Sounds of 2012: Nos. 6 to 4

And we're back! It's getting very near the end, as the Beatles once sang. There are no Beatles songs in Everfree Radio's fan-voted Top 100 tracks from 2012, but the bronies of seven years ago did vote for some numbers that have very much stood the test of time. Just three of them in today's post, then two next time and the Number One song in the last of all. A quick reminder of the inclusion rules:

Rule 1: Still available in the same or (1b) similar form direct from the artist
Rule 2: Available from a third party, with reason to believe the artist is fine with this
Rule 3: So famous that it would be plain silly to leave it out
Rule 4: Being unlisted is not, on its own, grounds for exclusion

06: ponyphonic – Lullaby for a Princess
05: Tsyolin Befriends WoodenToaster – WoodenOverture
04: Forest Rain – Join the Herd

As usual, there's a bit more on each song, including an embedded YouTube video containing the track, after the break. Come with me!

06: ponyphonic – Lullaby for a Princess

Rule 1: uploaded to YouTube 18 Sep 2012
This ponyphonic ballad is a heartbreaking lament by Celestia, who sings about how much she loves her sister, how much she regrets what happened to Luna and how she wishes she hadn't been "so blind". While I often find "It was all my fault" Celestia songs slightly irritating (as I don't think it was!) this one is so beautiful that I can't resist it. The vocalist's name is given simply as "Christina", but whoever she is she has a gorgeous voice. Many people will have encountered this song via WarpOut's stunning 2015 animation, which now has over 34 million views – although in keeping with this series' approach, the version embedded above is the audio-only one on ponyphonic's channel. A high-quality remastered version of the song is available for $1 on ponyphonic's Bandcamp.

05: Tsyolin Befriends WoodenToaster – WoodenOverture

Rule 1: uploaded to YouTube 7 Apr 2012
This Tsyolin piece is, as you might guess from its name, an instrumental largely made up of orchestral versions of some of WoodenToaster's biggest hits. We get sections for "Nightmare Night", "Rainbow Factory", "Beyond Her Garden"... and a song called "Bréige Pinkie", a name of which I'd never even heard until now, and which has no YouTube hits but this video, but which seems to be an earlier/discarded title for "Pinkie's Lie". ("Bréige" is Irish for "lie".) The arrangement isn't at all bad, especially for the era, and the links between the songs are pretty smooth. Though it's very obviously electronic instruments playing here, I think the whole thing does a solid job. There's a link in the video description to a Soundcloud version, but this is only downloadable if you're logged in at SC.

04: Forest Rain – Join the Herd

Rule 1: uploaded to YouTube 11 Mar 2012
Another Forest Rain classic here, but listen carefully as this gets complicated! The version embedded above is the original "Pop Vocals" version, but a few days later Forest Rain released a rockier version with slightly tougher vocals and guitar. The version you'll probably hear most these days, though, is the 2014 remaster – and I think it is the best. The song itself is a parody of The Offspring's "You're Gonna Go Far Kid", or more accurately of that song's nightcore version, which was itself used as the music for this hugely popular early Rainbow Dash PMV by TheSlutFox (recently renamed Zab). Still with me? Yay! Have a biscuit. As for Forest Rain's track? Well, it's the admittedly simplistic story of a Pony sceptic being converted to a fan after giving the show a chance. "Ponies aren't just for girls" isn't perhaps the greatest line, but there's lots here to enjoy; I especially like "Think, brony, think, everything in here is pink!" The song is available in HQ, but as far as I can see you can't buy it singly. It's available as part of the My Little Pop-Punk Pony album for the rather steep (if you just want this one song, fine as it is) price of $7. Still, if that's for you, head for Forest Rain's Bandcamp.