Super Mario Bros, Queen Latifah National Recording Registry Add

Super Mario Bros and Queen Latifah have just made history on the National Recording Registry.

For the National Recording Registry, this year has seen several noteworthy firsts.

The annual list typically consists of a variety of well-known songs, radio broadcasts, important speeches, and more, all of which are meant to capture the essence of the nation’s history and culture.

However, the celebrated list will have a video game soundtrack and a female hip-hop artist’s music for the first time.

When Queen Latifah was just a teenager, she recorded her seminal 1989 album All Hail The Queen. According to the LOC statement, “her album demonstrated that rap could cross genres like reggae, hip-hop, house, and jazz—while also opening opportunities for other female rappers.”

Super Mario Bros & Queen Latifah National Recording Registry Addition

The Super Mario Bros. game’s original 1986 tune has also been chosen, in what is a coincidental cross-promotional ploy as a movie adaptation is currently sweeping theaters.

Reggaeton, ’80s pop, funk-infused jazz, gospel, political commentary, and a reading of a significant Carl Sagan book from 1994 all interspersed throughout the chaotic mix. The National Recording Registry will be discussed on the NPR program “The Sounds of America” on channel 1A, which focuses on the selections for this year.

They are listed here in reverse chronological sequence:

“Concerto for Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra— Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, composer (2012)
“Gasolina” — Daddy Yankee (2004)
“Pale Blue Dot” — Carl Sagan (1994)
“All I Want for Christmas is You” — Mariah Carey (1994)
“All Hail the Queen” — Queen Latifah (1989)
“Like a Virgin” — Madonna (1984)
Super Mario Bros. theme — Koji Kondo, composer (1986)
“Black Codes (From the Underground)” — Wynton Marsalis (1985)
“Synchronicity” — The Police (1983)
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” — Eurythmics (1983)
“Flashdance…What a Feeling” — Irene Cara (1983)
“Margaritaville” — Jimmy Buffett (1977)
“Take Me Home, Country Roads” — John Denver (1971)
“Stairway to Heaven” — Led Zeppelin (1971)
“Imagine” — John Lennon (1971)
“Déjà Vu” — Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (1970)
“Ode to Billie Joe” — Bobbie Gentry (1967)
“Sherry” — The Four Seasons (1962)
“Wang Dang Doodle” — Koko Taylor (1966)
“What the World Needs Now is Love” — Jackie DeShannon (1965)
“Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around” — The Fairfield Four (1947)
Dorothy Thompson: Commentary and Analysis of the European Situation for NBC Radio
(Aug. 23-Sept. 6, 1939)
“Sugar Foot Stomp” — Fletcher Henderson (1926)
“St. Louis Blues” — Handy’s Memphis Blues Band (1922)
“The Very First Mariachi Recordings” — Cuarteto Coculense (1908-1909)