1 sept. 1985 - Koji Kondo

Description:

I would remiss not to talk about Koji Kondo's immense impact on both video game music and the collective childhood of my generation. Koji Kondo is a Japanese composer that has written some of the most genre defining pieces of electronic music. When he was hired by Nintendo in 1984, he was tasked with creating soundtracks for games series such as Mario and the Legend of Zelda. His "Overworld Theme" for Super Mario Bros encapsulates the soul of Chiptune music with its catchy melodic synth voice, ingenious use of synthesized percussive sounds, and its repeatability as a player hears the theme frequently throughout the Mario franchise. The player actually listens to the Overworld Theme for long durations repeatedly throughout the game, but its recognizable chord progression and strategically placed variations for flavor keep the player interested and engaged in the music. But other works of music accomplish this same thing both in electronic and organic compositions, so why are Kondo's pieces so iconic? The simple answer is that Koji Kondo's music is so unique that they are synonymous with the style of music and game that they take place in. The Super Mario Bros Overworld Theme is so iconic because it creates the image of the Super Mario Bros world within the mind of anyone who hears its melody. Koji Kondo's Chiptune style matches that 8-bit game so perfectly that it does not make sense to use any other style of music with the Mario franchise. Whenever someone hears Kondo's music, they are instantly transported to their childhood of playing 8-bit games and the music that perfectly accompanied them.

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