Some of the pony that might possibly be fit to print
Friday 6 November 2020
Sounds of 2013, nos. 14 to 11
Time to get back to Everfree Radio's Top 100 of 2013, as voted for by its listeners at the time. As ever, here are the criteria that guide my decision as to whether to include a track – although from here on up, Rule 3 would apply to everything even in the absence of any other reasons.
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
Down to four songs this week (and indeed next time too) as the tension starts to mount! What will be number one? That will have to wait a little bit yet, but for now we have:
14: Foozogz – Make It Special (Reflection Mix) 13:Sand Josieph – Mother Changeling 12: AcoustiMandoBrony – Generosity 11: Claire Anne Carr – Magical Mystery Cure Rock!
After the break you'll find YouTube embeds of the songs in question, as well as a briefish bit of rambling from yours truly. I'll also mention higher-quality downloads if I know they're available somewhere.
Foozogz was one of the leading lights of the brony music scene in its earlier years, and unlike many musicians of that era is still active in the fandom. Indeed, an updated remix of this song was released last year for a Ponies@Dawn album. The 2013 version, which was nostalgic even then, is a cheerful bit of synthiness that includes plenty of samples from S1 of FiM. The "Reflection" name is well chosen, given the song's mirror-pond-like feel at times. An accomplished track from an accomplished artist. There's a 320k MP3 linked from the video description, or for even higher quality pay $1 on Foozogz' Bandcamp. As a fun aside, this is on an album called I Have A Red N' Black OC. :P
Here we have a great little track by Sand Josieph, who didn't make that many Pony songs but did create some real classics. Well, maybe the track isn't so little, as it's well over six minutes long – but it's certainly great. It's sung by Chrysalis, reassuring her hive that despite their defeat in Canterlot, they will return stronger and win the day in the end. After a quietly ominous instrumental intro, the music is pretty much "Habenera" from Carmen, but this is so much more than just another parody. The instrumentation, vocals and arrangement are all excellent. Pick it up in HQ on a name-your-price basis on Sand Josieph's Bandcamp.
Another of the "Elements" collaborations between Acoustic Brony (now Re:Make) and MandoPony, this is unsurprisingly Rarity's song. It's very string-heavy, with a soft and stylish sound that suits its subject very nicely. Back when this was new, I heard Acoustic Brony play it acoustically at BUCK 2013, and that version sounded lovely in a real concert hall. This is never going to be as well known as "Loyalty", but it may actually be better from a musical point of view. Additional vocals from EileMonty never hurt, do they? You can get both 320k MP3 and WAV versions from the video description. (And on a related note, anyone know whether those "#elements2020" teasers from Re:Make a few months ago are going to come to anything?)
Claire Anne Carr used to be very well known for rock versions of Pony songs, both fandom and official, and this one is quite a hulking one, weighing in at almost 14 minutes! As that length may suggest, it's a medley of all the songs used in the S3 finale. Not really full remixes, more the original show songs with rock instrumentation added on top of the original vocals. Some work better than others, with "What My Cutie Mark is Telling Me" being a highlight but "I've Got to Find a Way" a little less successful. Inevitably it goes on a bit, but overall it is an enjoyable experience. Get this in HQ on the Sheer Pony Attack album, available as a name-your-price download on Claire Anne Carr's Bandcamp.
That one bothers me, I like the remix of Make It Special less than the original, I'm not a big fan of Claire Ann Carr, and though that Rarity song is honestly really good, it's by Mando and he's bad now. :(
One reason I was curious as to whether the "Elements 2020" thing had got anywhere yet.
Mind you, the show itself uses a brief bit of Wagner, and he was an absolutely appalling man. So was Lovecraft, come to that. In different ways of course, and the fact both are long buried makes a difference, but still.
I hate how much that song sounds like the Habanera while not actually being the Habanera. x.x This is honestly a rough patch if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteReally? I'd always thought "Mother Changeling" was hugely popular. Ah well, maybe I'm just strange. Or you are. Or both. :P
DeleteThat one bothers me, I like the remix of Make It Special less than the original, I'm not a big fan of Claire Ann Carr, and though that Rarity song is honestly really good, it's by Mando and he's bad now. :(
DeleteOne reason I was curious as to whether the "Elements 2020" thing had got anywhere yet.
DeleteMind you, the show itself uses a brief bit of Wagner, and he was an absolutely appalling man. So was Lovecraft, come to that. In different ways of course, and the fact both are long buried makes a difference, but still.