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Well I was browsing Youtube today watching classic gameplay videos on Youtube today and it would seem that one of the most beloved classic themes from the 8-bit era has origins dating far beyond its overshadowing popularizer. I suppose it should come as no surprise as the other themes in this game were also beloved classics such as The Dance of the Sugar Plumb Fairy but I'd never heard anybody refer to this particular anything other than "The Tetris theme" until today.

Learn the true form of Tetris Type A, Kurobeiniki! A russian peddler love song.

According to the Wikipedia, the song was originally written in 1861, 128 years before Tetris even existed. Which is part of why I put this in general topics by the way: Something can hardly be considered video game specific if it existed little over one and one quarter centuries before.

Well, it turns out my life was a lie and I feel dumb now. Seriously, how did I not learn about this years ago? Did any of you know about this? If so, do you guys know anything else I should know about?

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Role reversal at its finest.

Quote (Tonepoet @ 16th October 2010 00:15)

Well I was browsing Youtube today watching classic gameplay videos on Youtube today and it would seem that one of the most beloved classic themes from the 8-bit era has origins dating far beyond its overshadowing popularizer. I suppose it should come as no surprise as the other themes in this game were also beloved classics such as The Dance of the Sugar Plumb Fairy but I'd never heard anybody refer to this particular anything other than "The Tetris theme" until today.

Learn the true form of Tetris Type A, Kurobeiniki! A russian peddler love song.

According to the Wikipedia, the song was originally written in 1861, 128 years before Tetris even existed. Which is part of why I put this in general topics by the way: Something can hardly be considered video game specific if it existed little over one and one quarter centuries before.

Well, it turns out my life was a lie and I feel dumb now. Seriously, how did I not learn about this years ago? Did any of you know about this? If so, do you guys know anything else I should know about?

I pretty much guessed that. I couldn't be too sure, but I figured.

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Praise Be To Helix!

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Well, it turns out my life was a lie and I feel dumb now. Seriously, how did I not learn about this years ago? Did any of you know about this?

Yep, known about this for quite a while now.

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If so, do you guys know anything else I should know about?

In Super Mairo Bros. the bushes and the clouds are the same.

I knew that the three Tetris songs were Russian folk songs or something, but not specifically what it was. Thanks for that research.

I got pretty blown away when I found out that the guy that created Pokemon was on the team that made Earthbound. It's why Ness and the Trainer look so similar and the two games have other odd stylistic similarities.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

I knew that the "Tetris theme" was a Russian folk song called Korobeiniki, and I actually have that recording you link to on my computer. Thanks for the awesome mention though!

It is notable that it doesn't include the "middle section" of the Tetris theme, though. That seems to be new.

Also, I suspected, then confirmed for myself, that some of the same people were behind Pokémon and Earthbound, because I, too, noticed a lot of similarities. Too bad you can't use the bicycle when you have more than one person though...though I guess they expect you to have Psi Teleport by then anyway.

In other news, you might find some similarities between these tracks:
* Final Fantasy V "The Book of Sealings" and Final Fantasy VII - "Those Chosen by the Planet"
* Final Fantasy V "Intention of the Earth" and Final Fantasy IX - Kuja's theme

And one more reported by a friend but not yet confirmed by me, FF9's Terra theme and some FF8 theme I forgot.

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

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Quote (footbigmike @ 16th October 2010 10:13)

In Super Mairo Bros. the bushes and the clouds are the same.

Haha.

To be fair, I didn't actually know this either Tonepoet! Though once my friend played the song on an electric keyboard in a more upbeat style like this, and we all began dancing around like they do in Jewish weddings. Or, at least like they do in Jewish weddings at movies heh. It all makes so much sense now!

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

The newest CoNcast is up! Have a listen!

1861? That's crazy. It's hard to believe that song that always screams "addictive" to me has been around so long.

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but have any of you seen this video before (it's got tetris music, so it's pseudo-relevant):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWTFG3J1CP8

I didn't know that! I barely recognize the Tetris theme or its classical roots, though. I played Tetris most on older computers, though, and don't remember the music much. I usually had it turned on Windows Media Player to something else ;D


The best trivia I've got is that Jaleel White (Steve Urkel from Family Matters) does the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog. Not really mind blowing, but interesting to me!

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You're telling me that there's no hope.

I'm telling you you're wrong.