Fly, Kirby!
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- This article is about the musical theme. For the anime episode with the same Japanese name, see Fright to the Finish.
"Fly, Kirby!" is a theme from Kirby's Return to Dream Land that is associated with the final level, Another Dimension. It was composed by Hirokazu Ando.[1]
Composition[edit]
"Fly, Kirby!" makes heavy use of synthetic instrumentation. It plays at 170 beats per minute in a 4/4 time signature in G minor. It begins with an intro which immediately presents the main motif (somewhat based on the middle section of "Green Greens") and its counterpoint, which has melodic functions despite its supporting role throughout the piece. The intro ends on a dramatic dominant. The melody then comes in. It plays twice, the second time with quiet responses from a piano. It once again ends in a dominant function with a rising phrase that shares intonations with "Four Adventurers: Cookie Country". A response and a transition based on this phrase follow up.
The first section repeats at a lower pitch omitting the final phrase, and the intro repeats. Then, a minor version of "Four Adventurers: Cookie Country" (in the rhythmical pattern of its use in "The Adventure Begins") comes in its full glory. Following it is the main melody once more. However, rather than repeating, it continues with a climactic "Kirby's Triumphant Return" and a "Four Adventurers: Cookie Country" response. After this, the track loops from the intro.
Game appearances[edit]
Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]
"Fly, Kirby!" made its debut in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, and also appears in its remake. It plays during the main portion of gameplay within Another Dimension, and continues into the boss fight against Lor & Magolor. The theme also plays during the Lor & Magolor fight in The Arena and The True Arena. The track can be listened to as track 82 in the Kirby's Return to Dream Land Sound Test, and as track 123 in the Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Jukebox.
In Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, part of "Fly, Kirby!" is arranged into the credits theme for Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler, known as "Crossing into the Parallel with You" (track 186 in the Jukebox). The Star Allies arrangement is used when fighting Magolor Soul at the end of The True Arena. Initially unchanged from the track's prior appearance in Star Allies, an added choir plus what sounds like Magolor's cries for help get mixed into the track for the second phase. A variation that fades the second phase version in after one complete loop can be found in the Jukebox as track 197.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]
This theme plays in the Another Dimension stage in Kirby Fighters. It is unaltered from its previous appearance.
Kirby Star Allies[edit]
A brief portion of "Fly, Kirby!" is included among the songs that comprise Magolor's Morpho Knight battle music. The medley is titled "Supreme Ruler's Coronation - OVERLORD" on Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe.
Super Kirby Clash[edit]
In this game, the theme plays when fighting Parallel Susie in both her Tougher and Toughest battles. Like other music in Super Kirby Clash, it has been remixed with additional drum-and-bass and orchestral embellishments.
Other appearances[edit]
"Fly, Kirby!" is given an orchestral remix on the Kirby Wii Music Selection as part of the medley track ボーナストラック：サイゴノタタカイ (Bonus Track: Last Battle). It appears alongside "Let Me Explain Everything", "Welcome Your New Overlord", and "C-R-O-W-N-E-D".
The theme was performed live at the Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival as part of the Kirby Through the Years: 2005-2022 medley, along with "Opening" from Kirby: Canvas Curse, "Squeak Squad: Title", "Heavy Lobster", "The World to Win", and "Northeast Frost Street".
Trivia[edit]
- The internal name of this track in Kirby's Return to Dream Land's files is st_halberd, which is particularly unusual considering that the Halberd doesn't appear in the game at all, and that all but one of the other tracks with names starting with st play in stages. While it's unclear why exactly this is the case, it's speculated that this track was originally planned to be used in one of the three canceled Kirby games, playing in a stage or boss battle related to the Halberd in some form, as it was shown to appear in said game.
- This is further supported by the fact that the track ends with a small section of "Kirby's Triumphant Return", which shares commonalities with "Havoc Aboard the Halberd". This is something that was later done in "VS. Star Dream", which plays during a battle in which the player controls the Halberd.
- Incidentally, a cutscene in Kirby Super Star Ultra associated with Meta Knight follows a similar naming pattern ("Fly! Meta Knight").
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 飛べ！星のカービィ Tobe! Hoshi no Kābyi |
Fly! Kirby of the Stars |
| Traditional Chinese | 飛吧！星之卡比 fēi ba! xīng zhī kǎ bǐ |
Fly! Kirby of the Stars |
| Simplified Chinese | 飞吧！星之卡比 fēi ba! xīng zhī kǎ bǐ | |
| Dutch | Vlieg, Kirby! | Fly, Kirby! |
| Canadian French | Vole, Kirby! | Fly, Kirby! |
| European French | Vole, Kirby ! | Fly, Kirby! |
| German | Kirby, flieg! | Kirby, fly! |
| Italian | Vola, Kirby! | Fly, Kirby! |
| Korean | 날아라! 별의 커비 nal-ala! byeol-ui keobi |
Fly! Kirby of the Stars |
| Portuguese | Voe, Kirby! | Fly, Kirby! |
| Spanish | ¡Vuela, Kirby! | Fly, Kirby! |
References
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