Opening (Donkey Kong)

The "Theme" is a recurring music theme most commonly heard within the Donkey Kong franchise, mostly on title screens or as Cranky Kong's theme.

Donkey Kong
In the Nintendo Entertainment System version of Donkey Kong, the theme plays on the title screen.

Donkey Kong Country
An arrangement appears in Donkey Kong Country, where it plays on the title screen. Another arrangement plays in Cranky's Cabin.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
An arrangement, called "Steel Drum Rhumba" in the original soundtrack, appears in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, where it plays on the file select screen. Another arrangement based on Cranky's Cabin, called "Cranky's Conga" in the original soundtrack, plays in the Monkey Museum.

Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Color)
Chiptune arrangements of the arrangements from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System version of Donkey Kong Country appears in the Game Boy Color version of Donkey Kong Country.

Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance)
Arrangements of the arrangements from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System version of Donkey Kong Country appears in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country.

Donkey Kong Country 2
Arrangements of the arrangements from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System version of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest appears in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country 2.

Donkey Kong Country Returns
An arrangement based on Donkey Kong Country's version appears in Donkey Kong Country Returns, where it plays on the title screen. This arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where it plays in Kongo Jungle 64, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it plays in every Donkey Kong-series stage. Another arrangement based on Donkey Kong Country's Cranky's Cabin plays in Cranky Kong's Shop.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
An arrangement plays in the opening cutscene of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

Donkey Kong Land 2
A chiptune arrangement of Steel Drum Rhumba plays on the file select screen of Donkey Kong Land 2.

Mario Tennis
In Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64, an arrangement plays on the Donkey Kong Court, and another arrangement plays during Donkey Kong's trophy celebration.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong a clarinet arrangement of the theme, together with the Super Mario Bros. ground theme, plays in the game's title screen.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, a slow, jazzy C major arrangement of the theme plays in the title screen, along with snippets of the Super Mario Bros. ground theme.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!, a slightly different arrangement of the theme plays in the title screen. While it still features the exact same snippets of the Super Mario Bros. ground theme, it is now played in E♭ major with a trumpet used as the melody, is more of a marching band arrangement, and has an extended melody. Another G major arrangement without the Super Mario Bros. ground theme snippets plays during the results screen for each level, though half of it also uses concert flute trills for improvisation.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
Another arrangement exists in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars which closely resembles the Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! title screen arrangement, and is now played on a violin. This arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate under the title "Title Theme - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars" and can be played in any Mario-series stage.

Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge
A slightly different version of the arrangement heard in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars plays on the title screen for Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge.

DK: King of Swing
In DK: King of Swing, an arrangement based on Donkey Kong Country's Cranky's Cabin plays on Cranky's Lectures.

DK: Jungle Climber
An arrangement based on Donkey Kong Country's Cranky's Cabin appears in DK: Jungle Climber.

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
An arrangement appears in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast, where it plays in Cosmic Highway.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the theme is incorporated into "Opening (Donkey Kong)", which plays in 75 m. This arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, where it plays in the same stage as Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it plays in every Donkey Kong-series stage.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
An arrangement appears in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, titled "Donkey Kong Country Returns (Vocals)". It is based on the Donkey Kong Country Returns version of the theme. It plays in Kongo Jungle 64. This arrangement returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, where it plays in every Donkey Kong-series stage.

Nintendo Land
In Nintendo Land, the original version plays on the title/setup screen of Donkey Kong's Crash Course, while an arrangement based on Donkey Kong Country's Cranky's Cabin plays during Crash Course itself.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
In Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, the theme is incorporated into "Midboss Melody", the mid-boss theme from the Donkey Kong Adventure DLC.