Underwater BGM

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"Underwater BGM"

The main motif played on a piano
Composed by:
Koji Kondo
Key C major
First appearance Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Latest appearance Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (2024)

"Underwater BGM,"[1] also known as the "Underwater Theme," is a recurring musical theme composed by Koji Kondo, first heard in World 2-2 of Super Mario Bros. It was originally written in C major with a 3/4 time signature, resembling that of a waltz. As it was "easy to imagine what it should be like," it was the first composition Kondo finished for the game.[2] The theme plays in every level and section set underwater in Super Mario Bros., with following rearrangements largely featuring as title screen music.

Reuses[edit]

Audio.svg Underwater Theme - The original theme in Super Mario Bros.
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The following list does not count ports and remakes (such as Super Mario Bros. Deluxe) of Super Mario Bros.

Game Description
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels This game reuses the soundtrack from Super Mario Bros.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) The Underwater Theme is playable in the gallery.
Mario Clock The theme is available as one of three choices of alarm music, represented by a sprite of a Cheep-Cheep from Super Mario Bros.
StreetPass Mii Plaza In StreetPass Fishing/Ultimate Angler, the theme plays after successfully catching a Cheep Cheep or Blooper. It is absent from the sound test.
Super Mario Maker / Super Mario Maker 2 The Underwater Theme plays in Underwater-themed levels of the Super Mario Bros. style.

Arrangements[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario Bros. Special[edit]

An arrangement of the Underwater Theme plays in underwater levels in Super Mario Bros. Special, though unlike other themes in the game, its tempo is the same as in the original.

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Super Mario Bros. 2[edit]

In Super Mario Bros. 2, an arrangement with extra notes plays on the title screen, the first of several title themes to be based on the Underwater Theme.

Audio.svg Title - The title theme from Super Mario Bros. 2
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Super Mario World[edit]

The soundtrack for Super Mario World includes a saxophone arrangement by Soichi Noriki and performed by the Mario World Band, titled "Shining Coral".

Super Mario All-Stars[edit]

In addition to updated arrangements for underwater levels in Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels and the title screen in Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario All-Stars features three new arrangements that play on the title screens for the other three games that did not previously feature title screen music. Unlike the NES version, it does not directly loop at the intro.

A sped-up version of the underwater level arrangement is reused for the World-e level Classic World 2-2 in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3.

Audio.svg Title (Super Mario Bros.) - The title theme for the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros.
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Audio.svg Underwater Theme (Super Mario Bros.) - The arrangement used in the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
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Audio.svg Title (Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels) - The title theme for the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
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Audio.svg Title (Super Mario Bros. 2) - The title theme for the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. 2
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Audio.svg Title (Super Mario Bros. 3) - The title theme for the Super Mario All-Stars version of Super Mario Bros. 3
File infoMedia:SMAS SMB3 Title.oga
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Super Mario Bros. Deluxe[edit]

In Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, in addition to ports of the original underwater levels using the original soundtrack, the Super Mario Bros. for Super Players title features a rearrangement with more prominence on the spacing echo effect of the main tune.

Audio.svg Underwater Theme
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Audio.svg Super Mario Bros. for Super Players Title Theme
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Super Mario Advance[edit]

Like in Super Mario All-Stars, an arrangement of the Underwater Theme plays on Super Mario Advance's title screen.

Audio.svg Title - The title theme from Super Mario Advance
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Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2[edit]

In Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2, an arrangement of the Underwater Theme's first half plays at the beginning of the prologue. A full arrangement plays on the title screen, using the same percussion that is added to the music when riding Yoshi in the game.

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Super Mario Sunshine[edit]

An arrangement plays in Super Mario Sunshine's attract mode.

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Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3[edit]

Reflecting the game's tone as well as the prologue's music style, a music box arrangement plays on the title screen for Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3.

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Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3[edit]

An uptempo, jazz-styled arrangement plays on the title screen for Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, using a different melody for the second half.

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Super Mario 64 DS[edit]

In Super Mario 64 DS, a slow, music box arrangement plays in the minigame Loves Me...?. It is reused in the New Super Mario Bros. version of the minigame.

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Super Mario Maker[edit]

In Super Mario Maker, in addition to the Underwater Theme reappearing as the default background music of the Underwater course theme in the Super Mario Bros. game style, the music for editing such a course in the Course Maker is an ambient orchestral arrangement with an original countermelody, using eight tracks that fade in and out randomly to create a dynamic mix. This returns in Super Mario Maker 2.

Audio.svg Underwater Theme (Edit)
File infoMedia:SMM SMB Underwater Edit.oga
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Super Mario Maker 2[edit]

In Super Mario Maker 2, there is a music box arrangement that plays in the Underwater theme at night in the Super Mario Bros. style.

Audio.svg Underwater Theme (Night)
File infoMedia:SMM2 SMB Underwater Night.oga
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Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen![edit]

In Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen!, there exists a faithful arrangement known as "水色のワルツ" (roughly The Light Blue Waltz in English) that features a viola in the melody and a pipe organ for accompaniment. The second and third bars of the theme are also worked into a brief countermelody in "カメ・一族の陰謀" (roughly The Koopas' Scheme in English).

Luigi's Mansion[edit]

In Luigi's Mansion, the theme appears as one of the two songs Melody Pianissima can quiz Luigi over, along with the athletic theme from Super Mario Bros. 3. When she plays it, she asks Luigi what he thinks the composer had in mind, with "water" being the correct answer.

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Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the song for the Rainbow Cruise stage consists of an orchestrated arrangement of "Slider" from Super Mario 64 in the first half and the Underwater Theme in the second half. It was arranged by HAL Laboratory composer Shogo Sakai and returns in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the same stage, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS as a song for Smash Run, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for the Delfino Plaza stage, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for any Super Mario-franchise stage. The arrangement is played by a live orchestra in the Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live! album.

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Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

Another arrangement by Sakai is featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where it is split into three distinct sections: The first uses the original theme, the second is an orchestrated arrangement, and the third is a bluegrass arrangement. The song plays in the World 1-2 version of the Mushroomy Kingdom stage, and returns in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for the Mushroom Kingdom U and Super Mario Maker stages, and in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for any Super Mario-franchise stage.

Audio.svg Underwater Theme (Super Mario Bros.)
File infoMedia:SSBB Underwater Theme.oga
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Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, an orchestrated arrangement is featured in "Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Medley", which plays on Mushroom Kingdom U and Super Mario Maker and was arranged by Bandai Namco composer Katsuro Tajima. The song returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Mario Party 5[edit]

In Mario Party 5, an arrangement titled "In Calm Water" plays in the mini-game Submarathon.

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Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door[edit]

In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, an arrangement of the Underwater Theme plays in Bowser's second intermission level. When Princess Peach takes a shower on the X-Naut Fortress, she can hum the first seven notes of the theme.

Audio.svg Peach Hums 2
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Audio.svg Super Bowser Bros. - Underwater (Nintendo Switch version)
File infoMedia:PMTTYDNS Super Bowser Bros. - Underwater.oga
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Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[edit]

In Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, the song "Blooper Bop" is an arrangement of the Underwater Theme. This arrangement also samples the first part of the original theme halfway through.

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Mario Hoops 3-on-3[edit]

In Mario Hoops 3-on-3, an arrangement of the Underwater Theme by Square Enix composer Masayoshi Soken plays in Bloocheep Sea.

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Art Style: PiCTOBiTS[edit]

An arrangement of the Underwater Theme by chiptune band YMCK is featured in Art Style: PiCTOBiTS under the name "Super Mario Bros. Part 3". An arranged excerpt of the first bar is also featured in the game's credits.

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Mario & Sonic series[edit]

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[edit]

In the Nintendo DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, the second part of the Mario Medley for the Ultimate Figure Skating event is an arrangement of the Underwater Theme.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[edit]

A new arrangement of the Underwater Theme is featured in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, which returns in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Mario Golf: World Tour[edit]

In Mario Golf: World Tour, an arrangement plays in Cheep Cheep Lagoon.

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WarioWare Gold[edit]

In WarioWare Gold, a slower-tempo version of one of the Underwater Theme's Course Maker tracks in Super Mario Maker plays in the Super Mario Maker microgame in levels taking place underwater.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was scored by Brian Tyler, the first three notes after the introduction of the Underwater Theme can be faintly heard in the track "Welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom" as Mario passes a Toad carrying a plastic fish bag containing a Cheep Cheep in the Mushroom Kingdom's town. A more direct arrangement plays in the credits theme "Level Complete" alongside arrangements of other Super Mario themes.

Mario Kart Tour[edit]

In the Squeaky Clean Sprint T course of Mario Kart Tour, the row of Note Blocks above the bathtub produce the first three notes of the theme's motif when a driver bounces off of them in succession.

Other arrangements[edit]

Super Mario Bros.: Mario Syndrome[edit]

In the 1986 maxi-single Super Mario Bros.: Mario Syndrome by Bonus21, an arrangement of the song can be heard in the track "Princess Peach".

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Lyrics Romanization Translation
私は そうよ ピーチ姫 Watashi wa sō yo Pīchi-hime I am—that's right—Princess Peach
キノコの国の 王女様 Kinoko no Kuni no ōjo-sama Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom
けれども なぜか 今は Keredomo nazeka ima wa But, somehow, now
暗い お城に一人きり Kurai oshiro ni hitorikiri I'm all alone in a dark castle
お願い マリオ 助けて Onegai Mario tasukete Please, Mario, help
私を マリオ 助けて Watashi o Mario tasukete Mario, save me
はるかな 山や Haruka na yama ya Distant mountains and
深い 谷も Fukai tani mo Deep valleys
あなたなら ひとっ飛び Anata nara hitottobi You'll make it in one jump

魔法のキノコ 食べたら Mahō no kinoko tabetara If you eat a magical mushroom
魔法の 花を 摘んだら Mahō no hana o tsundara If you pluck a magical flower
大きくなって ファイヤボール持って Ōkiku natte faiyabōru motte You'll grow big and carry fireballs
なんにも こわくない Nanni mo kowakunai Nothing will scare you
無敵の マリオ 大好き Muteki no Mario daisuki I love invincible Mario
あなたが マリオ 大好き Anata ga Mario daisuki I love you, Mario
レンガの壁や Renga no kabe ya Brick walls and
地下の中の Chika no naka no The underground
コイン取るの 忘れずに Koin toru no wasurezuni Don't forget to collect their coins

私は そうよ ピーチ姫 Watashi wa sō yo Pīchi-hime I am—that's right—Princess Peach
キノコの国の 王女様 Kinoko no Kuni no ōjo-sama Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom
けれども なぜか 今は Keredomo nazeka ima wa But, somehow, now
暗い お城に 一人きり Kurai oshiro ni hitorikiri I'm all alone in a dark castle
プカプカ ルルル 海の底 Pukapuka rururu umi no soko Puff puff, rururu, at the bottom of the sea
フワフワ ルルル 雲の上 Fuwafuwa rururu kumo no ue Float float, rururu, above the clouds
プクプク、パイポ、ゲッソー Pukupuku, Paipo, Gessō Cheep Cheeps, Spiny Eggs, Bloopers
パタパタ、バブル、クッパ Patapata, Baburu, Kuppa Koopa Paratroopas, Lava Bubbles, Bowser
Let's go! go! Super MARIO Let's go! go! Super MARIO Let's go! Go! Super Mario

苦しい旅も いつかは Kurushii tabi mo itsuka wa Though it will be a tough trip, someday
終わりにきっと 近づく Owari ni kitto chikazuku You will surely reach the end
あなたに はやく 逢いたい Anata ni hayaku aitai I want to see you soon
私、あなたの ピーチ姫 Watashi, anata no Pīchi-hime Me, your Princess Peach

Nintendo Campus Challenge[edit]

In the 1992 version of Nintendo Campus Challenge, a chiptune arrangement of the Underwater Theme plays on the title screen, which its nearly identical to the original heard in Super Mario Bros., albeit with few differences in the tempo and instruments.

Pushmo World[edit]

Pushmo World contains a medley consisting of the "Ground Theme", "Underground Theme", and "Underwater Theme" from Super Mario Bros.

Appearances in other media[edit]

In Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition, a techno arrangement of the first half of the Underwater Theme plays in Mushroom Battles.

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List of appearances[edit]

Work Year Type Credits
Super Mario Bros. 1985 Original Koji Kondo
Super Mario Bros. Special 1986 Arrangement
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels 1986 Original Koji Kondo
Super Mario Bros.: Peach-hime Kyūshutsu Dai Sakusen! 1986 Arrangement
Arrangement
VS. Super Mario Bros. 1986 Original Koji Kondo
Super Mario Bros. 2 1988 Arrangement Koji Kondo
Super Mario All-Stars 1993 Arrangement Soyo Oka
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe 1999 Original Koji Kondo
Arrangement
Super Mario Advance 2001 Arrangement
Luigi's Mansion 2001 Arrangement
Super Smash Bros. Melee 2001 Arrangement Shogo Sakai
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 2001 Arrangement
Super Mario Sunshine 2002 Arrangement
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 2002 Arrangement Taiju Suzuki
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 2003 Arrangement Taiju Suzuki
Past arrangement (Super Mario All-Stars) Soyo Oka
Mario Party 5 2003 Arrangement Aya Tanaka
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door 2004 Arrangement
Super Mario 64 DS 2004 Arrangement Kenta Nagata
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix 2005 Arrangement
Mario Hoops 3-on-3 2006 Arrangement Masayoshi Soken
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) 2007 Original Koji Kondo
Super Smash Bros. Brawl 2008 Arrangement Shogo Sakai
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee)
Mario Clock 2009 Original Koji Kondo
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Nintendo DS) 2009 Arrangement
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games 2011 Arrangement
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games 2013 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games)
NES Remix 2013 Original Koji Kondo
NES Remix Pack 2014 Original Koji Kondo
Mario Golf: World Tour 2014 Arrangement Motoi Sakuraba
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS 2014 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) Shogo Sakai
Ultimate NES Remix 2014 Original Koji Kondo
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U 2014 Arrangement Katsuro Tajima
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl) Shogo Sakai
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee)
Super Mario Maker 2015 Original Koji Kondo
Arrangement
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games 2016 Past arrangement (Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games)
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS 2016 Original Koji Kondo
Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker)
WarioWare Gold 2018 Arrangement
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 2018 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) Shogo Sakai
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)
Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U) Katsuro Tajima
Super Mario Maker 2 2019 Original Koji Kondo
Arrangement
Past arrangement (Super Mario Maker)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2023 Arrangement Brian Tyler
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition 2024 Original Koji Kondo

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese 水中BGM[1]
Suichū BGM
Underwater BGM

References[edit]