If you've played through EarthBound, chances are you've heard some songs that sound strangely familiar. You're not just hearing things, EarthBound contains several songs that sample famous pieces of music. Below is a list of each sample along with MP3s so you can hear the samples yourself as well as a list of other music references found throughout the game.
News:
Introduction:
Samples and Similarities:
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Your Name, Please"
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John Phillip Sousa
"Liberty Bell March"
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The naming screen for EarthBound replays the beginning segment of the "Liberty Bell March" repeatedly at different speeds. It is believed this is a nod to Monty Python, which uses the same song as its opening theme.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Battle Against a Weak Opponent"
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The Champs
"Tequila"
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Battle Against a Weak Opponent bears an uncanny resemblance to the opening to the popular song, "Tequilla".
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Onett’s Arcade"
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Xevious
Main Stage Theme
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While this one may not be obvious at first, in the background of Onett's Arcade, the stage theme for the old arcade game, Xevious, can be heard looping.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Tessie Has Been Sighted"
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The Beatles
"Strawberry Fields Forever"
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The calm opening of Tessie Has Been Sighted sounds quite a bit like the very beginning of iconic "Strawberry Fields Forever". EarthBound is known to reference The Beatles quite often, so this is no exception.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"The Skyrunner"
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The Who
"We Won’t get Fooled Again"
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The Bloody Beetroots
"I Love The Bloody Beetroots"
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The Skyrunner sounds astonishingly similar to two songs, the famous "We Won't Get Fooled Again" and the lesser known, "I Love the Bloody Beetroots". Both songs have similar early melodies on their own, but EB seems to take inspiration from the early guitar rifts of the former while taking a page of the unique background noises of the other.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Sound Stone"
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John Lennon:
"Give Peace a Chance"
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While the Sound Stone's theme may seem pretty standard, it has identical rhythmic beats to "Give Peace a Chance" by the famed John Lennon.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Enjoy Your Stay"
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Paul Mauriat
"El bimbo"
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While not a direct sample, the hotel theme from EarthBound is definitely inspired by "el Bimbo". Though they are played in different key, both have strikingly similar melodies.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Franky"
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Chuck Berry
"Johnny B. Goode"
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One of the most known similarities comes from "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry. Both the main and rhythmic melodies are mimicked in EB's Franky as well as its other variations in the other Mother games.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Dead-End Chaos Theater"
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Robert Johnson
"Sweet Home Chicago"
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Dead-End Chaos Theater copies the guitar melody straight from Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago". It should be noted this song was in the famous "Blues Brothers" movie, which the Runaway Five were heavily inspired by.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Boris' Cocktail"
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Francis Scott Key
"Star Spangled Banner"
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Leroy Shield
"Good Old Days"
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The song that plays in Jackie's Cafe has two different pieces of music in its own tune. First, a sample of the United State's national anthem in hidden within the song. Bits of the theme song to The Little Rascals can also be heard.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Runaway Five’s Final Performance"
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The Doors
"The Changeling"
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Not only are both rhythms quite similar, but lyrics in the song "The Changeling" are about money issues, very similar to the situations the Runaway Five seem to find themselves in.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Bed and Breakfast"
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The Beatles
"Good Morning, Good Morning"
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The melody in Bed and Breakfast are the same as "Good Morning, Good Morning", not to mention The Beatle's song does constantly repeat the phrase "good morning." This is another intentional nod to the beloved band.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Get On the Bus"
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The Blues Brothers
"Peter Gunn Theme"
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Another well known nod is the theme song to the show, Peter Gunn. The song is composed by The Blues Brothers.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"The Place"
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The Beach Boys
"Deirdre"
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The main sounds in The Place are actually samples of the music in the first few seconds of "Deidre" by The Beach Boys.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"The Cliff that Time Forgot"
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Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
"La Marseillaise"
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The trumpets were taken from a brief spipet of La Marseillaise, the National Anthem of France. The beginning of the song was also used in the Beatles hit-song, "Love is All You Need", so it may have been inspired by that.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Moonside Swing"
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Ric Ocasek
"Keep on Laughin’"
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Both the melody and random sound effects from Moonside Swing are very similar to Ric Ocasek's "Keep in Laughing".
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"The Metropolis of Fourside"
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The Beatles
"Doctor Robert"
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This one may not be the most noticeable, but it seems the theme of Fourside really took inspiration from "Doctor Robert". The back melody is quite similar and the horns seem to play the vocal melody from The Beatles' song.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Megaton Walk"
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The Beatles
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)"
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Both "Megaton Walk" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" have the same percussion beats and it's another clear reference to the Beatles.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Buy Somethin, Will Ya!"
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The Beatles
"When I'm 64"
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Dallas String Band
"Dallas Rag"
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While not one of the most obvious, "When I'm 64" does bear a resemblance to "Buy Somethin, Will Ya!" and given how many Beatles songs inspired the music, it would not be surprising. "Dallas Rag" is strikingly similar as well.
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EarthBound/MOTHER 2:
"Smiles and Tears"
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John Lennon and The Plastic U.F.Ono Band
"Mind Games"
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While not identical, both the beginning of "Smiles and Tears" and "Mind Games" have a similar melody.
References:
Yesterday
The Beatles song "Yesterday" is referenced in southern Onett in a pop quiz. This is found only in EarthBound and not MOTHER 2.
Money (That's What I Want)
A member of the Runaway 5 sings a song similar to "Money" by Barret Strong, which was covered by The Beatles.
Yellow Submarine
A yellow submarine, similar to the one from The Beatles "Yellow Submarine" cartoon, is found within Dungeon Man.
Starman
Starman is an enemy in EarthBound as well the name of a David Bowie song.
Diamond Dogs
Diamond Dog is a boss in EarthBound as well the name of a David Bowie song.
The Beatles song "Yesterday" is referenced in southern Onett in a pop quiz. This is found only in EarthBound and not MOTHER 2.
Money (That's What I Want)
A member of the Runaway 5 sings a song similar to "Money" by Barret Strong, which was covered by The Beatles.
Yellow Submarine
A yellow submarine, similar to the one from The Beatles "Yellow Submarine" cartoon, is found within Dungeon Man.
Starman
Starman is an enemy in EarthBound as well the name of a David Bowie song.
Diamond Dogs
Diamond Dog is a boss in EarthBound as well the name of a David Bowie song.
