Help! My Heart is Full of Pony! - Equestria, My Home, · 5:35am Sep 23rd, 2021
The Mane Attraction tells a story that's beautiful on many, many levels.
For those who don't remember, this is the one where Pinkie Pie books a charity musical festival, and manages to land the #1 pony of pop, (not Sapphire Shores), the Countess Coloratura.
Applejack has never heard of "the countess," but recognizes the name and cutie mark. It turns out that this pop star is actually a friend from Applejack's fillyhood - a down to earth pony with a golden voice, whom AJ had nicknamed "Rara" during their time at Camp Friendship.
When the Countess Coloratura arrives, however, she is absolutely nothing like the "Rara" that Applejack thought she knew. "The Countess" is all about glitz and glamor...or so it would seem.
The good-hearted pony that AJ had befriended back at Camp Friendship is definitely still hiding behind the veil she wears. Even as a pop star, Countess Coloratura is passionate about charity - especially her school age fans.
The real problem is that her manager is manipulating her.
I'm not going to get into too many details. This is the sort of story that has been told many times before.
The point is: Applejack and Twilight ultimately reveal that Rara's manager is a scumbag who hates her charity work. When she confronts him, he storms off in a huff, taking his laser light show, dance entourage, and unicorn autotune special effects with him.
It's an empowering moment for Rara. Until she finds herself backstage in the green room, and realizes that she has no idea what to do when she goes out on stage without any of the spectacle her audience expects.
Applejack appeals to Coloratura - inspires her to look back at the Rara she once was - to simpify - to go out there and just...sing - to be herself.
This episode, at its heart, is about that very thing - being true to yourself. It will always be remembered for its stunning musical climax when the Countess Coloratura appears on stage dressed like a normal pony, and sings from the heart. Just a piano and Rara, (and an orchestra that somehow manages to show up, but that's besides the point).
It's a unique moment in the series because the music is itself a form of apotheosis for Rara, and the act of singing it brings her self-actualization. And it's absolutely stunning.
But believe it or not, watching this episode now, after the whole series has concluded, it's not the song I want to talk about.
During one of the flashbacks of Camp Friendship, Rara and Applejack played a rendition of a folk song called "Equestria, My Home." And at the concert, grown up Rara reprised that same song with the Cutie Mark Crusaders on stage, (and Applejack on the triangle).
Other bronies have pointed out that this was the last episode that Amy Keating Rogers wrote, and that she herself was the last of the original writers to leave the show - that "Equestria, My Home" was both a goodbye, and a love letter to this wonderful universe that she helped create from the very beginning.
("Ticket Master," "Bridle Gossip," "Fall Weather Friends," "The Best Night Ever," "A Friend in Need," Griffonstone, "Pinkie Pride." etc, etc, etc)
When I watch this episode now, I feel much the same thing. The show is over, but it has forever left an imprint on my heart.
As silly as it sounds, I really do feel like Equestria is my home (at least on some level).. So when I listen to that song now, it is, for me, a love letter to the entire phenomenon (just like it was for Amy Keating Rogers when she wrote it).
Hearing Rara sing that song from her fillyhood is a reminder that there is some magic that doesn't go away when you move from one stage of life to the next.
You take it with you wherever you go - it becomes a part of you.
Equestria is with us. Equestria is our home.
-Sprocket
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My Little Pony and the lessons of friendship, as well as the friends I’ve made by experiencing this show have and will always be a part of me. It changed the way I looked at my life and as you said, became a part of me that I carry with me always!
"she once was - to simpify - to go out"
"she once was - to simplify - to go out"?
Thank you for your thoughts and commentary, as usual; also, I don't remember whether I knew that story behind this episode and the song, so thank you for the information, too.