Underwater BGM (Super Mario Bros.)
|
It has been requested that more audio and/or video files related to this article be uploaded. Specifics: All arrangements; sheet music excerpt Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this article. See the help page for help getting started. |
| "Underwater BGM" | |
|---|---|
| "Underwater BGM" in Super Mario Bros. | |
 Image from Nintendo Music | |
| Composed by: Koji Kondo | |
| Key | C major |
| BPM | 226 |
| Time signature(s) | 3 4 |
| First appearance | Super Mario Bros. (1985) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2025) |
"Underwater BGM,"[1] also known as the "Underwater Theme,"[2] is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario Bros., where it plays in the underwater sections of World 2-2, World 7-2, and World 8-4. This theme is written in the key of C major with a waltzlike 3
4 time signature. Subsequent arrangements of "Underwater BGM" have often been used as the title screen theme in various games, particularly remakes.
Reuses[edit]
The following list does not include ports or remakes of Super Mario Bros.
| Game | Description |
|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels | The entire soundtrack from Super Mario Bros. is reused, including "Underwater BGM." |
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) | "Underwater BGM" is playable in the gallery. |
| Mario Clock | "Underwater BGM" is available as one of three choices of alarm music, represented by a sprite of a Cheep-Cheep from Super Mario Bros. |
| StreetPass Mii Plaza | In StreetPass Fishing/Ultimate Angler, "Underwater BGM" plays after successfully catching a Cheep Cheep or Blooper. It is absent from the sound test. |
| Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS / Super Mario Maker 2 | "Underwater BGM" plays during underwater-themed levels in the Super Mario Bros. style. |
| Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo | "Underwater BGM" can be set as an alarm when using the Super Mario Bros. theme. |
Arrangements[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Bros. Special[edit]
An arrangement of the Underwater Theme plays in underwater levels in Super Mario Bros. Special. Like other tracks in the game, its tempo fluctuates depending on how many entities are on-screen.
Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]
In Super Mario Bros. 2, an arrangement with extra notes plays on the title screen, the first of several title themes to be based on the Underwater Theme. It is titled "Title BGM" on Nintendo Music.
 Title BGM - The title theme from Super Mario Bros. 2 | File info 0:29 |
Super Mario World[edit]
The soundtrack for Super Mario World includes a saxophone arrangement by Soichi Noriki and performed by the Mario World Band, titled "Shining Coral".
Super Mario All-Stars[edit]
In addition to updated arrangements for underwater levels in Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels and the title screen in Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario All-Stars features three new arrangements that play on the title screens for the other three games that did not previously feature title screen music. Unlike the NES version, it does not directly loop at the intro.
A sped-up version of the underwater level arrangement is reused for the World-e level Classic World 2-2 in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3.
| Title (Super Mario Bros.) - The title theme for the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. | File info 0:30 |
| Underwater Theme (Super Mario Bros.) - The arrangement used in the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels | File info 0:30 |
| Title (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels) - The title theme for the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels | File info 0:30 |
| Title (Super Mario Bros. 2) - The title theme for the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. 2 | File info 0:30 |
| Title (Super Mario Bros. 3) - The title theme for the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. 3 | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe[edit]
In Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, in addition to ports of the original underwater levels using the original soundtrack, the Super Mario Bros. for Super Players title features a rearrangement with more prominence on the spacing echo effect of the main tune.
Super Mario Advance[edit]
Like in Super Mario All-Stars, an arrangement of the Underwater Theme plays on Super Mario Advance's title screen.
| Title - The title theme from Super Mario Advance | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]
In Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, an arrangement of the Underwater Theme's first half plays at the beginning of the prologue. A full arrangement plays on the title screen, using the same percussion that is added to the music when riding Yoshi in the game.
Super Mario Sunshine[edit]
An arrangement plays in Super Mario Sunshine's attract mode.
| Opening Demo | File info 0:30 |
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]
Reflecting the game's tone as well as the prologue's music style, a music box arrangement plays on the title screen for Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3.
| Title screen | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]
An uptempo, jazz-styled arrangement plays on the title screen for Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, using a different melody for the second half.
| Title screen | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
In Super Mario 64 DS, a slow, music box arrangement plays in the minigame Loves Me...?. It is reused in the New Super Mario Bros. version of the minigame.
| Loves Me...? | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario Maker[edit]
In Super Mario Maker, in addition to the Underwater Theme reappearing as the default background music of the Underwater course theme in the Super Mario Bros. game style, the music for editing such a course in the Course Maker is an ambient orchestral arrangement with an original countermelody, using eight tracks that fade in and out randomly to create a dynamic mix. This returns in Super Mario Maker 2.
| Underwater Theme (Edit) | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario Maker 2[edit]
In Super Mario Maker 2, there is a music box arrangement that plays in the Underwater theme at night in the Super Mario Bros. style.
| Underwater Theme (Night) | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen![edit]
In Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen!, there exists a faithful arrangement known as "水色のワルツ" (roughly The Light Blue Waltz in English) that features a viola in the melody and a pipe organ for accompaniment. The second and third bars of the theme are also worked into a brief countermelody in "カメ・一族の陰謀" (roughly The Koopas' Scheme in English).
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show![edit]
In The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, various arrangements of "Underwater BGM" can occasionally be heard within the episodes.
Luigi's Mansion[edit]
In Luigi's Mansion, the theme appears as one of the two songs Melody Pianissima can quiz Luigi over, along with the athletic theme from Super Mario Bros. 3. When she plays it, she asks Luigi what he thinks the composer had in mind, with "water" being the correct answer.
| Melody Pianissima's Piano Performance (Underwater BGM) | File info 0:12 |
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the song for the Rainbow Cruise stage consists of an orchestrated arrangement of "Slider" from Super Mario 64 in the first half and the Underwater Theme in the second half. It was arranged by HAL Laboratory composer Shogo Sakai and returns in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the same stage, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS as a song for Smash Run, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for the Delfino Plaza stage, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for any Super Mario-franchise stage. The arrangement is played by a live orchestra in the Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live! album.
| Rainbow Cruise (Live) | File info 0:15 |
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
Another arrangement by Sakai is featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where it is split into three distinct sections: the first uses the original theme, the second is an orchestrated arrangement, and the third is a bluegrass arrangement. The song plays in the World 1-2 version of the Mushroomy Kingdom stage, and returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for the Mushroom Kingdom U and Super Mario Maker stages, and in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for any Super Mario-franchise stage.
| Underwater Theme (Super Mario Bros.) | File info 0:30 |
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, an orchestrated arrangement is featured in "Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Medley", which plays on Mushroom Kingdom U and Super Mario Maker and was arranged by Bandai Namco composer Katsuro Tajima. The song returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Donkey Konga 3[edit]
| Super Mario Bros. Suichū BGM | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Koji Kondo |
| Game(s) | Donkey Konga 3 |
| Length | 1:45 |
| Difficulties | ？？？？？？？？ |
| ？？？？？？？？ | |
| ？？？？？？？？ | |
A direct port of the original song from Super Mario Bros. is included as a playable song in Donkey Konga 3, referred to as "Super Mario Bros. Suichū BGM." After two loops of the song, the "Hurry Up!" jingle plays, after which the song plays again for two more loops at double the speed.
Mario Party 5[edit]
In Mario Party 5, an arrangement titled "In Calm Water" plays in the mini-game Submarathon.
| In Calm Water | File info 0:30 |
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]
In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, an arrangement of the Underwater Theme plays in Bowser's second intermission level. When Princess Peach takes a shower on the X-Naut Fortress, she can hum the first seven notes of the theme.
| Peach Hums 2 | File info 0:05 |
| Super Bowser Bros. - Underwater (GameCube version) | File info |
| Super Bowser Bros. - Underwater (Nintendo Switch version) | File info |
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[edit]
In Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, the song "Blooper Bop" is an arrangement of the Underwater Theme. This arrangement also samples the first part of the original theme halfway through.
| Blooper Bop | File info 0:30 |
Mario Hoops 3-on-3[edit]
In Mario Hoops 3-on-3, an arrangement of the Underwater Theme by Square Enix composer Masayoshi Soken plays in Bloocheep Sea.
| Bloocheep Ocean | File info 0:30 |
Art Style: PiCTOBiTS[edit]
An arrangement of the Underwater Theme by chiptune band YMCK is featured in Art Style: PiCTOBiTS under the name "Super Mario Bros. Part 3". An arranged excerpt of the first bar is also featured in the game's credits.
Mario & Sonic series[edit]
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[edit]
In the Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, the second part of the Mario Medley for the Ultimate Figure Skating event is an arrangement of the Underwater Theme.
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[edit]
A new arrangement of the Underwater Theme is featured in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, which returns in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Mario Sports Mix[edit]
In Mario Sports Mix, three arrangements of "Underwater BGM", titled "Classic Ocean", "Bloocheep Ocean" and "Punk Ocean", are available as songs in Harmony Hustle. All three songs also incorporate "Underwater BGM" from Super Mario Bros. 3.
Mario Golf: World Tour[edit]
In Mario Golf: World Tour, an arrangement plays in Cheep Cheep Lagoon.
| Cheep Cheep Lagoon | File info 0:30 |
WarioWare Gold[edit]
In WarioWare Gold, a slower-tempo version of one of the Underwater Theme's Course Maker tracks in Super Mario Maker plays in the Super Mario Maker microgame in levels taking place underwater.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]
In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was scored by Brian Tyler, the first three notes after the introduction of the Underwater Theme can be faintly heard in the track "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom" as Mario passes a Toad carrying a plastic fish bag containing a Cheep Cheep in the Mushroom Kingdom's town. A more direct arrangement plays in the credits theme "Level Complete" alongside arrangements of other Super Mario themes.
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
In the Squeaky Clean Sprint T course of Mario Kart Tour, the row of Note Blocks above the bathtub produce the first three notes of the theme's motif when a driver bounces off of them in succession.
Other arrangements[edit]
Super Mario Bros.: Mario Syndrome[edit]
In the 1986 maxi-single Super Mario Bros.: Mario Syndrome by Bonus21, an arrangement of the song can be heard in the track "Princess Peach".
| Princess Peach | File info 0:30 |
Lyrics Romanization Translation 私は そうよ ピーチ姫 Watashi wa sō yo Pīchi-hime I am—that's right—Princess Peach キノコの国の 王女様 Kinoko no Kuni no ōjo-sama Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom けれども なぜか 今は Keredomo nazeka ima wa But, somehow, now 暗い お城に一人きり Kurai oshiro ni hitorikiri I'm all alone in a dark castle お願い マリオ 助けて Onegai Mario tasukete Please, Mario, help 私を マリオ 助けて Watashi o Mario tasukete Mario, save me はるかな 山や Haruka na yama ya Distant mountains and 深い 谷も Fukai tani mo Deep valleys あなたなら ひとっ飛び Anata nara hitottobi You'll make it in one jump
魔法のキノコ 食べたら Mahō no kinoko tabetara If you eat a magical mushroom 魔法の 花を 摘んだら Mahō no hana o tsundara If you pluck a magical flower 大きくなって ファイヤボール持って Ōkiku natte faiyabōru motte You'll grow big and carry fireballs なんにも こわくない Nanni mo kowakunai Nothing will scare you 無敵の マリオ 大好き Muteki no Mario daisuki I love invincible Mario あなたが マリオ 大好き Anata ga Mario daisuki I love you, Mario レンガの壁や Renga no kabe ya Brick walls and 地下の中の Chika no naka no The underground コイン取るの 忘れずに Koin toru no wasurezuni Don't forget to collect their coins
私は そうよ ピーチ姫 Watashi wa sō yo Pīchi-hime I am—that's right—Princess Peach キノコの国の 王女様 Kinoko no Kuni no ōjo-sama Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom けれども なぜか 今は Keredomo nazeka ima wa But, somehow, now 暗い お城に 一人きり Kurai oshiro ni hitorikiri I'm all alone in a dark castle プカプカ ルルル 海の底 Pukapuka rururu umi no soko Puff puff, rururu, at the bottom of the sea フワフワ ルルル 雲の上 Fuwafuwa rururu kumo no ue Float float, rururu, above the clouds プクプク、パイポ、ゲッソー Pukupuku, Paipo, Gessō Cheep Cheeps, Spiny Eggs, Bloopers パタパタ、バブル、クッパ Patapata, Baburu, Kuppa Koopa Paratroopas, Lava Bubbles, Bowser Let's go! go! Super MARIO Let's go! go! Super MARIO Let's go! Go! Super Mario
苦しい旅も いつかは Kurushii tabi mo itsuka wa Though it will be a tough trip, someday 終わりにきっと 近づく Owari ni kitto chikazuku You will surely reach the end あなたに はやく 逢いたい Anata ni hayaku aitai I want to see you soon 私、あなたの ピーチ姫 Watashi, anata no Pīchi-hime Me, your Princess Peach
Nintendo Campus Challenge[edit]
In the 1992 version of Nintendo Campus Challenge, a chiptune arrangement of the Underwater Theme plays on the title screen, which its nearly identical to the original heard in Super Mario Bros., albeit with few differences in the tempo and instruments.
Pushmo World[edit]
Pushmo World contains a medley consisting of the "Ground Theme", "Underground Theme", and "Underwater Theme" from Super Mario Bros.
Taiko no Tatsujin[edit]
Taiko no Tatsujin: Nijiiro Version and Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival contain a medley track titled "Super Mario Bros." It includes "Underwater BGM" along with the "Ground BGM", "Underground BGM", "Invincibility BGM", "Castle BGM", "World Clear", "Ending", and various sound effects from Super Mario Bros.
Appearances in other media[edit]
In Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition, a techno arrangement of the first half of the Underwater Theme by Taku Inoue[3] plays in Mushroom Battles.
| Mushroom Battle 3 | File info 0:30 |
Gallery[edit]
Image for the "Hurry Up!" variant on Nintendo Music
Image for "Title BGM" from Super Mario Bros. 2 on Nintendo Music
Image for "Melody Pianissima's Piano Performance (Underwater BGM)" from Luigi's Mansion on Nintendo Music
Image for "Super Bowser Bros. - Underwater" from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GameCube) on Nintendo Music
Icon for "Blooper Bop" in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
Image for "Super Bowser Bros. - Underwater" from Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch) on Nintendo Music
List of appearances[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. | 1985 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario Bros. Special | 1986 | Arrangement | |
| Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels | 1986 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen! | 1986 | Arrangement | |
| Arrangement | |||
| VS. Super Mario Bros. | 1986 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario Bros. 2 | 1988 | Arrangement | Koji Kondo |
| Super Mario All-Stars | 1993 | Arrangement | Soyo Oka |
| Super Mario Bros. Deluxe | 1999 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Arrangement | |||
| Super Mario Advance | 2001 | Arrangement | |
| Luigi's Mansion | 2001 | Arrangement | |
| Super Smash Bros. Melee | 2001 | Arrangement | Shogo Sakai |
| Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 | 2001 | Arrangement | |
| Super Mario Sunshine | 2002 | Arrangement | |
| Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 | 2002 | Arrangement | Taiju Suzuki |
| Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 | 2003 | Arrangement | Taiju Suzuki |
| Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) | Soyo Oka | ||
| Mario Party 5 | 2003 | Arrangement | Aya Tanaka |
| Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | 2004 | Arrangement | |
| Super Mario 64 DS | 2004 | Arrangement | Kenta Nagata |
| Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix | 2005 | Arrangement | |
| Mario Hoops 3-on-3 | 2006 | Arrangement | Masayoshi Soken |
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) | 2007 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | 2008 | Arrangement | Shogo Sakai |
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | |||
| Mario Clock | 2009 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS) | 2009 | Arrangement | |
| New Sounds in Brass: Super Mario Bros. | 2010 | Arrangement | Takashi Hoshide |
| Mario Sports Mix | 2010 | Arrangement | |
| Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games | 2011 | Arrangement | |
| Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games | 2013 | Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games) | |
| NES Remix | 2013 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| NES Remix Pack | 2014 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Mario Golf: World Tour | 2014 | Arrangement | Motoi Sakuraba |
| Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS | 2014 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | Shogo Sakai |
| Ultimate NES Remix | 2014 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | 2014 | Arrangement | Katsuro Tajima |
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | Shogo Sakai | ||
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | |||
| Super Mario Maker | 2015 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Arrangement | |||
| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games | 2016 | Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games) | |
| Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS | 2016 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker) | |||
| WarioWare Gold | 2018 | Arrangement | |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 2018 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | Shogo Sakai |
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) | |||
| Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U) | Katsuro Tajima | ||
| Super Mario Maker 2 | 2019 | Original | Koji Kondo |
| Arrangement | |||
| Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker) | |||
| The Super Mario Bros. Movie | 2023 | Arrangement | Brian Tyler |
| Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition | 2024 | Original | Koji Kondo |
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 水中BGM[1] Suichū BGM |
Underwater BGM |
Notes[edit]
- On the Nintendo Music app, "Underwater BGM" is labeled as "Selects," classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library," originating from Super Mario Bros.. "Underwater BGM" shares this title with "Ground BGM" and "Underground BGM."
- "Title BGM" from Super Mario Bros. 2, an arrangement of "Underwater BGM," also appears as "Selects" for its respective game. "Title BGM" shares this title with "Please Select Player" and "Ground BGM."
- Koji Kondo has officially stated that "Underwater BGM" was the first composition he finished for Super Mario Bros., as it was easy to imagine what being underwater should sound like.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Nintendo Music
- ^ Super Smash Bros. series Sound Tests
- ^ https://x.com/ino_tac/status/1121748165726629889
- ^ Iwata Asks : Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary : To Save Memory. Nintendo. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
