Composing Connection: The Evolution of Banjo-Kazooie’s Beta Music
If you’ve visited our From Dream to Reality feature, you’ll already know that the unused music heard in Dream would get a chance at a second lease on life in games like Viva Pinata – but the same can be said for a selection of tunes that didn’t quite make the Bear and Birds first adventure as well.
Join us as we demonstrate the original tracks that would have been featured in Banjo-Kazooie, but were later whisked away to be heard in Rare’s later titles – you’ll find that each entry features the beta track and the inspiration that it would later serve in titles like Donkey Kong 64 & Banjo-Tooie.
Mayahem Temple is an interesting case where its unused theme was actually able to inspire three distinct worlds in future Rare releases, which is presented as something like a medley in the original vision.
From the opening, you’ll hear the theme for Mayahem Temple as it appears in Banjo-Tooie (heard below), albeit without its iconic introduction or Mumbo’s chanting. This changes at 0:38 seconds where it suddenly shifts to Hideout Helm’s secondary theme featured in Donkey Kong 64, which can be heard on the second track at 01:45 below. The final realized tune can be heard at 1:11, as the unused theme features a variation on the second Donkey Kong 64 level with Angry Aztec.
The inaugural theme intended for Mumbo’s Mountain would have sounded entirely different in Banjo-Kazooie, and it was eventually reworked along with Treasure Trove Cove to give us the tracks we’re familiar with today. One last tribute to this lost bit of music can be heard in Banjo-Kazooie however, as the interior of the Ticker Tower (heard below) serves as the only location in Mumbo’s Mountain that wasn’t influenced by the change in score. Interestingly, a brief snippet of the theme would also appear in Donkey Kong 64 – if you Tiny Kong in her Tag Barrel, you’ll hear a saxophone solo that references Mumbo’s earlier incarnation.
While Clanker’s Cavern would eventually become dim and dreary, the original vision for the toothy Garbage disposal would have been considerably more upbeat in an earlier version of Banjo-Kazooie. During this time, the lake would have been surrounded by a lush vegetation, giving us the level Fungus Forest and its associated theme. A similar sounding world in Donkey Kong 64 would also feature a similar sounding tune, as Fungi Forest introduced players to the sprightly level during the daytime. Curiously, the melody of Fungus/Fungi Forest could also be heard during the Boss Fight prelude, as unlocking Scoff n’ Troff’s door without entering (00:16) would give up a cheeky nod.
Freezeezy Peak would go through a number of revisions during its development, originally sounding quite a bit different from the festive track in Banjo-Kazooie. Although, there are several moments where you can hear the song starting to find it’s way – as there are moments where the the finished piece shines through brilliantly at 00:47 and 1:31 in Level Theme I, and 0:51 in Level Theme II.
Originally intended for the final boss fight against Gruntilda in Banjo-Kazooie, this frantic arrangement would be fully realized in Donkey Kong 64, during the introduction of Diddy’s Mine Cart stage in Jungle Japes. In a similar scenario to Freezeezy Peak’s evolution however, there are moments where elements of the Final Showdown can be heard very clearly, such as 00:35 in the Early theme to 1:27 in the final theme below.
Titled ‘Elvking’ internally, this theme might have served as a regal motif for a character in an early version of Banjo-Kazooie, however, most will be familiar with its second variation at 00:17 where it provides an undeniable parallel with the end credits theme, heard at 01:49 below.