My Top 42 Favorite MLP Songs (and why)

Top 42 Favorite MLP Songs

Odd of me to be doing this now. I already made a list of my top 50 favorite general animated songs, which I believe had 11 MLP songs on it, with explanations. It's also likely that in my big blog where I reviewed every episode from the first five seasons, I tossed on a list of my favorite MLP songs, but I'm sure it didn't have any explanation of why I liked them.

But I've got the itch. The songs are one big reason why MLP:FiM is my favorite show of all time, as well as why Friendship Games and Legend of Everfree are in my top 50 favorite movies.

Btw, that number 42 isn't a Hitchhiker's Guide reference. It's just the number of MLP songs that feel list worthy to me.

Btw 2, this list is purely subjective. Some of the series' best songs aren't going to be on here (The Magic Inside being the biggest offender), but that's not me trying to say they aren't the best. I just have odd taste sometimes.

Let's do it.

42. Embrace the Magic (Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree)
I recently decided Embrace the Magic is my baseline, the thing other songs need to clamber over to make the list. I'll say right off the bat that most of the songs are going to be from seasons 1-4, Friendship Games, and Legend of Everfree. I only kinda liked the season 5 songs and was underwhelmed by the season 6 songs. As such, I was very thankful for the batches of songs in Friendship Games and Legend of Everfree, many of which made this list.
Embrace the Magic gives Sunset a moment to shine in a movie where the conflict largely revolves around Twilight and Gloriosa. It's nice for Equestria Girls' shining star to get her own solo. Embrace the Magic is a essentially a big "believe in yourself" metaphor, where the girls have to trust in their new strengths to use them properly. The best moment is Sunset's "but when it fo-ound" you with Fluttershy. The flourish on "found" is nice.

41. Find the Music in You (Filli Vanilli)
I was struck recently by how experimental season 4's songs are. Season 4 does have my favorite set of songs, and that is partly due to variety. Bats, Find the Music in You, The Rappin' History of the Wonderbolts, Glass of Water, and Apples to the Core have their own feel that doesn't remind me of any other song in the series. I don't like all of those songs, but I can appreciate them all for being unique in MLP.
Find the Music in You is low because for whatever reason I don't find it relistenable, but it really was lovely on first viewing. The lyrics relate to Fluttershy's conflict in a way that doesn't come across as forced, and the manner in which Fluttershy can't help but groove to the song despite her self-consciousness is endearing. Rarity's big high notes are also quite impressive.

40. Behold, Princess Twilight Sparkle (Magical Mystery Cure)
I'm not entirely sure where Magical Mystery Cure is on my "ranking seasons 1-5" blog, but it is now my 2nd favorite episode, and near tied with the first, The Best Night Ever, which ironically does not have a song on this list. Almost all of MMC's songs are on this list. The only exception is Life in Equestria, which I feel tries a bit too hard.
While this song is in no way catchy, it has an elegance and radiance which fits the large scale warmth of the episode.

39. Let the Rainbow Remind You (Twilight's Kingdom)
A short, simple, lively, catchy one. Twilight's Kingdom didn't have as much of a series finale vibe as Magical Mystery Cure, but I feel it could've been a fitting ending for the series, the Cutie Mark Cruaders blank butts notwithstanding. The little snapshot of the mane six has a comforting ending feel, and it's nice to see a montage of the ponies they've helped along the way.

38. Rules of Rarity (Canterlot Boutique)
It might be Diet Art of the Dress, but Diet Art of the Dress is still pretty good. Due to seasons 4 and 5, Rarity jumped to my 3rd favorite mane six. The passion she has for her art is well on display here, and it's easy to understand why churning out the same design over and over until it's mundane is heartbreaking for her. I think my favorite part is the string of notes at the very start before the lyrics kick in. Pure elegance.

37. I've Got to Find a Way (Magical Mystery Cure)
Here's a song that veered dangerously close to the bad pre-teen melodrama kind of girly, but its short length manages to reel it in just enough. This song gets the point across without going on so long as to beat us over the head with it. It's quite pretty sounding, and an appropriately weighty montage. I'd never thought about it before, but the rain would have been a really annoying detail if it had just been shoved in to make the moment more sad. Instead, it comes naturally out of Rarity being so bad at controlling the weather, and just happens to fit the song.

36. Better Than Ever (Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks)
A charming and peppy song. Going back, it seems rather quaint compared to the songs in Friendship Games and Legend of Everfree, but at the time it blew most of EG1 out of the water. It grants a bit of continuity as the students of CHS are more united than in the first film, and it has a pleasant light rock feel I'm a fan of.

35. Bats (Bats!)
Then there's this weird thing. I still don't know what the hell this episode was. I think the staff ate something weird. Before the episode gets really strange and confusing, we have this song cleanly lining out the conflict. It's fun to sing, switching back and forth between Fluttershy's gentle voice and Applejack's hard southern twang, and basically every line is memorable, especially Applejack's "It's big and ugly and mean as sin!" line, which is one of several examples of season 4 simply being more hardcore than the first three. Fluttershy and Applejack having a disagreement on how to treat a meddlesome species is so natural I'm almost surprised it took the show this long to do it. The other girls stomping around Fluttershy and chanting comes across a bit harsh, but it turns out to just be from the energy of the song, as they simmer down immediately afterwards.

34. Acadeca (Equestria Girls: Friendship Games)
I can tell we're heading in the right direction. This is the first song I immediately began hearing in my head upon typing the name.
I'm not so into attitude and competition in real life, but in fiction it can be fun. This song has a snarky vibe, but it's all in good fun and not overly cynical, even with the Crystal Prep girls being jerks. Holding this song lower is that the end stretch is repetitive and holds no tension on a rewatch when I know Twilight wins. But still, this song is catchy, well edited, and has power. The line "Every little moment is about our education" is sung very quickly, and at the same time a bunch of pieces of wood are very quickly stacked. I love it when visuals and animation mesh in that matter. The funny thing is that I despise live action music videos for real songs with celebrities, but in a story like this it feels right.
As a fun bit of trivia, it's said in the (very good) commentary for Friendship Games that both CHS and Crystal Prep parts of this song are sung by the same choir. When the choir asked how they should make the two schools sound different the response was to make Crystal Prep sound more annoying.

33. Morning in Ponyville (Magical Mystery Cure)
I feel like I'm so close to finding this song annoying, but it's just so gosh darned earnest and pure and overboard that I can't. This episode explodes into pleasant, happy action right out of the gate. For such a controversial episode that underwent some big changes once the staff understood it was not going to be the series finale, it feels incredibly confident, bursting into song in seconds and not holding back. The first shot of the flock of the birds is classic animated charm, and the end subversion of Twilight getting doused with water adds a teensy bit of cynicism for balance.

32. Helping Twilight Win the Crown (My Little Pony: Equestria Girls)
EG1 had just two parts I really liked. One was the theft of the crown by Sunset, which was actually exciting and well directed. The other was this song. Don't get me wrong though. This song is dumb. Really dumb. The kids at the cafeteria are given no real reason to vote for Twilight and are only getting into the energy of the song without thinking. But it's fun. "So get up, get down, if you're gonna come around. We can work together helping Twilight win the crown." Gods that was catchy. I was singing those lines for months and months. And the dancing is so charming. Plus Applejack and Pinkie holding hands like it's nothing. And Rainbow Dash hopping onto that chair and not fearing for her safety as it falls. And Rainbow Dash doing the 60's Batman dance (does Batman even exist in that universe?). It's all just so careless and light.

31. Find a Pet (May the Best Pet Win!)
I like this song less as a song and more as a character scene. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are natural opposites, in a fun why (which is why they were my first ship). They're childhood friends and grew up in the same city, and manage to get along well, yet are polar opposites, and there's a charm to that. This song gives them an opportunity to play off each other. It doesn't really get big or catchy; it's more about Rainbow Dash's wonderfully snarky "Cutesy? Wutesy? Have you even met me?"
"So many choices, and such riches aplenty." "Not a bad problem to have if you ask me." There's some wit here. It's not just dumb fun.

30. Legend You are Meant to Be (Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree)
This one grew on me a lot. I was "eh" on it the first time. It's generic pop fluff, but there's a warmth to it, a comfort food appeal. The layers of voices and harmony (this might be terrible wording, I'm not a music scholar) far transcends what was possible early in the life of Equestria Girls. Plus, we get to see the girls use their powers in a more everyday situation, and Bulk Biceps' dancing makes me laugh every single time.

29. Shine Like Rainbows (Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks)
Speaking of comfort food. There's no song I more dearly wish had better lyrics than Shine Like Rainbows. The lyrics are a godawful cheesefest, but god the sound of this thing is beautiful. Such a glorious harmony. The second time "And the sound that we hear in our hearts" kicks in, it's a grand thing. This song loops particularly well. There's a multi-hour version on Youtube that I've thrown on multiple times while working on something.
If the lyrics were as brilliant and beautiful as the sound, I think this song could make me teary eyed.

28. A True, True Friend (Magical Mystery Cure)
The lyrics to A True, True Friend might be corny and repetitive, but I like the song anyway. The instrumentals are nice, the singing is good (Rarity in particular makes her part her own), and the cycling of memories through each characters eyes is the sort of cool visual I want to see in a cartoon. I think it was an interesting way to solve the cutie mark swap conflict. Twilight starts a sort of chain reaction and generates perhaps the most positive feeling moment in the series (and that is saying a LOT).
There's a lot of charming little bits in here. Rainbow's "Hello? Friend trapped inside, remember?" takes a bit of piss out of the corniness and is one of my favorite jokes of season three, and the way she puffs out her chest as she sings "Applejack needs your help" is endearing. It's as if she's trying her best to ignore that she's singing a cheesy song with a tough pose. Rarity's determined face as she says "Lose the apple farm? Well, we can't let that happen, can we?" is one of the better moments of "Rarity is not just a vain priss" in the series. Finally, straight maned Pinkie's clueless expression as she rides Applejack's back and her mane whips in the wind is really endearing.

27. Light of Your Cutie Mark (Crusaders of the Lost Mark)
I was surprised how rewatchable the songs of CotLM are. The Pony I want to Be and it's reprise and this song flow into each other very well and I watched all three many times. This was my favorite song of the episode simply by being the most dramatic and involving.
It's the CMC's lyrics in the second half that really make this song for me. They've become such little angels at this point in the series. It's sweet of them to give Diamond Tiara a chance, and they give reforming her the best shot they can here. It's nice that Diamond doesn't turn goodie during the song (or at least, she doesn't take the absurdly pleasant rainbow road). It takes a moment for the CMC's words to settle in her. Changing someone's mind shouldn't be like a light switch after all (*cough* The Times They are a Changeling *cough*).

26. Legend of Everfree (Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree)
There was a time I thought this would be higher. This song gave me a very good first impression, but I've since gotten sick of it.
The guitar has a nice twang to it. Dorky but not too dorky. The environments are really pretty and show off how different visually Legend of Everfree is from previous movies. In particular, the colors of the scenery just before the title pops up are lovely. The way the bus bobs up and down is the sort of dopey that MLP can get away with. And of course the girls sound great singing together. It's a charming way to open, though the purple magic is a weird visual to use, as later it turns out to be fake dust Timber was spreading.

25. The Pony I Want to Be (Crusaders of the Lost Mark)
I've combined the main song and the reprise into one song, since I've done that with other songs, though in this case, each one stands tall as its own song I feel. I don't even think of the reprise as a reprise.
I have to say that I feel less sure if I have this in the right spot than other songs. My opinion might be a bit colored by how much I enjoy the video combining Numb with this song (it's weird as hell but really good). But anyway, it's impressive that The Pony I Want to Be works at all. Diamond Tiara's been nothing but a bitch for four and a half seasons, up to and including picking on a girl for being crippled to win a contest. For the show to suddenly turn around and say "No, see, she's just misunderstood. It was her Mom's fault all along." and for that massive swerve to not even be the final point of this 22 minute story . . . well, by all rights it shouldn't work. But it does. Partly, it's the singer's excellent vulnerable vocal performance. For another, Di's Mom is just really easy to not like. They even made her nose irritatingly wrong. And last, I never got the impression that Diamond was happy. Even when she'd have a wicked evil smile on her face, I don't think I ever really bought it. Who could be happy being the person (pony) she is? The idea that she was forced into acting that way just FEELS right to me.
The reprise pushes the "I can't believe this is working" meter up to 11. Diamond Tiara isn't just being nice, she's being a walking, singing sugar ball. MLP saves a lot of things that shouldn't work by being really gosh darned earnest, and this song has that. It's Diamond's cute little trot. It's the way she quickly runs in place for a little moment. She's so damn chipper. I almost cringe, but I don't. Something I appreciate that took multiple viewings to notice is the way the lyrics combine the rhythms of the previous two songs. I especially like the bit of background music that has the rhythm of "Would you believe that I've always wished I could be somepony else? etc." only it sounds pleasant instead of dour.

24. Bottles of Oats on the Wall (Sleepless in Ponyville)
I feel like the show's early seasons did a lot more so bad it's good, intentionally annoying kind of humor, and generally speaking I disliked it, but I also liked the early seasons more, so maybe the stuff that annoyed me made the stuff I liked better in some convoluted way. At any rate, unlike The Show Stoppers song or (ugh) You Gotta Share, You Gotta Care, I found Bottles of Oats on the Wall really amusing. Sweetie Belle is just so immediately ready for it, leaping into the performance before you even know what's happening, and everypony else is just too nice to let her know that she's terrible. Her last note is so exuberant and she looks so pleased with herself before passing right out. It all gels together into being way more cute than annoying.

23. Generosity (Rarity Takes Manehattan)
Though certainly not my favorite part of Rarity Takes Manehattan (*contented sigh*), Generosity is just real solid. This was the first episode set in Manehattan, which gave everything in it a visual charm separate from the rest of the series up to that point. I've always liked looking at New York (and fictional New York-esque locations).
After the two part series premiere, the show often seemed to forget about what the girls' elements of harmony were, and season four spent some time rectifying that. Generosity, naturally, is all about Rarity's generosity, and I was happy to see it considering how often Rarity was called out for being selfish back in the old days. Plus, that singing voice is just about always welcome.
This could be called Rarity's equivalent of Smile Smile Smile, showing her at her best before later on the episode shows her at her . . . not best.

22. Hope Shines Eternal (Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree)
It gets harder to rank the songs in this section. They're all really good! I'm very picky with music. It's rare that I hear a song on the radio I like that I haven't heard before. Very rare. Most of the time when I go out of my way to listen to a song I've never heard before, I'm bored, and bemused as to how it got popular. Yet here we are, and at only number 22nd is a song I've been singing to myself for months.
This song's tough to talk about, as the writing is meaningless fluff. Like Shine Like Rainbows, it's all about the sound, but I have this song higher because it's less corny and embarrassing. I'm having more trouble generating an explanation than with the other songs so far. It just sounds really good. The layers of harmony are pretty and impressive.
Considering that all that's happening visually is a walkway over some water, it actually looks quite pleasant as well.

21. Cheese Confesses (Pinkie Pride)
Ah, the twist. And what a good, sweet, fitting, believable little twist it is.
One commenter on Youtube said he/she thought that Cheese is still shy in a way, and that's why he travels from place to place and never settles down. I like this idea. Not only does it make him telling "a little fib" more believable, but it makes this song more emotional for me. With this theory in mind, I actually got the feels on the next viewing, which is an important part of why this episode is in my top five now when it used to not be in my top ten. There's something about seeing this shy kid stumble into this full, lively, accepting outdoor party that's heartwarming. It kind of makes one yearn for a simpler time.

20. Giggle at the Ghostie (Friendship is Magic Part 2)
I have no idea if this is where this song should be. It was so long ago now that I saw this song for the first time. Really, the early songs in general are the ones I tend to feel the most uncertain about the placements of.
There are three main things I like about Giggle at the Ghostie. First, the self awareness. As genuine as the song is, it also pokes fun at itself. Twilight's "tell me she's not" was just the right kind of eye roll to help a cynical adult like me (well, I'm not as cynical as I was when I first got into MLP, partly because of MLP) get into the show. Second, I like the way Pinkie's first two lines are sung a lot, particularly "down" and "frown". Third, the concept that Pinkie's grandmother was a bit silly like her and not like the rest of her family is a charming notion I haven't really seen explored.
The show really gave up on the idea of Pinkie singing more than the others after a while. I found it a charming and natural part of her exuberant personality. Looking back, I kinda miss it.

19. Unleash the Magic (Equestria Girls: Friendship Games)
Unleash the Magic starts off unimpressively, with Cinch restating some things we already know. Then the eerie witch-like choir kicks in, and things get cool. There's something cultish about the way the girls peer pressure Twilight against a deep blue landscape that I swear the characters are aware is there. The way Cinch's arms appear out of the ether to grab Twilight is definitely creepier than one would expect from a movie called Equestria Girls: Friendship Games. The song builds up and up, adding more layers, until Twilight makes her mistake. Her character flaw in this movie is that she puts research over the safety of others, and that flaw is about to almost cost her and everyone around her greatly.

18. Make This Castle a Home (Castle Sweet Castle)
You know, season 5 definitely fared a little better on this list than I thought it would, though this is as high on the list as it gets. This song grew on me a fair amount. The first time, I thought it was a bit pointless and wished the episode didn't even have a song. Now, I can't imagine Castle Sweet Castle without it, even if that first Rainbow Dash line really needed another take.
I find Castle Sweet Castle to be one of the most pleasant, cuddly episodes of the series, and that factors into the song. Heck, it starts with them handing the line "Let's all work together to make this castle shine!" to the cool, extreme Rainbow Dash. It's a smiling, bouncy, huggy number throughout, with the only ounce of cynicism being Dash's narcissism showing through. The way these five linger in their colored frames for a second or two longer than what feels natural might be a bit lazy on the staff, but there's also something particularly G rated about it, in a good way. There's also something trusting about the way Fluttershy just lets her legs dangle as she's hugged by her bear; it's normal for her. The whole thing is just so damned nice, and I'm happy it grew on me.
I find the line "There's nothing like balloons and confetti to greet you every time you walk through the door!" more catchy than the rest for some reason. I've sung it on its own many a time.

17. What More is Out There (Equestria Girls: Friendship Games)
I'm combining the regular version and the deleted scene duet version, both of which I like but the latter of which I like more. I think Sci-Twi's singing voice here is very pretty, and I like how much her song has a Disney princess vibe (who knows how many times I've watched Part of That World on Youtube), plus, given how distant from the other kids I often felt at school, I have an easy time both relating to and sympathizing with Sci-Twi (dumb name btw, pony Twilight likes science too). I also think it's charming how all that's happening visually across the entire song is Sci-Twi walking to the principal's office, yet it's never boring looking. That said, the issue I do have is that the song doesn't say anything that hadn't already been said in the previous scene.
That's where the duet comes in. The song originally had an actual point beyond sounding pretty, expressing Sunset's desire to return to Equestria as part of the original conflict she was going to have in Friendship Games. I can see why this conflict was scrapped. The staff have said they didn't want to make it seem like Sunset wanted to abandon her friends, and I don't like some of the deleted scenes later in the movie, so I feel like they made the right call. Still, this song just feels more complete with Sunset and Sci-Twi bouncing off each other, their conflicts paralleling. Them singing together in the final stretch is a treat in particular, and it's a bit of a shame not seeing a final version of it. Still, I'm happy to have seen it at all. I imagine back in the VHS days deleted scenes weren't even a thing.

16. Smile Smile Smile (A Friend in Deed)
Bit low for possibly the most popular song in the series, eh? I have to say, the first time I saw Smile Smile Smile, I was underwhelmed. I kept waiting for it to get big, or hit a note or rhythm I really liked, and it never happened. I've never been impressed watching this song, on its own or in the episode. I do like the little moment where everything turns into a pink silhouette, and I think she song does a fair amount for Pinkie's likability, but I've never been wowed by Smile Smile Smile.
And yet, I've listened to this song on my PSP (that's what I've always used as an mp3 player, and I'm so used to it, that's probably not changing soon) many, many times. Perhaps it's because the song is so quintessentially MLP. Perhaps it's because it suits basically any mood I'm in. Perhaps it's because I like imagining animated versions of some of the nicest people I've ever known singing it. Or perhaps it's because I like imagining Satan from South Park singing it.

15. B.B.B.F.F. (A Canterlot Wedding)
A sweet, catchy little song. MLP is so earnest and genuine, and its songs are so well animated and sung, that it can get away with a lot more diabetes than most things. I watch this song, and I feel like the staff care as much about Twilight's insignificant little problem of missing her brother as the little girls at home are meant to, yet it also feels effortless. I love it when a product is so naturally good, so pristine, that it feels like it just popped up out of the earth. B.B.B.F.F. feels like it just appeared out of nothing, instantly perfect. This song doesn't aim as high as some MLP songs do, but it hits the bar it is aiming for like it's the easiest thing to do in the world. You have to dig season 2's casual confidence. It was my favorite season for years for a reason (season 1 recently took over).

14. Babs Seed (One Bad Apple)
I feel much more confident about where each song is ranked from here going forward than I was in the 15-30 section.
I don't know if this is the weirdest song in all of MLP, but it was the weirdest up to that point. Heck, it was one of the only weird moments in the show up to that point, though the parasprites eating words out of a book sure was strange, and Too Many Pinkie Pies in general was odd (I almost feel like it was a dream I had rather than an episode). The CMC sound very synthesized and robotic, and there were some interesting background choices. Plus, movie theaters felt a bit modern for MLP (though they've gone beyond that since) and Babs drinking out of a screaming cup feels like a joke from another show. Boring it's not. In fact, it was actually a bit refreshing after The Ballad of the Crystal Empire played things very safe stylistically. The song is lively, peppy, and slightly freaky. It's perfect to hand to the kids of the show. Even though it's about getting bullied, it's never sad, just good fun.

13. We Will Stand For Everfree (Equestria Girls: Legend of Everfree)
An epic, powerful villain song that's easy to like. Gloriosa has this low, sometimes raspy voice that's really cool. I like how she's convinced herself she's doing the right thing, and the implication that she's taking everyone hostage to protect them and is willing to fend off police and military if necessary (imagine if it had gone THAT far). The massive number of vines is visually impressive and reminds me of Castle in the Sky, which can only be a good thing, especially if we're talking spectacle. I also like Timber's earnest but fruitless attempt at escape, and the way his ax swings match the beat. An impressive climax in a mostly low key movie.

12. Hearts Strong as Horses (Flight to the Finish)
I must say that this one really is too repetitive and I did get sick of it after a while, but I adored it initially. I really appreciate the scene just before, which pumps up the enthusiasm to create the right tone for a song which is essentially just the CMC psyching themselves up and would be pointless otherwise (outside of looking and sounding great). There's so much to like visually. A bloom filled Ponyville with the CMC standing on a hill with confidently puffed out chests as well as the absolutely gorgeous shot of the CMC running alongside a sunset in silhouette (one of my favorite moments visually in the series) are wallpaper fuel. The blue and white heart filled hallway is girly, yet it also feels VAST and impressive in spite of its simplicity.
It's such a goofy little song too. Nothing they're doing is helping them prepare physically, and that is clearly the joke. The Bulk Biceps cameo is fun too. On the unintentional humor side is the line "we're kind of short but so what", which only exists for the audience, as they're the same size as the other kids.
It's just a charmer, plain and simple.

11. The Ballad of the Crystal Empire (The Crystal Empire)
This song strikes me as a blueprint for how to do an MLP song. It's very typical, not aiming incredibly high but also aiming for rock solid. It's a song that wants to show you what MLP: FiM can do. It features all the mane six, is easy to memorize, is tightly structured, and has very pretty acoustics. The way it's paced, starting with Twilight, bouncing between a few mane six and showing off their personalities, then having them all sing together comes across like a well oiled machine. This is season 3, and the staff know what they're doing at this point (unless you're one of the many season 3 haters, I'm not). The way the camera follows Rainbow Dash as she swoops in with the line of flags, and then Twilight's head shoves in on the next beat has a satisfying, large scale feel that doesn't come across as trying too hard. I remember that it was released a ways before season 3 started, and by the time The Crystal Empire aired, I knew this song well enough to sing along with it (unlike that OTHER The Crystal Empire song, ugh).

10. You'll Play Your Part (Twilight's Kingdom)
So, not gonna lie, anytime I watch this song outside of the episode, I just skip the first half straight out. In fact, I almost think of this as two songs, and I only like one of them. The one that isn't just Twilight whining. And it's entirely possible that a bit of my appreciation comes from the fact that I adore the Mystery Orchestral Remix and have listened to it a billion times (despite rarely enjoying remixes at all) while imagining a much more visually insane montage than what we get in the show (it involves trapezes and bursts of confetti and the entire world turning into a portrait of Twilight's face and Twilight getting tossed around and flips and a bunch of other stuff that would probably be going overboard). That said, I feel confident about this placement. I adore the second half quite a bit.
I've described a couple songs as feeling effortless. That is not the case here. I feel every bit of effort that was put into this one. That goes for the whole episode. Twilight's Kingdom has a very "let's go for it" feel. "Let's make this plot heavy spectacle with a big battle and betrayal and have shit get fucked and have all four princesses sing in the same song." It's a treat having Luna, Cadence, and Celestia sing together for the first time. Them flapping together over Twilight's head is a striking and memorable visual. I find it very sweet, the way they're trying to cheer her up. Twilight has gotten so used to being told what to do that she has to be informed that this is her life now, and I can buy that.
Mostly I love You'll Play Your Part because it just sounds pretty, very big and bold and Disney. It has a rhythm that feels classic yet I also don't feel like I've heard it a million times. And of course, there's that crazy emphasis Cadence puts on "around". Like, damn girl, steal the spotlight why don'cha.

9. My Past is Not Today (Equestria Girls . . . umm . . . it has the Rainbow Rocks logo but it's on the Friendship Games soundtrack)
So one day, Hasbro decided to toss out three random music videos as a surprise gift, and this gem was one of them. I think part of the charm is how there was no lead in to this. My Past is Not Today just popped out of the ether, instantly good. It's not specifically chained to one movie, yet it encompasses so much of what is good about Sunset as a character. I can show anyone this one song, and they will get who Sunset is and what she's about and, hopefully, why she's a likable character.
In this song, it feels as though Sunset is becoming unchained, breaking away from the weight of what she's done in the past. It's satisfying and fits the tone of a cool rock song. Speaking outside of soundtracks, rock is my favorite music genre (if I even like enough non-soundtrack music to have a favorite music genre), and that's partly due to my love of a good drum rhythm that gets your head bobbing, and this song has that. The instrumentals aren't too pop or too harsh, they sit perfectly in the middle. This is likely my favorite singing from Sunset; the soul she puts into "is what I beliiieeeved" is great. Btw, I know I've been praising the characters performances rather than the voice actors this whole time; it's just part of the immersion.
Visually, the video starts with Sunset walking towards what must be in the running for the greatest looking animated sun of all time. The dome in the center of the roof is such a great touch, simple but memorable. The way Sunset keeps her fingers on it as she runs is so obvious yet perfect. It's the first thing a kid would do if they saw a dome like that. I'm not sure that Sunset throwing away those old pictures of her is something that actually happened, but songs can get away with blurring reality some, and it feels like something Sunset would imagine herself doing. More blurring reality comes in the form of Sunset turning into some sort of phoenix, which she never does before or after, but it fits her story. So much happens visually that I didn't even notice the first time that this song somehow takes up the entire night.

8. Pinkie's Lament (Pinkie Pride)
I wonder if the title Pinkie's Lament is meant to be a reference to the Nightmare Before Christmas song Jack's Lament, which has a similar kind of down and up emotional structure. Pinkie's Lament is a song about a discouraged Pinkie regaining her confidence, and as such there are times I've found myself singing it in a melancholy mood to lift my spirits.
The song isn't overly melancholy, even with the tears and the surprisingly heavy piano after "shouldn't plan parties at all". Pinkie trying out various occupations (apparently in the span of a couple hours) is basically a series of sight gags, which is easygoing enough so that when it cuts to treating Pinkie putting away her party supplies in a dead serious manner, it's not an eye rolling "come on, this is silly" experience. The song knows that Pinkie is inherently silly, but her feelings are genuine anyway. Meshing the silly and serious in this manner couldn't have been as easy as it looks, and it's impressive how well it works. In a different show, Pinkie using party supplies to do various jobs might have made her character look too stupid, but there are literally balloons on Pinkie's ass, and all of this is just part of who she is.
Pinkie comes around very quickly after seeing some pictures of her accomplishments, which feels very natural for her fast paced personality, and the fact that all these parties are from previous episodes is a great continuity bomb. The rest of the song puts Pinkie in one of her best lights, both figuratively and literally. The balcony shot is one of the most iconic and memorable visuals of the entire series. This song, and this whole episode, had excellent timing. Pinkie's likability was dropping like a stone at this point in season four, and lyrics like "I made them laugh, had such a blast, a smile that's all their own. They loved seeing me, the REAL Pinkie" were very refreshing. The only reason this song isn't even higher on the list is that this just isn't my favorite singing from Pinkie. I feel as though I've heard her sound better multiple times.
Also, she makes a sandwich just to punch it. That is all.

7. Art of the Dress (Suited For Success)
Mmmmm. Now we're getting to the ones I seriously love.
Art of the Dress is one of the prettiest, most professional, most elaborate, and of course, most eloquent MLP songs. The editing is simple and never tries too hard, but is never boring either, making the most out of one room. Unlike I Wasn't Prepared For This, Art of the Dress never feels like the song is stopping for dialogue. It simply weaves in and out of dialogue bits in a manner that flows naturally. I would describe this song as graceful, but the conflict is so engaging that it never gets dull. First, we see the passion that Rarity puts into her art, and that it's real work requiring brain power and precision. Characters like Rarity in media too often come across as lazy and brain dead, and Rarity gains a lot of points here for proving to be neither. Moving on, she never loses it when her friends make requests that are either absurd or, in the case of Rainbow's famous line, humorously vague. It's so easy to sympathize with Rarity was she wears herself out; the disheveled mane is a nice touch. It's further proof that Rarity is more than she appears to be, as one only has to look at the way she collapses at the end of the song to see how difficult her work can be. Pretty, girly dresses don't just appear out of thin air. The song also isn't afraid to throw in a few words little girls might not necessarily know, which is perfectly fine as I'm sure it's easy to follow anyway.
Beyond that, I'm watching the song now and it's hard to know what to say other than that the rhythm is just incredibly fun. It's bouncy and quick, handling both the light energy of the first section and Rarity's stress in the second section with ease. By the end of this song, I am always completely wrapped up in Suited For Success's conflict. Brilliant.

6. Celestia's Ballad (Magical Mystery Cure)
I was excited about the idea of Twilight becoming a princess since I'd first heard it spoiled (boy there was no hiding from that spoiler). In the early seasons at least, princesses were cool, boasting magic, flight, and political power, and seeing Twilight, both the main character and my favorite pony, become one was something I wanted.
More importantly than that though is what a feels trip Celestia's Ballad is. Throwing Twilight into an unexplained location we've never seen before or since is the perfect place for emotion over logic (where are all those episode clips coming from anyway). It opens with only the second hug between Twilight and Celestia in the series and a very pretty piano rhythm. The episode clips push the already nostalgic feel of Magical Mystery Cure to its maximum, and make me feel proud of Twilight for everything she's accomplished. It was also a big deal seeing Celestia, an ordinarily reserved pony, sing for the first time. I teared up the first time I saw this song, and if my friend hadn't been in the room at the time, I might have straight up cried. It's a beautiful and important moment for the series.

5. This Day Aria (A Canterlot Wedding)
I hardly feel a need to explain why this, a competitor for most popular song in the series, is so high up. There's no other song in MLP where I'm struck by just how good on a technical level the singing is, except for The Magic Inside, but I'm much more a fan of the tone and lyrics here. This Day Aria has a big, bold, operatic, melodramatic feel reminiscent of a Disney villain song. It's what a show for little girls in a magical world ought to be putting out at the top of its game. Outside of maybe Shining's doofy hypnotized face, every visual works, from the big dramatic camera swing up to the ceiling (way too many animated shows forget that they can make their camera do ANYTHING) to the quick cuts late in the song that ramp up the tension and excitement and give me shivers. Twilight and Cadence are under a ticking clock to save the day, and this song makes you feel it. It's a tough song to write about, because so much of what it does feels too natural to notice, like the quick violin that plays as Twilight and Cadence go down the spiral track, of the horns that play to the quick cuts. The drama that's playing out is so absorbing as to make one not think about why it's working so well, and that's one of the best compliments that can be given any fiction.

4. Winter Wrap Up (Winter Wrap Up)
I have to wonder if this should really be up so high. I don't really enjoy watching the song or episode Winter Wrap Up anymore, and it's hard to remember how I felt about it five years ago when I was watching through season one. Heck, I remember liking the rest of the episode more than the song. I'll admit to having a bit of nostalgia for this song (and the episode in general) and people make a lot of fuss about nostalgia clouding judgement, but the thing is that I like having nostalgia for things, and it's not like I haven't had this song high on this since the beginning. I've never not been ranking the songs, and there must've been a reason this was so high to begin with.
I have to say that the rhythm is classic. I can remember that the second Twilight began singing and the nice acoustics kicked in, I felt at home. Twilight's voice is just so clear and pure and innocent that it's impossible not to like, and I immediately cared about her conflict, for after all, no one likes feeling left out. The idea that the characters have to physically change the seasons themselves is such a good children's fantasy concept, the sort of imagination I want to see in a show like this. I like that some of the jobs the characters are doing, particularly Pinkie's, aren't explained right away, as they don't need to be, though I can't imagine one of the newer seasons showing something and not immediately explaining it to the audience (sigh). And it was the first big song. I know it's unpopular to like something for being first, but Winter Wrap Up was impressive at the time, and this is an of all time list, not a current favorites list.
More than anything else, this song is a nice memory for me.

3. CHS Rally (Equestria Girls: Friendship Games)
I've talked about a lot of songs up here twice, but this is the only one so far I feel tired of talking about for some reason.
CHS Rally really climbed the ladder from me just liking it alright to it being one of my favorite animated songs. Considering that I've never had any school spirit, it's impressive that this has the capability to make me feel pumped. The way Rainbow's speech is just a downer fake out before the coolness begins is great. Something about the way the lights dim and the curtains part gives me the shivers. I love the bombastic horns and drums; Rainbow's voice and personality fit perfectly here, and I can believe she would put this together. Really, I love so much here: Rainbow's cocky expressions, how organized the whole thing is and how the whole crowd gradually gets into it, the likable design of the oddly prominent baton girl, the cut from Vinyl's board to the top of Rainbow's hat, the continuity with the previous movies villains and the idea that the students and faculty are aware of magic powers and there isn't going to be a bunch of dumb humor with the Rainbooms trying to hide it from them, Trixie's cute little pose after accepting the headband, and most of all just how exciting the song is once it gets big. CHS Rally rocks.

2. What My Cutie Mark is Telling Me (Magical Mystery Cure)
The cutie mark swap is one of my favorite conflicts in TV history, and this song sells it hard to me in two minutes. Really, it's structured as simple as can be, just going from pony to pony, but I am so into it. I love the idea of Freaky Friday flips, and this is even more interesting, because it's done in a way only MLP could do. The girls don't remember the swap and their previous lives, and only know that their destiny isn't working out for them. I just, eurrgh, I love it so much! This is the kind of conflict I want in a character driven fantasy story. I want to see the characters shaken out of their element in a core way, especially if it's expressed in a song where the rhythm is as perfect as I could dream of. Really, I don't know if there's anything cooler that could've been done with cutie marks. Just swap 'em. It's so simple but so perfect. I want to see Applejack fail at making a dress and think it's what she's meant to do. I want to see Rarity tear up the sky. I want to see Pinkie moan while manically wrangling an entire farm. It's all just incredibly engaging to me, and it's incredible that this isn't number 1. Fuck, maybe it SHOULD be number 1. Watching it now, it's definitely close.
Also, "I'm in love with weather patterns but the others have concerns, for I just gave them frostbite over top of their sunburns" is one of my favorite lines in the series.

1. Pinkie the Party Planner (Pinkie Pride)
One of the main reasons why Pinkie Pride has gone from hanging around my 15th favorite episode all the way to 4th place is right here. I don't know how many times I've watched this song. Many, many times. I adore the darn thing. It's short, it's part dialogue, it doesn't really end on a big note, and it's clearly not meant to be the episode's showstopper, and I really don't care.
Pinkie the Party Planner is one of the most charming and happy things I've ever seen. It's at 1st place because it's the song that makes me smile the most. Once again, I love the rhythm. I also love how naturally it escalates, to the point that I didn't even consciously notice until just now that a larger and larger crowd forms around Pinkie over the course of the song. I love little tricks that you can get away with in animation, like how after Pinkie's saddlebag is filled up with paint, she immediately teleports, and it's not even noticeable unless you watch the song looking for things to comment on like I'm doing now. I think the choir sounds absolutely fantastic, to the point that I'm not sure anything in any of the other songs sounds as good to me as they do. I love that it gives characters who've never sung before an opportunity to, and let us know what an impact on the community Pinkie's made.
It also contains the biggest "this shouldn't work but it totally works" moment of the entire series, when Pinkie pointed right at the screen and I actually smiled. Now that's impressive.

Btw, Mad Twience will be getting a comfy spot on this list at some point. It's weird, it looks and sounds cool, and scientist Twilight is definitely something I needed more of.