Dire, Dire Docks (theme)
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| "Dire, Dire Docks" | |
|---|---|
 Image fromNintendo Music | |
| Composed by: Koji Kondo | |
| Key | G major |
| BPM | 68 |
| Time signature | 2 2 |
| First appearance | Super Mario 64 (1996) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) |
"Dire, Dire Docks"[1][2] is a musical theme composed byKoji Kondo forSuper Mario 64, where it plays in thelevelsDire, Dire Docks,Jolly Roger Bay, andThe Secret Aquarium.
Composition[edit]
The theme has two additional versions that fade in depending on the player's location in the level, one with added strings and another with added percussion. In soundtrack versions, the themes are played sequentially.
 Dire, Dire Docks (Synths) - The remix heard inSuper Mario 64 | File info 0:30 |
| Dire, Dire Docks (Percussion) - The remix heard inSuper Mario 64 | File info 0:30 |
The locations in which these versions play in each level are as follows:
| Course | Base version | Version with added synths | Version with added percussion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dire, Dire Docks | In the first area | Starting at the entrance of the tunnel in the Nintendo 64 version Starting halfway through the tunnel in the Nintendo DS version | On land in the second area |
| Jolly Roger Bay | Above land Inside the sunken ship | While swimming | Inside the ship, after the water is drained (N64 only) On land in the cavern area |
| The Secret Aquarium | In the Nintendo 64 version | N/A | In the Nintendo DS version |
History[edit]
Super Mario 64 /Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
Super Mario 64 marks the first appearance of "Dire, Dire Docks", and it returns for the same purpose in theNintendo DSremake,Super Mario 64 DS, and theNintendo Switch port,Super Mario 3D All-Stars. It is also included in the official albumsSuper Mario 64 Original Soundtrack,Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits,Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.1: Healing Music,Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection, andThe 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music.
Exclusively inSuper Mario 64 DS, a slower-paced and reverberated arrangement of "Dire, Dire Docks" arranged byKenta Nagata plays in thePsyche Out!minigame.
| Psyche Out! - The arrangement heard inSuper Mario 64 DS | File info 0:30 |
Mario Kart World[edit]
InMario Kart World, asoft rock arrangement of "Dire, Dire Docks" can play inFree Roam during the day.
| Dire, Dire Docks - The arrangement heard inMario Kart World | File info 0:30 |
Other appearances[edit]
Nintendo Sound Adventures /N64Y2K Millennium Trax[edit]
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TheNintendo Sound Adventures album, consisting of original themes and arrangements of themes fromNintendo 64 games, features an arrangement of "Dire, Dire Docks" titled "Aqua Arie". It returns in theN64Y2K Millennium Trax album under the title "Aqua Arie (H2O Ambient)".
Super Mario Orchestra Concert[edit]
The "Super Mario Orchestra Concert" series featured a live orchestral medley arrangement of several musical themes fromSuper Mario 64, including "Dire, Dire Docks".
List ofSuper Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario 64 | Nintendo 64 | 1996 | Original | "Dire, Dire Docks"[2] | Koji Kondo |
| Remix | |||||
| Super Mario 64 DS | Nintendo DS | 2004 | Original | "Dire, Dire Docks"[2] | Koji Kondo |
| Past remix (Super Mario 64) | |||||
| Arrangement | Kenta Nagata | ||||
| Super Mario 3D All-Stars | Nintendo Switch | 2020 | Original | "Dire, Dire Docks"[2] | Koji Kondo |
| Past remix (Super Mario 64) | |||||
| Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2025 | Arrangement | "Dire, Dire Docks"[3] |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack | 1996 | Original | "Dire, Dire Docks" | Koji Kondo |
| Nintendo 64 Original Soundtrack Greatest Hits | 1996 | Original | "Dire, Dire Docks" | Koji Kondo |
| Nintendo Sound Adventures | 1998 | Arrangement | "Aqua Arie" | |
| N64Y2K Millennium Trax | 1999 | Past arrangement (Nintendo Sound Adventures) | "Aqua Arie (H2O Ambient)" | |
| Nintendo Sound Selection Vol.1: Healing Music | 2003 | Original | 「ウォーターランド」 (Wōtā Rando) | Koji Kondo |
| Happy! Mario 20th - Super Mario Sound Collection | 2005 | Original | 「ウォーターランド」 (Wōtā Rando) | Koji Kondo |
| The 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Music | 2015 | Original | 「ウォーターランド」 (Wōtā Rando) | Koji Kondo |
Live performances[edit]
| Event | Year | Location | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Orchestra Concert | 2018 | ROHM Theater Kyoto | Arrangement |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Music | 2024[a] | Original | "Dire, Dire Docks" | Koji Kondo |
- ^Added on December 23, 2024
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ウォーターランド[1] Wōtā Rando | Water Land | |
| German | Aqua Arie[2] | Aqua Aria |
Notes[edit]
- On theNintendo Music app, "Dire, Dire Docks" is labeled as "Selects", classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library", originating fromSuper Mario 64. "Dire, Dire Docks" shares this title with the "Main Theme" and "Slider".
- Discounting jingles and themes that play during cutscenes, "Dire, Dire Docks" is one of three musical themes inSuper Mario 64 that do not appear inMinecraft'sSuper Mario Mash-Up Pack, the other two being "The Endless Stairs" and "Staff Roll".
