Ranking the Pinkie Pie Songs (From Worst to Best)

Pinkie Pie boasts the most songs out of any mane six/seven/eight character with a whopping 26! And that's not counting group songs. Naturally, some are better than others, but determining which ones are good and which ones are bad (if any) is not easy. Like with my Rarity songs list, I'm considering how these songs work as a character representation for Pinkie in addition to how good (or bad) a song they are. And as always, this is purely the result of my personal opinion so please respect it.

26. Piggy Dance (Baby Cakes)
Why it's on the bottom: It's a song so bad it makes babies cry. I have no idea why this song exists or why it was put into the episode. It doesn't even work as a joke for subverting expectations, they most definitely weren't expecting "The Smile Song" to get leaked ahead of time. Really, why not just have Pinkie bounce around like a pig normally? It would achieve the same effect in the end, getting her to covered with flour. This is so low effort it hurts!

25. You Gotta Share, You Gotta Care (Over A Barrel)
Why it's not on the bottom: At least thing song doesn't insult your intelligence or assault your eardrums, not that that makes it much of an improvement. This song painfully spoon feeds the moral for the episode, and the joke is supposed to be that the song is so bad it makes both sides ignore the message. But if that's the case then Shanon Chan-Kent did a little too good of a job and made the song sound better than it actually was. I don't even know why the reprise was snuck in, it's not funny.

24. You're a Cranky Doodle Donkey (A Friend in Deed)
Why it's third to last: This song is just lazily ponyfiying the musical reference in Cranky's name. Practically anyone could do it. It's easy to just take a public domain song and rework it a little. They do lampshade this coming out of nowhere later on in the episode, but like every other song in the episode it just pauses the story and accomplishes nothing of substance (except for one song we'll see later on). This song could've been cut and nothing of substance would've been lost, we already had two "Random songs out of nowhere" from Pinkie Pie so we didn't need another one.

23. Cranky Doodle Joy (A Friend in Deed)
Why it's not third to last: It feels like they didn't know how to end the episode, so they just threw this in to chew up the last couple of seconds. I mean, it's kind of funny when Pinkie gets told off for her loud singing, but it also kind of confuses the moral and makes it look like Pinkie Pie might have already forgotten what she just learned. At least it's an original song, not that that's saying much.

22. I'm At The Grand Galloping Gala (The Best Night Ever)
Why it's in the bottom five: Instead of "Yankey Doodle Dandy", this song is set to the tune of "For He's/She's a Jolly Good Fellow". It comes out of nowhere and just serves to get Pinkie more or less told off for her singing. Except we would get that anyway with another song in the same episode. Really, what did this song accomplish outside of a quick joke? It doesn't help that Pinkie already did a lot of these little songs throughout Season 1, so this one just sort of blended in with most of the others.

21. A Hop, Skip and Jump (Dragonshy)
Why it's not in the bottom five: If it was just the song as it was in the episode it would be alright, pretty harmless. None of the songs so far have really told us anything about Pinkie Pie or done anything to shed light on her character. This song kind of works with her wanting to encourage Fluttershy, but you could cut it and we wouldn't lose anything of substance since the joke comes afterward. But for whatever reason, this song was chosen to be the first ever extended song on the soundtrack. I don't see how they thought they could flesh it out, the song itself sums up everything: It's a simple three step plan, do as the song suggests. The extended version drags this song way down.

20. Evil Enchantress (Bridle Gossip)
Why it's so low: First and foremost, I think we can all agree that the Flutterguy reprise with its smooth jazz is definitely the superior version of this song, especially with how bored Flutterguy sounds while singing it. Putting that aside, this is perhaps the first song that Andrea Libman sang herself rather than have Shanon Chan-Kent fill in for her. But this is kind of OOC for Pinkie Pie, singing a song about evil and nasty Zecora is just because of the rumors about her. Considering we already had Pinkie trying to look for the good in Gilda and even the red scaled dragon, her being this unfriendly towards Zecora to the point of making up a song just to describe how "evil" she is makes Pinkie Pie look like a hypocrite. And it doesn't help the episode's implications with the way Zecora is treated, given how zebras are native to Africa and you can probably figure out the rest.

19. Coinky-Dink World (Equestria Girls: Summertime Shorts)
Why it's not higher: It's kind of weird that human Pinkie Pie only got one song to herself throughout the enterity of the Equestria Girls franchise. Given how often pony Pinkie was singing throughout the seasons, you'd think her human counterpart would get more. But my guess is they were saving Shanon Chan-Kent for the movie and for her role as Smolder in Seasons 8 and 9. Anyway, this song is all about human Pinkie being a shipper for these two random human characters we haven't seen before, and to my knowledge we don't see again. The song is all about how there's strange coincidences that make these two right for each other, but I don't know if this was a song that called for Pinkie. This feels more like something you'd expect from Rarity. It being the only song from human Pinkie Pie is what puts it higher than it would be otherwise.

18. The Pony Pokey (The Best Night Ever)
Why it's in the bottom ten: The last of the "public domain" Pinkie Pie songs, this one is set to the tune of (unsurprisingly) "The Hokey Pokey". What might be most interesting is how Pinkie's lines match up with what's happening to each of her friends, either intentionally or unintentionally. It's not clear if that's how the song goes or if Pinkie somehow knows what's going on and is changing the lines to match her friends' situations. But it's the visuals, particularly in regard to Octavia the cello player that stand out. The way she reacts to Pinkie led to fandom speculation that she was one of the Pie sisters shown in Pinkie's flashback (despite her not actually resembling Marble Pie due to having a different eye color). Still, it being a public domain song does cost it some points. But of the bunch, it's probably the best.

17. Rappin' History of The Wonderbolts (Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3)
Why it's low: This does technically count as a song, even if it's more of a rap number. It's wearing its 90's style right on its sleeves, even down to the grainy feel of a VHS tape. As I mentioned in my review of the episode this comes from, the actual inspiration is an obscure PSA called "Don't Copy That Floppy". A weird choice for inspiration but hey, if it works it works. How much you like rap songs in general will probably affect how you feel about this song. As it is, it's not as bad as some rap songs in kids media (or most rap songs nowadays). But there's not much to it, and it raises the question of how Pinkie Pie knows the history of the Wonderbolts yet Rainbow Dash doesn't. Yeah, maybe Pinkie picked up a thing or two from some of her pegasus friends, but her learning the entire history from them or even just from Fluttershy seems sketchy. If it weren't Rainbow Dash learning the moral, it would make more sense for Pinkie to know this because they could handwave it as Rainbow telling her this.

16. The Ticket Song/Twilight is My Bestest Friend (The Ticket Master)
Why it's not higher: One of two Pinkie Pie songs from what was supposed to be the show's pilot originally, this one is pretty much what it says on the tin: Pinkie Pie throws a random celebration for Twilight in the hopes of getting her to give her extra gala ticket to Pinkie. The visuals sell it more than the lyrics, particularly with Twilight's impatience and frustration at this painfully obvious attempt at buttering her up. Oddly enough, some of the lyrics were used in a Hub promo with Dan vs., which I guess counts for something.

15. The Gala Song/The Best Place for Me (The Ticket Master)
Why it's higher than it should be: The visuals aren't the most interesting, but it makes sense for Pinkie Pie to see the gala as being like a carnival or a traveling circus, complete with all the usual sideshow attractions. It wouldn't be so bad if this song wasn't being used as Pinkie's entire motivation for wanting to attend the gala: It boils down to "Just because" which is a very flimsy justification that gives her no goal besides going to said gala. Oddly enough, the last line involves "galaxy" which is one of only two times in the entire show that outer space is at all mentioned. It's fine for what it is but it could've and should've been more.

14. Make a Wish (Pinkie Pride)
Why it's in the bottom half: "Pinkie Pride" had already almost certainly taxed Shanon Chan-Kent's singing chords to the limit, so it makes sense they would use autotune for this song in order to let her rest her vocal chords. It kind of feels like it's channeling "Love Is In Bloom", a pop song to be used for a celebration: In this case a birthday party. It's pretty short though, probably the shortest of all the songs in the episode. It's still enjoyable, but every other song in "Pinkie Pride" pretty much outshines it. I am aware that Pinkie has lines in both of Cheese Sandwich's character songs, but those don't count as songs that she sings even if she does sing.

13. The Welcome Song (A Friend in Deed)
Why it's in the top half: This feels right at home for Pinkie, a song to go along with a welcome wagon. It's also one of the ones where Andrea Libman and not Shanon Chan-Kent is singing. It doesn't initially look like it'll accomplish much, and we have to wait until the song ends to get to the next plot point. But this song is harmless and feels more in line with what we could expect from Pinkie Pie's character. Plus, it's an original song. Other than that, it is what it says on the tin. Short songs like this don't give you much to talk about.

12. Apples To The Core (Pinkie Apple Pie)
Why it's not in the top ten: It's a really good song, which is part of what elevates it above some other contenders. If this was ranking the songs purely on an entertainment and even musical level, it would be a lot higher. However, I have to consider how this song functions as a Pinkie Pie song. And she only gets one verse, her singing how much she loves her new family with the Apples. It's fine, and I'm pretty sure she's part of the chorus by the end. But this really isn't her song, this is the Apple family's song with Pinkie just so happening to be part of the action. Even in the reprise she's just singing with the family, nothing really stands out for her. If she got more verses and more of a role in the song, it would probably be in the top ten or even the top five.

11. Pinkie's Singing Telegram (Party of One)
Why it's just outside the top ten: We've almost cleared the short Pinkie Pie songs she used to sing so often. Pinkie Pie as a singing telegram is believable and enjoyable. But it's kind of odd that she could run out of energy doing the same routine for each of her five friends. It's probably the only time we ever see her truly exhausted. The episode doesn't open up on it, but it is the first thing of substance to happen in it. The fandom definitely made the most of this one though, even giving it a Berry Punch rendention called "Drunken Telegram" that manages to keep pace with the original tone and tempo.

10. Happy Monthaversary (Baby Cakes)
Why it's in the top ten: Short but sweet sums it up perfectly. It's harmless and enjoyable. This should've been the only song in "Baby Cakes". The "Sneezeaversary" in "It Isn't The Mane Thing About You" was probably intended to be a call back to this, how no milestone is too insignificant for Pinkie Pie to celebrate. There really isn't anything else I can say about this one, aside from it being yet another example of Pinkie using cartoon physics and cartoon logic: In this case popping out of a birthday cake that she should be way too small for.

9. The Laughter Song/Giggle at the Ghosty (Friendship is Magic, Part 2: Elements of Harmony)
Why it's so high: Interestingly enough, there is (or at least was) a video of this song without accompanying music and it sounded just as good. In fact, without music, the joke that this song opens up on is a lot better. This song is all about Pinkie Pie literally laughing in the face of danger, and teaching the others to do the same. For not just the first song in the entire show but also the first Pinkie Pie song, it's a good showcase of her character and how cheerful she is. But it only shows off one side of herself, it would take time for other songs to show us what Pinkie was really all about. Also, it's a shame we never learned more about "Granny Pie" or "Nana Pinkie" (not sure if they're meant to be the same character or not), not even in flashbacks.

8. It's Gonna Work (Spice Up Your Life)
Why it's high up: Pinkie Pie shows off her best a lot more than Rarity does in this song. She rightfully realizes The Tasty Treat is unique and should be promoted as such, that adhering to Zesty's standards is a losing avenue. That's a conclusion any sane individual would come to after seeing Restaurant Row. The only problem is that Pinkie is obviously not the kind of pony who could sell a location like The Tasty Treat to Canterlot, especially not with her determination to stand out from the crowd. About the only thing to dislike is her instance that you should never change. "Be Yourself" is where the moral begins but not where it ends, you can always improve in some way, shape or form. Nothing stays the same forever, love it or hate it change comes all the same. Also, her bouncing around like a pig is a call back we didn't need.

7. One Small Thing (My Little Pony: The Movie (2017))
Why it's not in the top five: Of course the big movie would have a Pinkie Pie song. And of all the songs in the movie this one is undoubtibley the best, only truly rivaled by "Open Up Your Eyes". This is where the visuals were at their peak, even if this song is clearly channeling "Under The Sea" from Disney's The Little Mermaid. Even as the rest of the mane six (minus Twilight) join in, this song mostly remains Pinkie Pie and Princess Skystar's song and it never lets up. Twilight was more right than she might have realized when she said Pinkie could cram a lifetime of fun into just a few minutes. It's the classic case of a distraction working better than anticipated, although in this case it's not the one doing the distraction that ends up in trouble. However, it's kind of odd that all of Seaquestria joins in on this song at the end completely out of the blue (aside from Queen Novo, but she comes around pretty quickly).

6. The Last Laugh/Stick With Cheese (The Last Laugh)
Why it's just outside the top five: This is more Cheese Sandwich's song than Pinkie Pie's, but Pinkie has a pretty powerful presence throughout as a source of encouragement. It further adds to the shipping fuel that was already present with "Cheese Confesses", Pinkie Pie compliments Cheese in a way that no one else could. By the end, Pinkie has brought out the best in Cheese and is right there with him to celebrate his return. Still, since Pinkie is more of a side character here, this song can't quite justify being in the top five.

5. The Goof Off (Pinkie Pride)
Why it's in the top five: Definitely the biggest in production value for "Pinkie Pride", and also the only song in the episode where Andrea Libman is singing rather than Shanon Chan-Kent. I imagine a song like this would've been too much for Shanon on top of her other singing assignments in the episode. Yes, Cheese Sandwich is a big part of this song too, it's a musical showdown between him and Pinkie Pie to try to impress Rainbow Dash. It's the classic case of two characters trying to outdo the other at something, to prove that they alone are the best. The lyrics are probably kind of out there, but they work well for Pinkie to demonstrate just what she's capable of. And the little bit of Spanish near the end is surprising, yet it plays into the central theme of the episode since the lyrics are about not losing faith (though it does lose a few points for being set to the same rhythm and melody as the Can Can song).

4. Pinkie's Present (A Hearth's Warming Tale)
Why it's not in the top three: It's probably just part of the story given how it ends with a joke about Twilight "doing your Pinkie Pie voice" (an inside joke about how Tara was originally going to play Pinkie Pie), but it still counts as a Pinkie Pie song since she is playing the character who sings the song. Though not the first Spirit/Ghost of Christmas Present to have a song (that honor belongs to the one from Muppets Christmas Carol), Pinkie Pie still fits the character like a glove and sings the song so well. It's surprising in a good way that they went for a swinging, jazzy, big band kind of approach with this song given that the genre is practically dead. But hey, if it works it works. You know it's good when we get an instrumental reprise of this song in the credits for the episode it's part of. I know most people say "Luna's Future" was the best song of the episode, but for me "Pinkie's Present" will always beat it out.

3. Pinkie the Party Planner (Pinkie Pride)
Why it's in the top three: It's the first song of "Pinkie Pride", which shows considerable restraint when the episode neither begins on or ends on a song unlike other musical episodes of the show. And this song is not unlike "Hellfire" from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. By that I mean they put the musical score accompanying it into the soundtrack, and have it repeat throughout the story. We do get treated to a reprise where Cheese Sandwich joins in, but it's the original version that stands out. Admittedly, the song doesn't tell us much aside from the fact that Pinkie is planning a party. However, it's done so well you can't help but enjoy it. It also seems to be channeling "Belle" from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, it's the kind of song where the character is singing while going about their day in the town or city where they live. And Diamond Tiara is the master of the backhanded (or I guess backhoofed in this case) compliment. This is a showcase of Pinkie at her being in her chosen profession, but the only real showcase of her character is when she says at the beginning "Every single day there's something new", indicating her worldview: There's always something to celebrate.

2. The Smile Song/Smile, Smile, Smile (A Friend in Deed)
Why it's not on the top: It really was going to come down to this song versus the one that you can probably figure out by process of elimination. Both are extremely important to Pinkie Pie's character, both are her "I Am" songs that describe her character and sum up what she's all about. This song was so good it became the first ever song in the show to be leaked ahead of time (just the song, not the episode it was part of). And it's also the first one we got to hear a demo alternative version of, when Amy Keating Rogers sang it at a convention. This song explains what drives Pinkie in life, a desire to bring happiness to others no matter what. All she asks for in return is a smile, a sincere smile at that. However, this isn't the first time a character in any media has had this particular motivation or goal. Plus, the episode this song is in involves just pausing the story. Narratively speaking, it would be much stronger if it came at the climax of the episode, after Pinkie has successfully cheered Cranky up. So ultimately, it just loses out.

1. Pinkie's Lament (Pinkie Pride)
Why it's on the top: It starts out depressing and sad, but ultimately ends on a triumphant note. This song is a lot like its biggest competition in that it sums up and explains Pinkie Pie's goal and motivation in life. But this song goes a bit further, delves into territory that "Smile, Smile, Smile" only briefly touched on with the lines: "It's true, some days are dark and lonely. And maybe you feel sad. But Pinkie will be there to show you that it isn't that bad." It's not something Pinkie does out of a mere satisfaction, or a genuine desire. She sees it as her life's purpose, to bring joy and happiness to others no matter what and without even a thought to her own self worth. In a way, this song paints Pinkie Pie as a tragic character, not unlike a sad clown: Destined and determined to bring happiness to others, even if she herself is incapable of being happy. Her own wants and needs are not important to her even if they should be. This song coming at Pinkie's lowest point in life also gives it a sense of working through the pain. That Pinkie is forcing herself to keep going, to find work elsewhere rather than give herself time to grieve and feel sorry. And as anyone who's ever dealt with grief or depression will rightfully tell you, it's important that we don't neglect our needs and wants even if we feel no one will care. We need to give ourselves time to grieve and feel sad, because if we don't it's only going to make things worse. It's interesting that both this and "Smile, Smile, Smile" came from the same author: Amy Keating Rogers. Taken together, they are basically the "How to" guide for writing Pinkie Pie properly. And visually, this song was the peak of the show's animation. The shot of Pinkie standing outside her bedroom window and looking down at Ponyville was never topped. Heck, it feels like "The Pony I Wanna Be" borrowed a lot of inspiration from this song, even down to having its sad character stand on a bridge and look down at their own reflection. So to me, this is not only the best Pinkie Pie song but also the best song in the entire show. Even "Smile, Smile, Smile" doesn't come close.

And there you have it. Come back tomorrow when we'll take a look at and rank all the Fluttershy songs.

Comments

[Foal Star]

You gotta share almost caused a war between Applelossa and the Buffalos so not surprised it was only the second to worst.

[RainbowSparkle3]

The shot of Pinkie standing outside her bedroom window and looking down at Ponyville was never topped.

Do you mean this?
qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-9ec38d275facfc0a990e835672b1f7d0
Cause I mean, it's a really great shot, but what about it makes it the VERY best out of the thousands of amazing shots in the show?