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King Dedede's Theme

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King Dedede's Theme
File:Tower of Midbosses.ogg
Full track of Tower Of Midbosses from the Dream Collection CD.
Details
Debut appearance Kirby's Dream Land
Last appearance Kirby Star Allies
Composer(s) Jun Ishikawa
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King Dedede's Theme (also known as the Tower of Midbosses theme, or just Dedede's Theme for short) is a musical piece composed by Jun Ishikawa and first appears in Kirby's Dream Land.

It has reappeared in several titles since, with several changes, rearrangements and remixes along the way. As the name implies, the theme is associated with King Dedede, though this was not strictly the case until later in Kirby series.

Development of King Dedede's Leitmotif

King Dedede's leitmotif consists of two sections but the second section didn't appear until Kirby Super Star.

First section from Kirby's Dream Land and Kirby's Dream Land 2

In Kirby's Dream Land, this theme first appears in the final boss battle with King Dedede in the boxing ring on Mt. Dedede. Compared to later iterations, it is relatively simple, with only the first section of the song on loop.

In Kirby's Dream Land 2, the same track from Kirby's Dream Land reappears in his boss battle at the end of Dark Castle.

The theme's original version in these two games has a higher key than later iterations based on Kirby Super Star's full version.

Second section from Kirby Super Star

In Kirby Super Star, the final boss battle with King Dedede on Mt. Dedede in Spring Breeze is where his theme first got its second section and became the full theme, which has persisted to the present.

It is also used in The Arena's same battle.

Arrangements in Kirby series

Arrangements of King Dedede's Theme in later Kirby games are mostly based on the two-section lower-key version from Kirby Super Star.

Kirby's Dream Land 3 remix

In Kirby's Dream Land 3, Dedede's Theme is remixed with different instrumentation. This remix is used in his boss battle at the end of Iceberg.

Tower of Midbosses remix

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Dedede's Theme doesn't appear in the original Kirby's Adventure. The regular boss battle theme is used in his boss battle at the end of Rainbow Resort.

In the remake Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, his boss battle uses a GBA remix of Fountain of Dreams from Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is originally an orchestral remix of Gourmet Race (theme).

However, a GBA remix of Dedede's theme appears in Stage 2 (the Mid-Boss Tower) of Rainbow Resort. This version is titled Tower of Midbosses (Track 17) in Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition Compilation Soundtrack.

Kirby: Squeak Squad

In Kirby: Squeak Squad, Tower of Midbosses version of Dedede's Theme is used during the boss battle with King Dedede and Meta Knight.

Kirby Super Star Ultra

King Dedede's Theme

In Kirby Super Star Ultra, King Dedede's Theme is remixed with Nintendo DS sound chip, similar to other remixed Kirby Super Star soundtracks. It's still used during the boss battle with King Dedede in Spring Breeze and The Arena.

Masked Dedede's Theme

In Revenge of the King, King Dedede's Theme is remixed to create the specific new version associated with Masked Dedede.

Masked Dedede's Theme is titled The Masked King (Track 29) in Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition Compilation Soundtrack. It's arranged in a much faster tempo than the original version.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Masked Dedede & Shadow Dedede's Theme

In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Masked Dedede's Theme is remixed with orchestral instrumentation and titled Dedede's Royal Payback in Triple Deluxe Soundtrack CD. This version is used during the following boss battles at the end of Royal Road:

Dedede's Royal Payback can be found as Track 97 in Triple Deluxe's Jukebox.

Dedede's Theme in Dedede's Drum Dash

In Kirby: Triple Deluxe's Sub-Game Dedede's Drum Dash, Dedede's Theme (as titled) is remixed to serve as the third stage music, with flute instrumentation and bass guitar similar to the other tracks.

This version can also be heard in the rest areas of DededeTour!.

Kirby Fighters (Deluxe)

Dedede Arena

In Kirby: Triple Deluxe's Sub-Game Kirby Fighters and its upgrade spinoff Kirby Fighters Deluxe, Kirby's Dream Land 3 version of his theme is reused on Dedede Arena stage.

"History of Dedede"

Main article: History of Dedede (theme)

In Kirby Fighters Deluxe, a new version called "History of Dedede" appears during the final battle with Team DDD64 (King Dedede with 61 Mini Dededes and 2 Combo Dededes) on 'Very Hard' difficulty. It's is a retro melody of his theme's different versions.

"Dedede's Tridimensional Cannon" (Kirby: Planet Robobot)

In Kirby: Planet Robobot, when Dedede Clone is defeated (multiplied into three during the boss battle), the three Dedede Clones ride on the D3 cannon and become Dedede Clones & D3, challenging Kirby for a rematch.

Although Dedede Clone battle uses the track "VS. The Wicked Company" (Planet Robobot's regular boss battle theme), Dedede Clones & D3 battle uses a different one.

Dedede Clones & D3 boss battle theme is titled "Dedede's Tridimensional Cannon" in English. It's an orchestral mashup of King Dedede's Theme and "My Friend and the Sunset" (ending theme of Revenge of Meta Knight). "Dedede's Tridimensional Cannon" can be found as Track 51 in Planet Robobot's Jukebox.

Unlike King Dedede's Theme in 4/4 time signature, "Dedede's Tridimensional Cannon" is composed in 3/4 time instead, which resembles "My Friend and the Sunset" in 6/8.

The Japanese title of this remix is 伝導でんどう電磁式でんじしき三連砲さんれんほう:D.D.D. ("Electromagnetic Conduction Triple Turret Cannon: D.D.D."). The romaji of 伝導電磁式 (electromagnetic conduction) from the track name is dendō denjishiki, with three Ds as the first letters.

King D-Mind's Theme in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe

In Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, King D-Mind is fought as the final boss, who appears to be a fusion of Shadow Dedede and Dark Mind.

The first phase of King D-Mind's battle plays a new remix of Castle Lololo, which is also used in Landia EX's battle.

The second phase of King D-Mind's battle plays a new orchestral mashup of Dark Mind's Theme and Dedede's Royal Payback (Masked Dedede & Shadow Dedede's Theme from Kirby: Triple Deluxe).

Kirby's Blowout Blast remixes

In Kirby's Blowout Blast, King Dedede is fought several times in different forms, featuring different remixes.

  • A new remix of Dedede's Theme is made in the original higher key from Kirby's Dream Land:
    • Only the first section plays in the battle with King Dedede (King Dedede's Revenge) in Level 5 (EX).
    • The full two sections play in the battle with King Dedede's Revenge in Secret Path.
  • The same Castle Lololo remix from Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, "Vs. Landia EX/King D-Mind (Phase 1)" is reused in the battle with Giant King Dedede (Giant King Dedede's Revenge) in Level 5 (EX).
  • A new remix of Castle Lololo in heavy metal style is used in the final battle with Giant Masked Dedede in Secret Path.

Kirby Star Allies

Macho of Dedede

In Kirby Star Allies, a new version of King Dedede's Theme plays during his boss battle. It's arranged by Hirokazu Ando and titled Macho of Dedede[1]. It's an orchestral arrangement of Dedede's Theme, featuring notable use of bass guitar. This version adds a new section before his regular two sections.

Macho of Dedede can be found as Track 16 in Star Allies Sound Room.

History of Dedede

Main article: History of Dedede (theme)

History of Dedede from Kirby Fighters Deluxe is reused to replace Macho of Dedede in his boss battle on 'Soul Melter' difficulty of The Ultimate Choice.

Other appearances

Kirby series

Elements of this theme can be heard in other tracks, such as the Taking Over the Halberd theme, and Taranza, the Master of Puppetry (Taranza's Theme).

King Dedede's Theme has been performed live in the Kirby 25th Anniversary Orchestra Concert.

Super Smash Bros. series

King Dedede's Theme has been rearranged twice in Super Smash Bros. series:

"King Dedede's Theme"

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, "King Dedede's Theme" is remixed by Yoko Shimomura.

This version serves as an unlockable theme for the Halberd stage.

Both this remix and the Halberd stage reappear in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

"King Dedede's Theme Ver. 2"

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, "King Dedede's Theme Ver. 2" is arranged and performed by HIDE×HIDE, a Japanese musical duo who play traditional Japanese music.

This version is performed with traditional Japanese instrumentation.

This version serves as a default theme for The Great Cave Offensive stage.

References

  1. Nintendo DREAM, May 2018 Issue, pg.26

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