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| "The Discovery what app?" |
Sunday, 31 March 2019
EqG Mini-review: "Spring Breakdown"
Friday, 29 March 2019
Sounds of 2011: Number One!
Well, here we are at last. This is the song that made the top spot of Everfree Radio's 2011 Top 100. I'm honestly not sure how many people would have guessed that this would beat everything else – I certainly wouldn't. If you'd asked me to guess, I'd probably have gone for "Nightmare Night" – but that didn't quite make it and this did, so there y'go.
Yes, this is it. From Mic the Microphone's channel, here is the song that got more votes than any other. The original "Beyond Her Garden" was down at no. 53, with Silva Hound's remix at 34, but this one had popularity on another level. Why? Well... in all honesty, I don't know. Admittedly I'm not a rap fan, so I find it hard to judge the quality of the lyrics. They're quite well integrated with the original music, at least. I have a sneaking suspicion the reason for this being top may be little more than bronies of the day going, "Wow, these three guys together?!? Isn't that amazing?!? Let's vote for it!!!"
There's quite a lengthy explanation of the story behind the song in the video description, but in essence: Carrot Top has Earth Pony magic that lets her give life to barren land. She's burned as a witch but survives. Months later, outsiders who've heard of her return to "finish the job", but now the villagers are on her side. Nevertheless, Carrot Top gives herself up to prevent conflict. They really do burn her this time, but after the smoke has cleared a garden blooms in what remains of her house.
...yeah. That's the official explanation, courtesy of Mic himself. Can't say it exactly appeals to me, but oh well. I'm just here to report the chart as other people voted for it, and "Beyond Her Tomb" got the most support, so here it is at number one. If you want this at better-than-YouTube quality, then there's a 320k MP3 download in the video description. Oddly, there's a separate one for the lyrics; that's not something I've seen before. So we do at least end this series with something unusual.
Next time: You'll have to wait for "Sounds of 2012" for that! I will do it at some point, with a few tweaks to the format, but it won't be soon. If I remember, though, there will be another "Pony Music Library" entry before S9 gets going.
Yes, this is it. From Mic the Microphone's channel, here is the song that got more votes than any other. The original "Beyond Her Garden" was down at no. 53, with Silva Hound's remix at 34, but this one had popularity on another level. Why? Well... in all honesty, I don't know. Admittedly I'm not a rap fan, so I find it hard to judge the quality of the lyrics. They're quite well integrated with the original music, at least. I have a sneaking suspicion the reason for this being top may be little more than bronies of the day going, "Wow, these three guys together?!? Isn't that amazing?!? Let's vote for it!!!"
There's quite a lengthy explanation of the story behind the song in the video description, but in essence: Carrot Top has Earth Pony magic that lets her give life to barren land. She's burned as a witch but survives. Months later, outsiders who've heard of her return to "finish the job", but now the villagers are on her side. Nevertheless, Carrot Top gives herself up to prevent conflict. They really do burn her this time, but after the smoke has cleared a garden blooms in what remains of her house.
...yeah. That's the official explanation, courtesy of Mic himself. Can't say it exactly appeals to me, but oh well. I'm just here to report the chart as other people voted for it, and "Beyond Her Tomb" got the most support, so here it is at number one. If you want this at better-than-YouTube quality, then there's a 320k MP3 download in the video description. Oddly, there's a separate one for the lyrics; that's not something I've seen before. So we do at least end this series with something unusual.
Next time: You'll have to wait for "Sounds of 2012" for that! I will do it at some point, with a few tweaks to the format, but it won't be soon. If I remember, though, there will be another "Pony Music Library" entry before S9 gets going.
Wednesday, 27 March 2019
Ponyfic Roundup 243: It Says that They Liked Jousting
I could make some highly opinionated comment here on Brexit or Article 13 or something, but I'm not going to. Anyone who wants to know my political views probably already does, and I'm not going to inflict them on the rest of you. Well, not usually. This blog is staying rooted firmly in Equestria!
Read it Later story count: 266 (+1)
Thanks to a lot of work and some emergency painting (of the DIY type, not the artistic type) there are only two fics in today's Roundup, which only just qualifies it as a roundup at all. But off we go anyway.
My Full Sized Goddess Horse by PresentPerfect
Applejack's Day Off by 1Bit
★: 0 | ★★: 1 | ★★★: 1 | ★★★★: 0 | ★★★★★: 0
Note: I use a skewed rating system. A fic I find average scores two stars.
Read it Later story count: 266 (+1)
Thanks to a lot of work and some emergency painting (of the DIY type, not the artistic type) there are only two fics in today's Roundup, which only just qualifies it as a roundup at all. But off we go anyway.
My Full Sized Goddess Horse by PresentPerfect
Applejack's Day Off by 1Bit
★: 0 | ★★: 1 | ★★★: 1 | ★★★★: 0 | ★★★★★: 0
Note: I use a skewed rating system. A fic I find average scores two stars.
Monday, 25 March 2019
Sounds of 2011: Nos. 3 and 2
Time for the last-but-one instalment of this Everfree Radio 2011 Top 100 series! Just the two songs for you today, one of which is now much better known than the other in my experience. (Other people may have different ones, but they're not writing this. At least, not unless they're hypnotically mind-controlling me or something.)
This song is the one that's retained its popularity; I don't know whether it would score as high as this these days, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it well inside an all-time fandom top 20. WoodenToaster uploaded this just nine days after "Luna Eclipse" aired. Its rap sections are a bit on the inconsistent side: "She's gonna blow you all back with her Equestrian Voice" is a great line, but "With a royal farewell and an animate spell" is less so. The beat is very strong, though, the opening instrumental section is great and the track has heaps of energy. When Mic played this track at BUCK 2014, it was very well received. No HQ download, I'm afraid.
Sometimes subtitled "Lyra and Bon Bon", this is the first of the "Seasons" tracks that Jackle App made long ago. Unlike "Nightmare Night", this wouldn't get into an all-time most popular list today, which is a slight shame. It's about a pegasus who accepts L&B's hospitality after being injured in a flying accident. Even back then, the two mares were widely considered an item by the fandom, and the lyrics reflect that. Jackle App said he was going for a "cheesy, electropoppy sound" and wanted to make it sound a bit like Owl City. There's certainly a pretty strong resemblance there. You can buy this song in HQ on Jackle App's Bandcamp for a dollar.
Next time: We finally reach the end as Everfree Radio's top-rated brony song of 2011 is revealed!
This song is the one that's retained its popularity; I don't know whether it would score as high as this these days, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it well inside an all-time fandom top 20. WoodenToaster uploaded this just nine days after "Luna Eclipse" aired. Its rap sections are a bit on the inconsistent side: "She's gonna blow you all back with her Equestrian Voice" is a great line, but "With a royal farewell and an animate spell" is less so. The beat is very strong, though, the opening instrumental section is great and the track has heaps of energy. When Mic played this track at BUCK 2014, it was very well received. No HQ download, I'm afraid.
Sometimes subtitled "Lyra and Bon Bon", this is the first of the "Seasons" tracks that Jackle App made long ago. Unlike "Nightmare Night", this wouldn't get into an all-time most popular list today, which is a slight shame. It's about a pegasus who accepts L&B's hospitality after being injured in a flying accident. Even back then, the two mares were widely considered an item by the fandom, and the lyrics reflect that. Jackle App said he was going for a "cheesy, electropoppy sound" and wanted to make it sound a bit like Owl City. There's certainly a pretty strong resemblance there. You can buy this song in HQ on Jackle App's Bandcamp for a dollar.
Next time: We finally reach the end as Everfree Radio's top-rated brony song of 2011 is revealed!
Sunday, 24 March 2019
UK PonyCon ticket details announced!
Yesterday, the UK PonyCon staff announced the big detail we'd all been waiting for: tickets will go on sale at midday UK time on Saturday 13th April. Although you can't yet actually buy tickets, the actual tickets page has now been updated with 2019's details. There's one major change to the ticketing structure this year and the expected price rises, the most important of which I'll try to summarise below.
A Standard Adult Weekend ticket will cost £37. This is a £2 increase since last year, a little lower than I would have guessed. If you want a Supporter ticket (with your name in the con book, an exclusive badge and an extra donation to long-standing con charity the RDA), you'll pay a £10 premium, so your total cost will be £47. Again, that's just £2 up on 2018. Keeping these rises to a minimum may have been possible because of a large hike in the VIP ticket price, which now carries a £60 premium over Standard and is now a hefty £97, up £27 since last year. As VIP tickets sold out in 26 minutes in 2018, this is perhaps not surprising!
The VIP package has changed slightly for 2019, with the return of a con-exclusive plushie as part of the goodie pack the Britannia Seapony. The site doesn't say who made her; I'll try to remember to ask the UKPC people when I have the time. You'll also get the usual VIP bonuses: free con T-shirt and goodie bag, exclusive lanyard and badge (and maybe more), priority entry on both days, name in the con book, and so on and so forth.
The one notable change this year is the introduction of a Saturday Evening ticket. This allows access only to the evening entertainment (so last year that was EileMonty and co) and costs a flat £8. This is an interesting innovation and may appeal to people who are working during the day on Saturday so can't justify the £25 for a one-day ticket. (Sunday-only is £20.) If you're considering this ticket, bear in mind that the vendor stalls will be closed.
As usual, there are lower rates for children and saver rates for families – this is no surprise, but I think it's especially important for this convention, as it's the most family-friendly of the lot and needs to stay that way. For myself, although I had a VIP ticket last year I think it fairly unlikely I'll get one this time. Money is likely to be a bit tighter, especially if I choose to go to Griffish Isles too. The Supporter tier seems likely to be my choice in the end.
As always, pleased remember that this con has sold out for the last four years, often months in advance. That means you cannot buy a ticket on the door. I know this looks strange to many American readers, but believe me, the way US cons work really does not fully translate to the UK. Am I going? Well, yes, unless I really can't manage it at all. This is UK PonyCon. How could I not go? :)
A Standard Adult Weekend ticket will cost £37. This is a £2 increase since last year, a little lower than I would have guessed. If you want a Supporter ticket (with your name in the con book, an exclusive badge and an extra donation to long-standing con charity the RDA), you'll pay a £10 premium, so your total cost will be £47. Again, that's just £2 up on 2018. Keeping these rises to a minimum may have been possible because of a large hike in the VIP ticket price, which now carries a £60 premium over Standard and is now a hefty £97, up £27 since last year. As VIP tickets sold out in 26 minutes in 2018, this is perhaps not surprising!
The VIP package has changed slightly for 2019, with the return of a con-exclusive plushie as part of the goodie pack the Britannia Seapony. The site doesn't say who made her; I'll try to remember to ask the UKPC people when I have the time. You'll also get the usual VIP bonuses: free con T-shirt and goodie bag, exclusive lanyard and badge (and maybe more), priority entry on both days, name in the con book, and so on and so forth.
The one notable change this year is the introduction of a Saturday Evening ticket. This allows access only to the evening entertainment (so last year that was EileMonty and co) and costs a flat £8. This is an interesting innovation and may appeal to people who are working during the day on Saturday so can't justify the £25 for a one-day ticket. (Sunday-only is £20.) If you're considering this ticket, bear in mind that the vendor stalls will be closed.
As usual, there are lower rates for children and saver rates for families – this is no surprise, but I think it's especially important for this convention, as it's the most family-friendly of the lot and needs to stay that way. For myself, although I had a VIP ticket last year I think it fairly unlikely I'll get one this time. Money is likely to be a bit tighter, especially if I choose to go to Griffish Isles too. The Supporter tier seems likely to be my choice in the end.
As always, pleased remember that this con has sold out for the last four years, often months in advance. That means you cannot buy a ticket on the door. I know this looks strange to many American readers, but believe me, the way US cons work really does not fully translate to the UK. Am I going? Well, yes, unless I really can't manage it at all. This is UK PonyCon. How could I not go? :)
Friday, 22 March 2019
I am victorious!
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| You play as one of the Young Six |
It's possible I'll get round to writing a proper (albeit probably quite short) review of Pocket Ponies at some point, but for now you just get me bouncing around with happiness. I'm still playing, though, as I still haven't managed to get Fluttershy as one of my mystery box ponies!
Wednesday, 20 March 2019
Ponyfic Roundup 242: The Citadel of Chaos
I have before me a paperback called Reach for Tomorrow; it's a 1974 reissue of a 1956 collection of early Arthur C Clarke short stories. In his preface, Clarke says, "I wrote these stories to entertain one person—myself. It still seems a remarkable piece of good luck that other people have been entertained as well." Words to live by.
Read it Later story count: 265 (-3)
Another small collection of ponyfics today. Without further ado, adieu or even Agadoo, here they are:
Dragon Lord Ember Skips Work for an Hour by The Cloptimist
Twilight Discovers Literary Analysis by Amit
Late Fees by MrNumbers
★: 0 | ★★: 1 | ★★★: 1 | ★★★★: 1 | ★★★★★: 0
Note: I use a skewed rating system. A fic I find average scores two stars.
Read it Later story count: 265 (-3)
Another small collection of ponyfics today. Without further ado, adieu or even Agadoo, here they are:
Dragon Lord Ember Skips Work for an Hour by The Cloptimist
Twilight Discovers Literary Analysis by Amit
Late Fees by MrNumbers
★: 0 | ★★: 1 | ★★★: 1 | ★★★★: 1 | ★★★★★: 0
Note: I use a skewed rating system. A fic I find average scores two stars.
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