The first 30 seconds or so is a chipper, well-paced launch into the track. While it’s different to most other songs in the game by repeating itself with a different set of instruments (woodwind, then what I can only assume to be a synth’s attempt at an electric guitar), it’s not particularly special from a technical perspective – it’s just so damn memorable.
When you break Rainbow Road down, it’s an incredibly basic song with only two distinct parts, across a core tune that lasts for just one minute, nine seconds. The colourful yet ball-tripping visuals of the race itself only added to this experience. Still, I’ve seen countless mates belt out Rainbow Road while racing, as if they’re having a fever dream after capitulating due to the stress of hours of closely-fought races. Sure, fellow Mario Kart 64 classics Royal Raceway, Toad’s Turnpike and even the menu music for Set-up and Kart Select are just as guilty of being passively sung under one’s breath. We consider it a great success if the other production staff start unconsciously humming the tunes as they’re racing.”Ĭonsidering I still don’t so much hum as shout the four-note “DER DER DE-DERRRRRRR” every time it comes around, Nagata stayed true to form. Instead, we aim to produce pieces that will stick in players’ minds. Speaking to Kotaku shortly after the release of the excellent Mario Kart 8, he explained his ideology: “The music used throughout the Mario Kart series isn’t intended to be just background music. It’s even more impressive that the MK64 soundtrack was Kenta Nagata’s first for Nintendo. Luckily, they left the best for last, and on arguably the most iconic racetrack the series ever produced. Even the usually trusty soundtrack was filled with highs and lows. When it was released, Mario Kart 64 split people down the middle for a number of reasons, whether it was due to its incessant rubber-banding (bolstered by the then-new blue shell), not-quite-there 3D visuals, or tricky handling.
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