Powerful Mario (theme)

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"Powerful Mario"
"Powerful Mario" in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
The image for "Powerful Mario" from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
Key C major
BPM 120
Time signature 2
4
First appearance Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995)
Latest appearance Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025)
Arrangement of
"Invincibility BGM" (Super Mario Bros.)

"Powerful Mario"[1] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, where it plays when Baby Mario becomes Superstar Mario, when playing Mini Battles, and in certain sub-areas. The main melody is an arrangement of "Invincibility BGM" from Super Mario Bros., and it introduces a countermelody that would later reappear in Super Mario 64 and numerous later games. The countermelody is similar to the opening of "Keynsham", a track from the British band Bonzo Dog Band's eponymous fourth album, released in 1969.

History[edit]

Yoshi franchise[edit]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island[edit]

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island marks its first appearance.

Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]

In Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3, the main melody of the theme uses a different instrument from the original Yoshi's Island arrangement.

Icon of an audio speaker. パワフル赤ちゃん - The arrangement heard in Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3
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Yoshi Touch & Go[edit]

In Yoshi Touch & Go, a MIDI-esque arrangement plays when Baby Mario collects a Super Star in Time Attack mode, which speeds up when the invincibility is about to wear off.

Icon of an audio speaker. Super Baby - The arrangement heard in Yoshi Touch & Go
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Yoshi's New Island[edit]

Yoshi's New Island uses a ukulele arrangement that plays the countermelody on glockenspiel.

Icon of an audio speaker. STAGE STAR (2 channels)
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Icon of an audio speaker. STAGE STAR (4 channels)
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Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario 64[edit]

In Super Mario 64, an arrangement is used for Wing Mario and Vanish Mario and plays when a character rides or swims with a Koopa Shell. This arrangement is titled "Powerful Mario" in the official soundtrack and the Nintendo Music app, and returns for the same purpose in Super Mario 64 DS. Additionally, it also plays when Mario has Super Star invincibility in New Super Mario Bros. and in Super Mario Maker while wearing the Mario costume.

Icon of an audio speaker. Powerful Mario - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64
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Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

Super Mario 64 DS introduces arrangements of "Powerful Mario" for while the player character is riding Hoot and while Mario has Floating Power. The minigames Bounce and Pounce and Bounce and Trounce use another variation as background music, where an electric piano takes over for both the melody and countermelody. This arrangement returns in New Super Mario Bros. for the latter minigame, as well as Balloon Racing, Jumping Brothers, and Jumping Sudden Death, and in the gallery of the Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. The minigame arrangement that returns in New Super Mario Bros. is titled "Balloon Racing" in the Nintendo Music app.

Icon of an audio speaker. Owl Fly - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64 DS
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Icon of an audio speaker. Balloon - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64 DS
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Icon of an audio speaker. Balloon Racing - The arrangement heard in Super Mario 64 DS
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Super Mario Galaxy[edit]

Super Mario Galaxy uses an arrangement for Rainbow Mario, which accelerates over time to reinforce that the power-up is temporary. It is titled "Rainbow Mario" in the official Super Mario Galaxy Original Soundtrack album and the Nintendo Music app.

Icon of an audio speaker. Rainbow Mario - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Galaxy
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Super Mario Galaxy 2[edit]

Super Mario Galaxy 2 uses a slightly updated version of Super Mario Galaxy's arrangement with added cymbals.

Icon of an audio speaker. Rainbow Mario - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Galaxy 2
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Super Mario Run[edit]

In Super Mario Run, a techno arrangement plays after obtaining a Super Star in Remix 10 mode. The theme incorporates the countermelody originally heard in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island.

Icon of an audio speaker. Invincibility BGM (Remix 10) - The arrangement heard in Super Mario Run
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Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga[edit]

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, a MIDI-esque arrangement titled "It's My Turn" is used during the Star 'Stache Smash minigame.

However in the game's remake, an arrangement of "Do It Now!" from Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam is used instead.

Icon of an audio speaker. It's My Turn[2] - The arrangement heard in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
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Paper Mario series[edit]

Paper Mario: Sticker Star[edit]

In Paper Mario: Sticker Star, a jazzy arrangement that plays the main melody on saxophones and the countermelody on an organ is used for standard Super Star invincibility. Another arrangement is integrated — alongside the game's title theme — into the music track for the final part of the fight with Bowser, and plays the main melody on a different instrument and the countermelody on a xylophone.

Icon of an audio speaker. Super Star - The arrangement heard in Paper Mario: Sticker Star
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Icon of an audio speaker. Bowser Battle (Final Phase)
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Paper Mario: The Origami King[edit]

As with the previous two Paper Mario games, Paper Mario: The Origami King introduces a new arrangement based on Paper Mario: Sticker Star's arrangement but with instruments commonly heard in many heavy metal songs. This arrangement is used for when Mario collects a Super Star.

Icon of an audio speaker. "Super Star"[3]
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Super Mario Party Jamboree[edit]

An "X" icon with sound waves, used to indicate missing media files. It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this article be uploaded. Specifics: Taking Down Impostor Bowser
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In Super Mario Party Jamboree, an arrangement titled "Taking Down Impostor Bowser" is played during the final attack on Impostor Bowser in Bowser's Kaboom Squad.

Gallery[edit]

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 1995 Original "Powerful Mario" Koji Kondo
Super Mario 64 1996 Arrangement "Powerful Mario" Koji Kondo
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 2002 Arrangement Taiju Suzuki
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga 2003 Arrangement "It's My Turn" Yoko Shimomura
Super Mario 64 DS 2004 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) Koji Kondo
Arrangement Kenta Nagata
Yoshi Touch & Go 2005 Arrangement
New Super Mario Bros. 2006 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Super Star"[1] Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario 64 DS) "Balloon Racing"[1] Kenta Nagata
Super Mario Galaxy 2007 Arrangement "Rainbow Mario" Mahito Yokota
Super Mario Galaxy 2 2010 Arrangement Mahito Yokota
Paper Mario: Sticker Star 2012 Arrangement
Yoshi's New Island 2014 Arrangement Masayoshi Ishi
Super Mario Maker 2015 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) Koji Kondo
Super Mario Run 2017[a] Arrangement
Paper Mario: The Origami King 2020 Arrangement
Super Mario 3D All-Stars 2020 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Powerful Mario" Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy) "Rainbow Mario" Mahito Yokota
Super Mario Galaxy 2025 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy) "Rainbow Mario" Mahito Yokota
Super Mario Galaxy 2 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2)
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy) "Rainbow Mario"
Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy 2)
  1. ^ Added as downloadable content

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Super Mario: Yossy Island Original Sound Version 1995 Original パワフル赤ちゃん ("Powerful Baby") Koji Kondo
Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack 1996 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Powerful Mario" Koji Kondo
Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits 1996 Past arrangement (Super Mario 64) "Wing Cap Mario" Koji Kondo
Super Mario Galaxy Original Soundtrack 2008 Past arrangement (Super Mario Galaxy) "Rainbow Mario" Mahito Yokota

References[edit]