Top Ten Songs of MLP FiM, Version 2 (Post Season 4) · 6:44pm May 29th, 2014
This list was due for an update after Season 4. There were a lot of great songs present in this season, probably some of the best we've ever heard. But, out of all of them, which ones deserve to be considered the best of the best? Which ones are so amazing that they should be ranked among the greatest for this show? And while we're at it, what songs still deserve to hold a place on this list?
Well here's the original version of the list. Let's see what changed.
10. Find a Pet (From: May The Best Pet Win)
Why it moved down: Considering the fact that it took seven episodes for Season 2 to include a song you can imagine how pleased everyone was to finally hear one. And the show started off Season 2's songs with a bang, by including a Flutterdash duet. But it does have some problems, Fluttershy takes a long time to clue into the obvious, and Rainbow Dash constantly proclaims herself best pony, hogging the spotlight. Also does "bullet" indicate that fire arms exisit in Equestria, or is is just a measure of speed?
9. Art of The Dress (From: Suited for Sucess)
Why it moved down: Although probably still the best Rarity song out there (Generoisty was among the weaker of Season 4 entries) it's just not able to compete with what comes after it. Trust me, this song isn't so low because I don't like it. It's a wonderful song, with a wonderful reprise, and words can't begin to describe how wonderful it is. And what is this about a budget? I thought Rarity was doing this for free?
8. Glass of Water (From: Three's A Crowd)
Why it was included: This song was a long awaited Discord song that everyone loved, and Discord can sing pretty good. The accompanying visuals are really good too, including some "blink and you'll miss it" references to things like Harry Potter and Star Wars. If there was ever a song that had so much going on you'd need to take a second look just to see it all, this would be it. Now if only this wasn't the only highlight of an episode that had some of the worst filler material in the show's history.
7. Babs Seed (From: One Bad Apple)
Why it moved down: Just like "Art of The Dress" this remains the best song for a character, or in this case group of characters. (Hearts Strong as Horses came close, but it just wasn't as catchy) And it's the only good thing about an episode that is so bad that I'm surprised it's the fandom, and not the soccer moms that are complaining. Plus, at least this song knows to keep auto-tuning restricted to characters that need them. But everything that comes after this just has so much more to offer. Once again, just because it's ranked lower this time around does not mean it's a bad song.
6. This Day Aria (From: A Canterlot Wedding Part 2)
Why it moved down: Even after the two parter it was featured in was knocked off its pedestal by Season 4 this song still remains a masterpiece in a spectacular two parter. It's just not a villan song trying to be a Disney villan song, it's a song that's actively trying to compete with Disney villan songs, while also being a bit of a nod to one minor Disney villan song from The Little Mermaid. There's also a musical reference used in this song in relation to Princess Cadence. Just like before, it ranks lower because everything above it is even more impressive, but it's still a wonderful song that you'll listen to over and over again.
5. A True True Friend (From: Magical Mystery Cure)
Why it moved down: Catchy, upbeat, triumphant, spectacular, this song has so much feeling poured into it. It was so popular we were even treated to a reprise in the credits of the Season 3 finale. And it's proof that even in a musical episode, you can still find a way to make the story flow naturally and make use of "Show, Don't Tell". Yet again, it just can't compete with comes above it, but it's still a great song.
4. Apples to The Core (From: Pinkie Apple Pie)
Why it was included: Now THIS is a good Applejack song. "Raise This Barn" was a good placeholder until we got this wonderful, catchy song. It's also a song with a good country beat, and not only do we have Applejack and Pinkie Pie singing, but also Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, and even Big Macintosh. And we got a reprise towards the end of the episode it was featured in. Compared to all other Season 4 songs included prior to this one, it was no surprise this one was the fan favorite.
3. Winter Wrap Up (From: Winter Wrap Up)
Why it moved down: This was the show's first big musical number and even to this day it's still probably one of the first songs everyone thinks of when they think of songs from this show. This is the perfect example of "Show, Don't Tell" and it's the one part everyone remembers about an otherwise forgettable episode. That seems to be a bit of a trend, the more lackluster or meh episodes tend to get the better songs. Even though that's not only the case, it's enough to hold this gem back. Yet again, I want to remind you that this is still an amazing song.
2. Smile, Smile, Smile a.k.a The Smile Song (From: A Friend in Deed)
Why it moved down: Never would I have believed that this song could ever be topped. This song showed how far the songs in the show and the animation for the show had come in little over a year, and it perfectly defined Pinkie Pie's character. It had a lot of great remixes too, but then the same could be said for a lot of songs on this show. In the end this song is about as perfect as you can get, and yet, somehow, someway, Daniel Ingram and William Anderson managed to top it.
1. Pinkie's Lament (From: Pinkie Pride)
Why it was included: And whoever said lightning can't strike twice? This song was everything "Smile, Smile, Smile" was but done even better, and that's saying something considering how amazing that song was. This song has everything. A good tone, a good pace, a great atmosphere and mood, heart felt lyrics, and a performance that has to be heard to be believed. And if that's not enough, this song foreshadowed the character of "Maud Pie", and included probably the best animation to date on the show. After all that, there was no way this could be anything but number 1 on this list.
And there you have it.
Honorable mentions go to: Pinkie's No Fear Song a.k.a Giggle at The Ghostly, At The Gala, The Flim Flam Brothers Song, The Perfect Stallion, Love is In Bloom, Crystal Fair Song a.k.a Ballad/Legend of The Crystal Empire, Raise This Barn, What My Cutie Mark is Telling Me, I Have To Find a Way, Celestia's Ballad, Hearts Strong as Horses, Stop The Bats, The Super Duper Party Pony (That Pony is Me), Make A Wish, Find The Music in You, Pinkie's Rapping History of The Wonderbolts, and You'll Play Your Part
About the Pinkie Pie songs on the list:
PINKIE'S LAMENT
There are songs written for wild ones who want to mellow out, then there are songs that may actually give one a second identity. This song, released in Equestria on CBS Records in 1969, deservedly sold over 2 million copies the world over, was a #1 hit in her native Equestria and allowed Pinkie Pie's now-fully-realized versatility to give her fans two images of her: one as a happy-go-lucky performer who is there to lighten people up when they're down, the other as a balladist whose markedly warm, and dynamically wide-range soprano moves the audience and puts her there with the great ones: singers like Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Bing Crosby come to mind.
SMILE, SMILE, SMILE
Remarkable recording by Pinkie Pie was an even bigger hit than "Giggle At The Ghostie" (EMI-Columbia) and her first record to go all the way to #1 on the US and Equestrian music surveys. Pinkie Pie's staying power in the public conscience was proven in this, another globally million-selling Equestrian record, which was introduced in her short subject A Friend In Deed. Its playback on many different radio stations around the world is testament to her remarkable ability to live up to the song's nature.
APPLES TO THE CORE
After Pinkie Pie left EMI-Columbia for CBS in late 1967, she was teamed up with a star on the latter's Equestrian division, Applejack. AJ and Pie both collaborated on yet another of the latter's million-selling hits, and AJ brought in three members of her extensive - and indeed musically wealthy - family: Apple Bloom (who was famous for building the CBS tower in Manehattan, and then herself recording and handling executive duties for the label for the next four years, only to leave for Warner Bros., and work on that label's EQ division, when she turned 18 in 1968), Granny Smith (long-time hillbilly music star who did two singles for CBS, and helped the family around the house) and Big Macintosh (bass voice whose contract with Flutter was finalized by Apple Bloom in 1965). A key to its staying power is in the harmony and spirituality of the song.