Why is Mario Kart 8's music so good?

[@ThomasGameDocs]

Hi everyone! If you enjoyed this video, you'll probably be interested in a post I've written with a selection of really great and important fusion music by T-Square and Dimension, which I've put up on my Patreon page! It's full of stuff I couldn't include in this video for copyright reasons, so go check that out if you're interested: www.patreon.com/posts/102211072 And if you enjoyed this video, and want to support my channel and help me make big, research-heavy videos like this one, then consider supporting my channel on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ThomasGameDocs It really helps me out a lot, and you get fun bonus content too! - Thomas :)

[@Cliffordlonghead]

First i finally redeem myself

[@Jay_the-animation]

Hello I loved the video, it's fun to learn about video games

[@Cliffordlonghead]

sss

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

Awesome video!

[@Cliffordlonghead]

@@TramiNguyen-oi3kp hi

[@NinjaristicNinja]

Discovering Jazz Fusion in late 2023 has single-handedly improved my quality of life… Didn’t realize how intertwined the genre was with video game music until later, but it’s really cool to see.

[@Minkabunk]

random verified user spotted

[@mrnoodlesthemaster]

Same here! I have gone through a lot of highs and lows, but jazz-fusion brought me back me up at my lowest

[@Jelly_shy_guy_man]

Ha

[@m_jay5]

I have a huge love for jazz fusion and just jazz in general! I first discovered how much I loved it when I heard how awesome it was used as background music for 80s/90s fitness videos.

[@Kinoboat]

I love the 8 bit big band ❤

[@UltimaRedFireEskimo]

Amazing video. The reason I am a sound designer for AAA game company is Mario Kart 64. It was the first game I ever had, and the credits theme remind me of sitting on the couch with my mom in the 90s. To this day I feel emotional hearing this soundtrack.

[@RHVGamer]

I didn't expect Mario Kart 8 music to have such a deep backstory

[@hflyer222]

rhvgamer sighting

[@RHVGamer]

@@hflyer222 real

[@muffer62816]

⁠@@RHVGameromg green kirby

[@RHVGamer]

@@muffer62816 what?

[@muffer62816]

@@RHVGamer idk

[@Jay_the-animation]

Mario kart was one of the first games I ever played, so I LOVE THE MUSIC, so its fun to learn about the mario kart 8 music

[@MacenW]

Mario Kart 8?

[@Jay_the-animation]

No just the whole mario kart series

[@moosechoose]

Missed opportunity to talk about Casiopea’s 1979 debut album which literally featured race cars as the album cover and has a song called “space road” which influenced rainbow road

[@danbonestrider]

wanted to say exactly this!

[@riptide534]

YESSSS

[@Snoopy-20111]

Wanted to say the same. Almost a decade before the first F1 broadcast and Japanese GP, but I wonder if this link was causal or if it goes even earlier.

[@MegaTheman25]

Source?

[@Snoopy-20111]

@@MegaTheman25 Not sure about a source on Space Road (スペース・ロード) being a direct influence, but listening to the Super Mario Kart Rainbow Road track, they certainly feel similar-but-legally-distinct to me in both structure and form, even for Jazz Fusion. That plus the song's name would be an unbelievable coincidence when we know Koji Kondo has explicitly said Casiopea was a major influence. As for the existence of the album, you just have to look it up, not exactly hard to find. Space Road is the third track on the album, for reference.

[@Chubby_Bub]

Kenta Nagata did an interview about MK8's soundtrack and said some things I really admire about the art of video game music. He said: “The music used throughout the Mario Kart series isn’t intended to be just background music. Instead we aim to produce pieces that will stick in players’ minds. We consider it a great success if the other production staff start unconsciously humming the tunes as they’re racing.” He also said that it must be able to be heard on a loop hundreds of times without getting old or annoying.

[@laurynbrown7958]

🔥Berlin Byways🔥

[@GabeioIDK]

potato

[@KP-cb4sy]

Well, he managed to achieve that

[@Tech_Marauder]

And then Nintendo doesn’t release it officially on Apple Music or Spotify 😫

[@GiulioSantomauro2007]

Did you know that, T-Square inspired Kojo Kondo to compose the Super Mario Bros. Overworld Theme? Also, I LOVE JAZZ FUSION :D

[@treseancann1261]

Thomas Game Docs did a video on that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnOxe2iZdt2Wh5osi=_oVHrQO9u3XUkypQ

[@MarioKartSuperCircuit]

Listen to "Little League Star" by T-Square, it's literally a Mario Kart 8 track practically

[@GiulioSantomauro2007]

@@MarioKartSuperCircuit Yeah!!

[@RiggyFanAndPastaMan]

u like jazz??

[@GiulioSantomauro2007]

@@RiggyFanAndPastaMan YESSS

[@Applericee]

Having recently gone through the entire music catalogue of the Mario Kart series for a compilation, i have to admit that though every Mario Kart game has great music, Mario Kart 8 really is the most consistently great imo

[@Natthander]

Here in Brazil we have the "Tema da Vitória" that played on TV for the winners of the Brazilian Grand Prix from 1983 onwards. And then it became the theme of Brazil's victories in F1 and synonymous with Ayrton Senna. It sounds a lot like Mario Kart or the other way around haha

[@cmyk8964]

The main composer of T-Square also composed “Moon Over the Castle”, the long-standing theme song for Gran Turismo! As if that weren’t enough, the start of the original SMB theme’s melody was based on “Sister Marian” by T-Square.

[@vinnieg007]

Too bad they removed the rest of the tracks when they localized Gran Turismo, the Japanese soundtrack was still superior since majority of it was Jazz Fusion

[@PiiMK]

I've always been really impressed by the music MK8 has, but I had no idea about the incredible background of these musicians! Need more jazz fusion in the next MK...

[@TicTacToeCraft]

Mario Kart Live Home Circuit has Jazz Fusion too. It sounds even more extreme in my opinion.

[@LeoFlipnotes]

5:17 isnt that the beginning of literally every rainbow road

[@Tony_Baloney22]

WAIT YOUR ONTO SOMETHING

[@Tuxedo_Cam]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@MarioKartSuperCircuit]

That sounds like MKDS rainbow road

[@danielward4868]

Sounds just like it!

[@LeoFlipnotes]

@@Tony_Baloney22 lol I think I am

[@Gabo2oo]

*Thomas Game Docs:* Waltz in underwater music is totally arbitrary *8-bit Music Theory:* hold my beer

[@schwa4883]

You have refined tastes!

[@MeesterTweester]

I'm glad they have a live band perform for the game, the F-Zero tracks sound so good!

[@jeremyliem8822]

Hi Meester! Didn’t expect you to be here.

[@MeesterTweester]

@@jeremyliem8822 Yeah I play this game

[@abbyelectric]

I consider the F Zero track songs their own special works of art alongside Bowser's Castle's theme and the title theme.

[@Kictor]

This video was so awesome! And your music sounded incredible!

[@YannickJur]

I am so glad you are back safe and sound! :D Speaking of sound, I had no idea some of the music was written by you! That's amazing!

[@ViewtifulSam]

Incredible work, and I was blown away by your fusion tracks!

[@ted_is_gaming]

Bold prediction: Mario kart 9 will have a eurobeat genre style.

[@kuyar_moonshadow0501]

As someone who LOVES eurobeat music, I'm totally down for that! 😁

[@DeusVult838]

Hey Thomas Game Docs I just wanted to thank you, because around 3-4 or so years ago I saw your video "This 80's Song Inspired Mario's Music" and since then I have been in love with J-Fusion music. Again thanks so much Thomas for also making entertaining videos!

[@kurtg5405]

Always love a new TGD video! Keep up the amazing work. :)

[@BuLlIoNfIsHaRt]

Keep making videos, they are so fun. 👍 Also, congrats on your transition!

[@Radien]

Hi there, I'm not sure what the details are since I only follow you here, but I've noticed a big difference lately, and you seem to be quite happy about it. Your hair is so long and beautiful!! I don't know whether we're in for any changes coming to the channel soon, but I'm eager to hear where you take things in these pivotal years. We're very happy for you!!

[@Ar7ific1al]

I really love your videos because they give an incredible, in-depth look "under the hood" so to speak about the sound design and music production of Nintendo games. These are things I would never know or even think about if it weren't for your videos. The production value of your videos is also amazing. Thank you for making these videos, and I hope you can continue to make them for a long time! Also, cool to see your progress as you transition. :)

[@MacenW]

Nintendo has some fantastic, consistent composers.

[@TrinomialMedia]

Thomas, love your vids! Also, really love how it went basically full-circle with 8! Always fun to learn about gaming history from ya, you go gal! ❤❤❤ Edit 2: at the outro now, you look truly beautiful!

Your videos are always amazing! Top level content, thank you so much for your investigations!

[@mox_ndwn]

Grande Leandro!!! Ojalá algún día ver la música de carreras en tus análisis de por qué suenan así. 🤝

[@Pawl0solidus]

Searching for jazz fusion playlists after this amazing video! Thank you!

[@SweetLittleBecky101]

I honestly didn't know why I loved that soundtrack so much before, I just always had the impression, that it has a "jazz-big-band vibe" to it that's really grand, impactful and driving (haha). But very nice, now I have a name to it. Thanks for all the work for this video. As always very entertaining and interesting to see!

[@KyosukeKI]

Your appreciation for video game music is SO pure, thank you!!

[@atlev]

Transition goals

[@bloodblues85]

You always put so much work and love into your videos. They're really special!

[@czteddy1507]

Seeing new vids from you always brightens my day :) Keep up the good work and chill-but-informative Nintendo vibes, friend

[@wardrich]

Somewhere in this video are bits of two songs you wrote, that fit in so well that I have no idea which clips... Thats impressive.

[@carlosenetto]

Wow. Just wow. Your channel is amazing. I always wanted to make a channel like this but never had the time, energy or social skills to have the courage to do it. I used to write about gamemusic but never could translate to video. And if i did, it would never as good as the work you do. The depth of research you do and the presentation format are just brilliant! Keep it up!

[@xenno8496]

I am very much loving how often uploads are coming out right now, I've learned alot of gaming history from this channel over the last year

[@nonexistor]

0:17 I've noticed that sometimes outer space is represented with more instrumentally lacking and somber tracks to represent the emptiness and distance of the cosmos. Some examples are Space Junk Galaxy from Mario Galaxy, Bear With Me from Splatoon 3, and all of the tracks that play on the moons in Lethal Company.

[@T2norway]

loved the storytelling, excellent video!! ˙ ͜ʟ˙

[@siemonblidener652]

I'm just so happy that your channel exists

[@Thizziam]

Its always a delight when you post😁

[@periwinkuru]

It's so fascinating to learn about what genres video game music is built on, great video!

[@_mickmccarthy]

Awesome! I've just recently started getting into jazz fusion, with the aim to start producing it, so am very excited to check out the videos on the 2 tracks you put together! I'd been listening to quite a bit of Casiopea, but hadn't discovered T-Square/Dimension, so looking forward to diving into that!

[@MaidoNyxi]

This is so insightful! The video was presented really well and I enjoyed it lots throughout, thank you so much for the interesting video! :> I do enjoy Mario Kart and its soundtrack lots, so I'll be thinking back on this many times

[@markvicferrer]

This explains a lot about the SNES F-Zero arrange album being jazz fusion. The F-Zero songs in Mario Kart are truly incredible. The SNES was techno, the N64 was rock, I couldn't imagine which style they would use for Mario Kart 8 & it was mind-blowing.

[@HatInLime]

Really interesting to gain some thorough context into one of my favorite game OSTs. Fascinating video!

[@PieJee1]

Never realised it's the music that influenced me in judging the Mario kart games so much. I thought the series went downhill after mario kart double dash and got it's moments back in mario kart 7. The Mario Kart World Tour track songs that were added later still contained a few stinkers though.

[@thecallumvibes]

I was so ready to search the internet for the songs you used and some of them are YOUR OWN SONGS?! That’s crazy!! Please start releasing albums I will buy all of them 😭

[@rain4est133]

This explains everything stumbling on my mind when it comes to Mario Kart 8 soundtracks, including why Big Blue arrangement got me T-square-esque vibe

[@IshaanDebchoudhury]

I discovered Morse code in Super Mario Galaxy (for the Wii) When you are selecting a level within a galaxy, some thrilling music plays. At the end of the looping soundtrack, more code for SOS is played!

[@IshaanDebchoudhury]

image from IGN assets1.ignimgs.com/2007/11/09/super-mario-galaxy-20071109032027756-2196245.jpg - The music on this screen.

[@ZayaMillis]

I love your videos so much!!! Thanks for being so awesome!

[@jcuevasproductions]

Speaking of jazz fusion, there’s a guy named Maoki Yamamoto, and he’s been heavily involved in quite a few modern video games, not so much motorsport, but a good listen nevertheless. I’m working a documentary right now about him and DEZOLVE. But you definitely covered the span of the fusion influence better than I could, awesome video. Glad we agreed on Nagata’s role in the game, too.

[@jcuevasproductions]

Also thanks for the shout out in the description I was just reading it. It’s an honor.

[@DelpreteVictor]

This video is so you, Thomas. Really nice to watch, thank you

[@Mario_mejia]

It incredible that how much Nintendo music has changed from being pre recorded 8 bit music to fully recorded live band

[@mookymookymooo]

The cool thing is how it's come full circle, and now some jazz bands are playing video game music as part of their repertoire!

[@vidsestic3645]

Nice video! Keep up the good work.

[@aldog_yt]

10:00 I heard this line and thought "I know for a fact the Mute City song is about to play in 5 seconds", and it did lol.

[@nintendolife25]

One of my favorite aspects of MK8’s music is how it’s the first Mario Kart game to feature orchestrated tracks. The music in this entry really slaps. Thanks so much for the history, Thomas!

[@DarekWeber]

This is a MASTERFUL video, Thomas. So well done!

[@jimmyandersson9604]

Your best video yet!❤

[@pickledgarf]

This video is really well made. Good job!

[@holliferhollifo]

This was absolutely fascinating - I had no idea how much history went into this banger of a soundtrack!

[@MacenW]

Ive fallen in love with this channel man

[@gkid64]

Man i don't want them to change the music direction at all for Mario kart 9

[@TicTacToeCraft]

What I expect them to do is one of two options: either go further in the Jazz Fusion direction like MK Live: Home Circuit did, or create a new style of music for Mario Kart. I think the first option is more likely, though. I think they feel like they've found the definitive Musicals style for Mario Kart.

[@semy28nfs]

Your commitment to your work is insane. Very glad people like you exist.

[@pideperdonus2]

It's amazing to know how the music I love is made!

[@Michael-ts8wc]

Hey Thomas! I know you like to find little similarities between two or more different games, and I found something like that you may not know. In Mario kart 7 when you finish a race, there's a results win theme that plays, like in any other Mario kart game. But this theme is the same EXACT theme as the one in Mario kart 64! I found it out while playing MK64 on my emulator. I think it's pretty cool that Nintendo used it to remind us of that classic game.

[@JTread2003]

I've always loved the Mario Kart soundtrack, and when I discovered Japanese fusion jazz I absolutely loved it. You can tell so many video game soundtracks were insired by bands like Casiopea

[@Yassinius]

Watching your videos gives me a deeper appreciation of the craftsmanship that's put into Nintendo games

[@vypermajik]

This was great. Awesome job!😊

[@PatrickRatliff-w5q]

im happy to see your channel didnt go down

[@paulineblozzom]

Your KZbin channel is probably my favourite. Thank you for making excellent content, I truly enjoy watching your videos 🫶

[@bloodystatic4156]

Jazz Fusion might be my favorite Jazz genre!

[@tabuoey]

did not expect to be so interested by this video

[@cmdrkingwrath]

As a jazz fusion enjoyer and Casiopea lover, thanks for the new song recommendations

[@maribakumon]

I've always greatly appreciated the Mario Kart 8 OST, but this even furthers that appreciation!

[@Xachpro5475]

Did you know this game has a hidden swear

[@Jay_the-animation]

Where, I must find it

[@MrMatt35]

Thomas game docs episode 3729

[@natestadler2352]

Link says, "Hell yeah!" When boosting

[@sunalime]

Don’t ask what bowser said

[@Jay_the-animation]

Thanks

[@GoHomeStayHome]

Insane video I absolutely loved it. thank you

[@lyanporto]

might be your best vid yet

[@Thundervolt888]

I could and will listen to the Mario Kart 8 band/ost happily ever after ❤ such a wonderful job on the videos as always guys didn’t know about the origins of racing music and all. Simply perfection.

[@astrid3321]

This is so interesting! Gives me a whole new appreciation for the soundtrack:)

[@jellybean4]

This is so fascinating!

[@RicciChoi1109]

3:56 Speaking of Japanese jazz fusion, it is a topic that can be expanded to another episode. For example, T-Square made the Akai EWI popular with its songs. Meanwhile, Minoru Mukaiya, the former keyboardist of Casiopea, composed a lot of departure melodies on platforms across Japan's vast railway network. His very own company, Ongakugan, also manufactures professional-grade rail simulators for a lot of railway companies in Japan.

[@pfm57]

This kind of well researched deep videos videos is what KZbin is (should be) all about. Thank you!

[@Alyx_Tlpd]

I love your channel mate ! So interresting ! 😊🔥

[@bestgames64]

Man. I LOVE Mario kart 8's ost, i listen to it time to time, true bangers (like this video)

[@TicTacToeCraft]

What are your favourites in the soundtrack (BCP included)?

[@bestgames64]

@@TicTacToeCraft MUTE CITY🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@TicTacToeCraft]

@@bestgames64 Mute City really is awesome. It's a shame how it gets overshadowed by Big Blue's popularity.

[@flamingphoenix1425]

Thomas: something something Mario Kart 8 music Also Thomas: *plays F-Zero*

[@justcomments]

To be fair the MK-8 versions of those F-Zero tracks are certainly more jazzy than the oroginal rock compositions

[@catfluff85]

I feel like my favorite TGD videos are when she talks about music Idk why, but I feel like it's cuz I can tell she really enjoys this topic

[@cheplays2482]

I swear it was just last week I learned about Dimension and their connection to the MK8 soundtrack. This is relevant to my interests!

[@Apenknul]

Yo, this is awesome! Love your video's! I do wonder if you could make similar video's about the music in Splatoon, Animal Crossing and Smash. Would love to watch that!

[@batmanbud2]

And Kirby. Don't forget Kirby.

[@Fisherington]

No wonder I'm so drawn to mk8 big blue's music! Being performed by the original jazz fusion band, you can tell how much effort and care was put into its composition!

[@Schattengewaechs99]

Very interesting video, well done!

[@TheOfficialLeaf]

keep up the great work!

[@HazmatSecurity]

Thomas please add more moments to hear the music. I continuously felt blue balled

[@JonathonV]

Does anyone know how involved Nagata was with the Mario Kart Tour soundtrack? I know Dimension was hired to do the live versions of the songs that eventually made it into MarioKart 8 (via the Booster Course Pass), but even the original versions of the songs in MarioKart are so jazz fusion! Sydney Sprint has a sax solo that sends shivers down my spine, and London Loop is a rock banger just like the F-ZERO tracks or Rock Rock Mountain. If it was composed by someone else, they certainly drew heavy inspiration from Nagata and the work he did with Dimension!

[@luhvurr]

Great video❤

[@MERCHIODOS]

Jazz Fusion is really prominent in SNES F-Zero soundtrack. You can really hear in the track Silence

[@kyrroti]

Oh? And then when two tracks got arrangements in Mario Kart 8, that’s kinda just doubling down on the Jazz Fusion?

[@Hubip]

Great video!

[@karonzilla]

the way you pronounced "TV Asahi" made my brain explode also i love the theme for Mario Kart 64

[@pelago_]

Great video!

[@pianomanty]

This was so cool to learn about