Donkey Kong Country’s music is even more relaxing in a thunderstorm

I found my happy place

In between all the sketchy-at-best video suggestions, sometimes YouTube gets it right. Sometimes the site slides a recommendation into my feed that I genuinely can’t wait to watch. Last night, that exact scenario unfolded while I was trying to calm my mind long enough to get some much-needed rest.

Assembled by YouTube user Vapidbobcat, this video combines two of my favorite things in life: bangin’ music from the Donkey Kong Country series and the soothing sound of rain. My stray thoughts faded.

If you’re looking for chill vibes to put your mind at ease, you could do a whole lot worse than this hour-and-a-half-long music compilation. (That said, hit us up with other playlists if you’ve got ’em.)

It’s hard to pick a favorite song here among the thirty or so that made the cut from the original Super Nintendo trilogy, Donkey Kong 64, Returns, and Tropical Freeze. I love how a downpour rolls in during tracks like “Bayou Boogie,” and for pure tranquility, there’s probably no topping “Forest Interlude.” That said, no other song made me feel as weightless and care-free as “Mangrove Cove (Underwater).”

Conceptually, this video isn’t a new idea – it’s just atmospheric video game music mixed with rain and occasional thunderclaps to see if you’re still listening – but it worked wonders. I melted into my bed and woke up feeling refreshed. Even now as I try to finish this article, I’m falling into another trance.

Whether you’re working, studying, or just unwinding, I hope you find these tracks similarly relaxing. And to all you would-be game music playlist makers out there, rain is good. Keep the storms coming.