“Super Mario Bros.” makes history as the first game score to be added to the U.S. National Recording Registry

The iconic theme song of the Super Mario Bros. video game series has made history once again as it was inducted into the U.S. National Recording Registry on Wednesday, marking the first-ever video game theme song to be honored with such an accolade. The original tune, commonly known as the “Ground Theme” or “Overworld Theme,” was composed by Koji Kondo for the 1985 Super Mario Bros. game that was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The song was selected among 25 other recordings, including the likes of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Queen Latifah also made history as the first female rapper to be inducted. “The National Recording Registry preserves our history through recorded sound and reflects our nation’s diverse culture,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in an issued statement. “The national library is proud to help ensure these recordings are preserved for generations to come.”

Kondo, speaking through an interpreter, revealed that he had to be very innovative and make full use of the musical and programming ingenuity available at the time to compose the theme. He used a variety of genres that matched what was happening on screen to create the tune. According to an interview with Electronic Gaming Monthly, Kondo composed the song on a small keyboard while he was a college senior and had just answered a recruiting call from Nintendo.

The iconic track has undergone slight changes depending on the game, system generation, or in-game location, and it was also the basis for The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! television series theme.