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October 15, 2018 9:06 AM

A Marimba Rendition Of The Super Mario Bros. Theme (with 4 Mallets) by Aaron Grooves [YouTube]
posted by Fizz (26 comments total)

The way this was mic'd is messing with my head since the higher pitched notes were coming in my right headphone while from my perspective watching it, the higher notes were on the left of the screen. There must be a word for this.
posted by Space Coyote at 9:26 AM on October 15, 2018

There must be a word for this.

THANK YOU MARIO BUT OUR PRINCES5 HAS LEFT AND RIGHT AUDIO CHANNELS SWAPPED!
posted by Fizz at 9:28 AM on October 15, 2018 [14 favorites]

He's got mallet skills like the Hammer Brothers.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:38 AM on October 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

Back in the early days of YouTube my co-workers and I almost wore the bits off of this video of Tetris Type A on marimba.
posted by komara at 9:50 AM on October 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

It probably helps when there are four of you to practice it!
posted by sysinfo at 10:52 AM on October 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

This was even better than I thought it would be.
posted by nickmark at 11:03 AM on October 15, 2018

This is awesome, now I'm watching at 1.5x speed since I'm down to the last minute on the timer.
posted by cmfletcher at 11:05 AM on October 15, 2018 [16 favorites]

Okay now I have to listen to the fanfare from the end of a stage to close the loop.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:17 PM on October 15, 2018

I'm a sucker for arrangements of this on various instruments, but I think marimba has got to be the best choice for this music. Excellent playing!
posted by straight at 12:19 PM on October 15, 2018

(Steel drums might be even better, but only if it's live.)
posted by straight at 12:20 PM on October 15, 2018

(Steel drums might be even better, but only if it's live.)

Ask and ye shall receive. [YouTube]
posted by Fizz at 12:26 PM on October 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

No, I mean steel drums are only superior if you hear them in person, not on a recording. They're like a pipe organ that way. (Not that I've heard the Mario theme on them in person, alas.)
posted by straight at 1:51 PM on October 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

When does the Super Mario theme transition to "Stairway To Heaven" status?
posted by grumpybear69 at 3:15 PM on October 15, 2018

Epony... Dour?

(point somewhat conceded, but this was all in the charm of the performance. So charming!)
posted by ominous_paws at 3:38 PM on October 15, 2018

Indeed it was! Dude is very talented, and the piece is difficult to pull off.
posted by grumpybear69 at 4:06 PM on October 15, 2018

Awesome!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:56 PM on October 15, 2018

I think marimba has got to be the best choice for this music

M U P P A P H O N E
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:25 PM on October 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

Also I am curious about the curriculum of this school, which seems heavy on old-timey music and sea monsters.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:27 PM on October 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

There are very, very few appropriate contexts in life into which you can drop the Truth Bomb that as a senior in high school you made it to State for your solo performance on marimba -- playing with four mallets -- and you got a score of I (that's the Roman numeral, and it's equivalent to an A+, which only three marimba players got at State that year, in Texas), but here I go: I'm dropping it.

*mic dropped*

/arpeggiates out of the thread
posted by mudpuppie at 6:59 PM on October 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

In Texas, even! High standards they have there. This music teacher applauds high school mudpuppie heartily.
posted by charmedimsure at 8:11 PM on October 15, 2018

Also I am curious about the curriculum of this school, which seems heavy on old-timey music and sea monsters.

It appears to be straight outta Compton (Conservatory of Music).
posted by sysinfo at 8:29 PM on October 15, 2018

But can he tap dance and play Ukulele?

Yep.
posted by mmoncur at 10:49 PM on October 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

Since the tune has a Calypso rhythm, it sounds natural on a marimba, and sounds wonderful on a well played marimba.

Koji Kondo has authored a remarkable amount of video game music, including The Legend of Zelda. He tended to use synthesized steel drums in the Mario games, but I like it on the marimba better.
posted by eye of newt at 11:57 PM on October 15, 2018

This is great! Also tap dancing and ukelele are two of my interests, never thought about combining them!
posted by freethefeet at 2:21 AM on October 16, 2018

To this day I will whistle, hum, or doot-de-doot this tune at appropriate moments, of which there seem to be an inexhaustible supply. It's just such a delicious little bit of nonsense.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:35 AM on October 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

I just realized my comment at the top is a literal 'is this some kind of magic xylophone?' comment and I want to dig a hole and live in it.
posted by Space Coyote at 6:34 AM on October 17, 2018 [1 favorite]