 3-style ground-themed levels in the Course Maker. In Super Mario Maker 2, two different ambient arrangements of the theme play while editing Super Mario Bros. 3-style desert and forest-themed levels respectively in the Course Maker, with the former prominently featuring the harmonica, banjo, and pan flute in its instrumentation, while the latter prominently featuring marimba, pan flute, pizzicato strings, and tuba. All three arrangements use eight tracks that fade in and out randomly to create a dynamic mix.
Exclusively in Super Mario Maker 2, a music box arrangement of "Ground BGM" plays in the nighttime version of Super Mario Bros. 3-style ground, desert, and forest-themed levels.
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Super Mario Run[edit]
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In Super Mario Run, a medley arrangement of "Ground BGM" from Super Mario Bros., "Ground BGM" from Super Mario Bros. 3, "Easton Kingdom BGM" from Super Mario Land, "Ground BGM" from Super Mario World, and "Underground BGM" from Super Mario Bros. 2 plays in Remix 10.
Super Mario Bros. 3 (Nelsonic Game Watch)[edit]
In Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Nelsonic Game Watch, a brief arrangement of "Ground BGM" plays at the start of each game.[4]
The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
In The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" arranged by Michael Tavera is featured in various episodes of the show. It is also used for the main menu screen of the show's complete series DVD box set.
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Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Melee, a rock/jazz/reggae medley arrangement of "Ground BGM" and "World 1 Map (Grass Land)" from Super Mario Bros. 3 arranged by Shogo Sakai can play in the Yoshi's Island stage. It also plays during the staff credits in Classic Mode and Adventure Mode after completing them as Mario. It is titled "Super Mario Bros. 3" in the game's sound test.
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Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, "Super Mario Bros. 3" from Super Smash Bros. Melee can play in the Yoshi's Island stage. It is titled "Super Mario Bros. 3 (Melee)" in the game's sound test.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the original version of "Ground BGM" can play in the Peach's Castle and Super Mario Maker stages, which were added as downloadable content on July 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015 respectively. Exclusively in the Wii U version, "Super Mario Bros. 3" from Super Smash Bros. Melee can play in the Yoshi's Island stage. Both the original theme and the Super Smash Bros. Melee arrangement are titled "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)" in the game's sound test. Both games also feature "Style Switch: Ground Theme", which is exclusive to the Super Mario Maker stage and switches between the original versions of the ground themes of the games available in Super Mario Maker, including "Ground BGM" from Super Mario Bros. 3.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
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In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a medley arrangement of "Ground BGM", "Course Clear", and "World 1 Map (Grass Land)" from Super Mario Bros. 3 arranged by Masafumi Takada and "Super Mario Bros. 3" from Super Smash Bros. Melee can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage. They are titled "Ground Theme - Super Mario Bros. 3" and "Ground Theme - Super Mario Bros. 3 (Melee)" respectively in the game's sound test. The medley arrangement blends acoustic and chiptune-inspired instrumentation.
"Style Switch: Ground Theme" from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U also returns, now titled "Ground Theme - Super Mario series". It is the only theme in the game to only be present on the My Music menu of certain stages from a series, as its odds can only be adjusted for the Super Mario Maker stage. However, the medley can also randomly appear on Super Smash Bros.-series stages.
Donkey Konga 2[edit]
| Super Mario Bros. 3 Theme | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game(s) | Donkey Konga 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Length | 2:13 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost | 580 | ||||||||||||||||
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Exclusively in the European version of Donkey Konga 2, "Super Mario Bros. 3" from Super Smash Bros. Melee is included as a playable song. It is titled "Super Mario Bros. 3 Theme".
WarioWare series[edit]
WarioWare: Twisted![edit]
In WarioWare: Twisted!, an excerpt of "Ground BGM" plays in the microgame Super Mario Bros. 3.
WarioWare: Move It![edit]
In WarioWare: Move It!, an excerpt of "Ground BGM" plays in Level 3 of the microgame Super Mario Bros. 3.
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[edit]
- Main article: Hammer Dance
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix features a ska arrangement of "Ground BGM" as a playable song. It is titled "Hammer Dance".
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Tetris DS[edit]
In Tetris DS, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" plays in levels 4, 5, and 6 in Marathon mode. It is titled "Mario Tetris 3" in the game's Music menu.
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Mario & Sonic series[edit]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games[edit]
In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, the original version of "Ground BGM" can be unlocked in the Music Gallery after completing four categories.
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[edit]
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In the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, a tropical arrangement of "Ground BGM" played on the melodica with steel drum accompaniment can be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Main Theme: Super Mario Bros. 3" in the game's sound test. This theme also incorporates an arrangement of "Player Down" from Super Mario Bros. 3 approximately 55 seconds in.
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games[edit]
In Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the arrangement of "Ground BGM" from Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events. It is titled "Main Theme: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Remix)" in the game's sound test.
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games[edit]
This section needs Mario & Sonic improvement. Specifically:
- Add sound test information.
In the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the arrangement of "Ground BGM" from Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games can once again be chosen as the background music for events.
Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]
In Paper Mario: Color Splash, the original version of "Ground BGM" plays in some portions of the Super Mario Bros. 3-like world in the Green Energy Plant. When the player flips, the theme seamlessly shifts to a more ethereal, echoing remix.
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The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
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In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" is incorporated in the track "It's a Dog Eat Plumber World", which plays during the scene of Mario and Luigi visiting the Brooklyn couple's apartment. It was arranged by Brian Tyler, and it is also included in the film's official soundtrack.
Mario Kart World[edit]
In Mario Kart World, a reggae arrangement of "Ground BGM" can play in Free Roam during the day. This arrangement takes elements from the Course Maker arrangement from Super Mario Maker.
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Other appearances[edit]
Super Mario World (album)[edit]
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The official Super Mario World soundtrack album features a jazz arrangement of "Ground BGM" arranged by Soichi Noriki and performed by the Mario World Band. It is titled "Go! Go! Raccoon Mario".
Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live![edit]
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In the Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live! album, a live orchestral arrangement of "Ground BGM" is incorporated in the "Smash Bros. Great Medley".
Super Nintendo World[edit]
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At the Super Nintendo World theme park, an arrangement of "Ground BGM" can play in the 1-UP Factory.
Gallery[edit]
Image for the "Hurry Up!" version of "Ground BGM" from Super Mario Bros. 3 on Nintendo Music
Icon for "Hammer Dance" in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | Nintendo Entertainment System | 1988 | Original | "Ground BGM"[1] | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario Bros. 3 | Nelsonic Game Watch | 1990 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Mario All-Stars | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1993 | Arrangement | Soyo Oka | |
| Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1994 | Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) | Soyo Oka | |
| Super Smash Bros. Melee | Nintendo GameCube | 2001 | Arrangement | "Super Mario Bros. 3"[5] | Shogo Sakai |
| Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | Game Boy Advance | 2003 | Arrangement | Taiju Suzuki | |
| WarioWare: Twisted! | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Donkey Konga 2 | Nintendo GameCube | 2005[a] | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | "Super Mario Bros. 3 Theme" | Shogo Sakai |
| Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 | Arrangement | "Hammer Dance" | |
| Tetris DS | Nintendo DS | 2006 | Arrangement | "Mario Tetris 3"[6] | |
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games | Wii | 2009 | Original | "Ground BGM"[7] | Koji Kondo |
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Wii | 2008 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | "Super Mario Bros. 3 (Melee)"[8] | Shogo Sakai |
| Super Mario All-Stars Limited Edition | Wii | 2010 | Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) | Soyo Oka | |
| Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games | Wii | 2011 | Arrangement | "Main Theme: Super Mario Bros. 3"[9] | |
| New Super Mario Bros. 2 | Nintendo 3DS | 2012 | Arrangement | Kenta Nagata | |
| Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games | Wii U | 2013 | Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games [Wii]) | "Main Theme: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Remix)"[10] | |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Wii U | 2014 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)"[11] | Shogo Sakai |
| 2015[b] | Original | "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)"[11] | Koji Kondo | ||
| Super Mario Maker | Wii U | 2015 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Arrangement | |||||
| Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo 3DS | 2015[b] | Original | "Ground Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)"[12] | Koji Kondo |
| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games | Wii U | 2016 | Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games [Wii]) | ||
| Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo 3DS | 2016 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker) | |||||
| Super Mario Run | iOS, Android | 2017[c] | Arrangement | ||
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Original | "Ground Theme - Super Mario series"[13] | Koji Kondo |
| Arrangement | "Ground Theme - Super Mario Bros. 3"[13] | Masafumi Takada | |||
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | "Ground Theme - Super Mario Bros. 3 (Melee)"[13] | Shogo Sakai | |||
| Super Mario Maker 2 | Nintendo Switch | 2019 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker) | |||||
| Arrangement | |||||
| WarioWare: Move It! | Nintendo Switch | 2023 | Original | Koji Kondo | |
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Ground BGM"[14] |
Film and television[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 | 1990 | Arrangement | Michael Tavera | |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 2023 | Arrangement | "It's a Dog Eat Plumber World"[15] | Brian Tyler |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Famicom Graffiti: Nintendo Cartridge Edition | 1990 | Arrangement | 「MEDLEY III(マリオブラザーズ~スーパーマリオブラザーズ~スーパーマリオブラザーズ3)」 (MEDLEY III (Mario Burazāzu ~ Sūpā Mario Burazāzu ~ Sūpā Mario Burazāzu 3)) |
|
| Game Music Graffiti - Nintendo Complete Works Collection | 1990 | Arrangement | 「MEDLEY III(マリオブラザーズ~スーパーマリオブラザーズ~スーパーマリオブラザーズ3)」 (MEDLEY III (Mario Burazāzu ~ Sūpā Mario Burazāzu ~ Sūpā Mario Burazāzu 3)) |
|
| Super Mario World | 1991 | Original | 「地上BGM」 (Chijō BGM) | Koji Kondo |
| Arrangement | "Go! Go! Raccoon Mario" | Soichi Noriki | ||
| Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live! | 2003 | Arrangement | "Smash Bros. Great Medley" | Shogo Sakai |
| Game Sound Museum: Super Mario Bros. 3 | 2004 | Original | 「地上BGM」 (Chijō BGM) | Koji Kondo |
| Famicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music | 2004 | Original | 「地上BGM~ワーニング~地上BGM ハリーアップ!」 (Chijō BGM ~ Wāningu ~ Chijō BGM Harī Appu!) |
Koji Kondo |
| Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection | 2005 | Original | 「地上BGM」 (Chijō BGM) | Koji Kondo |
| The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music | 2015 | Original | 「地上BGM」 (Chijō BGM) | Koji Kondo |
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | 2023 | Past arrangement (The Super Mario Bros. Movie) | "It's a Dog Eat Plumber World" | Brian Tyler |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Nintendo World | 2021 | Arrangement | Dani Donadi[16] | |
| Nintendo Music | 2025[a] | Original | "Ground BGM" | Koji Kondo |
- ^ Added on March 9, 2025
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 地上BGM Chijō BGM |
Ground BGM | [1] |
Notes[edit]
- On the Nintendo Music app, "Ground BGM" is labeled as "Selects", classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library", originating from Super Mario Bros. 3. "Ground BGM" shares this title with "World 1 Map (Grass Land)" and "Athletic BGM".
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Nintendo Music
- ^ Super Smash Bros. series sound tests
- ^ Mario & Sonic series sound tests
- ^ Sly DC (November 28, 2015). Nelsonic Super Mario Bros. 3 Game Watch (0:09). YouTube (English). Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ Super Smash Bros. Melee sound test
- ^ Tetris DS Music selection
- ^ Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) Music Gallery selection
- ^ Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test
- ^ Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii) sound test
- ^ Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games sound test
- ^ a b Super Smash Bros. Wii U sound test
- ^ Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS sound test
- ^ a b c Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test
- ^ Mario Kart World pause menu
- ^ The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
- ^ Dani Donadi. Profile. Linkedin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.