- For a list of all of the Banjo-Kazooie tracks, see List of Music (Banjo-Kazooie series)
"Spiral Mountain" is the theme for the stage of the same name from the Banjo-Kazooie series. This song received a remix for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that comes with the Banjo & Kazooie Challenger Pack. The original "Spiral Mountain" theme was composed by Grant Kirkhope who also composes the soundtrack to the Banjo-Kazooie series.
History[]
According to a 2019 interview with the creators of the Banjo-Kazooie franchise,[1] Kirkhope was contacted by Nintendo through Davide Soliani (director of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, which Kirkhope composed for), as they were interested in his assistance on a certain track, but did not specify what the song was, leaving Kirkhope to guess what it could be; he at first assumed that Banjo & Kazooie were joining Smash, but figured they would use Japanese composers to remix his work for Banjo-Kazooie. He wouldn't know until a month after the email, as his suspicions turned out to be true, making him the first of two musicians in Smash history to come from the West (the other being Toby Fox).
After going through a few song ideas, he eventually settled on "Spiral Mountain" for its recognizability; coincidentally, Spiral Mountain just so happened to be the stage of choice, something Nintendo did not tell Kirkhope until later. Along with Nintendo's request, they asked him to include themes from other Banjo-Kazooie levels. It took Kirkhope 12 iterations until the current version finally made the cut.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]
Composition[]
This remix, along with all the other Banjo-Kazooie remixes, were composed to fit in with the fast-paced fighting atmosphere of Ultimate. The first half is arranged in a bluegrass style, performed with the iconic banjo, fiddle, and piccolo, most likely done to parallel the original country-styled music the Banjo-Kazooie series is known for. The piccolo section of this first loop contains samples of various Banjo-Kazooie level themes. In order of appearance, they are Treasure Cove Trove, Frezeezy Peak, Gruntilda's Lair, Mayahem Temple, and Rusty Bucket Bay.
| Track name | Original track | Smash Bros. remix |
|---|---|---|
| Treasure Trove Cove (Banjo-Kazooie) |
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| Frezeezy Peak (Banjo-Kazooie) |
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| Gruntilda's Lair (Banjo-Kazooie) |
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| Mayahem Temple (Banjo-Tooie) |
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| Rusty Bucket Bay (Banjo-Kazooie) |
The second loop transitions into an orchestral arrangement featuring more strings and omitting the banjo and the fiddle.
The final loop is a triumphant orchestral remix, most likely a personal choice by Kirkhope to simulate the grand triumphant return of the duo.
Other uses[]
This remix plays during the credits of Banjo & Kazooie's Classic Mode route.
An edited version of this remix was used in Banjo & Kazooie's reveal trailer which removes the piccolo section of the first loop and omits the first half of the final loop.
Video[]
Composition & Arrangements[]
- Arrangement Supervisor: Grant Kirkhope
- Composition: Rare Limited
- Arrangement: Kirkcophony LLC
- Composition Copyright: Microsoft
- Arrangement Copyright: Nintendo
References[]
- โ Robinson, Andy (11 June 2019). Banjo-Kazooieโs creators discuss Smash Bros. inclusion (English). Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved on 20 July 2021.
 Banjo-Kazooie universe
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Banjo & Kazooie (Ultimate) | |
| Side Characters | Background characters | Bottles ยท Buzzbomb ยท Gruntilda ยท Jinjo ยท Mumbo Jumbo ยท Tooty |
| Final Smash | Jinjo | |
| Stage | Spiral Mountain | |
| Music | List | List of Music (Banjo-Kazooie series) |
| Song | "Spiral Mountain" | |
| Spirits | List of spirits (Banjo-Kazooie series) | |