Top Ten Make Your Mark Songs

Probably don't need to keep the spoiler tag up considering it's been over a week since Chapter 6 came out, but there may be those who haven't been able to see it yet and are waiting to do so, so I'm just being careful. Anyway, this is going to be the last list pertaining to G5 barring some sort of continuation of Make Your Mark, which I don't foresee happening. But I'm closing out these lists on a high note. I held off on doing a list like this for quite a while given both how few songs there were in Make Your Mark until recently, and more significantly in my mind how few ones there were that could be considered good. But as of Chapter 6, there are enough songs that I think can qualify. So what are those songs and where do they stack up? Well, let's find out. Like all the other lists I've been doing since Chapter 6's release, this is just my personal opinion so please respect it.

10. Iconic (From "Bridlewoodstock" (Chapter 4, Episode 1))
Why it's on the bottom: If there's one good thing "Bridlewoodstock" had going for it, it was the songs. I daresay, the two songs in that special were better than the two songs from the other episodes in Chapter 4, even though "Show Me Your Pony Moves" got its own music video later on. I had never heard of Sophie Wylee prior to "Bridlewoodstock", either as a voice actor or as a singer. I assume that, much like Sia from the 2017 FiM movie, she has to be at least fairly popular with today's generation if they recruited her to be the first (and only) guest star of Make Your Mark. The lyrics may be a bit cliche, but Sophie as Ruby Jubilee sings the song so well I don't mind it. If nothing else, the hook or chorus has been stuck in my mind since I first heard this song. So that counts for something.

9. Hooves Together (From "Bridlewoodstock" (Chapter 4, Episode 1))
Why it's not on the bottom: At least the earth pony band we saw be recruited in "Bridlewoodstock" amounted to something in the grand scheme of things. This song really feels like it's trying to be "Rainbow" from the 2017 FiM movie. But compared to that, this song doesn't have noticeable auto-tune, and in-universe the lyrics don't feel questionable given who's singing it. In a way, this almost feels like it could've been the song for a big crossover or reunion special celebrating the MLP franchise's 40th anniversary next year. As far as I know, Hasbro has no big plans for that milestone, even though the 30th anniversary in 2014 was celebrated by bringing back Lord Tirek and repurposing him for G4. It's also sweet to see the unicorns of Bridlewood helping the Pippsqueaks see the concert, really helps to drive home that unity feeling.

8. A Special Tune (From "Have You Seen This Dragon?" (Chapter 2, Episode 8))
Why it's in the bottom three: You know a song is good when they keep calling it back to it. Not only did they have an instrument less reprise in "Missing the Mark", but they also had Pipp humming this tune during "Secrets of Starlight" when she was trying to distract the brainwashed auroacorns. And the revelation that it's a lullaby she wrote for Sparky is a really sweet touch. It's also interesting that this is a duet between Sunny and Pipp, the only such duet Sunny got in Make Your Mark, whereas Pipp got duets with Zipp and Hitch (and also technically Sparky). About the only thing to really dislike is how they repeated for "Have You Seen This Dragon?" the exact same line three times in a row. That's just being lazy.

7. All You Need is Your Beat (From "Izzy Does It" (Chapter 2, Episode 1))
Why it's not in the bottom three: This can be said to be something of a character song for Pipp. It's all about how she finds inspiration. Are the lyrics a bit cliche and on the nose? Sure. Is it catchy and memorable despite that? You betcha. The song may be basic, but it has a certain charm to it all the same. I do think the visuals could've been a little bit better, at this point Pipp's bond with the Pippsqueaks hadn't really been established. At the very least, I think they could've worked in a cameo from Rocky and Jazz. It's simple, short and sweet.

6. We've Got the Magic - Pipp's "Remix" (From "Roots of All Evil, Part 2" (Chapter 6, Episode 3))
Why it's in the bottom half: Pipp intended for this solely to be a distraction for Opaline, but it ended up taking on a life of its own. It's probably the best use of Pipp I've seen in all of Make Your Mark, not that that's saying much. Whether she's ad-libbing it, or whether she thought up the lyrics ahead of time is unclear. In either case, she's very convincing. This is called a "remix" even though this version of the song is the one we heard first, whereas a "remix" implies that it's a different take on a song we've heard before. But the reprise later on in "Roots of All Evil" is definitely stronger. Speaking of which...

5. We've Got the Magic - Chorus (From "Roots of All Evil, Part 2" (Chapter 6, Episode 3))
Why it's in the top five: The Pippsqueaks lead off on this one, showing how inspired they were by Pipp. I really wish something like this could've been done for the CMC during "The Ending of the End", it's really saying something when a discount version of them was considered more important to the narrative a generation later. I'm not sure if it's just an animation error or the animators just forgot, but I don't believe we see Phyilis in the chorus at any point,not even when Sprout and Posey are singing in Maretime Bay (and so's Grandma Figgy for that matter). It's not quite clear how Sunny could be hearing this in-universe, but it does serve as the inspiration she needs to stand up to Opaline and defeat her. I believe there's a saying that goes that it's often when things are at their bleakest that we have to force our biggest smiles. A little bit of hope can go a long way. And this song is living proof of that.

4. Mane Family (From "Family Trees, Part 2" (Chapter 5, Episode 3))
Why it's not in the top three: I know Misty had sung prior to this in "It All Takes Time", but hearing her sing here for the first time still threw me off with how deep it sounded. Listening to it again, it doesn't sound like she got a singing double, but it was still something that took some getting used to. I talked about this song not too long ago, so I don't wanna repeat myself too much. The lyrics are fine but a little bit repetitive, and the visuals are kind of a let down. It's the vocals that really carry this song, this little duet between Hitch and Misty that, unless I'm mistaken, is the most they've interacted together since Misty joined the group. For the time, they probably had something in common. But you have to wonder if Misty's attempts to capture Sparky for Opaline have left any kind of animosty between them, even if it may not show outwardly?

3. Pony Love (From "Portrait of a Princess" (Chapter 2, Episode 3))
Why it's in the top three: It seems this song is more or less Queen Haven's origin story, she was a performer long before she ever became a queen. The inspiration for this seems to be 80's love songs, so I guess that means Queen Haven has to be at least in her late 50's/early 60's. Granted, the hook that drops the title for this song is only heard on the extended soundtrack version. But Queen Haven did call this song "Pony Love" in-universe. I think it's safe to say that Pipp inherited her musical talent from Queen Haven. Now one has to wonder whether Zipp maybe inherited her adventurous spirit from her mother, or if that was something she developed on her own out of frustration for her mom's lies?

2. Portrait Day (From "Portrait of a Princess" (Chapter 2, Episode 3))
Why it's not on the top: This was an early stand out that everyone seemed to love, and for good reason. Zipp and Pipp's vocals contrast quite well in this duet. It being an in-universe song that the two sang as fillies (presumably taught to them by their mother) makes all the sweeter. The extended version does have some somewhat questionably worded lyrics, though it's probably meant to intentionally nod to the two being on "different pages". Zipp being the one to intiate it makes it all the better. However, as can be evidenced by its placing here, it has been dethroned from its spot at the very top.

1. Starshine Time (From "Secrets of Starlight" (Chapter 6, Episode 4)
Why it's on the top: Working in a flute, this song is good they treat us to a reprise of with slightly different lyrics during the climax. Aside from a few noticeable bits of auto-tuning from Violet Frost when she's speaking, this song is just so catchy and irresistable. It's bouncy, happy-go-lucky, and full of energy. And we even know it's happening in-universe twice. From the moment I first heard it, it got stuck in my head and I've listened to it several times since. That's how you know it's good. Really, there's not much else to say. Even the visuals, though not the greatest, do mark an attempt to try to do something more, especially for the reprise. And that's why it takes the top spot in my opinion.

Well, there you have it.