Classic video game consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System didn't just play games; they also played music. Their onboard synthesizers put strict limits on what kinds of music game composers could write, but from those limits came a cornucopia of musical themes that remain iconic even today.

On this episode, Kirk peels back the layers of Koji Kondo's  "World 1-1" music from the first Super Mario Bros., revealing a perfectly polished musical gem.

Level: World 1-1

Game: Super Mario Bros. (1985)

Written by: Koji Kondo

ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:

• The Legend of Zelda theme and various other tracks from Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, all by Koji Kondo
• "Nascence" from Journey by Austin Wintory feat. Tina Guo, 2012
• "El Cayuco" by Tito Puente from Dance Mania, 1958
• Audio from the Basileous Productions playthrough of World 1-1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-avspZlbOWU

OUTRO SOLOIST: Steve Pardo

This episode's outro soloist is the one and only Steve Pardo. Steve is a Nashville, TN based producer, composer, and saxophonist, and also does work in the world of video games, having spent several years at Harmonix, where he helped make music games like Rock Band and Dance Central. You can find out more at his website: https://www.stevepardo.com/

TRIPLE CLICK

If you want to listen to Kirk talk about video games every week, check out his new video game podcast Triple Click, which he co-hosts with Polygon's Maddy Myers and Bloomberg News's Jason Schreier. It's on all major podcast services, and also at http://tripleclickpodcast.com.

--------------------

July 2020 Whole-Note Patrons

AccessViolation - Aidan Coughlan - Andre Bremer - Anne Britt - Bill Rosinger - Caleb Rotach - Chad Barnard - Christer Lindqvist - Craig J. Covell - Dan Apczynski - Dave Florey - David Zahm - Doug Paton - Erin - Glenn - Guinevere Boostrom - Jeanneret - Manning Family Four - Jill Smith-Moore - Kyle Starr - Mark Schechter - Matt Butler - Merlin Mann - Mickey Clark - Narelle Horn - Nathaniel Bauernfeind - R Watson - Rachel Rakov - Robert Paul - Ryan Torvik - Viki Dun

July 2020 Half-Note Patrons

AJ Schuster - Adam Conway - Albukitty - Alexander Geddes - Alexander Polson - Amanda Furlotti - Andrew Baker - Andrew Lee - Aparajit Raghavan - Arjun Sharma - Benedict Pennington - Bill Fuller - Bill Thornton - Brendon Oliver-Ewen - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Briony Leo - Brooke Wilford - Caro Field - Chas Lednicky - Chris Brown - Clare Holberton - Cyrus N. White - Darryl Stewart - Dave King - David Stroud - David Zucker - Dhu Wik - Diane Turner - Duncan - Earl Lozada - Eero Wahlstedt - Elliot Jay O’Neill - Emily Williams - Eric Helm - Forrest Chang - Gavin Doig - Geoff Golden - Georgia Livesay - Gerry Nelson - Jack Sjogren - Jake Tinsley - James Johnson - Jarrod Schindler - Jeffrey Olson - Jenifer Carr - Jennifer Bush - Jeremy Dawson - Joe C - John and Sharon Stenglein - Jon O’Keefe - Jonathan Daniels - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Judith Stansfield - Judy Chapple - Jules Bailey - Justin Liew - Justin McElroy - Kate Albury - Kendra Reid - Kevin Morrell - Kevin Pennyfeather - Latifah Makuyi - Leigh Sales - MH - Malory - Mark Haberlen - Mark Perry - Mark Steen - Markus Koester - Matt Betzel - Matt Gaskell - Melanie Stivers - Michael Blackwell - Michael Bochner - Michael Flaherty - Miriam Juskowicz - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Nicholas Schechter - Pascal Rueger - Randy Souza - Richard Toller - Robbie Ferrero - Robyn Fraser - Sam Fenn - Shane DeLeon - Sheilah - SP - Steven Maron - Stuart Terry - Suellen Moore - Tanner Morton - Tom Clewer - Tom Coleman - Tom Lauer - Toni Isaacson - Wayne Marsh - Wen - Zoe Little - Brant Brantphillip

----LINKS-----

💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
Patreon | One-Time Donation

🏠 HOMEPAGE

👚 MERCH

💬 DISCORD SERVER

📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER

🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS

🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC

📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky

🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

🎨 SHOW ART:
Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics