Duration 17:7

What Makes Mario Music So Catchy

by Scruffy

5 769 646 watched

114.9 K

Published 13 Mar 2017

Hello! I'm Scruffy, and today I'm taking a little break from Pikmin content to talk about the music in Nintendo's flagship franchise, Mario! Specifically, I'm looking why and how it is that Mario's many musical motifs get stuck in our heads so easily, with help from some important music theory concepts. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks to Kevin Cheek for providing the alto saxophone in this video! Check out his SoundCloud page here: https://soundcloud.com/kevin-cheek

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Comments - 4502

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@lucatdcat87204 years ago " b flat, b for bowser, and flat for mario! Bwahaha! " sounds like something that could be in a musical mario game! 4760
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@Hutch2Much4 years ago Its pretty strange from a classical music theory perspective, but from a jazz perspective, perfectly acceptable
i just found my senior quote. 5571
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@poopoo75403 years ago I love how dark mode friendly these videos are. 909
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@johnsimpsen52 years ago Id love to see a mario game solely based around its music. 678
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@atomicwinter314 years ago For me, the bowser theme doesnt feel at all evil, it just feels groovy. Like, it reminds me of nighttime streets in a huge city, walking alone and with style. 601
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@kevinscheetz90952 years ago Music educator here. This video is fantastic. Will be definitely using this is the classroom to describe compositions and basic music theory. 168
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@whirl36904 years ago
I love this part. The sounds for the "good" and "bad" are so similar, yet one sounds heroic and the other sinister. I'm sure there's a music term for this but I don't know it. .. ...Expand 737
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@d0gbug4 years ago I love how when hes comparing musical measurements to marks on a ruler the mario theme in the background is played on a rubber band, cause there both school supplies. Such a fun detail. 98
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@ddddavyy83832 years ago I adore bowsers theme. This guy has so much swag and style, not just his sense of fashion in odyseey with his suit but also his music and aesthetic of . ...Expand 68
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@diiida4 years ago Scruffy playing the " not amelody: this doesn' t evoke anything in specific, it' s just a catchy tune
me knowing that is the leitmotif or the bouncy mushroom stages that don' t have floor: bingo bongo, that' s where your wrongo. ...Expand 803
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@chiwamii27583 years ago " gesamtkunstwerk" caught me off guard because of bdg. Love this analysis even though i know almost nothing about music theory! 49
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@dylandreisbach19865 years ago Saying bowser has a good taste in music makes me think he has speakers in his castle playing his own theme some constantly. That would be amazing if they did that in the games. 5379
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@michaelwilliams-owolabi83654 years ago Leitmotif
me, a sideways fan: i am 4 parallel universes ahead of you. 224
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@TrioLOLGamers4 years ago Syncopation is why knowing drums is important. I hear a lot of people playing drums or saying that they are easy but the hard thing about drums is giving . ...Expand 71
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@josiahfugal54072 years ago Quick note: the association between the tritone and the devil was begun as advice for choral composers, since the interval was the least natural for the . ...Expand 109
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@fullmetalplatinum59152 years ago I' m 15 and i' m out here learning music theory. I' ve watched this video countless times and i love it more each time i watch it. This video . ...Expand 30
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@aidenation1012 years ago I really would like to hear what scruffy says about the super mario galaxy music, since its just so much more different than music from any other mario games, and in my opinion, serves as a magnum opus for marios music. 56
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@noahreyes_5 years ago Get off your phone
but mom its educational. 3692
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@smeepostrashbucket60773 years ago We need this guy to teach a class. I guarantee not a single person would fail. 35
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@Nyakoisawesome2 years ago I love how is replayed so often because it slaps so hard 19
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@OfficialYondoth3 years ago Ah, yes, music theory. A subject that many musicians go through, but do not understand, yet it makes music that much more alive. 21
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@embertheunusual80364 years ago When you played bowser' s theme, it struck a chord in my brain, and it took me a minute to realize that' s the theme damien lee plays in the background . ...Expand 18
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@AshleyTheFighter3 years ago Oh my god that' s whymusic is so catchy. 19
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@tylerreed6105 years ago How to avoid copywrote on youtube:
play melodies on an out of tune ukulele. 3748
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@robertdefren3214 years ago Scruffy i have to say, this is one of the best videos i' ve ever seen on this platform. Never before has a singular video made me want to subscribe . ...Expand 18
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@arandomgamerrr3 years ago that sounds like slow megalovania, not sure how i picked this up from 3 notes but sure 44
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@sexyasfuckduck38624 years ago Please. Do this with undertale. Its ost is so memorable and had a massive impact. 52
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@LuigiStory47403 years ago As a german boy, i' m laughing about the way he pronounced. 19
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@mikethewhizz50853 years ago Leitmotif is one of my all time favorite musical concepts, and i' d love to make a video on how it exists and is so influential. In addition to what' s . ...Expand 18
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@Shrektacular24685 years ago " yeah! B flat! B for
" and flat for mario! 1836
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@crowbar49764 years ago This dude could analyze why the sound of farts are so humorous and i' d be all in it! Great video! 20
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@straightupanarg62262 years ago Can confirm, been playing paper mario this week. The battle theme has been stuck in my head the whole time, and it' s driving the voices in my head crazy. 6
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@CreativeStudios972 years ago For anyone who doesn' t study theory, this is a great introduction. I will be recommending this to all of my students. Well done scruffy! 18
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@IndigoGollum4 years ago Speaking of first impressions, this is the first of your videos I've seen and so far I love it. I look forward to watching more of your content. 4
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@sapphire5123last year Its surprising how much this one video helped me with my ap music theory class 4 years from when i first watched it. Thanks scruffy! 2
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@OmegaBoost15 years ago When you take all of this into consideration, it really goes to show just how much of a damn musical genius koji kondo is. 2990
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@RiskierGoose3403 years ago What makes mario music so catchy?
childhood memories, my friend. Childhood memories. 7
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@johannesnauta2 years ago This is honestly one of the best video' s i have watched. To explain a relatively difficult concept so clear with perfect and funny animations and music. Amazing! 1
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@80greaty2 years ago I' m impressed that 1) this video was so satisfying to watch, 2) my basic understanding of music theory was enough, and 3) you chose a game which i happened to have spent many hours in. 2
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@carmen125124 years ago I love how you did that little part at the end saying how it isnt nessecary to follow the whole succesfull mario-music thingie, because it was kind of . ...Expand 1
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@DarkKnight2264 years ago This man is the equivilant of a teacher that just knows everything and knows how to teach in a full yet relaxing way. I love your content man! 5
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@FrostMonolith4 years ago Reminder that koji kondo relistents his draft music for very prolonged hours and when he gets bored at any moment, he instantly knows that not right" and recomposes. He really tries his best so that his compositions will be remembered eternally. ...Expand 1981
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@theeverythingbagelyt56123 years ago Hey scruffy,
i hope you don' t stop doing what you' re doing. I hold your work very close to my heart.
keep it up! 2
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@MilhSpears2 years ago Even after 5 years since you uploaded this video, i' m using them to reinforce my knowledge in music theory from home! I am part of the music club at thank you so much scruffy, for making me learn about something i want to make my hobby! I am willing to drop sweat and tears learning about what i love, even before deciding on learning about it in more depth. ...Expand 1
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@Steamworker_Evolair3 years ago Wow, this is awesome! One thing that wasn' t in that i want to bring up is dotted notes (e. G. Dotted eighth, dotted eighth, eighth, half) i love the effect they produce, like you' re leaning into the music. 3
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@markwilsonestrada124 years ago this video is very interesting and informative! Also, on of the video, the non-chord tone G note on the down beat on the F chord is not pretty strange from a classical theory perspective, actually it is the opposite, it is commonly used on the classical era. It is called an 'appogiatura', best example would be Mozart's "12 variations on Ah vous dirai-je, Maman" (which is basically the iconic tune of the twinkle little start) the first variation of the theme.
Still, good video man and thank you again for this! .. ...Expand 17
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@nikkosstorychannellast year 5 year later and stills give me the nostalgic vibes. 4
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@Archersforeal5 years ago You just taught me more than my music teacher for 6 years. 4738
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@vaseechidna65943 years ago Man, you are killing it:
thank you so much for the effort and time you take explaining all of your viewpoints so thoroughly and simply: 1
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@KingDragon6815last year The ruler metaphor for syncopation is great and so well-executed in this video! 2
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@fryergurothad3 years ago Your explanations and breakdowns make music history and theory very interesting. Using mario music as an example helps as well. 2
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@misseli1last year This has been one of the clearest, beginner friendliest explanations on music theory i' ve seen in a while! Great video!
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@GuilhermeLeaoMendesLageslast year 6 years later, and i believe forever
this video will and always be, relevant
thank you for your lessons, your art, your knowledge. 2
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@MetallicSaladFork6 years ago " we' re heading all the way back to late 19th century germany"
what is this, learning?
h e y v s a u c e m i c h a e l h e r e. 983
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@ihwb30058 months ago I love scruffys video essays, theyre so well developed and have a stunning way of speaking to the watcher, and including them with examples, the wel id="hidden26"l thought out script of including music theory and deep research is too admirable. The video genuinely made me cry, making me finish the songs before you even finish the first note, making me think oh. I missed this:
but explaining how and why its catchy and memorable with the assortment of notes on its scale just made me that much more interested in taking my orchestra class seriously. I love this video so much, its soand better to watch than to only listen to, because the visuals are so cute and appealing.
keep it up i adore this channel. ...Expand
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@Silvercloud364 years ago If i had you as my music teacher back in the day, i' d have probably passed my classes
you explain it all so well! 4
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@Nushi10983 years ago In super mario maker 2, when youre making a level theres a kind of jazzy version of the courses music, which fits so well! 4
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@DantheToonManlast year We need to hear full versions of the covers in this thing, i love them! 1
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@oscalicious18052 years ago Amazing video! I love the ideas of leitmotifs and how they stick themselves in their brain. I' ve realized they' re in so many movies and games, i especially notice them in star wars.
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@joshbairos53325 years ago Why is this all in black in white.
its so original. 2110
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@Und3rcov3r4 years ago The romeo and juliet leitmotif just made me think about zelda: breath of the wild, because of the instruments. 11
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@niklasloffelbein9256last year I love, how this whole video is filled with musical help, to better understand, what scruffy is trying to explain. I don' t know any other youtuber . ...Expand 1
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@SwankemasterSupremelast year the bass clef used as the question mark. Perfection. 2
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@Mccuddley4 years ago These video are so intriguing and interesting. I hope i return to this video some day in the future. Keep up the awesome work. 2
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@toxic93092 years ago This came up in my recommended (for some reason) so i decided to watch it. I really loved it and i also watched the breath of the wild one. These are really great. Keep up the good work!
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@JDST4 years ago " it' s called a
toby fox: you called? 1265
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@swiftbull_2 years ago The amount of people who play this and how much of a classic the games are also helps make these songs much more catchy. 4
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@heyimkayo32303 years ago That trumpet bowser theme, you have to make a hour long version of it, its just so good. 3
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@ooglyboogliee66533 years ago Bruh i get this nostalgic feeling from your videos cause it gives off the same vibe as blue' s clues with like your soft voice and the simple homemade drawings and music and its quiet atmosphere its poggies dood. 3
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@annakalkman5522 years ago This is so fascinating to me as a musician, but somehow you' ve also managed to explain things in a video i could share with my non-music-nerd friends! 2
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@SideshowJosiah2 years ago Brilliant explanation! Thank you for this video. I' m sharing this to my musician friends. 1
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@emotisean4 years ago Ok dude wow, this video is so amazingly made, im sucked in. 6725
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@seb-soup2 years ago Hands down one of my favorite videos! I' ve watched it at least three times since the original debut!
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@soggeysandwhich75204 years ago
was so close to greatness.
My soul hurts 2
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@harryforever33403 years ago Dude the art and music for your videos are awesome! I love the production value!
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@nady22964 years ago Excellent video! I love your voice, your explanations and the editing. 1
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@CronicasVideojogos3 years ago This is an amazing study on catchy music. I' m a music teacher and love to watch this.
you know what could be funny? If those musics were born by the composer just whistling them in the shower. 5
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@mahogacha82775 years ago " yeah! B flat! B for bowser, flat for mario! "
i died. 388
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@Revermb4 years ago One of the best leitmotifs imo is that in (almost) every song there' s zelda' s lullaby worked into it. 2
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@pfftbbx42583 years ago Well rounded video, loved the b-flat joke at the end. I love this channel so much.
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@laphoenix91852 years ago You have legendary videos man. A very proper and clear explaining, the content is great to watch, i can say the video istoo so: d
keep the good work.
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@Dozmedlast year Man, i always find your videos as catchy to listen to as the music in them.
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@gamingcookiereal5 years ago " it' s called a
toby fox has entered the chat. 4691
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@Maxler5795last year God scruffy videos are always so damn unique. 4
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@Bushleague893 years ago I absolutely loved this!
thank you for making it. Subscribed.
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@camillehessel70374 years ago Thank you for your discussion on leitmotifs! Ive been writing themes for my characters and have been having trouble with them.
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@clf76632 years ago Damn, that was amazing! Really well made, and very informative. I learned alot, keep up the good work!
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@highlandstorm01372 years ago The amount of effort that must go into these videos baffles me. I can' t understand how you don' t have more subscribers.
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@1Thunderfire6 years ago " b for bowser. Flat for mario! "
i just love that. ^^. 475
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@lillalefur1146last year This feels like a really passionate teacher that really loves their job. I love this channel. 1
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@yerp89212 years ago we need a full version of this. i love it 3
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@meatshake41032 years ago Oh my god this channel is so freaking creative. 13
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@deoxysandmew21622 years ago Surely i cant be the only one that this bowser theme you played in the video, fits perfectly wario character. I just hear his voice in it and everything. plenty of times you will hear me hum it or whistle it too. ...Expand
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@colsonwingate76584 years ago This was the first video ive seen from you and it has made one hell of an impression.
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@adealmusic5 years ago I heard the first chord of Sweden and instantly thought of Minecraft.
Those damn leitmotifs. 891
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@USSBOAT4 years ago All of the video' s this man has made are well made, and are good content, 9. 9/10. 3
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@shopnil44 years ago This was the first video i watched from you. Still come back to watch it. 1
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@gerishimo94092 years ago I have never seen you before and already on first impression i already am excited on what the other videos are about.

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What Makes Mario Music So Catchy

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