List of references in music
- This article is about references to the Super Mario games in music. For official music of the Super Mario franchise, see List of albums.
Due to the popularity of the Super Mario franchise, various elements from its games have been referenced numerous times in popular songs.
6arelyhuman[edit]
Level Up[edit]
The song, featuring rapper Odetari, has an instrumental that features the coin sound effect from Super Mario Bros.
The 8-Bit Big Band[edit]
The 8-Bit Big Band specializes in arrangements of video game music, many of which are of themes from the Super Mario franchise. One such arrangement is a gospel-styled medley of "Ground BGM" from Super Mario Bros., the "Main Theme" from Super Mario 64, "Gusty Garden Galaxy" from Super Mario Galaxy, and "Athletic BGM" from Super Mario World titled "Super Mario Praise Break", which won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella at the 2026 Grammy Awards.[1]
Akapellah[edit]
Como Mario[edit]
The instrumental to this track is sampled from "Athletic BGM from Super Mario Bros. 3, while the lyrics are inspired by the Super Mario franchise.[2]
Alessia Cara[edit]
Nintendo Game[edit]
The song features references to actions commonly used in Nintendo games, featuring the line, "All the trash talk is getting old, I'd rather try my hand at Rainbow Road".[3]
Alestorm[edit]
The title of Alestorm's sixth studio album, Curse of the Crystal Coconut, is inspired by the Donkey Kong franchise.[4] One of the album's tracks is a cover of "The Pirate Scorn" from the Donkey Kong Country television series, under the name "Pirate's Scorn". Additionally, the album's cover art features several references to the Donkey Kong franchise, such as an eponymous Crystal Coconut from Donkey Kong 64, the skeletal remains of a gorilla wearing a red tie, a floating DK Coin, and several Klomps from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, as well as generic Donkey Kong motifs such as bananas and barrels, including a TNT Barrel.
Alex Day[edit]
I Hate Mario Kart Wii[edit]
From Alex Day's 117% Complete single, he describes his hatred for Mario Kart Wii and explains what happens as the race he is playing is progressing, which includes failing a Rocket Start, going from last place to first using a Bullet Bill, and getting hit by a Spiny Shell. In addition, "Invincibility BGM" is incorporated into the end of the song.[5]
Allison[edit]
Mario Bros 3[edit]
A cover of the song "Mario Bros. 3" by Taller Para Niños.[6]
Apathy[edit]
Can't Leave Rap Alone[edit]
This song features this line from fellow rapper Celph Titled: "I'm like Donkey Kong, I got you niggas dodgin' my barrels".[7]
ASAP Ferg[edit]
Perfume[edit]
ASAP Ferg's debut mixtape, Ferg Forever, includes this song, with the line, "And I click like Donkey Kong when I hit this long".[8]
ASAP Mob[edit]
Young N***a Living[edit]
The instrumental to this track from their debut album, Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends, incorporates a sound clip of Yoshi dying from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.[9]
Asher Roth[edit]
Lark On My Go-Kart[edit]
Asher Roth raps, "Mario Kart skills are outrageous," in this song from his first album.[10]
Ashnikko[edit]
STUPID[edit]
The song "STUPID" by Ashnikko, featuring Baby Tate, features Ashnikko saying the line, "I'm sweet, then I'm sour, I'm big boss Bowser". [11]
aterrazawa[edit]
We are! The Garbage Sorting Squad[edit]
In the music video, the coin sound effect plays whenever Teto steals a valuable from the mansion.
B1A4[edit]
What's Going On? Why?[edit]
In the music video for South Korean boy band B1A4's Japanese single What's Going On? Why?, member Gongchan's set is directly based on the Super Mario series.
Baby Keem[edit]
France Freestyle[edit]
On the song "France Freestyle" by Baby Keem, from his second mixtape, Die For My Bitch, he says the line "beat the box like Bowser".
Bad Bunny[edit]
Thunder and Lightning[edit]
The Latin trap/reggaeton song "Thunder and Lightning" by Bad Bunny, features a verse from artist Eladio Carrión who says the line, "Emes grande' en mi cuenta, Super Mario". This line translates roughly to "Big Ms in my account, Super Mario".
Bad Meets Evil[edit]
I'm On Everything[edit]
The song, by hip-hop duo, Bad Meets Evil (composed of Eminem and Royce da 5'9"), references Mario in the line "Me and Vishis on 'shrooms, call us the Mario Brothers".
BASTTIE[edit]
First Step[edit]
In the music video, cartridges of the Japanese versions of Wario Land II for the Game Boy Color and WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! can be seen.
bbno$[edit]
Go Bananas[edit]
This song with fellow rappers Yung Gravy and Spark Master Tape features the line "Watch the Blue Shell do some damage, we in the back".
Bear Ghost[edit]
The Mario Cliché[edit]
This song is sung from the perspective of Mario breaking up with someone so he can focus on his own issues. The song draws a comparison between Mario's catchphrase "It's-a me" and the breakup line "It's not you, it's me." The song also uses one of Mario's other catchphrases, "Mama mia", in the lyric "Mama mia, I'ma need a shrink."
Belmont[edit]
Bowser's Mixtape and Bowser's Castle[edit]
In 2021, the band Belmont released a mixtape titled Bowser's Mixtape after the first song in the tracklisting, "Bowser's Castle". The song was later included in the 2022 single release of "Parasitic", which was comprised of three different songs, "Bowser's Castle" being one of them.
Big Gigantic[edit]
Just the Same[edit]
This song by EDM, hip hop and jazz production duo Big Gigantic features guest vocals by rappers Vic Mensa and Mick Jenkins, with Vic Mensa's verse featuring the line "States attorneys jump on n**gas heads like Mario".
Big K.R.I.T.[edit]
Remember the Titans[edit]
This freestyle has the line, "Obstacles? I throw and jump over like I'm Mario".
Big Sean[edit]
Ashley[edit]
On the song "Ashley", featuring singer Miguel, Big Sean in the second verse says the following lines: "It's been weird since I went out west and did an album with no I.D and ain't came back since". This was followed by a sample of Mario grunting from Super Mario 64.
Go Legend[edit]
In the song "Go Legend" with Metro Boomin and featuring Travis Scott, Big Sean raps the line, "In my castle like Mario, I give this shit my heart and soul".
Jump Out the Window[edit]
Big Sean has a line in the first verse in the song in which he recalls, "Remember when you used to though and hit the Mario Kart / And you always picked the princess." Additionally, in the official music video, when said line is rapped, Big Sean is seen racing against his girlfriend and the kidnapper in a Mario Kart-styled race, complete with the interface loosely resembling Mario Kart DS. In the same scene, the kidnapper obtains gasoline in a similar manner to when characters get items from an Item Box, after which Big Sean wipes out and transitions into a scenery somewhat resembling Mario Kart: Super Circuit.
Rollin'[edit]
The song "Rollin'" from Big Sean's mixtape UKNOWBIGSEAN features the line, "Motherfuckers walking in with shrooms, now I'm finna feel like Mario".
Supa Dupa[edit]
On the song "Supa Dupa" from the mixtape Finally Famous Vol. 2: UKNOWBIGSEAN, Big Sean raps, "Until I am the king of my castle - Koopa".
Billy Woods[edit]
STAR87[edit]
The song features the coin sound effect from Super Mario Bros.
Black Kray[edit]
Tamagotchi[edit]
The single featuring American rapper Xavier Wulf samples "Forest of Illusion (Map Screen)" from Super Mario World as part of the instrumental, a coin sound effect from Super Mario Bros., and references Mario in the lyric "Mario my main ho see murda gang you can't go".
Blood on the Dance Floor[edit]
It's On Like Donkey Kong[edit]
The song title mentions Donkey Kong's name, and the phrase itself is repeated throughout the chorus.
Bowling for Soup[edit]
Hey Mario[edit]
Bowling for Soup has performed a cover of "Hey Mario," originally by Patent Pending. The music video uses Mario's sprites from the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels and features a racetrack based on Mario Circuit from Super Mario Kart. During this, the item roulette uses sprites from Mario Kart: Super Circuit.
Bruno Major[edit]
Nothing[edit]
The song features the coin sound effect from Super Mario Bros.
BTS[edit]
War of Hormone[edit]
The song features the coin and power-up sound effects from Super Mario Bros.
Intro: Persona[edit]
The song features the coin sound effect from Super Mario Bros.
Buckner & Garcia[edit]
Do the Donkey Kong[edit]
"Do the Donkey Kong" is a song that debuted in the 1982 album Pac-Man Fever. The song was later released as a single in May 1982. The song is based on the Donkey Kong arcade game and features many of the game's sound effects as well as some of its music.
Caparezza[edit]
Abiura Di Me[edit]
This song contains the line "Prendo soldi con il pugno alzato come Super Mario" ("I earn money with my fist raised like Super Mario").
Giotto Beat[edit]
This song contains the line "Siamo scaricabarile, senza prospettive: Donkey Kong, otto bit" ("We're barrel unloaders lacking perspective: Donkey Kong, 8 bits"; "barrel unloader" here meaning an individual who avoids responsibility and blame regarding a given matter, passing it onto others.)
Cardi B[edit]
I Like It[edit]
During the first verse, Cardi B raps "'Bout my coins like Mario!"