Fever

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This article is about the musical theme from Dr. Mario. For the red virus known as "Fever" in the Nintendo Comics System, see Virus.
"Fever"
"Fever" in the NES version of Dr. Mario
The image for "Fever" from Dr. Mario for Nintendo Entertainment System on Nintendo Music.
Image from Nintendo 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 by Hirokazu Tanaka for Dr. 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 band the Beatles, a band which previously served as the inspiration for "Round 1 BGM" from Donkey Kong.

History[edit]

Dr. Mario series[edit]

Dr. Mario (Nintendo Entertainment System)[edit]

The NES version of Dr. Mario marks the first appearance of "Fever", and it returns for the same purpose in the Classic NES Series port. It is also included in the official album Famicom Sound History Series: Mario the Music.

Dr. Mario (Game Boy)[edit]

In the Game Boy version of Dr. Mario, an arrangement of "Fever" plays for the same purpose as in the NES version. This arrangement features an additional section before it loops.

Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The arrangement heard in the Game Boy version of Dr. Mario
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Dr. Mario (Gamewatch Boy)[edit]

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Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started.

In Dr. Mario for the Gamewatch Boy, a brief arrangement of "Fever" plays at the start of each game.[3]

Tetris & Dr. Mario[edit]

In Tetris & Dr. Mario, an arrangement of "Fever" based on the Game Boy version can play during gameplay in Dr. Mario. This arrangement is in a slightly higher pitch.

Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The arrangement heard in Tetris & Dr. Mario
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Dr. Mario 64 / Nintendo Puzzle Collection[edit]

In Dr. Mario 64 and the Nintendo GameCube port, Nintendo Puzzle Collection, an arrangement of "Fever" can play during gameplay. The music speeds up when there is only one virus color remaining.

Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The arrangement heard in Dr. Mario 64
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Icon of an audio speaker. Fever (Critical) - The arrangement heard in Dr. Mario 64
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Dr. Mario & Puzzle League[edit]

In Dr. Mario & Puzzle League, an arrangement of "Fever" can play during gameplay in Dr. 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".

Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The arrangement heard in Dr. Mario & Puzzle League
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Dr. Mario Online Rx[edit]

Dr. Mario Online Rx features two different arrangements of "Fever".

A faithful arrangement of "Fever" directly based on the Dr. 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 the Virus Buster mode.

Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The "Dr. Mario" arrangement heard in Dr. Mario Online Rx
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Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The "Virus Buster" arrangement heard in Dr. Mario Online Rx
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Dr. Mario Express[edit]

In Dr. Mario Express, the faithful arrangement of "Fever" from Dr. Mario Online Rx can play during gameplay.

Dr. Luigi[edit]

In Dr. Luigi, the faithful arrangement of "Fever" from Dr. Mario Online Rx and the arrangement of "Fever" from Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! can play in the Retro Remedy and Virus Buster modes respectively.

Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure[edit]

In Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure, the faithful arrangement of "Fever" from Dr. Mario Online Rx and the arrangement of "Fever" from Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! can play in the Dr. Mario and Virus Buster modes respectively.

Dr. Mario World[edit]

In Dr. Mario World, an arrangement of "Fever" plays in the game's levels.

Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The arrangement from Dr. Mario World
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Mario Paint[edit]

The Nintendo Power Player's Guide for Mario Paint features an arrangement created in the game's music mode titled "An Infectious Groove".[4] This arrangement is featured in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Classics trailer for Mario Paint, 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".[5]

Icon of an audio speaker. An Infectious Groove - The arrangement made in Mario Paint's music mode
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Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, an arrangement of "Fever" based on the Game Boy version can play in the Mushroom Kingdom and Mushroom Kingdom II stages after every character has been unlocked. It is titled "Dr. Mario" in the game's sound test, and it was arranged by Shogo Sakai.

Icon of an audio speaker. Dr. Mario - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Melee
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Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Super Smash Bros. Melee version of "Fever" can play in the PictoChat stage. It is titled "Dr. Mario (Melee)" in the game's sound test.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, the Super Smash Bros. Melee version of "Fever" can play in the PictoChat 2 stage. It is once again titled "Dr. Mario" in the game's sound test.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Super Smash Bros. Melee version of "Fever" can play in the Flat Zone X stage. It is once again titled "Dr. Mario" in the game's sound test.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Super Smash Bros. Melee version of "Fever" can play in any Super Smash Bros.-series and Super Mario-series stage. It is simply titled "Fever" in the game's sound test.

Donkey Konga 3[edit]

Doctor Mario
Artist Hirokazu Tanaka
Game(s) Donkey Konga 3
Length 1:36
Difficulties
Famicom ★★★★★★

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 a techno arrangement of "Fever" as a playable song. It is titled "Deep Freeze".

Icon of an audio speaker. Deep Freeze - The arrangement heard in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix
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Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions[edit]

An "X" icon with sound waves, used to indicate missing media files. It has been requested that at least one audio and/or video file related to this section be uploaded. Specifics: The arrangement
Please upload music, sound effects, voice clips, or any videos for this section. See the help page for help getting started.

In Mario & 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]

In WarioWare: Move It!, an excerpt of the original NES version of "Fever" plays in the Dr. Mario microgame

Other appearances[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live![edit]

The Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live! album includes a live orchestral arrangement of the Game Boy version of "Fever". It is titled "Dr. Mario".

Icon of an audio speaker. Dr. Mario - The arrangement heard in Super Smash Bros. Melee: Smashing...Live!
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Brain Age series[edit]

Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day![edit]

In Brain 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.[6]

Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The arrangement heard in Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day!
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Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch[edit]

In Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, a music box arrangement of "Fever" with piano, harp, and violin accompaniment based on the arrangement from Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! can play in the Virus Buster minigame.

Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The arrangement heard in Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch
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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 the Virus Vid video series promoting Dr. Mario World, another 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 the viruses. 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 advertises Dr. Mario World's connectivity with Facebook and LINE.

Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The instrumental version of the arrangement heard in the Virus Vid videos for Dr. Mario World
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Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The English version of the arrangement heard in the Virus Vid videos for Dr. Mario World
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Icon of an audio speaker. Fever - The Japanese version of the arrangement heard in the Virus Vid videos for Dr. Mario World
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Lyrics[edit]

Lyrics sung by Red, Yellow, and Blue 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

こびんのなかから
こんにちは
おれたちゆかいな
ウイルス
いろとりどりの
カプセルに
まけずにふえてけ
フィーバーだ

Kobin no naka kara
Konnichiwa
Oretachi yukai na
Uirusu
Irotoridori no
Kapuseru ni
Makezu ni fueteke
Fībā da

Hello from inside a small bottle

We are the pleasant viruses

Multiply without fail before the multicolored capsules


It's a fever

Tentative version[edit]

English

Greetings from inside a beaker!
We r funny viruses!

Japanese

Japanese script Translation

小瓶の中からこんにちは~
オレたち愉快なウ・イ・ル・ス

Hello from inside a small bottle~
We are the pleasant vi-ru-ses

French

French script Translation

On végète dans un bécher !
On est des virus qui gèrent !

We vegetate in a beaker!
We are viruses that manage!

German

German script Translation

Schöne Grüße aus einem Becher!
Wir sind spaßige Viren!

Greetings from a beaker!
We are fun viruses!

Italian

Italian script Translation

Salutoni dalla boccetta!
Siamo virus simpaticoni!

Greetings from the bottle!
We are funny viruses!

Spanish

Spanish script Translation

Saludos desde un matraaaz.[sic]
Somos alegres bacterias.

Greetings from a flask.
We are happy bacteria.

Gallery[edit]

List of Super 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"[7] 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)"[8] 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"[9] Shogo Sakai
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Wii U 2014 Past arrangement (Super Smash Bros. Melee) "Dr. Mario"[10] Shogo Sakai
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"[11] Shogo Sakai
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"
  1. ^ Added on March 17, 2025

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese Fever[12] -
French Fièvre[13] Fever
German Fieber[14] Fever
Italian Fever[15] -
Febbre[16] Fever Dr. Mario Online Rx
Spanish Fiebre[17] Fever

Notes[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Super Smash Bros. series sound tests
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Sly DC (January 28, 2016). Mani Industries Dr.Mario game watch (0:33). YouTube. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  4. ^ a b 1993. Mario Paint Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 22.
  5. ^ Nintendo of America (July 28, 2025). Mario Paint - Super NES – Nintendo Classics. YouTube. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  6. ^ "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).
  7. ^ Super Smash Bros. Melee sound test
  8. ^ Super Smash Bros. Brawl sound test
  9. ^ Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS sound test
  10. ^ Super Smash Bros. Wii U sound test
  11. ^ Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sound test
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ CesstyleHD (July 22, 2023). [Rediff Marathon 03/07/2023 🔴] Dr Mario et Bactéricide (Wii Ware). YouTube (French). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  14. ^ YuudaiRoku (May 4, 2009). Pockettower.de - Dr. Mario für zwischendurch (DSiWare) - First Look. YouTube (German). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  15. ^ NintendoItalia (August 3, 2025). 🎨 Mostra il tuo lato artistico in Mario Paint con Nintendo Switch Online!. Italian. Retrieved from YouTube.
  16. ^ bossete (May 21, 2008). Dr. Mario - ITALIANO - WiiWare - GAMEPLAY WII. YouTube (Italian). Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  17. ^ Johnny13 Games Room (March 28, 2014). Dr Mario y Bactericida GAMEPLAY con Johnny13 y Rinoa. YouTube (European Spanish). Retrieved September 5, 2024.