Japan is gearing up for their upcoming Olympics this summer, and will be debuting a new Super Nintendo World theme park, at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, ahead of the games. This park is accompanied by a new theme song and music video “We Are Born To Play,” a collaborative effort by pop artist Charli XCX and electronic dance duo Galantis.

“We Are Born To Play,” begins with the iconic Super Mario theme, before quickly transitioning into a more modern synth sound, which samples elements of classic Nintendo samples. These samples are complemented by Charli XCX’s vocal diversity, as her voice greets this blend of modern synth pop and its 8-bit music roots. The video opens up with an astronaut playing a Nintendo Switch, before showing numerous people walk through a world inspired by the Super Mario series, accompanied by a sneak peak of the new theme park.

Charli XCX released a new album titled Charli last year, which made its way onto our top 50 albums of 2019. This project had a plethora of features from the likes of Christine & The Queens, Lizzo, HAIM and Troye Sivan, who helped push the performer’s electronic pop into a more avant-garde territory.

“This album filled with infectious beats, typical tongue-in-cheek pop lyrics and musical diversity that not many can accomplish, showcases exactly how Charli XCX has managed to make waves in the industry over the past decade,” mxdwn reviewer Marianna Salcedo explained.

Galantis teamed up with indie pop performer Passion Pit last year for the song “I Found U,” an anthemic dance track.

Photo Credit: Boston Lynn Schulz