Gang-Plank Galleon (theme)

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"Gang-Plank Galleon"
"Gang-Plank Galleon" in Donkey Kong Country
The image for "Gang-Plank Galleon" from Donkey Kong Country on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
David Wise
Genres Sea shanty, heavy metal
Key F major
First appearance Donkey Kong Country (1994)
Latest appearance Donkey Kong Bananza (2025)
Arranged in
"Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)" (Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest)

"Gang-Plank Galleon"[1][2] (known as "THE PIRATE SHIP" in Japanese soundtracks) is a musical theme composed by David Wise for Donkey Kong Country, where it plays in the final boss level of the same name. This theme is often used as a leitmotif for King K. Rool in subsequent games in the Donkey Kong franchise.

Composition[edit]

The theme starts as a sea shanty played on an accordion, representing the pirate theme of the stage where the theme is originally heard, though it quickly segues into a more intense battle theme with a "galloping" drum rhythm and an electric guitar. Wise describes the theme as "sea shanty-meets-Iron Maiden", and listened to CDs of sea shanties and an album of barrel organ music for inspiration when composing it.[3] The theme is also loosely based on the title theme from the NES port of Sid Meier's Pirates! developed by Rare, also composed by Wise.

History[edit]

Donkey Kong Country series[edit]

Donkey Kong Country[edit]

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Donkey Kong Country marks the first appearance of "Gang-Plank Galleon". It is also included in the official albums DK Jamz, Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy, Super Donkey Kong Original Sound Version, and Donkey Kong Country Trilogy.

In the Game Boy Color remake of Donkey Kong Country, the Donkey Kong Land arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" plays for the same purpose as in the original game.

In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country, an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" plays for the same purpose as in the original game. The first and second halves of this arrangement are split into two different tracks in the game's sound test. They are titled "Gang-Plank Galleon 1" and "Gang-Plank Galleon 2" respectively.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest[edit]

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Main article: Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest features three arrangements of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by David Wise, all of which are included in the official albums The Original Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack, Super Donkey Kong 2: Dixie & Diddy Original Sound Version and Donkey Kong Country Trilogy.

A loose arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" with a slower-paced and subdued melody plays in the levels Pirate Panic and Gangplank Galley. It is titled "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)" in the Nintendo Music app.

A medley arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" and "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)" plays in Rattle Battle and on the ship deck at the end of Glimmer's Galleon. It is titled "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)" in the Nintendo Music app.

A brief arrangement of "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)" plays in the Game Over screen. It is likewise titled "Game Over" in the Nintendo Music app.

In the Game Boy Advance remake of Donkey Kong Country 2, arrangements of "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)", "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)", and "Game Over" all play for the same purposes as in the original game.

Icon of an audio speaker. Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic) - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
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Icon of an audio speaker. Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle) - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
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Icon of an audio speaker. Game Over - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
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Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble![edit]

In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, a brief arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by Eveline Novakovic plays when Krematoa is revealed.

Icon of an audio speaker. Krematoa Appears - The jingle heard in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
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Donkey Kong Land series[edit]

Donkey Kong Land[edit]

In Donkey Kong Land, a chiptune arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by David Wise plays in the ship levels. It is titled "Gangplank Galleon Ahoy!"[4] The second half of this arrangement is drastically different from the original theme.

Icon of an audio speaker. Gangplank Galleon Ahoy! - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Land
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Donkey Kong Land 2[edit]

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In Donkey Kong Land 2, a chiptune arrangement of "Game Over" from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest arranged by Grant Kirkhope plays in the Game Over screen.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

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In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by Shōgo Sakai can play in the Rumble Falls stage. It also plays during the Character Roll Call after completing Classic Mode or All-Star Mode as Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong and in The Lake in The Subspace Emissary. It is titled "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" in the game's sound test. It is also included in the official album Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U: A Smashing Soundtrack. This arrangement begins as a sea shanty like the original, but it incorporates a hard rock tone midway through.

Despite the name of this arrangement suggesting that it incorporates two different themes, it only takes after "Gang-Plank Galleon" from Donkey Kong Country. The name "Ship Deck 2" refers to "Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)" in the sound test of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, but no elements from that theme are present.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" from Super Smash Bros. Brawl can play in the Kongo Jungle 64 stage.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

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In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" from Super Smash Bros. Brawl and a new arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" arranged by ACE can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Donkey Kong-series stage. The new arrangement also plays during the staff credits of King K. Rool's Classic Mode route. This arrangement heavily focuses on the brass and features a unique solo section with seemingly gibberish vocals. Before the theme's second section, a few monkey noises are present.

A brief arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" serves as King K. Rool's victory theme, which plays whenever he wins a fight.

Icon of an audio speaker. King K. Rool's Victory - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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Donkey Kong Bananza[edit]

In Donkey Kong Bananza, an arrangement of "Gang-Plank Galleon" plays during the Kredits sequence and during the second phase of the boss battle against King K. Rool. It is titled "Banandium Root Tower" in the game's sound test. This theme also quotes "Big Boss Blues" from Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and "K. Rool Returns (Title Theme)" from Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.

Icon of an audio speaker. Banandium Root Tower - The arrangement heard in Donkey Kong Bananza
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0:30
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Gallery[edit]

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Donkey Kong Country Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1994 Original "Gang-Plank Galleon"[2] David Wise
Donkey Kong Land Game Boy 1995 Arrangement "Gangplank Galleon Ahoy!"[4] David Wise
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1995 Arrangement "Klomp's Romp (Pirate Panic)"[5] David Wise
"Snakey Chantey (Rattle Battle)"[5]
"Game Over"[5]
Donkey Kong Land 2 Game Boy 1996 Arrangement Grant Kirkhope
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! Super Nintendo Entertainment System 1996 Arrangement Eveline Novakovic
Donkey Kong Country Game Boy Color 2000 Past arrangement (Donkey Kong Land) David Wise
Donkey Kong Country Game Boy Advance 2003 Arrangement "Gang-Plank Galleon 1"[6] David Wise
"Gang-Plank Galleon 2"[6]
Donkey Kong Country 2 Game Boy Advance 2004 Arrangement "Klomp's Romp" David Wise
"Game Over"
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Wii 2008 Arrangement "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" Shōgo Sakai
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U 2014 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" Shōgo Sakai
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2018 Arrangement "Gang-Plank Galleon" ACE (TOMOri Kudo / CHiCO)
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" Shōgo Sakai
Donkey Kong Bananza Nintendo Switch 2 2025 Arrangement "Banandium Root Tower"[7]

Albums[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
DK Jamz 1994 Original "Gang-Plank Galleon" David Wise
Super Donkey Kong Game Music CD Jungle Fantasy 1995 Original "THE PIRATE SHIP" David Wise
Super Donkey Kong Original Sound Version 1995 Original "THE PIRATE SHIP" David Wise
Donkey Kong Country Trilogy 1996 Original Gang-Plank Galleon David Wise
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U: A Smashing Soundtrack 2015 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) "King K. Rool / Ship Deck 2" Shōgo Sakai

Names in other languages[edit]

"Gang-Plank Galleon 1"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Note(s) Ref.
French Gang-Plank Galleon 1 - [8]
German Galions-Planken 1 Gang-Plank Galleon 1 [9]
Italian Nave soave Suave ship [10]
Spanish Galeón del Gang-Plank 1 Gang-Plank Galleon 1 [11]

"Gang-Plank Galleon 2"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Note(s) Ref.
French Gang-Plank Galleon 2 - [8]
German Galions-Planken 2 Gang-Plank Galleon 2 [9]
Italian Nave grave Serious ship [10]
Spanish Galeón del Gang-Plank 2 Gang-Plank Galleon 2 [11]

"Klomp's Romp"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Note(s) Ref.
French Klomp's Romp - [12]
German Klomps Rabatz Klomp's Rumpus [13]
Italian Canzone Krudel Klomp Song [14]
Spanish Klomp's Romp - [15]

"Banandium Root Tower"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Note(s) Ref.
German Banandium-Ader-Turm Banandium Vein Tower [7]
Italian Torre di Banandium Banandium tower [7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nintendo Music
  2. ^ a b DK Jamz
  3. ^ King, D. (November 19, 2024). The Man Behind the Legendary Donkey Kong Country Soundtracks. The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Graeme Norgate's website
  5. ^ a b c The Original Donkey Kong Country 2 Soundtrack
  6. ^ a b Donkey Kong Country (Game Boy Advance) sound test
  7. ^ a b c Donkey Kong Bananza sound test
  8. ^ a b Sound Player (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
  9. ^ a b Song-Player (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German).
  10. ^ a b Juke Box (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
  11. ^ a b Juke Box (2003). Donkey Kong Country. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Spanish).
  12. ^ Musique (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (French).
  13. ^ JukeboxDE (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (German).
  14. ^ Jukebox (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italian).
  15. ^ Reproductor (2004). Donkey Kong Country 2. Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Spanish).