Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 7 theme)

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"Rainbow Road"
"Rainbow Road" in Mario Kart 7
Rainbow Road in Mario Kart 7
Image from Nintendo Music
Composed by:
Unknown
Key E major
First appearance Mario Kart 7 (2011)
Latest appearance Mario Kart World (2025)

"Rainbow Road"[1] is a musical theme in Mario Kart 7, where it plays in the race course of the same name. It is an ethereal piece that utilizes synths. "Rainbow Road" also incorporates arrangements of "Rainbow Road" and "Staff Credits" from Mario Kart 64 that appear near the end of the loop.

History[edit]

Mario Kart series[edit]

Mario Kart 7[edit]

Mario Kart 7 marks the first appearance of "Rainbow Road."

When the player is driving on the moon in Rainbow Road, a more atmospheric-sounding arrangement of "Rainbow Road" plays. It is titled "Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)" in the Nintendo Music app.

For both themes, additional percussion is added to the instrumentation whenever the player is driving at top speed while in first place.

When the player reaches the final lap on Rainbow Road, a faster variation of the theme plays. It is titled "Rainbow Road (Final Lap)" in the Nintendo Music app. Unlike other themes on the final lap, this theme has a different beginning, instead starting where Mario Kart 64's "Rainbow Road" arrangement starts playing.

Icon of an audio speaker. Rainbow Road (Frontrunning) - The remix heard in Mario Kart 7
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Icon of an audio speaker. Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 7
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Icon of an audio speaker. Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface) (Frontrunning) - The remix heard in Mario Kart 7
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Help:Media file • Having trouble playing?

Mario Kart Tour[edit]

In Mario Kart Tour, the original version of "Rainbow Road" plays in 3DS Rainbow Road, which was first added in the 2019 Holiday Tour.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]

In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, as part of Wave 3 of the Booster Course Pass, an arrangement of "Rainbow Road" plays in 3DS Rainbow Road. It is likewise titled "3DS Rainbow Road" in the Nintendo Music app. It is an enhanced remaster of the original theme, which also utilizes a drop.

When the player is driving on the moon, an arrangement of "Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)" plays, titled "3DS Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)" in the Nintendo Music app. It is also a higher quality remaster.

For both themes, additional percussion is added to the instrumentation whenever the player is driving at top speed while in first place.

Icon of an audio speaker. 3DS Rainbow Road - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Icon of an audio speaker. 3DS Rainbow Road (Frontrunning) - The remix heard in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Icon of an audio speaker. 3DS Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface) - The arrangement heard in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Icon of an audio speaker. 3DS Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface) (Frontrunning) - The remix heard in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Help:Media file • Having trouble playing?

Mario Kart World[edit]

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In Mario Kart World, an arrangement of "Rainbow Road" can play in Free Roam.

Super Smash Bros.[edit]

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS[edit]

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Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, a medley arrangement of "Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart 7 and the Rainbow Road themes from Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart DS can play in the Rainbow Road stage and Smash Run. It is titled the "Rainbow Road Medley" in the game's sound test, and it was arranged by Ryo Watanabe.

The original version of "Rainbow Road" also returns, where it can play in the same areas as the "Rainbow Road Medley." It is titled "Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 7) in the game's sound test.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, both the "Rainbow Road Medley" from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and the original version of "Rainbow Road" can play in the Mario Circuit stage.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, both the "Rainbow Road Medley" from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and the original version of "Rainbow Road" can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Mario Kart-series stage.

Gallery[edit]

  • Image for "Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)" from Mario Kart 7 on Nintendo Music

    Image for "Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)" from Mario Kart 7 on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "Rainbow Road (Final Lap)" from Mario Kart 7 on Nintendo Music

    Image for "Rainbow Road (Final Lap)" from Mario Kart 7 on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "3DS Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music

    Image for "3DS Rainbow Road" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music

  • Image for "3DS Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music

    Image for "3DS Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)" from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Music

List of Super Mario appearances[edit]

Games[edit]

Work System Year Type Title Credits
Mario Kart 7 Nintendo 3DS 2011 Original "Rainbow Road"[1]
Remix
Arrangement "Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)"[1]
Remix
Remix "Rainbow Road (Final Lap)"[1]
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS 2014 Original "Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 7)"[2]
Arrangement "Rainbow Road Medley"[2] Ryo Watanabe
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Wii U Wii U 2014 Original "Rainbow Road (Mario Kart 7)"[3]
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS) "Rainbow Road Medley"[3] Ryo Watanabe
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2018 Original "Rainbow Road - Mario Kart 7"[4]
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS) "Rainbow Road Medley"[4] Ryo Watanabe
Mario Kart Tour iOS, Android 2019[g 1] Original
Past arrangement (Mario Kart 7)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch 2022[g 2] Arrangement "3DS Rainbow Road"[1]
Remix
Arrangement "3DS Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)"[1]
Remix
Mario Kart World Nintendo Switch 2 2025 Arrangement
  1. ^ Added in the 2019 Holiday Tour on December 18, 2019
  2. ^ Added in Wave 3 of the Booster Course Pass on December 7, 2022

Other media[edit]

Work Year Type Title Credits
Nintendo Music 2024 Past arrangement (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe) "3DS Rainbow Road"
"3DS Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)"
2025[g 1] Original "Rainbow Road"
Past arrangement (Mario Kart 7) "Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)"
  1. ^ Added on April 30, 2025

Names in other languages[edit]

"Rainbow Road"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese レインボーロード[1]
Reinbō Rōdo 		Rainbow Road

"Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese レインボーロード（月面）[1]
Reinbō Rōdo (Getsumen) 		Rainbow Road (Lunar Surface)

"Rainbow Road (Final Lap)"[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese レインボーロード（ファイナルラップ）[1]
Reinbō Rōdo (Fainaru Rappu) 		Rainbow Road (Final Lap)

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 7. "Rainbow Road" shares this title with "Mario Kart 7 Title Screen" and "Toad Circuit."
  • "Rainbow Road (Final Lap)" is the only final lap variant from Mario Kart 7 to appear on the Nintendo Music app.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Nintendo Music
  2. ^ a b Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS sound test
  3. ^ a b Super Smash Bros. for Wii U sound test
  4. ^ a b Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test
[Edit]
Recurring themes and sound effects
Donkey Kong franchise Donkey Kong "Game Start" • "Hammer BGM" • "Round 1 BGM" • "Round Start BGM" • "Title BGM"
Donkey Kong Jr. "Game Start" • "Round 1 BGM" • "Title BGM"
Donkey Kong Country "Aquatic Ambiance" • "Bonus Room Blitz" • "Cave Dweller Concert" • "Cranky's Theme" • "The Credits Concerto" • "DK Island Swing" • "Fear Factory" • "Forest Frenzy" • "Funky's Fugue" • "Gang-Plank Galleon" • "Life in the Mines" • "Lost a Balloon" • "Mine Cart Madness" • "Northern Hemispheres" • "Simian Segue" • "Treetop Rock" • "Voices of the Temple" • "Well Done"
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest "Crocodile Cacophony (K. Rool's Theme)" • "Lockjaw's Saga (Lockjaw's Locker)" • "Run, Rambi! Run! (Parrot Chute Panic)" • "Stickerbush Symphony (Bramble Blast)"
Donkey Kong 64 "DK Isle" • "DK Rap"
Donkey Kong Country Returns "Mine Menace"
Mario Bros. series Mario Bros. "Game Start" • "Title BGM"
Wrecking Crew series Wrecking Crew "Bonus Phase" • "Phase BGM"
Super Mario series Super Mario Bros. "1-Up" • "Castle BGM" • "Coin" • "Course Clear" ("Power Up") • "Ending" • "Ground BGM" ("Game Over" · "Player Down") • "Invincibility BGM" • "Pause" • "Pipe Travel / Power-Down" • "Timer Warning" • "Underground BGM" • "Underwater BGM" • "World Clear"
VS. Super Mario Bros. "Gyōmu-yō Mario Namae-ire"
Super Mario Bros. 2 "Boss BGM" • "Ground BGM" • "Please Select Player" • "Underground BGM"
Super Mario Bros. 3 "Airship BGM" • "Athletic BGM" • "Bros. Battle" • "Ending" • "Fortress BGM" • "Fortress Boss" • "Game Over" • "Ground BGM" • "King of the Koopas" • "Music Box" • "P Switch BGM / Toad's House" • "Player Down" • "Slot Game BGM / Memory Game BGM" • "Underwater BGM" • "Warp Zone" • "World 1 Map (Grass Land)" • "World 2 Map (Desert Land)" • "World 3 Map (Water Land)" • "World 4 Map (Giant Land)" • "World 5 Map (Sky Land) - On the Ground" • "World 5 Map (Sky Land) - In the Sky" • "World 6 Map (Ice Land)" • "World 7 Map (Pipe Land)" • "World 8 Map (Dark Land)"
Super Mario Land "Chai Kingdom BGM" • "Main Theme" • "Underground Theme"
Super Mario World "Bowser BGM" • "Donut Plains (Map Screen)" • "Ending" • "Ground BGM" ("Athletic BGM" · "Bonus Game BGM" · "Castle BGM" · "Course Clear" · "Ghost House BGM" · "Underground BGM" · "Underwater BGM") • "Koopalings BGM" • "P Switch BGM" • "Star World (Map Screen)" • "Title BGM" • "Vanilla Dome (Map Screen)" • "Yoshi ni noru toki" • "Yoshi's Island (Map Screen)"
Super Mario 64 "Bowser's Road" • "Bowser's Theme" • "Dire, Dire Docks" • "File Select" • "Main Theme" ("Cool, Cool Mountain" · "Course Clear" · "Slider") • "The Merry-Go-Round" • "Metal Mario" • "Peach's Castle" • "Piranha Plant's Lullaby" • "Staff Roll"
Super Mario Sunshine "Isle Delfino" ("Ricco Harbor") • "Secret Course"
New Super Mario Bros. "Course Clear" • "Fortress Theme" • "Main Theme" ("Athletic Theme") • "Mega Mario" • "Paah" • "Switch On!"
Super Mario Galaxy "Buoy Base Galaxy" • "Egg Planet" • "Enter Bowser Jr.!" • "Gusty Garden Galaxy" • "Luma" • "Overture" • "Purple Comet" • "Rosalina in the Observatory" • "The Toad Brigade" • "Waltz of the Boos"
New Super Mario Bros. Wii "Bonus Area" • "Castle Theme" • "Coast Theme" • "Desert Theme" • "Forest Theme" • "Ghost House Theme" • "Lava Cave / Underground Ruins Theme" • "Lava Theme" • "Title Theme" ("Game Over") • "Toad House Minigame" • "Underwater Theme"
Super Mario Galaxy 2 "Bowser's Galaxy Generator" • "Puzzle Plank Galaxy" • "Slimy Spring Galaxy" • "Super Mario Galaxy 2 Trailer Theme" • "Teleporter Melody"
Super Mario 3D Land "Castle Theme" • "Main Theme" • "Snow Course" • "Underwater Theme"
New Super Mario Bros. U "Ground Theme"
Super Mario 3D World "A Boss Approaches" • "Chainlink Charge" • "Piranha Creeper Creek" • "Super Bell Hill"
Super Mario Maker "Title Theme"
Super Mario Odyssey "Fossil Falls" • "Jump Up, Super Star!"
Dr. Mario series Dr. Mario "Chill" • "Fever" • "Game Over" • "Selection Screen" • "Title Screen"
Mario Kart series Super Mario Kart "Awards Ceremony (1st – 3rd Place)" • "Donut Plains" • "Mario Circuit" • "Rainbow Road" • "Super Mario Kart Title Screen"
Mario Kart 64 "Battle Arenas" • "Choco Mountain" • "Frappe Snowland" • "Kalimari Desert" • "Koopa Troopa Beach" • "Luigi Raceway" • "Moo Moo Farm" • "Rainbow Road" • "Results (1st − 4th Place)" • "Staff Credits" • "Starting Grid (Time Trials / Battle)" • "Toad's Turnpike"
Mario Kart: Super Circuit "Koopa Castle Course" • "GBA Mario Circuit"
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! "GCN Baby Park" • "Mario Circuit" • "Peach Beach"
Mario Kart DS "DS Peach Gardens" • "Waluigi Pinball"
Mario Kart Wii "Coconut Mall" • "Luigi Circuit/Mario Circuit" • "Wii Maple Treeway" • "Moo Moo Meadows" • "Mushroom Gorge" • "Wario's Gold Mine"
Mario Kart 7 "Neo Bowser City" • "Piranha Plant Slide" • "Rainbow Road" • "Toad Circuit"
Mario Kart 8 "Cloudtop Cruise"
Yoshi franchise Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island "Athletic BGM" • "Bowser" • "Flower Field BGM" • "Opening Melody" • "Powerful Mario" • "Stage Start" • "Yoshi's Island"
Yoshi's Story "Yoshi's Song" • "Yoshi's Story!" • "Yoshi's Tale"
Luigi's Mansion series Luigi's Mansion "Title Theme (Humming)"
Wario franchise WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! "Drifting Away" • "Pyoro" • "WarioWare, Inc." ("Dr. Crygor")
WarioWare: Twisted! "Mona Pizza"
WarioWare: Touched! "Ashley's Theme"
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series Mario vs. Donkey Kong "Mini Mario Stage"
Super Smash Bros. series Super Smash Bros. Melee "Rainbow Cruise"
Other The Legend of Zelda "Important Item Acquired" • "Magic Whistle Melody" • "Overworld Theme"
Mario Paint "Drawing Board 1" • "Gnat Attack: Level 1" • "Save & Load"
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars "Beware of Forest Mushrooms" • "Hello, Happy Kingdom"
Miscellaneous "Le Galop infernal d'Orphée aux Enfers" • "Totakeke's theme"
[Edit]
Mario Kart 7
Drivers Starting Mario • Luigi • Peach • Yoshi • Bowser • Donkey Kong • Toad • Koopa Troopa
Unlockable Daisy • Wario • Rosalina • Metal Mario • Shy Guy • Honey Queen • Wiggler • Lakitu • Mii
Karts and parts New karts Standard • Gold Standard • Birthday Girl • Bumble V • Bruiser • Soda Jet • Tiny Tug • Cact-X • Koopa Clown • Cloud 9 • Zucchini • Blue Seven • Bolt Buggy
Retro karts B Dasher • Egg 1 • Barrel Train • Pipe Frame
Tires Standard • Gold Tires • Roller • Slim • Slick • Sponge • Mushroom • Wood • Red Monster • Monster
Gliders Super Glider • Gold Glider • Peach Parasol • Flower Glider • Beast Glider • Swooper • Paraglider
Courses Mushroom Cup Toad Circuit • Daisy Hills • Cheep Cheep Lagoon • Shy Guy Bazaar
Flower Cup Wuhu Loop • Mario Circuit • Music Park • Rock Rock Mountain
Star Cup Piranha Plant Slide • Wario Shipyard • Neo Bowser City • Maka Wuhu
Special Cup DK Jungle • Rosalina's Ice World • Bowser's Castle • Rainbow Road
Shell Cup N64 Luigi Raceway • GBA Bowser Castle 1 • Wii Mushroom Gorge • DS Luigi's Mansion
Banana Cup N64 Koopa Troopa Beach • SNES Mario Circuit 2 • Wii Coconut Mall • DS Waluigi Pinball
Leaf Cup N64 Kalimari Desert • DS DK Pass • GCN Daisy Cruiser • Wii Maple Treeway
Lightning Cup Wii Koopa Cape • GCN Dino Dino Jungle • DS Airship Fortress • SNES Rainbow Road
Battle stages Retro stages GBA Battle Course 1 • N64 Big Donut • DS Palm Shore
New stages Honeybee Hive • Sherbet Rink • Wuhu Town
Items Banana • Blooper • Bob-omb • Bullet Bill • Coin • Fire Flower • Golden Mushroom • Green Shell • Item Box • Lightning • Lucky Seven • Mushroom • Red Shell • Spiny Shell • Star • Super Leaf • Triple Bananas • Triple Green Shells • Triple Mushrooms • Triple Red Shells
Objects Cannon • Crate • Current • Cutting torch • Glide Ramp • Hot-air balloon • Launch Star • Leaf pile • Ramp • Ring • Spinning tube / Paddle wheel • Water Geyser
Enemies and obstacles Anchor • Banzai Bill • Barrel • Board • Boulder • Bouncing Note • Bumper • Car • Cheep Cheep • Clampy • Cutting torch • Drain pipe • Fish Bone • Flipper • Flying Shy Guy • Frogoon • Goomba • Honey • Ice • Jar / Snake jar • Lava • Mountain Goat • Noshi • Oil slick • Penguin • Pickup truck • Pinball • Piranha Plant • Puddle • Rocky Wrench • Screaming Pillar • Sidestepper • Snake • Stingby • Super Thwomp • Swoop • Table • Tiki Goon • Thwomp • Train • Walking Tree • Water Geyser
Background characters Birdo • Boo • Goomba • Hammer Bro • Lakitu • Monty Mole • Shy Guy • Toad • Unagi
Techniques Drift • Hop • Jump action • Mini-Turbo • Rocket Start • Slipstream • Spin Turn
Battle modes Balloon Battle • Coin Runners
Music "Neo Bowser City" • "Piranha Plant Slide" • "Rainbow Road" • "Rosalina's Ice World" • "Toad Circuit" • "Wario Shipyard"
Miscellaneous Daisy Cruiser • DK's Tree House • Emblem • Finish line • First-Person View • Gallery • Ghost • Glitches • In-game statistics • Item probability distributions • Kart • Multimedia • Nintendo Music (soundtrack) • Pre-release and unused content • New sponsors • Staff • Underwater driving • Trophy
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