We have a texture sources thread but what about music sources?
Post chart/pop music that when you heard, it activated a retrogame neuron. Maybe the devs copied it, maybe they were inspired, maybe it's a coincidence...

several 80s/early 90s chart 'instore radio' songs have had me suddenly seeing Peach castle or such in my mind. I'll post more if I remember them but:

The solo (?) thing in this that starts at 2:00 triggers me to see baby mario in yoshi island:
https://youtu.be/oGpFcHTxjZs?t=122

there's undoubtedly some kind of 'same groove' connection between these (i'm not a music guy)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6yeLNNVa4A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8p215x9L8A

the first notes (repeated 1:18) are some zelda 64 thing, no?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p2HqW9J1iU

this is just like exactly the same song as something in mario 64 but i'm not sure which
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6if3t7OavI

>>11800034 (OP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl1NHbCEFds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SXKHiPQPhk&t=83s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqAsGDgvPyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBCJK9ufXck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YATamLjL0U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YATamLjL0U

https://youtu.be/BYr_QA1748U?t=635
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQUeQOIlcDM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh0cJRzBBnI
https://youtu.be/rDLUVaqCP0A?t=407

https://youtu.be/Eer6CSb2mOY?t=25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GplAHmMNoA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqAsGDgvPyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBCJK9ufXck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb_nKn3JUOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YATamLjL0U

https://youtu.be/BYr_QA1748U?t=635
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQUeQOIlcDM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh0cJRzBBnI
https://youtu.be/rDLUVaqCP0A?t=407

https://youtu.be/Eer6CSb2mOY?t=25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GplAHmMNoA

>>11800034 (OP)
https://youtu.be/vtbKBs2g9ZY
https://youtu.be/oBnHqIV_t1I

https://youtu.be/ZX5ef_KAZlY

https://youtu.be/yZdiu84GS48

https://youtu.be/v9tvzw3E5tw

There's lots of melody plagiarism but what about sources in the sense of a sample of an instrument or something? Did they ever take a sample in the retro era? I guess it's all midi in the 64 era

>>11800171
The NES, SNES and N64 all had samples but I don't know of any confirmed sample plagiarism. They probably used licensed sample libraries or recorded their own.

>>11800171
go nuts

>>11800034 (OP)
That solo sound in Tina Turner's song is the stock harmonica patch from the Yamaha DX7 synth from the 80s. That synth also had the classic EP patch which was used for the Dire Dire Docks theme in Mario 64 ( not literally from the DX7 probably, but rather a clone sound from maybe the Roland SC 88, a staple of that period ).

As for samples during the 90s, most SNES games used samples from such synths as the Korg M1/Roland D50, Roland JV 1080, Roland JD 990, Korg 01/W, Roland Sound Canvas and so on. Later on, sample library CD would become more common for use than actual synths, such as anything from Spectrasonics, like Distorted Reality ( used a lot in Zelda OOT ).

Theres a google excel site that has listed a lot of sound sources per game ( for example, Rondo Of Blood used the Korg 01/W a lot, and the site lists what patches were used from that synth and in which songs ). Just type in the browser something like "Newer VGM sample sources" and you'll find it sooner or later.

>>11800034 (OP)
Could be coincidence, but Shakatak's "Way He Walks" sounds too similar to JP Stardust Speedway's general melody.
https://youtu.be/ZPtg9xOsJ40
English Sega CD, not to miss out, has Tidal Tempest present, which sounds like the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme.
https://youtu.be/jI5joRVM9mI
And, of course, we can't talk about Sonic without talking about Sonic Chaos MS using the Korg keyboard demo for its melody, almost 1:1
https://youtu.be/pwAypkQqcBk
https://youtu.be/kRimMyvBnwc

The other main examples I can think of are from T-Square, which is no surprise considering how influential they were, even before factoring in that some of their members were vg composers themselves.
First is Traveler, which Yoko was definitely taking inspiration from for "that song that goes with everything".
https://youtu.be/J1vwlTZ5EGQ
Then there's Knight's Song, which is Moon Over the Castle. A T-Square member did the music to Gran Turismo one, so it's not a surprise In fact, this came out the same year, so I'm not sure if it counts, but screw it.
https://youtu.be/OFi5Z0m7vCs
And then there's Sister Marian, which influenced Koji Kondo. Once you listen to it, it should be obvious which song it inspired. Super Mario Bros
https://youtu.be/-2la3MlJx3s

Thunderforce IV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iic_FCyOkM

Soldier Of Fortune by Loudness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBxBQCzoisw