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Klobber's Donkey Kong Country Soundtrack Overview



Of the three DKC games, the original game has my second favorite soundtrack. It took the happy-go-lucky themes present in a majority of platformers and replaced it (for the most part) with deeply moving, dramatic songs. It was a step in the right direction, and a step which would lead to one of the all-time greatest (and one of the most popular) video game soundtracks.



1. Theme

Starting out with ancient, retro-sounding instruments, the theme quickly gets rockin'. All three of the DKC games had thoroughly excellent main themes; this one is no different and ties with DKC3's "Dixie Beat" for my second favorite theme.



2. Simian Segue

This one's very different from the map themes of the other two games. It has more of a light feel to it when compared with the dark pounding melody of Crocodile Isle or the open theme of the vast Northern Kremisphere. It's quite a catchy little map theme that fit the tone of the rest of the game very nicely.



3. DK Island Swing

I have absolutely no idea why, but on the OST this track opens with the Rareware fanfare. Fortunately, the fanfare is one of the only things out of place in terms of chronological order on this CD. The rest of this song is, of course, that famous jungle beat we've come to associate with Donkey Kong. This song captures the essence of what makes a jungle, well, a jungle more than most other songs I've heard. It definitely does a job of this better than any game outside of the DKC trilogy, and the only reason I don't name it as the best jungle song is because of the other jungle tunes in the trilogy. This is, however, probably my favorite of any jungle song present in the three DKC games. Starting out with drumbeats and eventually moving into a swinging kind of tune, it ends hauntingly, with instruments and notes that perfectly form the vision of a jungle sunset in one's mind. You can almost see the sky turning a deep hue of orange or red, hear the jungle foliage rustling in the breeze, and hear the chirping of cicadas and other creatures stir as night falls. Yes, I get all of this from video game music, and so do many other people, thus setting in stone what big dorks we are. But we're dorks with good taste. Hoo hah!



4. Cranky's Theme

This song can often make me smile when listening to it. In addition to the nostalgia factor involved, it really is a perfect theme for Cranky. Something about it just matches him - he's, er, cranky, but we all know that deep down he's great. Cranky, but great. Not much else to say about this theme, suffice to say it's yet another example of the great music the DKC trilogy had and, like Cranky, it makes me miss the good old days.



5. Jungle Groove

Don't start scratching your head just yet. This was a special song included only on the OST. Basically, it's an updated version of DK Island Swing, with instruments (and sound effects!) not present in the original. I say updated, but I actually prefer the original since some of the instruments sound a little too subdued for my tastes, particularly the brass. It's still worth a listen though, so you can download it here.



6. Cave Dweller Concert

DKC had more ambient songs in its bag than did its two sequels, and this is a prime example of that. This song does an outstanding job of getting the feeling of a jungle cave down pat, with its airy flutes and dripping water sound effects. It's only slightly creepy, unlike many cave themes, having more of a tone of mystery and quiet beauty. Really a very excellent job here, just like the rest of the soundtrack.



7. Bonus Room Blitz

The bonus theme, of course. Not much to comment on here, except that it's extremely catchy and when I listen to it I often hum along. It's one of those songs you can load and play for a very long time on loop without realizing it, as it manages to be somewhat short without annoying repetition.



8. Aquatic Ambience

This song deserves very special attention. It is, in my view, the very best theme for a water level that has ever been created. Let's get one thing out of the way right now - this song is beautiful. It's also extremely influential, as a lot of the themes used for water levels in modern day games follow its trail. I remember reading in a magazine a preview for SM64 which talked of how the music used for its water levels were similar to that of DKC. In a world where the DKC games are often compared to the Mario series (and most of the time beaten down for their 'similarity'), it was very refreshing to see a reversal of events. Truly great video game music extends the boundaries of the games and comes to life in our own world; standing as a work of art in and of itself instead of just an enhancement to the game. This is one of those songs. Recently I went to a popular aquarium and entered their underwater tunnel section - basically a large tube surrounded by water with a moving floor in the center; you stand on the moving floor and gaze around as fish swim on either side of you (as well as over your head). While moving slowly past the brightly colored coral reefs and watching the sharks swim overhead, Aquatic Ambience instantly popped into my mind. All the songs do a great job of capturing the feeling they were going for, but Aquatic Ambience does this especially well.



9. Candy's Love Song

Yeah, this one just screams 'nightclub,' but it's really catchy as well. I especially like the flute that is introduced later in the song. It's also surprisingly long considering you don't stay at Candy's for very long periods of time, proving once again that much effort goes into every single song here.



10. Bad Boss Boogie

This is a great boss theme, and my second favorite of the three different normal boss themes in the DKC trilogy. I love the overdriven guitar that makes up the meat of this song; it's delightfully creepy/dangerous sounding, and the pounding of the background instruments make for a very deadly theme. I wish more games had boss themes like this; it really gets the job done. Too often boss themes are overloaded with brass and loud instruments; here's one that has its share of loudness while still managing to sound sophisticated. Very cool.



11. Mine Cart Madness

It wouldn't be a DKC game without a high-energy race to survive, be it in minecarts, rollercoasters, or a sled. The first game began this tradition with its famous minecart levels. The music is some of the best in the game; I especially like the dramatic conclusion. It'll really get your pulse going. Yet another example of the soundtrack adding to the experience the rest of the game provides.



12. Life in the Mines

Another significantly ambient (at least when compared to the rest of the trilogy) song. This was the tune used for Winky's Walkway and that's the level I always associate it with for some reason. I really dig this tune. It's definitely one of my favorite songs from the soundtrack, and as always became as much a part of the level as the design of the level itself. Very well done.



13. Voices of the Temple

More relatively ambient music here.This is one of my lesser liked tracks, though that's only my personal opinion. It matched the temples very well and I can't really think of any other song that could have done the job better. The DKC series do a great job of having music that matches the levels so perfectly that trying to imagine the levels with anything else becomes difficult. This is a prime example of that. Not much else to say about this one.



14. Forest Frenzy

This was used in Vine Valley. It doesn't use a variety of instruments, but boy does it do a great job of being purely great. It's not just bias talking. Well, okay, a large portion of this is bias, but it's an undeniable fact that the songs on the soundtrack are many and varied and always - always - are evident as having a lot of effort put into them. This song is no different. It's catchy, matches the level wonderfully, and doesn't even need a full orchestra to do it.



15. Treetop Rock

Despite the name, this song doesn't contain any of the instruments normally associated with rock. Like Forest Frenzy, it doesn't have a lot of variety instrument-wise, but it doesn't need it - it still manages to be greater than a lot of songs that were used in games that had virtually unlimited audio capabilities.



16. Funky's Fugue

The original and still the best of the three Funky themes, in my opinion. You just know it's going to be awesome from the moment the 'ayyyy YAH' sound effect plays. In fact that sound effect is one reason I like this song so much. For some reason it reminds me of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Anything associated with them automatically gains a small measure of coolness (except for their third movie, which I didn't like at all). Oh, but anyway, I'm getting off-topic. Great song, and every bit as groovy as the character it was composed for.



17. Misty Menace

Here it is, the song that strikes terror into the hearts (and bowels) of DKU fanatics everywhere. This song, the beginning especially, can really creep you out if you listen to it while in the right frame of mind and in a darkened room. It's very sinister sounding, but just quiet enough so you start wondering if something is going to jump around the corner and grab you - in the case of Stop N Go Station, this is not far from the truth.



18. Northern Hemispheres

Not to be confused with Northern Kremispheres. Which are completely different. Few songs manage to capture the feeling of utter cold that this song conveys so well. It's a perfectly balanced mix of danger and a feeling of being utterly alone. It really does transport you to the top of some far off snow-covered mountain, where the wind blows over ice-kissed peaks and snowflakes fall to the ground to rest amongst their dying brothers in a vast white carpet. It also puts one in the mind to make really overdramatic sentences like the one I just wrote.



19. Ice Cave Chant

Remember when I said only a few songs manage to capture an icy sort of mood perfectly? This is another one of those few, though it's a lot more light-hearted than the previous track. Fortunately it manages to not go overboard in this regard, still retaining the feel the rest of the soundtrack sets, and it also creates an atmosphere all its own. An icy kind of atmosphere. Hells yeah. Oh, and it also helps that the levels this music goes along with are eye-poppingly beautiful even to this day. I'm a sucker for shining caverns of pure ice. Shining caverns of pure shit, however, are another matter entirely. Even so, I'd be willing to bet David Wise could take even a stupid idea like that and turn it into a masterpiece. Beanland certainly did a good job of it. Yeah, when I start talking about things like that it's probably time to move on. So let's do just that, shall we?



20. Fear Factory

Oh hell yeah. This is definitely one of my top 5 songs from this game. It is the epitome of industrial themes (eat your heart out, Grunty Industries) and is so very awesome in a mechanical, darkly evil sort of way. This is foreshadowing the things to come in the DKC2 soundtrack, which had quite a bit of music like this. The factory levels are quite a bit different from the architypes the rest of the game presented; even so, they don't seem out of place in the least, and neither does the awesome music which accompanied them. This is one song that gets stuck in my head at the oddest of times, and I usually start humming it when it does (much to the amazement of innocent bystanders when I forget I'm in a crowded place and start quietly humming it to myself).



21. Gangplank Galleon

This had to be one of the most unexpected themes in the history of final boss battles. It starts out with this little pirate jig that is just plain awesome, then goes into your standard high-octane boss music (only it isn't really standard at all, but very unique). When I think of the original DKC games in terms of music, the trio songs that most often stick out in my mind are the jungle theme (of course), Aquatic Ambience, and this one. Especially the beginning, which is so catchy that I can't possibly stress it enough. You go listen to this song right now, ya hear?



22. K. Rool's Cacophony

Well, it's the Game Over song. And like the rest of the soundtrack, it's good. And if I try to go into a lengthy description of it I'll just come across as looking like a moron. I already look like one anyway, but that's beside the point.



23. The Credits Concerto

The character parade was always one of my favorite features of the DKC series. I was really sad to see it missing in Donkey Kong 64. This was a wonderful song to end the game on, and it has that victorious perfection that makes it a great tune to listen to while you kick back, relax, and think about all you've accomplished during the course of the game.



Thus ends another soundtrack overview by me. DKC is definitely my second-favorite of the three soundtracks (with DKC2 being the first...predictable, but true), with a lot of great songs and some immortal classics like DK Island Swing and Gangplank Galleon. It ages well, and it's still better than a lot of the soundtracks for current games. Aquatic Ambience > Dire Dire Docks any day. Especially Tuesdays. Why, I don't know.