IMHO I'd say it's definitely an original piece written by David Whittaker, since it has all the hallmarks of his writing style, like the descending triplets heard in the melody—these feature in other Whittaker tunes of the time, including the
original Dizzy game, and the
BMX Freestyle title screen.
The chord progression between 1 and 6 is also something Whittaker used in games such as
ATV Simulator. Not to mention liberal use of key change, which is classic Whittaker!
Inspiration
As for the song's inspiration, I don't personally hear too much Carribean influence, if any. The rhythm is very mechanical and tight, with no emphasis on the off-beat, so to me it sounds traditional British. Some of the background instruments
do have a tremolo effect, which
could suggest the tinkling of a steel drum, at a push. Though to me this sounds more like a bubbling sound, suggestive of Dizzy being underwater. (Then again, I'm not sure the effect was even deliberate as its appearance in the song is inconsistent.)
IMHO, the biggest inspiration for the track comes from traditional British folk music, particularly sea shanties (a well-known example being
Drunken Sailor, though that song isn't in the 6:8 time signature like Treasure Island Dizzy).
A great example of the sea shanty in popular entertainment is
The Pirates of Penzance opera from 1879, which features a couple of numbers that evoke the general feeling of Treasure Island Dizzy (with the same time signature), including
Pour, Oh, Pour and
The Pirate King (this tune would go on to be the inspiration for the
1920s theme tune for Popeye, which itself has certain jolly musical similarities to Treasure Island Dizzy.
Another example of the sea shanty in popular entertainment is the 1960s Disney song
A Pirate's Life For Me from the Pirates of the Carribean ride. This ride would, in turn, inspire the Monkey Island franchise, which features the Carribean-influenced sea shanty
Ghost Ship Shuffle.
I could be wrong, but I feel there's a Celtic influence behind Treasure Island Dizzy. I can totally hear it being played with an Irish whistle, accordion, and lots of foot-stamping and clapping, similar to music like
this.
David Whittaker, if you're reading this, please do get in touch and tell us about your creative process! We love your music!