Fever
- This article is about the musical theme fromDr. Mario. For the red virus known as "Fever" in theNintendo Comics System, seeVirus.
| "Fever" | |
|---|---|
 Image fromNintendo Music | |
| Composed by: Hirokazu Tanaka | |
| Key | G major;C major |
| First appearance | Dr. Mario (1990) |
| Latest appearance | WarioWare: Move It! (2023) |
"Fever", also known as "Dr. Mario",[1] is a musical theme composed byHirokazu Tanaka forDr. Mario, where it is one of two selectable themes that can play during gameplay, the other being "Chill". Compared to "Chill", "Fever" is more upbeat and fast-paced.
Composition[edit]
In composing "Fever",Hirokazu Tanaka's aim was to heighten the various feelings players experience while playing a game, such as confidence and anxiety, by incorporating different elements into the music, creating a song consisting of "'fun' parts and 'looming dread'-type parts". He also intended "Fever" to be "different" and "unusual" as games began to evolve and the industry began to see "really serious" composers. Tanaka describes the melody of "Fever" as "cute" to reflect the game's tone.[2] The song's melody is strongly similar to that of "Lady Madonna", a 1968 song by English rock bandthe Beatles, a band which previously served as the inspiration for "Round 1 BGM" fromDonkey Kong.
History[edit]
Dr. Mario series[edit]
Dr. Mario (Nintendo Entertainment System)[edit]
TheNES version ofDr. Mario marks the first appearance of "Fever", and it returns for the same purpose in theClassic NES Seriesport. It is also included in the official albumFamicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music.
Dr. Mario (Game Boy)[edit]
In theGame Boy version ofDr. Mario, an arrangement of "Fever" plays for the same purpose as in the NES version. This arrangement features an additional section before it loops.
 Fever - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy version ofDr. Mario | File info 0:30 |
Dr. Mario (Gamewatch Boy)[edit]
 | It has been requested that at least oneaudio and/or video file related to this section beuploaded.Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See thehelp page for help getting started. |
InDr. Mario for theGamewatch Boy, a brief arrangement of "Fever" plays at the start of each game.[3]
Tetris & Dr. Mario[edit]
InTetris & Dr. Mario, an arrangement of "Fever" based on the Game Boy version can play during gameplay inDr. Mario. This arrangement is in a slightly higher pitch.
| Fever - The arrangement heard inTetris & Dr. Mario | File info 0:30 |
Dr. Mario 64 /Nintendo Puzzle Collection[edit]
InDr. Mario 64 and theNintendo GameCubeport,Nintendo Puzzle Collection, an arrangement of "Fever" can play during gameplay. The music speeds up when there is only onevirus color remaining.
| Fever - The arrangement heard inDr. Mario 64 | File info 0:30 |
| Fever (Critical) - The arrangement heard inDr. Mario 64 | File info 0:30 |
Dr. Mario & Puzzle League[edit]
InDr. Mario & Puzzle League, an arrangement of "Fever" can play during gameplay inDr. Mario. This arrangement omits the second half of the theme and the "responses" in the first half. The percussion rhythm at the beginning of the track is similar to "Chill".
| Fever - The arrangement heard inDr. Mario & Puzzle League | File info 0:30 |
Dr. Mario Online Rx[edit]
Dr. Mario Online Rx features two different arrangements of "Fever".
A faithful arrangement of "Fever" directly based on theDr. Mario 64 version can play in the Dr. Mario mode.
A unique arrangement of "Fever" with a longer build-up and different melodic rhythm can play in theVirus Buster mode.
| Fever - The "Dr. Mario" arrangement heard inDr. Mario Online Rx | File info 0:30 |
| Fever - The "Virus Buster" arrangement heard inDr. Mario Online Rx | File info 0:30 |
Dr. Mario Express[edit]
InDr. Mario Express, the faithful arrangement of "Fever" fromDr. Mario Online Rx can play during gameplay.
Dr. Luigi[edit]
InDr. Luigi, the faithful arrangement of "Fever" fromDr. Mario Online Rx and the arrangement of "Fever" fromBrain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! can play in the Retro Remedy and Virus Buster modes respectively.
Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure[edit]
InDr. Mario: Miracle Cure, the faithful arrangement of "Fever" fromDr. Mario Online Rx and the arrangement of "Fever" fromBrain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! can play in the Dr. Mario and Virus Buster modes respectively.
Dr. Mario World[edit]
InDr. Mario World, an arrangement of "Fever" plays in the game'slevels.
| Fever - The arrangement fromDr. Mario World | File info 0:30 |
Mario Paint[edit]
TheNintendo Power Player's Guide forMario Paint features an arrangement created in the game's music mode titled "An Infectious Groove".[4] This arrangement is featured in thetrailer forMario Paint onSuper Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Classics, though the recreation is missing the notes on beats 2 and 4 in measure 4 and beat 4 in measure 8. In the trailer, the narrator jokingly titles it "That one Dr. Mario song I found within the Mario Paint Player's Guide".
| An Infectious Groove - The arrangement made inMario Paint's music mode | File info 0:20 |
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. Melee, an arrangement of "Fever" based on the Game Boy version can play in theMushroom Kingdom andMushroom Kingdom II stages after every character has been unlocked. It is titled "Dr. Mario" in the game's sound test, and it was arranged byShogo Sakai.
| Dr. Mario - The arrangement heard inSuper Smash Bros. Melee | File info 0:30 |
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, theSuper Smash Bros. Melee version of "Fever" can play in thePictoChat stage. It is titled "Dr. Mario (Melee)" in the game'ssound test.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, theSuper Smash Bros. Melee version of "Fever" can play in thePictoChat 2 stage. It is once again titled "Dr. Mario" in the game'ssound test.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U, theSuper Smash Bros. Melee version of "Fever" can play in theFlat Zone X stage. It is once again titled "Dr. Mario" in the game's sound test.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, theSuper Smash Bros. Melee version of "Fever" can play in anySuper Smash Bros.-series andSuper Mario-series stage. It is simply titled "Fever" in the game'ssound test.
Donkey Konga 3[edit]
| Doctor Mario | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artist | Hirokazu Tanaka | |||||
| Game(s) | Donkey Konga 3 | |||||
| Length | 1:36 | |||||
| ||||||
Donkey Konga 3 features the original NES version of "Fever" as a playable song. It is titled "Doctor Mario".
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[edit]
- Main article:Deep Freeze (song)
Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix features atechno arrangement of "Fever" as a playable song. It is titled "Deep Freeze".
| Deep Freeze - The arrangement heard inDance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix | File info 0:30 |
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[edit]
| It has been requested that at least oneaudio and/or video file related to this section beuploaded.Specifics: The arrangement Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See thehelp page for help getting started. |
InMario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, a brief arrangement of "Fever" plays when two or more viruses are defeated by matching their colors.
WarioWare: Move It![edit]
InWarioWare: Move It!, an excerpt of the original NES version of "Fever" plays in theDr. Mariomicrogame
Other appearances[edit]
Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live![edit]
TheSuper Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live! album includes a live orchestral arrangement of the Game Boy version of "Fever". It is titled "Dr. Mario".
| Dr. Mario - The arrangement heard inSuper Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live! | File info 0:30 |
Brain Age series[edit]
Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day![edit]
InBrain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!, a much calmer and slower-paced arrangement of "Fever" can play in the Virus Buster minigame. According to the game's host,Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, the music is intended to enhance the relaxation aspect of the minigame.[5]
| Fever - The arrangement heard inBrain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! | File info 0:30 |
Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch[edit]
InDr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, amusic box arrangement of "Fever" withpiano,harp, andviolin accompaniment based on the arrangement fromBrain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! can play in the Virus Buster minigame.
| Fever - The arrangement heard inDr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch | File info 0:30 |
Taiko no Tatsujin Wii U Version![edit]
Taiko no Tatsujin Wii U Version! features the original NES version of "Fever" as a playable song. It is titled "Dr. Mario (Fever)".
Virus Vid[edit]
In theVirus Vid video series promotingDr. Mario World, an arrangement of "Fever" is used as the background music. In July 6's episode, the first eight bars were given English and Japanese lyrics sung by theviruses. The viruses previously devised lyrics for the song in July 2's episode. Although the European-language closed captioning featured in July 2's episode translates the devised lyrics, the closed captioning in July 6's episode instead advertisesDr. Mario World's connectivity with Facebook andLINE.
| Fever - The instrumental version of the arrangement heard in theVirus Vid videos forDr. Mario World | File info 0:15 |
| Fever - The English version of the arrangement heard in theVirus Vid videos forDr. Mario World | File info 0:15 |
| Fever - The Japanese version of the arrangement heard in theVirus Vid videos forDr. Mario World | File info 0:15 |
Lyrics[edit]
Lyrics sung byRed,Yellow, andBlue viruses are colored in their corresponding colors, while lyrics sung by all three are colored black.
Full version[edit]
English
Greetings from inside a beaker
hey what's up!
We are funny viruses that
don't give up - hey!
We're not the best at rhyming - we rhyme
'up' with 'up'!
We'll joke and dance and jump and pop and
sing all day!
Japanese
| Japanese script | Romanization | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Kobin no naka kara | Hello from inside a small bottle |
Tentative version[edit]
English
Greetings from inside a beaker!
We r funny viruses!
Japanese
| Japanese script | Translation |
|---|---|
| Hello from inside a small bottle~ |
French
| French script | Translation |
|---|---|
| We vegetate in a beaker! |
German
| German script | Translation |
|---|---|
| Greetings from a beaker! |
Italian
| Italian script | Translation |
|---|---|
| Greetings from the bottle! |
Spanish
| Spanish script | Translation |
|---|---|
| Greetings from a flask. |
Gallery[edit]
Image for "Fever" from theGame Boy versionDr. Mario on Nintendo Music
Icon for "Deep Freeze" inDance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
List ofSuper Mario appearances[edit]
Games[edit]
| Work | System | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Mario | Nintendo Entertainment System | 1990 | Original | "Fever" | Hirokazu Tanaka |
| Dr. Mario | Game Boy | 1990 | Arrangement | "Fever" | Hirokazu Tanaka |
| Mario Paint | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1992 | Arrangement | "An Infectious Groove"[4] | |
| Dr. Mario | Gamewatch Boy | 1992 | Arrangement | ||
| Tetris & Dr. Mario | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | 1994 | Arrangement | "Fever" | |
| Dr. Mario 64 | Nintendo 64 | 2001 | Arrangement | "Fever" | Seiichi Tokunaga |
| Super Smash Bros. Melee | Nintendo GameCube | 2001 | Arrangement | "Dr. Mario"[6] | Shogo Sakai |
| Nintendo Puzzle Collection | Nintendo GameCube | 2003 | Past arrangement (Dr. Mario 64) | "Fever" | Seiichi Tokunaga |
| Classic NES Series: Dr. Mario | Game Boy Advance | 2004 | Original | "Fever" | Hirokazu Tanaka |
| Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 | Arrangement | "Deep Freeze" | |
| Dr. Mario & Puzzle League | Game Boy Advance | 2005 | Arrangement | "Fever" | Morihiro Iwamoto |
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Wii | 2008 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | "Dr. Mario (Melee)"[7] | Shogo Sakai |
| Dr. Mario Online Rx | Wii | 2008 | Arrangement | "Fever" | Masaru Tajima |
| Dr. Mario Express | Nintendo DSi | 2008 | Past arrangement (Dr. Mario Online Rx) | "Fever" | Masaru Tajima |
| Taiko no Tatsujin Wii U Version! | Wii U | 2013 | Original | "Dr. Mario (Fever)" | Hirokazu Tanaka |
| Dr. Luigi | Wii U | 2013 | Past arrangement (Dr. Mario Online Rx) | "Fever" | Masaru Tajima |
| Past arrangement (Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!) | "Fever" | Minako Hamano | |||
| Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo 3DS | 2014 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | "Dr. Mario"[8] | Shogo Sakai |
| Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Wii U | 2014 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | "Dr. Mario"[9] | Shogo Sakai |
| Original | "Famicom Medley" | Hirokazu Tanaka | |||
| Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure | Nintendo 3DS | 2015 | Past arrangement (Dr. Mario Online Rx) | Masaru Tajima | |
| Past arrangement (Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!) | Minako Hamano | ||||
| Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions | Nintendo 3DS | 2017 | Arrangement | ||
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo Switch | 2018 | Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) | "Fever"[10] | Shogo Sakai |
| Original | "Famicom Medley" | Hirokazu Tanaka | |||
| Dr. Mario World | iOS,Android | 2019 | Arrangement | ||
| WarioWare: Move It! | Nintendo Switch | 2023 | Original | Hirokazu Tanaka |
Film and television[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virus Vid | 2019 | Arrangement |
Albums[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live! | 2003 | Arrangement | "Dr. Mario" | Shogo Sakai |
| Famicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music | 2004 | Original | 「Fever～Fever クリア」 (Fever ~ Fever Kuria) | Hirokazu Tanaka |
Other media[edit]
| Work | Year | Type | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Music | 2024 | Past arrangement (Dr. Mario [Game Boy]) | "Fever" | Hirokazu Tanaka |
| 2025[a] | Original | "Fever" |
- ^Added on March 17, 2025
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | Fever[11] | - | |
| French | Fièvre[12] | Fever | |
| German | Fieber[13] | Fever | |
| Italian | Fever[14] | - | |
| Febbre[15] | Fever | Dr. Mario Online Rx | |
| Spanish | Fiebre[16] | Fever |
Notes[edit]
- On theNintendo Music app, the Game Boy version's rendition of "Fever" is labeled as "Selects", classifying it as one "of the very best tracks from the Nintendo Music library", originating fromDr. Mario. "Fever" shares this title with "Title Screen" from the NES version and "Chill" from the Game Boy version.
- "Fever" is one of two musical themes inDr. Mario that do not appear in theDr. Wariominigame fromWarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, the other being "Vs. Game Over".
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Super Smash Bros. series sound tests
- ^Red Bull Music Academy (November 22, 2014).Hirokazu Tanaka on Nintendo Game Music, Reggae and Tetris | Red Bull Music Academy (59:17).YouTube (English). Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ^Sly DC (January 28, 2016).Mani Industries Dr.Mario game watch (0:33).YouTube. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
- ^ab1993.Mario Paint Player's Guide.Nintendo of America (American English). Page 22.
- ^"Instead of activating your frontal lobe, this is meant to help you relax. [...] It's even more relaxing if you turn up the sound." – Dr. Kawashima (2007).Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!.Nintendo (English).
- ^Super Smash Bros. Melee sound test
- ^Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test
- ^Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS sound test
- ^Super Smash Bros. Wii U sound test
- ^Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test
- ^ユッキのゲームアドベンチャー (April 10, 2024).Dr.MARIO&細菌撲滅 Part1.YouTube (Japanese). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^CesstyleHD (July 22, 2023).[Rediff Marathon 03/07/2023 🔴] Dr Mario et Bactéricide (Wii Ware).YouTube (French). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^YuudaiRoku (May 4, 2009).Pockettower.de - Dr. Mario für zwischendurch (DSiWare) - First Look.YouTube (German). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^NintendoItalia (August 3, 2025).🎨 Mostra il tuo lato artistico in Mario Paint con Nintendo Switch Online!. Italian. Retrieved from YouTube.
- ^bossete (May 21, 2008).Dr. Mario - ITALIANO - WiiWare - GAMEPLAY WII.YouTube (Italian). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^Johnny13 Games Room (March 28, 2014).Dr Mario y Bactericida GAMEPLAY con Johnny13 y Rinoa.YouTube (European Spanish). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
