Super Mario Bros. Theme Preserved by the Library of Congress

Arguably the most recognizable track in all of video game history, the Ground/Overworld Theme from the 1985 classic, Super Mario Bros. has made history as the first piece of video game music to be added into the Library of Congress. It sits alongside others like Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow in the National Recording Preservation Board. This program was created to help protect the nation’s audio legacy, promoting the “importance of assuring the long-term preservation of that legacy for future generations” (LOC). This specific track was composed by Koji Kondo, prominent sound director, designer, and composer for Nintendo, contributing to many of the beloved soundtracks for the Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series. This theme, both in its simplicity and overall catchiness, helped establish Super Mario Bros. as a household game all over the world. It also proved the intricate and groundbreaking abilities of the five-channel sound chip of the NES, leading to innovation in both the music and video game scenes. There is no doubt that this theme played a huge role in millions of lives, bringing life to the game that started off the Super Mario Bros. Series, and the games that followed. As the first piece of music from a video game to be preserved like this, it opens the door for other themes and music to be given the same treatment.