It's been ages since I've tried to submit a Top 10 list to GameFAQs (the only one I ever did wasn't accepted because they had an overload of those at that time), but I recently stumbled across a nearly-finished list that I should finally finish. It's a list of the ten most memorable songs from games made by Nintendo. I've already written most of it, but I'll let you get a small bit of input into what songs appear on the list (yes, the Mario and Zelda themes are on that list) - especially in case I end up forgetting something obvious. I'll give credit for any suggestions I end up using.

My Top Nintendo Songs, In Order of Series:

Pokemon- Silph Co.
Pokemon- Last Battle, vs. Blue
Pokemon- Pokemon Red and Blue Intro Theme (A real classic, strikes nostalgia into me like nobody's business! Related, Red's battle theme in GSC)
Pokemon- Silver's Theme
Pokemon- Nimbasa City
Pokemon- N's Theme (The music box version that plays in his room is lovely too)
Pokemon- Temporal Tower (and the related Fight To The Finish. But dang it, Dialga... Hard to beat...)
Pokemon- Phenac City ~crisis~
Mario- Word 1-1 (OF COURSE)
Mario- Koopa's Road
Mario- Bob-Omb Battlefield
Mario- Delfino Square
Mario Kart- Rainbow Road (Double Dash version especially)
Various Mario RPGs- Beware the Forest's Mushrooms (OF COURSE)
Various Mario RPGs- Popple's Theme
Various Mario RPGs- Teehee Valley
Various Mario RPGs- Doopliss' Theme
Various Mario RPGs- Sammer's Kingdom
Various Mario RPGs- The Ultimate Show
Various Mario RPGs- Super Paper Mario Credits
Kirby- Green Greens
Kirby- Gourmet Race (Fountain of Dreams from Smash Bros. is one of my favorite versions.)
Kirby- Marx's Battle Theme
Kirby- Halberd Warship (The Brawl version is also fab, especially because it mixes the other Halberd themes in there. The Epic Yarn version is very interesting, too!)
Kirby- Kirby Super Star Credits
Kirby- Checker Knights (OF COURSE)
Kirby- King Dedede's Theme
Mother- Pollyanna (the Smash Bros. version, especially)
Mother- His Highness' Theme (every iteration. I NEVER GET TIRED OF IIIIIIIIT)
Mother- Etude for Ghosts
Mother- the whole Mother 3i album
Zelda- Overworld Theme (OF COURSE)
Zelda- Underworld Theme
Zelda- Saria's Song (So... Catchy...)
Zelda- Zelda's Lullaby
Zelda- Sheik's Theme (Really short, but still really good)
Zelda- Song of Storms
Zelda- Gerudo Valley
Zelda- I'll just say the rest of the songs in Ocarina of Time.
Zelda- Song of Healing
Zelda- Deku Palace
Zelda- Stone Tower Temple
Zelda- Ancient Castle of Ikana
Zelda- Bremen Mask March (very nostalgic for me~)
Zelda- Kamaro's Dance (one of my very favorite bits of video game music ever)
Zelda- The Legendary Hero (Best. Opening cutscene song. Ever.)
Zelda- Dragon Roost Island
Zelda- Molgera
Zelda- Hidden Village
Zelda- Puppet Zelda
Zelda- Chancellor Cole's Theme (and the variations)
WarioWare- Four Seasons
WarioWare- Ashley's Theme
WarioWare- Rock The Mike

Sorry for big, long song dump, but maybe some of my favorites can make the list.

Of course, I listen to a lot of music, so this isn't even most of my favorites, but they are the ones I'm willing to post right now.

Thanks - that list should help, since I was overlooking a few of those you mentioned, especially in the Kirby department, even though a decent chunk of those were on my preliminary list anyway. Any list of most memorable Nintendo themes that remembers to include the Hidden Village theme can't be bad, either...

Only 10 and they have to be memorable? Why don't you go and make sure they're all from the biggest franchises?

• Earthbound - Fourside (I guess, but I'll have to admit my dirty secret of not having played Earthbound since I was like 10. There's probably a better song from the Mother series to choose.)
  
• F-Zero - Mute City (DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUUUUN)
  
• Kirby - Victory Theme (Surprise! Or Green Greens but the defeating a boss or beating a level theme is more memorable for me in this case.)
  
• Mario - Main Theme (It's been remixed in most, if not all other Mario games)
  
• Metroid - Brinstar (I don't have a good explanation for this one.)
  
• Pokémon - Evolution / Safari Zone (Or the intro music instead, don't know the name, also plays in the intros of Pokémon Stadium & 2, I believe. My third choice would be Viridian City.)
  
• Star Fox - Corneria (It's always what I think of when I hear Starfox.)
  
• Zelda - Overworld (Let's say the first Zelda, but it's also remixed in Link to the Past and other Zelda games)
  

In no particular order. If you agree with it, I'd say that nails eight of the songs on your list. But I can't think of the last two.

EDIT: Maybe the last two could be a Wario song and a Yoshi song but I hate to give Mario 3 places like that. And sorry about whichever ones are duplicates of Fujiko's.

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Edited by: Puddin, Jun 20th, 2011 @ 2:12 pm

Thanks Mason. Actually, a lot of songs are on two or all three of our lists, so don't worry about duplication. The original Mario and Zelda themes are locks to make the final list, of course, though there might be a surprise or two as well. Also, I'm not necessarily going to include a different series for each entry on the list.

Kakariko Village / Fishing pond from Ocarina of Time, the version that plays in the past.

Here's my semi-final version of this Top Ten. Any subsequent changes will likely be minor (like trimming down or removing the honorable mention section). SBAllen at GameFAQs seems to be on vacation, so I might wait a few days before I actually submit this.




Most Unforgettable Songs in a Nintendo Game

Over the years Nintendo has proven time and again that they can churn out extremely memorable music, whether the tunes tend toward the bouncy, epic, or sublime. This Top Ten features my opinion of the ten most memorable songs in Nintendo games, with a slight bias toward composers other than Koji Kondo, not because he's not amazing but because I'm trying to avoid overlooking less-familiar musicians (and because there was already a Top Ten feature just for Kondo's work).

Needless to say, the selections on this list are extremely subjective, and similar lists that have appeared in the past (including The_Mura's recent Top Ten featuring songs composed by Kondo) have differed enormously. I have, however, tried to include a mix of songs that have become exceptionally famous, songs that suit their accompanying environments exquisitely, and songs that are of high musical value. Reasonable care was also taken to maintain a healthy balance of the perky, the dramatic, and the tranquil. There's also a lot of weight given to music I simply happen to like, so argue about that to your hearts' content.

Obviously, I only selected music used in games published by Nintendo, rather than music from other companies' games that appeared on a Nintendo system. This includes games developed by Rare when it was partially owned by Nintendo (like the DKC games) but obviously excludes third-party games like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger. Again, while the great Koji Kondo is certainly well-represented on the list, one must not neglect the fact that other people besides him have produced great music for Nintendo games.

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10. EarthBound - The New Age Retro Hippie
While this isn't the most spectacular song on the list, it never hurts to have some old-time rock 'n' roll in a video game. And it's hard not to laugh the first time you see "New Age Retro Hippie" appear on the screen, along with a guitar riff that's obviously ripped straight out of Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode (which the entire song is a "Jimmy Hart Version" of). The 60's-style guitar wouldn't sound out of place at Woodstock, though the style and driving rhythm are still awfully 50's-ish for a hippie. While this song is also the theme song for the hippies in Mother, the Japanese prequel to EarthBound, most Americans associate this song with the game they most likely first heard this song in. The MOTHER soundtracks as a whole exemplify variety in music, which is good, because then you get things as original and off-the-wall as this one.

9. Paper Mario - Tubba Blubba Battle
First of all, it's hard to forget the music played in a battle against a capillary organ, much less one belonging to an enormous SMB 3-like Spike enemy who's removed his own heart (a nod to an obscure Norse myth). Secondly, it's the final boss of what's generally considered the most exciting chapter of a very memorable game. And it's a really nifty song to boot. When I first beat Tubba Blubba in the pre-YouTube bronze age of 2001, I felt quite sorry for not bothering to record the music on tape! The song opens with a dramatic but mysterious mix of strings and flutes, with a touch of swing to it. But a little later, probably once you're trying to figure out exactly what this bizarre boss is up to, an organ kicks in with a much faster, tenser beat, along with a few dark, low strings and horns, making the boss feel all the more intimidating. It's the perfect accompaniment to an absurd - but vaguely creepy - boss battle.

8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Saria's Song
A.K.A. the Lost Woods Theme, Saria's Song has to be one of the catchiest songs in video game history. The music conveys a strong aura of playful innocence, yet mystery, doing an excellent job of representing an environment that seems familiar and safe, yet full of uncertainties and dangers. Even if you think you've found all the secrets in the woods, the music beckons you to explore a little farther, where you'll invariably make another new discovery of something that you never imagined you'd find. Saria's Song also appears as the theme song for the scarecrow dances and as a remixed version in the ending, and also makes a brief appearance in other games, including the Terminan incarnation of the Lost Woods. I can't say I particularly care for the excessively serious remake Nintendo did to this piece in Twilight Princess, however. And no, the author of this Top Ten has never whistled this song while randomly wandering through the woods. No, not a single time. Never. Not ever (wink, wink). Saria's Song is modeled after a portion of Jupiter from Holst's "The Planets," a work that Nintendo has been known to allude to in other games as well!

7. Pokemon Red/Blue - Opening
I never got into Pokemon that much when it was new to America, nor was I interested in the anime, but it's hard not to feel a boatload of nostalgia for this triumphant and dramatic song. Even when confined to the greenish 8-bit graphics of the original Game Boy, this has to remain one of the most - if not the most - memorable opening sequences for any video game. The remixes of this song used in the final battles of various Pokemon games are also worth pointing out, because those are also pretty remarkable, along with the bits and pieces of this mixed into assorted other tunes in the Pokemon series.

6. Tetris - Korobeiniki
Universally recognized to Western ears as the music played in Type A mode in the original Tetris, Korobeiniki was originally a sensuous and tragic Russian folk song about the ill-fated romance between a peasant girl and a traveling merchant. While it's debatable whether this arrangement could really be considered a true Nintendo song (or a video game song, for that matter), nearly everyone who's ever played Tetris gets this song stuck in their heads once in a while, and it's instantly associated with falling tetrads, so I'm giving it a well-deserved spot on the list.

5. Super Mario Galaxy - Gusty Garden Galaxy
The first Mario game to give us a taste of fully orchestrated audio, Gusty Garden Galaxy is easily the most unforgettable song in the game. Perfectly suited to the zany Gusty Garden Galaxy world, where Mario spends much of his time floating through the skies from a dandelion spore, the fully orchestrated arrangement is brilliant and sweet without daring to become sappy or maudlin.

4. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest - Stickerbrush Symphony
Donkey Kong Country 2 was a game that really showed what the aging Super NES could do, from the perspective of both graphics and audio. Stickerbrush Symphony is the song played in all three of the bramble levels in DKC 2, but I always associate it with Bramble Scramble, which is the level which first makes you think, "Wow, this game isn't just tough - it's REALLY tough." The song opens with a kalimba or nylon guitar and some peaceful strings, just as the level is opening and you're still feeling calm. A few piano notes tinkle in the background, just as a few synths scale upwards, not unlike a monkey climbing a rope or blasting up a gap in the vines with the aid of a barrel cannon. Then a few sweet saxes play until the song hits a new point (usually near the halfway point of the level), where the rhythm changes and a deeper percussion set joins in. Now the pianos and synths take on a much tenser feel, as you realize you're not just climbing through some vines - this place is dangerous! Oh yes, and it's worth mentioning that many people claim this song sounds a whole lot like "I Will Remember You" by Amy Grant.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - Tal Tal Mountain Range
Yeah, you probably smelled the traditional Zelda overworld theme making an appearance on this list. While this iconic song has been remixed countless times before, I still don't think any rendition of it feels as amazing as the version heard in the mountains of Koholint Island, even the darker-toned Termina Field theme of Majora's Mask, or the epic finale of "The Legendary Hero" from Wind Waker. When I first heard this song - at age six - I recall listening to it for several minutes on end from the tiny corner of the only screen where you could hear it at that point in the game. The music is a superb remix of the Zelda overworld theme that really makes you feel like you're climbing a mountain and really feels adventurous. The new rhythm and feel are quite appropriate to the land of Koholint Island, a place which resembles Hyrule but isn't Hyrule.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Gerudo Valley
I'll give a dollar to anyone who can find anyone who's ever beaten any version of Ocarina of Time and didn't like this song. The Ocarina of Time soundtrack is truly a masterpiece, but this is usually considered the best song in the game, which is saying something. The Gerudo Valley theme isn't terribly complex - basically, a guitar, a bass, some unobtrusive percussion, and a few horns that kick in at the climax - but few video game songs do as masterful a job of introducing a game environment as this. With a touch of Spanish flamenco and a hint of the rhythm of horses' hooves, the music does a superb job of presenting an atmosphere with huge amounts of both adventure and danger, and expresses the mystery and austere courage of the Gerudos and those who brave the desert conditions. And thankfully, you'll never get tired of hearing this, which is a good thing, since you'll probably be hanging out in the desert quite a bit, whether by necessity or just so you can listen to the music!

1. Super Mario Bros. - Overworld Theme
Who would've guessed this, of all songs, would show up in the number one spot on a list of this type? Again, this song has been remixed countless times, like in the Super Smash Bros. games or in the twisted worlds in Super Mario Sunshine, but it's hard for me to name anything other than the original Mario overworld music as the number one entry on this list. Cliched? Perhaps, but I don't care. It's catchy, it's memorable, and I'd even go out on a limb and say that Mario never would've gotten as big as he has if Koji Kondo had used a different theme song for the original SMB.

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There is no way I can restrain myself from including a shamefully lengthy Honorable Mention section in this: Hammer Theme (Donkey Kong); Underworld (SMB); Dungeon Theme (The Legend of Zelda); Brinstar (Metroid); Water Land (SMB 3/most subsequent Zelda games); Opening (Super Mario World); Mute City (F-Zero); Kakariko Village, Dark World, Ending (A Link to the Past); Opening (Super Play Action Football); Koopa Beach (Super Mario Kart); Corneria (StarFox); Aquatic Ambiance (DKC); Haunted Chase (DKC 2), Snakey Chantey (DKC 2); Touch Fuzzy, Get Dizzy (Yoshi's Island); Beware the Forest's Mushrooms (Super Mario RPG); Green Greens, Gourmet Race, Revenge of the Metaknight Credits (Kirby Superstar, etc.); Bob-Omb Battlefield, Ultimate Koopa (Super Mario 64); Gruntilda's Lair (Banjo-Kazooie); Hyrule Field, Zelda's Lullaby, Song of Storms, literally every single song in Zelda 64; Boo Classic (a.k.a. Boo Clasic) (Mario Golf); Gloomy Galleon (Donkey Kong 64); Stone Tower Temple, Deku Palace, Song of Healing, Oath to Order, most of the Majora's Mask soundtrack; Delfino Square (Super Mario Sunshine); Teehee Valley, Popple's Theme; Checker Knights (Kirby's Air Ride); Rainbow Road, Waluigi Stadium (Super Mario Kart: Double Dash!!); Ashley's Theme, Four Seasons (WarioWare); Pollyanna, His Highness' Theme, Mind of a Thief, and the entire Mother 3i album; Hidden Village (Twilight Princess); Ghostly Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy); and N's Theme and Pokemon battle intros in general (Pokemon Black/White).

Lastly, I'd like to extend a nice big thanks to Fujiko, Mason, and Miles for helping me with this long-neglected project of mine and preventing me from overlooking a number of very worthy entries to this list.

So there you go. You might agree or you might not with these selections, but if this Top Ten inspires you to argue some more about the best video game music ever, or better yet, hit YouTube or check out the original soundtracks, this Top Ten will be worth its existence.

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Edited by: Bibby, Jul 6th, 2011 @ 10:24 pm

I just submitted the Top 10 to GameFAQs. The final version is barely different from the one I posted here (I changed a couple of words and corrected a mistake in the Honorable Mention), but I can post the new version as well if people want.

What's Gusty Gardens Galaxy? I don't think went there.

Actually, I don't remember over half of the songs on the list, lol. Is this your opinion or are you trying to gather information from other members of the site so that you can edit the list?

Gusty Garden Galaxy was near the halfway point in Super Mario Galaxy. It wasn't a secret world or anything.

Most of the songs on the list are pretty well-known, but if you haven't heard them, you're highly encouraged to find a way to listen to them! This list is basically my personal opinion, although I asked a few people here to help look over it and make sure I didn't forget something really obvious. At this point, however, I've submitted the list to GameFAQs and I won't change anything about it unless someone uncovers a glaring error.