3 Songs for People Who Say They Don’t Like Video Game Music

Today, video games are as popular as ever. While there may not be as many arcades on the corners of city streets as in the 1980s or ’90s, video game consoles are in almost every home across this great nation. From the originals like Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis to modern machines like Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, losing yourself in a title is a big-time pastime.

But some out there in the world may not love or appreciate gaming. Perhaps it’s the intricate plots or the sounds and songs in the games that drive people mad, but there are those who just don’t appreciate the offerings. Here below, however, we wanted to dive into three classic songs from video games to demonstrate that sometimes the music can be even better than the game play itself!

Videos by American Songwriter

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Super Mario Bros. Theme by Koji Kondo

Instantly recognizable and immensely influential, this 1985 theme helped cement the video game revolution as titles were being transferred from arcades to living rooms. The song has since helped spawn television shows, movies, more and more sequels to the game, and many imitations. Composed by the legendary Nintendo music director Koji Kondo, the song is bouncy, cartoonish and absolutely iconic.

Original Tetris Theme by Hirokazu Tanaka

Featured in the 1989 version of Tetris for the handheld Gameboy system, this song recalls traditional Russian folk songs—specifically the 19th century tune “Korobeiniki.” The sound and aesthetic honors the country where the game was first invented, after all. Written by composer Hirokazu Tanaka, the theme remains catchy, even dozens of levels and many decades in. It’s compelling, pushes the player ahead and as the levels increase, so does the speed of the song within the game.

The Legend of Zelda Main Theme by Koji Kondo

Another composed by the legendary Nintendo music director Koji Kondo, this 1986 song came about incredibly in just a day after he realized the song he’d hoped to use for the game (Maurice Ravel’s Boléro) was unavailable. The rousing march makes one feel as if they are headed off to battle and sets the tone for the game’s hero, Link. It’s the kind of song that makes the listener feel as if he or she can run through a wall and it gets the heart pumping for a long stint in front of the screen, controller in-hand.

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