Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Image via Apple TV

What is the ‘Tetris’ theme song? Is it Russian?

Did you know it has a name?

Another video game will receive its own live-action adaptation, but not in the way that you think. Tetris is an Apple TV film based on the popular video game of the same name. But it’s also the story of the legal battle to secure the IP rights of Tetris, since the game originated in Russia.

Recommended Videos

For those who haven’t played the game, Tetris is a puzzle game where you’re tasked with clearing rows of blocks using “tetrominoes” that descend from the top of the screen. The longer you play the game, the faster it gets. When you play the game Tetris, regardless of which version you play it — whether it’s for the Game Boy, Nintendo Switch, or the official web browser game — you’re going to hear some variation of the Tetris theme song. Little did you know, this iconic tune has some historical significance to it.

What is the Tetris theme song? And is it Russian?

As mentioned earlier, Tetris was invented in Russia. So it would make sense if the music for the game had some Russian influence behind it. Fortunately, the song has a name. It’s called the “Korobeiniki,” translated to “The Peddlers.” This song was composed back in the 19th century, before it became an iconic video game theme song.

According to the Tetris official website, the song was originally an 1860s poem by Nikolay Nekrasov that told the story of a peddler and a girl haggling over goods and was seen as a metaphor for courtship. Copies of the original poem still exist in a Russian museum and — just like the video game theme — the song progressively gets faster.

In 1989, when Nintendo was developing the game for the Game Boy, Hirokazu Tanaka remade the song, which was eventually called “Type A.” The song would later appear in other Nintendo titles, such as the Super Smash Bros series, Tetris & Dr. Mario, and future Tetris incarnations. Who knew that a Russian folk song would end up becoming one of the most iconic video game theme songs of all time?

Tetris will be released on Apple TV Plus on March 31, 2023.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Erielle Sudario
Erielle Sudario
Erielle Sudario is a Digital Producer for We Got This Covered. Outside of work, she's either DM'ing a 'Dungeons and Dragons' campaign, playing video games, or building keyboards. Erielle holds a Bachelor of Communications Degree (specializing in film and journalism) from Western Sydney University and a Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting from the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School.