mario + piano =

July 12, 2006 12:46 PM

What is people's fascination with playing the Mario theme on the piano? Blindfolded, even. Super Mario World, too. And Mario 64, and... some other rubbish.
posted by reklaw (32 comments total)

Blindfolded one is easily the best. I have a friend who is obsessed with the final fantasy theme songs and plays them on the piano from memory. Some videogame music is actually really amazing when you play it on an actual piano.
posted by anomie at 12:57 PM on July 12, 2006

What is people's fascination with playing the Mario theme on the piano?

Because the Mario theme is the single greatest musical achievement of the 20th century.
posted by magodesky at 12:59 PM on July 12, 2006

Maybe cause they were written on a keyboard so they translate nice? Plus especially the original Mario theme is as unique as the Raindrop Prelude.
posted by gorgor_balabala at 1:03 PM on July 12, 2006

Maybe cause they were written on a keyboard so they translate nice?

Yeah, but that doesn't explain everyone that tries it with a stringed instrument, blindfolded, even.
posted by linux at 1:12 PM on July 12, 2006

But how does it compare to video game music played by a full orchestra? Played with accompanying graphics on a giant screen, naturally.
posted by Joe Invisible at 1:14 PM on July 12, 2006

Because the Mario theme is the single greatest musical achievement of the 20th century.

Hear, hear!
posted by anomie at 1:14 PM on July 12, 2006

Isn't this for askmefi?
posted by j-urb at 1:20 PM on July 12, 2006

Sure, Mario is all good... But it's nothing when compared to the Bubble Bobble theme. With lyrics, with an audience and the magic of the game explained
posted by sycophant at 1:40 PM on July 12, 2006

I had no idea there was such a phenomenon. YouTube never ceases to amaze.

As might be expected from a random sampling of yahoos with pianos and webcams, though, some of these guys seem to have virtually no sense of rhythm. There's a line between expression and slop, and many of them are on the wrong side of it. The blindfolded guy is clearly pretty good (once he takes off the blindfold), and so is the guy playing the Sonic music, but many of the others seem to just be banging out the notes.
posted by uncleozzy at 1:44 PM on July 12, 2006 [1 favorite]

Someone needs to make an off broadway musical using music exclusively from 80's video games.
posted by PenDevil at 1:54 PM on July 12, 2006

Songs To Wear Pants To has a Super Mario Remix (MP3). There is also an acoustic version. (MP3)
posted by divabat at 2:35 PM on July 12, 2006

The acoustic version is pretty awesome.

Overclocked Remix has some decent Mario remixes too.
posted by magodesky at 2:50 PM on July 12, 2006

Isn't this for askmefi?

It's a rhetorical question, silly.
posted by TechnoLustLuddite at 3:03 PM on July 12, 2006

Zelda
posted by klue at 3:07 PM on July 12, 2006

Most have probably gone here before, but it's appropriate to mention that OC Remix remains a lovely place to visit and revisit for your video game music fix.
posted by linux at 4:03 PM on July 12, 2006

What, nobody's mentioned this yet?
posted by chrissyboy at 4:26 PM on July 12, 2006

Klue knows what's up.
posted by nonmerci at 4:39 PM on July 12, 2006

While we're on the subject, here's an awesome Communist Mario.
posted by tellurian at 4:48 PM on July 12, 2006

Red Mario rocks, Tellurian!
posted by Zero Gravitas at 5:05 PM on July 12, 2006

A dude from Sacramento (XOC) covered the entire Super Mario Bros theme. It's really listenable -- I play it at work every once in awhile.
posted by fishfucker at 5:07 PM on July 12, 2006

Oh man, this zelda string quartet thing (linked above) is amazing.
posted by Paris Hilton at 5:59 PM on July 12, 2006

Scott Joplin would be working for Nintendo today.
posted by bz at 6:30 PM on July 12, 2006

What, nobody's mentioned this yet?

THANK YOU. I was thinking the same thing when I saw this post.
posted by chrominance at 6:32 PM on July 12, 2006

I always thought the music from Toejam & Earl should get some more love.
posted by danb at 6:58 PM on July 12, 2006

Up up down down left right left right B A start
posted by quite unimportant at 7:06 PM on July 12, 2006

Related: Orchestras take on Mario...
posted by easternblot at 7:27 PM on July 12, 2006

Sonic, high school band style
posted by rxrfrx at 8:25 PM on July 12, 2006

divabat: I suggested the acoustic version, for the record.
posted by abcde at 3:31 AM on July 13, 2006

Let's not forget Monkey Island
posted by magodesky at 5:40 AM on July 13, 2006

linux, I'll see your stringed instruments and raise you an accordion.
posted by Deathalicious at 6:11 AM on July 13, 2006

oh yeah, almost forgot- The Minibosses
posted by TechnoLustLuddite at 7:13 AM on July 13, 2006

thank you metafilter

(my boss will now hate you)
posted by 13twelve at 7:06 AM on July 14, 2006