Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 64 theme)
| "Rainbow Road" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| "Rainbow Road" in Mario Kart 64 The source-quality version from Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.3: B-Side Music | |||
 Image from Nintendo Music | |||
| Composed by: Kenta Nagata | |||
| Key | E major, A major | ||
| First appearance | Mario Kart 64 (1996) | ||
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) | ||
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"Rainbow Road",[1][2] also known as simply "Rainbow",[3] is a musical theme composed by Kenta Nagata for Mario Kart 64, where it plays in the race course of the same name. The theme and elements from it have been integrated into the themes of almost every Rainbow Road course in the mainline Mario Kart series since Mario Kart 64's debut, missing only in Mario Kart Wii[4] and Mario Kart World, with Mario Kart Wii being the only one of the two where the theme is fully absent with there not being any arrangement of it in the game.
Composition[edit]
"Rainbow Road" is a dramatic arrangement in the key of E major divided into two main sections with a static chugging bassline and triadic chord. The theme repeatedly features an extended I - ♭VII - I chord progression, which has gone on to be established as a recurring motif in "Rainbow Road" themes throughout the Mario Kart series.
The theme also shares some elements with "Rainbow Road" from Super Mario Kart, as "Rainbow Road" begins with an Isus chord to I chord progression. Also, the melodies of both themes are based on jumping and walking between the 1st and 5th notes of the chord.[4]
History[edit]
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart 64[edit]
Mario Kart 64 marks the first appearance of "Rainbow Road". It is also included in the official albums Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks, Mario Kart 64 Original Soundtrack, Mario Kart 64: Greatest Hits Soundtrack, and Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.3: B-Side Music.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit[edit]
- Main article: Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Super Circuit theme)
In Mario Kart: Super Circuit, the theme that plays in Rainbow Road features the I - ♭VII - I chord progression motif in the key of D major throughout the theme. The chord progression occurs much quicker than the original theme.[4]
 Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart: Super Circuit | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]
- Main article: Rainbow Road (Mario Kart: Double Dash!! theme)
In Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, the theme that plays in Rainbow Road features a direct quote from the second section of "Rainbow Road" in the key of C major at the end. This theme also has a very similar overall tone to the original theme and features the extended I - ♭VII - I chord progression motif throughout.[4]
| Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart DS[edit]
- Main article: Rainbow Road (Mario Kart DS theme)
In Mario Kart DS, the theme that plays in Rainbow Road features the I - ♭VII - I chord progression motif from "Rainbow Road" in the key of D major. This theme also includes a slightly modified I - ♭VI - ♭VII - I chord progression.[4]
| Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart DS | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart 7[edit]
- Main article: Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 7 theme)
In Mario Kart 7, the theme that plays in Rainbow Road features the chugging bassline and a direct quote from the second section of "Rainbow Road" in the key of E major at the end.[4]
| Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 7 | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
- Main article: Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 8 theme)
- “This is a hugely popular track, and for the full HD version we worked on the arrangement to bring out its full beauty. You'll be pleased to hear that those lovable Chain Chomps are alive and well in this title.”
- —Liner notes in the Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack
Mario Kart 8 and the Nintendo Switch port, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, feature two arrangements of "Rainbow Road".
The theme that plays in Rainbow Road features the I - ♭VII - I chord progression motif of "Rainbow Road". Every phrase of the first section of the theme begins with a I - ♭VII progression. This motif is made more subtle by the tonic bass pedal and the fact that the ♭VII chord doesn't resolve back to the I chord immediately afterward.[4]
A faithful orchestral arrangement of "Rainbow Road" arranged by Ryo Nagamatsu plays in N64 Rainbow Road. It is likewise titled "N64 Rainbow Road" in the Nintendo Music app and the official Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack album. This arrangement prominently uses trumpets for the theme's main melody. A looping drum set beat is added to the instrumentation whenever the player is driving at top speed while in first place.
| Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 8 | File info 0:30 |
| N64 Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 8 | File info 0:30 |
| N64 Rainbow Road (Frontrunning) - The remix heard in Mario Kart 8 | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit[edit]
In Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, "N64 Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart 8 plays in Rainbow Road.
Mario Kart World[edit]
In Mario Kart World, an electronic rock arrangement of "Rainbow Road" can play in Free Roam during nighttime.
| Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
New Super Mario Bros. Wii[edit]
In New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the theme that plays in World 9 briefly quotes "Rainbow Road" approximately 32 seconds in.
| World 9 - The "Rainbow Road" section of the theme heard in New Super Mario Bros. Wii | File info 0:13 |
Paper Mario: Color Splash[edit]
In Paper Mario: Color Splash, an arrangement of "Rainbow Road" plays when Luigi drives Mario and Huey on Rainbow Road to Black Bowser's Castle.
| Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Paper Mario: Color Splash | File info 0:30 |
Other appearances[edit]
Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit[edit]
The Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit album features a funk arrangement of "Rainbow Road" arranged by the Dance-Matics. It is simply titled "rainbow". This arrangement samples sound effects and voice clips from the original game.
| rainbow - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit | File info 0:30 |
F-Zero X[edit]
In F-Zero X, a rock arrangement of "Rainbow Road" arranged by Taro Bando plays in Rainbow Road when using the 64DD, replacing "Drivin' Through on Max". It is also included in the official album Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music.
| Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in F-Zero X | File info 0:30 |
Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live[edit]
The "Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live" concert series featured a live big band jazz medley arrangement of "Mario Circuit" from Super Mario Kart, "Waluigi Pinball" from Mario Kart DS, "Mario Kart 7 Title Screen" from Mario Kart 7, "Luigi Raceway" and "Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart 64, "Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart Wii, and "Mario Kart 8 Title Screen" from Mario Kart 8.
Super Nintendo World[edit]
At the Super Nintendo World theme park, an arrangement of "Rainbow Road" plays during the Rainbow Road section of Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.
Gallery[edit]
Image for "Rainbow Road" from F-Zero X on Nintendo Music
Image for "N64 Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music
List of Super Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 64 | Nintendo 64 | 1996 | Original | "Rainbow Road"[2] | Kenta Nagata |
| Mario Kart: Super Circuit | Game Boy Advance | 2001 | Arrangement | ||
| Mario Kart: Double Dash!! | Nintendo GameCube | 2003 | Arrangement | ||
| Mario Kart DS | Nintendo DS | 2005 | Arrangement | Shinobu Nagata | |
| New Super Mario Bros. Wii | Wii | 2009 | Arrangement | ||
| Mario Kart 7 | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Arrangement | "Rainbow Road"[1] | |
| Mario Kart 8 | Wii U | 2014 | Arrangement | "Rainbow Road"[5] | Shiho Fujii |
| "N64 Rainbow Road"[5] | Ryo Nagamatsu | ||||
| Remix | |||||
| Paper Mario: Color Splash | Wii U | 2016 | Arrangement | "Rainbow Road"[6] | |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Nintendo Switch | 2017 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | "N64 Rainbow Road"[5] | Ryo Nagamatsu |
| Past remix (Mario Kart 8) | |||||
| Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit | Nintendo Switch | 2020 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | Ryo Nagamatsu | |
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Rainbow Road"[7] |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks | 1997 | Original | "Rainbow Road" | Kenta Nagata |
| Mario Kart 64 Original Soundtrack | 1997 | Original | "Rainbow" 「レインボーロード」 (Reinbō Rōdo) |
Kenta Nagata |
| Mario Kart 64: Greatest Hits Soundtrack | 1997 | Original | "Rainbow Road" | Kenta Nagata |
| Mario Kart 64 on Club Circuit | 1997 | Arrangement | "rainbow" | Dance-Matics |
| Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.2: Loud Music | 2004 | Past arrangement (F-Zero X) | "Rainbow Road" | Taro Bando |
| Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.3: B-Side Music | 2005 | Original | 「レインボーロード」 (Reinbō Rōdo) | Kenta Nagata |
| Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack | 2015 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | "N64 Rainbow Road" | Ryo Nagamatsu |
Live performances[edit]
| Event | Year | Location | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary Live | 2015 | Osaka International Convention Center, Osaka, Japan and Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan | Arrangement | Super Mario Special Band |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Nintendo World | 2021 | Arrangement | Dani Donadi[8] | |
| Nintendo Music | 2024 | Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8) | "N64 Rainbow Road" | Ryo Nagamatsu |
| 2025[a] | Original | "Rainbow Road" | Kenta Nagata |
- ^ Added on July 14, 2025
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | レインボーロード Reinbō Rōdo |
Rainbow Road | [1] | |
| German | Regenbogen-Boulevard | Rainbow Boulevard | [7] | |
| Spanish | Senda Arco Iris | Rainbow Trail | [7] |
Notes[edit]
- On the Nintendo Music app, "Rainbow Road" is labeled as "Selects", classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library", originating from Mario Kart 64. "Rainbow Road" shares this title with "Mario Kart 64 Title Screen" and "Luigi Raceway".
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Nintendo Music
- ^ a b Mario Kart 64 Race Tracks
- ^ Mario Kart 64 Original Soundtrack
- ^ a b c d e f g 8-bit Music Theory (March 20, 2018). "The Musical Evolution of Rainbow Road". YouTube. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c Mario Kart 8 Original Soundtrack
- ^ Paper Mario: Color Splash sound test
- ^ a b c Mario Kart World pause menu
- ^ Dani Donadi. Profile. Linkedin. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
