Tetris (Doctor Spin song)

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]

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] the success of the composition began a brief period of popularity for novelty rave music, which also included the charity single "Supersonic" by H.W.A. (based on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise).[18][19]

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