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Tetris (Doctor Spin song)

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"Tetris"
Single by Doctor Spin
B-side"Play Game Boy"
Released21 September 1992 (1992-09-21)
StudioSkratch (Surrey, England) ("Play Game Boy")
GenreEurodance
Length3:40 (7-inch mix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Nigel Wright
Audio
"Tetris" on YouTube

"Tetris" is a song arranged by English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and English record producer Nigel Wright, collaborating under the pseudonym Doctor Spin. The composition is based on the theme to the 1989 Game Boy game Tetris, which itself is based on the Russian folk song "Korobeiniki". Doctor Spin released their version of "Tetris" on 21 September 1992 through Polydor and Carpet Records; it reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and also charted in Austria, Finland, and Ireland. This song, along with "Supermarioland" by Ambassadors of Funk, "Supersonic" by H.W.A. and "Pac-Man" by Power-Pill, commenced a brief trend of recreated video game music entering mainstream popularity.

Origin and composition

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The original composition that the main theme of Tetris is based on is the Russian folk song "Korobeiniki", which is a musical recreation of a poem by Russian poet Nikolay Nekrasov.[1] The song used in the Game Boy version of Tetris was composed by Hirokazu Tanaka.[2] In 1992, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Nigel Wright collaborated under the name Doctor Spin to record and release a Eurodance version of Tanka's arrangement.[3][4][5] The track was officially licensed by Nintendo.[6]

Release and success

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Doctor Spin released "Tetris" through Polydor Records and Lloyd Webber's sublabel of Polydor, Carpet Records, on 21 September 1992 in four formats: CD, cassette, 7-inch vinyl, and 12-inch vinyl.[6][7] The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 22 on 27 September 1992 and ascended to its peak of number six three weeks later; it spent a total of eight weeks in the top 50 and was the 75th-best-selling hit of 1992 in the UK.[8][9] In Ireland, "Tetris" debuted on the chart dated 8 October 1992 and peaked at number seven for two weeks.[10][11][12] In mainland Europe, the song charted in Austria and Finland. In the latter country, "Tetris" peaked at number four on the Finnish Singles Chart in November 1992,[13] while in Austria, the single peaked at number 23 and spent three weeks on the chart, in December 1992 and January 1993.[14] On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song achieved a peak of number 26 on 7 November 1992.[15]

On British music television programme Top of the Pops, the song was played as several dancers dressed in outfits resembling the blocks from Tetris danced along.[16] Along with "Supermarioland" by Ambassadors of Funk (which charted simultaneously with "Tetris"),[16][17] "Supersonic" by H.W.A. (a charity single based on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise) and "Pac-Man" by Power-Pill, the success of the composition began a brief period of popularity for novelty rave music.[18][19]

Track listings

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Credits and personnel

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Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes.[6]

Studio

  • "Play Game Boy" recorded at Skratch Studios (Surrey, England)

Personnel

  • Andrew Lloyd Webber – traditional arrangement, executive production
  • Nigel Wright – traditional arrangement, production
  • Robin Sellars – engineering

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Shaver, Morgan (8 June 2017). "The History of the Tetris Theme Music". tetris.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. ^ Lambie, Ryan (6 June 2019). "Tetris: 10 Facts You Need to Know About the Game's History". Den of Geek. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  3. ^ "5 songs you never knew were written by Andrew Lloyd Webber". BBC Radio 2. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Did Andrew Lloyd Webber Have a Hit Dance Song About the Video Game Tetris?". Legends Revealed. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Andrew Lloyd Webber: the legendary composer's musicals, wife, net worth and more". Classic FM. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Tetris (UK and European CD single liner notes). Doctor Spin. Polydor Records, Carpet Records. 1992. 865 537-2, CRPCD 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 19 September 1992. p. 19. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.
  10. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tetris". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 45. 7 November 1992. p. 46. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 46. 14 November 1992. p. 22. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  13. ^ a b Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  14. ^ a b "Doctor Spin – Tetris" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 45. 7 November 1992. p. 47. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  16. ^ a b Diver, Mike (12 November 2017). "Revisiting Nintendo's novelty pop hit". Eurogamer. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 75: 25 October 1992 – 31 October 1992". Official Charts Company. 25 October 1992. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  18. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 45. 19 December 1992. p. 10. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Supersonic". Amazon. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  20. ^ Tetris (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Doctor Spin. Polydor Records, Carpet Records. 1992. 865 536-7, CRPT 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Tetris (UK cassette single sleeve). Doctor Spin. Polydor Records, Carpet Records. 1992. 865 536-4, CRPCS 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Tetris (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Doctor Spin. Polydor Records, Carpet Records. 1992. 865 537-1, CRPTX 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 49. 5 December 1992. p. 18. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
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