If you played video games as a kid, you’ve heard the original “Mario Bros.” theme song a thousand times. But unless you’re a bona fide Nintendo nerd or you lived in Japan in the ’80s, chances are you never knew the song has lyrics.
We’re not talking about the song from the short-lived TV show. We’re referring to the authentic, Nintendo-sanctioned version that is now available for the masses to slay at karaoke nights all over Japan.
Only the super geeks among us knew that in 1985, a Japanese radio show called “Takao Komine All Night Nippon” asked listeners to submit their “Mario Bros.” lyrics ideas, as RocketNews24 reported last week. These submissions would eventually lead to the the official, Nintendo-approved words to the “Mario Bros.” theme song.
The song — titled “Go Go Mario!!” — even appeared on vinyl at one point, according to Kotaku.
The lyrics are strange and surreal — but then, it’s not like a video game about two plumbers who explore the sewer system to rescue a princess from a fire-breathing monster is grounded in reality.
The ditty has been in the news recently after Nintendo announced the song is coming to Joysound, a karaoke platform for Japanese cafes as well as devices like the Wii, Wii U and 3DS. People who opt to sing “Go Go Mario!!” will be treated to a montage of scenes from 18 different Mario titles during their performance.
For most of us, this will be our first exposure to the “Mario Bros.” theme song lyrics — unless you were lucky enough to catch “Mario and Zelda Big Band Live” performing the song on Sept. 14, 2003, in Tokyo.
Unfortunately, since the Joysound is a Japanese platform and the song is only available in Japanese, English speakers may need to brush up on their foreign pronunciation skills if they want to sing along. But that won’t stop anyone from enjoying the bizarre lyrics through the magic of translation.
Via Destructoid:
Today, full of energy, Mario is still running, running
Go save Princess Peach! Go!
Today, full of energy, Mario runs
Today, full of energy, jumping!
Today, full of energy, searching for coins
Today, keep going, Mario!Get a mushroom – it’s Super Mario!
Get a flower – it’s Fire Mario!Goomba! Troopa! Buzzy Beetle! Beat them all!
Mario is always full of energy and strong![Spoken] The only one who can reverse the spell that has captured the Mushroom People is Princess Peach. But Princess Peach is hidden underground, in a far-off castle. Ah, the days of peace… if we could once more return to those days… to save Princess Peach and bring peace back to the Mushroom Kingdom, that is why Mario is on his journey today.
Today, full of energy, Mario is still running, running
Go and beat the Koopa tribe, go!
Today, full of energy, Mario runs
Today, full of energy, jumping!
Today, full of energy, searching for coins
Today, keep going, Mario!Get a star – become invincible!
Quickly, go save Princess Peach!Lakitu! Blooper! Cheep Cheep! Beat them all!
Mario is always full of energy and strong!Today, full of energy, Mario is still running, running
He’s made it to the castle and gets fireworks!
Lightly sidestepping the Hammer Bros.
Show the last of your power, Mario!
It’s been a long journey but it’s nearly at an end
You’ve done it, you’ve done it! You’ve defeated Bowser!Princess Peach says “Thank you”
Mario’s got a great big heart!Mario’s adventure is over for now, but
Mario’s dream lives forever…
One important note: Don’t confuse “Go Go Mario!!” with the version of the theme song from the “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show,” the television program that aired in 1989.
In case you don’t remember the TV program, this highly entertaining outro sequence featuring Lou Albano as Mario may jog your memory.
H/T Kokatu
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