Float Islands (theme)
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"Float Islands" is the name of a musical track composed by Jun Ishikawa which first appeared in Kirby's Dream Land, accompanying the level it is named after. The track is iconic to the Kirby series, and has appeared in several subsequent games in various forms.
Composition
The original Float Islands theme is in the key of F major. The theme starts with the intro, which is a few seconds long. The first part of the melody passes, and goes to the second portion (the key signature changes from major to minor) and then loops again.
The latter half of this theme is often remixed as the Rest Area theme.
Game appearances
Kirby's Dream Land
"Float Islands" makes its first appearance here. It plays in the Float Islands level as well as the "Float Islands" portion of Mt. Dedede.
Kirby's Dream Course
An arrangement of "Float Islands" plays in Holes 5-7 on Course 1, and in Holes 1-4 on Whispy Woods Course.
Kirby's Dream Land 2
The "Float Islands" theme appears again in a largely unaltered state as the main theme of Ripple Field. It plays in its stages whenever Kirby is by himself.
Kirby Super Star / Kirby Super Star Ultra
A different arrangement of the "Float Islands" theme plays in these games; it has a faster tempo and plays at a different key from the original version. It plays in the Float Islands portion of Spring Breeze and also plays in Illusion Islands in Revenge of the King. There are very minor differences in instrumentation in the music between the two games.
The Rest Area from The Great Cave Offensive features an acoustic arrangement of slower pace, simply named "Rest Area" ("Rest Spot" in the British English version of Kirby and the Rainbow Curse). This version also plays in the secret ??? planet in Milky Way Wishes.
Super Smash Bros. series
A remix of the "Rest Area" arrangement from Kirby Super Star titled All-Star Intro plays in the All-Star Rest Area of Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is only accessible in the All-Star Mode in-between battles.
The track was released on CD in the game's official album Smashing...Live!, as part of the "Original Medley" under Track 5. It returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate under the name "All Star Intro".
In addition, the original track from Kirby's Dream Land appears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, where it is available on the Dream Land stage. It returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate under the "Kirby Retro Medley" track.
Kirby Air Ride
A rearrangement of "Float Islands" appears as the alternative music for the Water course in Top Ride. This remix has a much faster pace and uses an electric guitar. It's arranged by Hirokazu Ando.[1]
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Mag Mount’s theme starts with the first few keys of the “Float Islands” theme, Collapse Castle features a unique rearrangement of "Float Islands" in a minor key, using electronic instrumentation.
Kirby: Squeak Squad
A rock-styled arrangement of the theme appears as the music for the Smash Ride sub-game. It was arranged by Jun Ishikawa.[2]
Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
A rearrangement of the "Rest Area" version from Kirby Super Star plays in the Copy Ability selection room of The Arena. It also plays on the Game Over screen for The True Arena. It is called "Taking a Break" on Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe.
Additionally, a remix of "Smash Ride" from Kirby: Squeak Squad is included in the remake for the sub-game. After beating the initial missions for it, the original version of the track is unlocked.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Another rearrangement of the "Rest Area" version from Kirby Super Star plays in the file selection section, with a high-pitched mandolin and flute in the lead.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
A rearrangement of the "Rest Area" version from Kirby Super Star can be unlocked and played in the game's Music Room.
Kirby: Planet Robobot
The file selection theme from Triple Deluxe is reused for Planet Robobot, serving the same purpose. It is named "Select a File!" in the Kirby: Planet Robobot Original Soundtrack.
A remix of "Float Islands" plays in Overload Ocean - Stage 3, and it features an extended melody. It can be found as Track 023 in the Jukebox, and is arranged by Hirokazu Ando. This version is named "Industrial Laboratory" in the game's Original Soundtrack.
The Air Ride rearrangement is also reused, playing in certain sections of Overload Ocean - Stage 7 EX. It can be found as Track 117 in the Jukebox.
Arrangements of the theme play when viewing the player's best scores from The Arena and The True Arena. The former features lighter instrumentation, and is more faithful to the original, while the later has a more serious tone to it, and closer to the "Rest Area" version of the theme. They can be found as Track 140 and 144 in the Jukebox, respectively, and both are arranged by Jun Ishikawa. In the game's Original Soundtrack, they are named StreetPass wins (Normal) and StreetPass wins (True), respectively.
Kirby's Blowout Blast
An acoustic re-orchestration of the Float Islands theme plays in the main stages of Level 2 (EX).
Other appearances
The original "All-Star Rest Area" version from Super Smash Bros. Melee was included in the Kirby & The Amazing Mirror Sound Plus album. The original tune was featured as Track 07 in the CD soundtrack album The Very Best of Kirby: 52 Hit Tracks, along with Green Greens and Welcome to Dream Land.
Track 43 from the Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition Compilation Soundtrack titled "Electro Kirby" at part 1:13–1:31 features a bagpipes-sounding remix of the tune in background.
On the Kirby Memorial Arrangements album, the first track, "Big Band Kirby", includes a slow-paced jazz arrangement of "Float Islands". The arrangement is very similar to that of "La Mer", a famous jazz standard. This version was arranged by Megumi Ohara.
A short remix of this theme was featured in Kirby Pupupu Train, and it is included on the Kirby Pupupu Train Eki-melo Collection under the title フロートアイランズ駅 (Float Islands Station).
The Kirby: Squeak Squad remix was performed live at the Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival as part of Get Pumped Up! Sub-Game Medley, along with "Samurai Kirby", "Mid-Boss Battle" from Kirby's Adventure, "Checkerboard Chase", "Tilt-and-Roll Kirby", and the Sub-Game congratulations theme.
Trivia
- The original theme is partly based off Jun Ishikawa's previous arrangement for Adventures of Lolo 3, playing during Underworld Levels stage maps. The "Smash Ride" variation in particular sounds nearly identical to this theme.
Names in other languages
Float Islands
Language | Name | Meaning |
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Japanese | FLOAT ISLANDS フロートアイランズ Furōto Airanzu |
Float Islands |
Rest Area
Language | Name | Meaning |
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Japanese | 休憩所 kyūkeisho |
Rest Area |
French | Zone de repos | Rest zone |
German | Ein Ort der Rast | A place of rest |
Italian | Area di riposo | Rest area |
Spanish | Área de reposo | Rest Area |
References
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- Music in Kirby's Dream Land
- Music in Kirby's Dream Course
- Music in Kirby's Dream Land 2
- Music in Kirby Super Star
- Music in Kirby Air Ride
- Music in Kirby: Canvas Curse
- Music in Kirby: Squeak Squad
- Music in Kirby Super Star Ultra
- Music in Kirby's Return to Dream Land
- Music in Kirby: Triple Deluxe
- Music in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
- Music in Kirby: Planet Robobot
- Music in Kirby's Blowout Blast
- Music in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
- Music in Super Smash Bros. Melee
- Music in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
- Music in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Music in Kirby Pupupu Train
- Music in Kirby Memorial Arrangements
- Music from Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival