Ground Theme (Super Mario World)

The "Ground Theme" is a musical theme composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario World. It is used as a throughout the game, and has been reused and rearranged in numerous pieces of Super Mario media.

Composition
The "Ground Theme", originally titled 「地上BGM」 (Chijō BGM, "Ground BGM"), is played on steel drum, with synthesizer, guitar, brass, and acoustic bass as accompaniment, matching the tropical setting of Dinosaur Land. The melody is inspired by the 1963 folk song "". The melody mostly adheres to the in the key of F.

Reuses

 * For reuses of the "Athletic Theme", see Athletic Theme (Super Mario World) § Reuses.

The following list does not include ports or remakes of Super Mario World.

Arrangements

 * For arrangements of the "Athletic Theme", see Athletic Theme (Super Mario World) § Arrangements.

Super Mario World
The "Ground Theme" is used in several different themes throughout Super Mario World, often changing the  of the theme. The athletic, underground, castle, underwater, bonus game, course clear, and game over themes are all arrangements of the "Ground Theme". The athletic theme, titled 「アスレチックBGM」 (Asurechikku BGM, "Athletic BGM"), is an upbeat arrangement of the "Ground Theme" in the key of. The underwater theme, titled 「水中BGM」 (Suichū BGM, "Underwater BGM"), is a slow arrangement of the "Ground Theme" in the original key of. The rhythm of the melody is altered to fit the time of the piece. The underground theme, titled 「地下BGM」 (Chika BGM, "Underground BGM"), and the Castle theme, titled 「砦BGM」 (Toride BGM, "Fort BGM") , are both slow arrangements of the "Ground Theme". They flatten most instances of the and  to put the melody in the. The theme is transposed to for the repeating bars of the Castle Theme. The Ghost House theme, titled 「おばけ屋敷BGM」 (Obake Yashiki BGM, "Haunted House BGM"), is a foreboding arrangement of the "Ground Theme". The motif of the theme is played slowly in several s in the arrangement. Additionally, the key center regularly changes throughout the arrangement to produce an unnerving, disorienting effect. The bonus game theme, titled 「ボーナス面BGM」 (Bōnasu-Men BGM, "Bonus Side BGM"), is a playful arrangement of the "Ground Theme" in the key of. The course clear theme, titled 「コースクリア ファンファーレ」 (Kōsu Kuria Fanfāre, "Course Clear Fanfare") is a brief arrangement of the "Ground Theme" The Game Over theme, titled 「ゲームオーバー」 (Gēmu Ōbā, "Game Over"), is an arrangement of the first three notes of the "Ground Theme" played on.

While Mario is riding a Yoshi, percussion is added to the original theme and all of these arrangements. This does not include the Castle and Ghost House themes, where Yoshi cannot enter, and the Bonus Game theme, which already includes bongo percussion.

In Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2, the underground, underwater, Ghost House, and Castle themes are all reused for the respective course themes in the Super Mario World game style, as well as the Course Clear theme upon hitting the Giant Gate's tape, and the bonus game theme through the Bonus Music sound effect.

In Super Mario Maker 2, the Game Over theme in Endless Challenge is the arrangement from Super Mario World if the last course played was in that game style. Additionally, the athletic theme can be heard in sky-themed levels in the Super Mario World style.

In WarioWare: Get It Together!, the Castle theme plays in level 3 of the Super Mario World boss microgame, and the Course Clear fanfare plays after passing the Giant Gate at the end of each level.

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
In Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, a message can be entered when viewing banners in the Mystery Room; the default message is a series of notes that, when Start is pressed, causes an 8-bit arrangement of the ending notes of the "Ground Theme" to play.

Super Mario Galaxy
In Super Mario Galaxy, an arrangement of the bonus game theme plays when collecting the notes in the Deep Dark Galaxy secret room in the mission "Bubble Blastoff". This arrangement returns in Super Mario Galaxy 2, where it plays when collecting the notes in the Puzzle Plank Galaxy, and in Super Mario 3D Land for several sets of notes.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
The variation on the motif from the Castle and underground arrangements is quoted in New Super Mario Bros. Wii's "Castle Theme."

This arrangement returns in New Super Mario Bros. 2, New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Luigi U, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, Super Mario Run, and New Super Mario Bros. U-styled Castle courses in Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, and Super Mario Maker 2.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
In Super Mario Galaxy 2, the theme heard in Haunty Halls Galaxy and Boo Moon Galaxy, titled 「ゴーストコンベア」 (Gōsuto Konbea, "Ghost Conveyor"), is an arrangement of the Ghost House theme. While Mario is riding Yoshi, shaker and percussion is added. The theme was arranged by Mahito Yokota.

New Super Mario Bros. 2
In New Super Mario Bros. 2, the chime that can be heard while the game loads sometimes plays a small part of the "Ground Theme".

Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker introduces Super Mario World style Airship levels, which were not present in the original game, along with a new theme for these levels. Like many other themes in Super Mario World, this arrangement integrates a variation of the "Ground Theme"'s main. The motif is in a minor scale like the original Castle theme and is played on brass and string instruments.

Every piece of background music associated with a course theme has an original, more ambient arrangement for editing such a course in the Course Maker, using eight tracks that fade in and out randomly to create a dynamic mix. This includes all themes based on the "Ground Theme" from Super Mario World, as well as the castle theme in the New Super Mario Bros. U style, originally from New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

The Ghost House and Castle themes in the Super Mario World style receive new percussion parts for when Mario rides a Yoshi, as this was impossible in such levels in the original game. Like other themes in the original Super Mario World, both themes add to the instrumentation in their "Yoshi" variations.

All of these new arrangements return in their original capacities Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS and Super Mario Maker 2.

Super Mario Run
In Super Mario Run, an arrangement of the "Ground Theme" is incorporated into the theme for Remix 10.

Super Mario Odyssey
In Super Mario Odyssey, a solo arrangement of the "Ground Theme", titled "New Donk City: Cafe" and arranged by Naoto Kubo, plays on a radio in New Donk City's Outdoor Café.

An arrangement of the bonus game theme, titled "Above the Clouds" and arranged by Shiho Fujii, is used in some of the game's challenge areas.

Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker 2 introduces several new course themes in the Super Mario World style that use the "Ground Theme" in their music.

The desert theme plays the motif on a plucked string instrument,, and in the. The snow theme is an arrangement on strings, horn,, , , and with  and  as accompaniment, though some notes removed from the melody. The forest theme plays the motif on and, with acoustic bass, , and  as accompaniment.

A music box version of every piece of background music associated with a course theme plays during nighttime levels. This includes all themes based on the "Ground Theme" from Super Mario World, as well as the castle theme in the New Super Mario Bros. U style, originally from New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Like in Super Mario Maker, all of these tracks are paired with bongo percussion when Mario is riding a Yoshi. Additionally, every new theme is also more ambient arrangement with a dynamic mix when editing the course in the Course Maker.

A unique arrangement of the "Ground Theme" is also featured in the game's announcement trailer, where it plays after the title reveal, continuing where the original "Ground Theme" that played before left off. This arrangement incorporates a variety of different musical styles, excerpts of the original "Ground Theme", and Super Mario 3D World's main theme.

Mario Paint
In the music composing mode for Mario Paint, the song represented by Soundfrog's head includes a recreation of the main melody of the "Ground Theme".

Mario Teaches Typing series
Various orchestral rearrangements of the "Ground Theme", along with the Super Mario World title theme and the Donut Plains theme, play in the various cutscenes of Mario Teaches Typing and Mario Teaches Typing 2.

Mario is Missing!
In all but the NES version of Mario is Missing!, a arrangement of the "Ground Theme" in the key of  plays for most of the game, specifically when Luigi investigates cities. Additionally, an arrangement of the theme with hastened  notes in the melody plays during the credits in the  version.

Mario's Early Years! Fun with Letters
Mario's Early Years! Fun with Letters features an F major arrangement of the "Ground Theme" similar to the Mario is Missing! credits theme arrangement. It plays during the game's various activities outside of Sing Song World.

Additionally, once the player clears a certain number of exercises in every interactive activity, a arrangement of the "Course Clear" fanfare plays.

These arrangements returns in the other two games in the Mario's Early Years! series, Mario's Early Years! Fun with Numbers and Mario's Early Years! Preschool Fun, in their respective Sing Song Worlds.

Mario's Time Machine
In all but the NES version of Mario's Time Machine, an  arrangement of the "Ground Theme" in the key of plays whenever Mario activates the Timulator.

In the SNES version of the game, an  arrangement of the "Ground Theme" plays on the title screen.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars features an arrangement of the "Ground Theme" titled 「ねぇねぇジーノごっこしようよ」 (Ne Ne Jīno Gokko Shiyō Yo, "Hey Hey, Let's Play Make-Believe With Geno").

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, an arrangement of the Castle theme is featured at the beginning and end of the song "Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3)", with Super Mario Bros. 3's boss theme played in the middle. It was arranged by Yusuke Takahama. The song can be played on the Luigi's Mansion stage, as well as when encountering False Peach and/or Zelda in the Subspace Emissary. It was originally able to be played on the Delfino Plaza stage, but it cannot in the final game.

The arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where it can be played on Luigi's Mansion stage as well as the Super Mario Maker stage, and in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it can be on any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U features an arrangement medley titled "Super Mario World Medley" that incorporates arrangements of the "Ground Theme" and its bonus game and course clear arrangements, as well as Star World's theme, the "Super Star" theme, and the "Ground Theme" from Super Mario Bros. The "Ground Theme" portion has a slightly dragged-out introduction and incorporates the Yoshi percussion variation before transitioning to the bonus game theme portion. The "Ground Theme" is reprised at the end of the medley before it loops. The medley was arranged by Bandai Namco composer Hiroshi Okubo, and it can be played on the Yoshi's Island and Super Mario Maker stages.

The medley returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it can be on any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage.

Paper Mario
The "Main Title" theme from Paper Mario's title screen includes an arrangement of the first seven notes of the "Ground Theme" melody after the Super Mario World theme's intro.

The variation on the motif from the underground and Castle themes is also quoted on sine  in the theme heard in  Toad Town Tunnels, which is included in the track "Toad Town Variations" in the game's official soundtrack.

The bonus game theme is quoted in the "Victory Parade" credits theme.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door's victory jingles, both with and without the current partner being downed, are rearrangements of the Course Clear theme.

Super Paper Mario
In Super Paper Mario, the Lineland Road theme incorporates the "Ground Theme"'s motif in some later bars. It is played in the key of for three bars, then plays the opening half of the motif in E♭  and again in D♭ melodic minor for an entire bar.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, an arrangement of the "Ground Theme", titled "To Challenge!", is used during the Barrel and Chuckola Bounce minigames, as well as during the tutorial for Splart.

This arrangement is not included in the game's Nintendo 3DS remake, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions. It is instead replaced by an arrangement of "Challenging Actions!" from Mario & Luigi: Dream Team.

Mario Party Advance
In Mario Party Advance, the music heard on the results screen after the player runs out of Mushrooms in Shroom City is an arrangement of the "Ground Theme", with a lead and  and  accompaniment. The harmony consists of s.

Mario Party 9
In Mario Party 9, the music heard on the results screen includes a brief arrangement of the "Ground Theme"'s intro bar.

This arrangement returns in Mario Party: Island Tour, where it is also used as the results screen theme.

Mario Party 10
In Mario Party 10, the opening to the song "Slightly Nostalgic Theme" is an arrangement of the opening six notes of the "Ground Theme". This arrangement is one of three themes randomly picked for the minigame Steal the Beat,

Mario Party: Star Rush
In Mario Party: Star Rush, the "Ground Theme" appears as the first song the player can perform in the Rhythm Recital mode. It is the original version from Super Mario World accompanied by four instruments played by the game's players.

Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix features a arrangement of the "Ground Theme", titled "Pirate Dance" and a  arrangement of the bonus game theme,  titled "Step by Step".

Itadaki Street DS
In Itadaki Street DS, an arrangement of the bonus game theme plays in the minigame Itadaki Slot if it is played on a Super Mario board.

Fortune Street
In Fortune Street, an arrangement of the bonus game theme very similar to the one heard in Itadaki Street DS plays in the arcade minigames for Super Mario franchise characters.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
A arrangement of the "Ground Theme" appears in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. This arrangement samples the original "Ground Theme" as well.

In the Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, a synthesized arrangement of the "Ground Theme" plays during the first portion of the Mario Medley for the Ultimate Figure Skating event. It is mostly faithful to the original theme, though the last four measures before the loop are omitted.

The Wii arrangement returns in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games features a new arrangement of the "Ground Theme", titled "Main Theme: Super Mario World (Remix)". This arrangement features a large number of string instruments and plays through several iterations of the "Ground Theme". It appears as one of the selectable songs for Figure Skating Singles.

Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition
In Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition, an arrangement of the "Ground Theme" plays in the bonus sections.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie
In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the "Ground Theme" and three of its Super Mario World variations received arrangements in the score, which was composed by Brian Tyler. A short arrangement of the "Ground Theme" plays in the track "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom" before Mario enters the Clear Pipe in Toad Town, and another arrangement of the theme plays in "The Adventure Begins" when Mario, Peach, and Toad travel through Yoshi's Island. A sped-up arrangement of the Ghost House theme is briefly heard towards the end of "The Darklands" as Luigi escapes from the horde of Dry Bones in the Dark Lands. An arrangement of the Castle theme plays in the credits theme "Level Complete", and an arrangement of the theme's first few notes can also be heard at the beginning of "World 1-1".

Other arrangements
The official soundtrack for Super Mario World includes several unique arrangements of the "Ground Theme" by Soichi Noriki and performed by the Mario World Band. "Super Mario World" is an arrangement of the original theme, "Morning of Yoster Island" is an arrangement of the underwater theme, and "Mario! Stay Alert!" is an arranged medley of the underground, Ghost House, and Castle themes.

List of Super Mario appearances

 * For appearances of the "Athletic Theme", see Athletic Theme (Super Mario World) § List of Super Mario appearances.