“We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders… and we’ll never stop the journey…” ~Cutie Mark Crusaders, 2011.
This quote captures the inspirational spark for Thunder Dash’s “Never Stop Pushing” – a tender, CMC-inspired lullaby. The CMC’s long journey to obtain their cutie-marks and find their destinies is one of the most inspiring storylines in MLP. No matter how long it took, no matter how many obstacles they had to face or what trials they had to overcome, the CMCs carried on in the face of adversity to find their true calling and help others along the way. In fact, it turns out that their destiny was, in fact, to help others. Isn’t that the shared destiny of us all? Although Thunder Dash’s gentle lullaby may seem incongruent with the forged-in-the-fire theme of perseverance, the idea of peaceful slumber does convey the idea of peace in the midst of life’s journey towards discovery. Soft piano and gentle ambient instrumentation in this piece send the clear message that perseverance is well worth the prize that comes at the end. When you refuse to quit even though you feel small and insignificant, you may one day discover that your light became the candle that sparked a bonfire for many.
Misc
Vanessa Hudgens – Gonna Be My Day (Childlike Wonder Remix) | Future Bass / Future Pop
It’s another G5 remix, and this time we have a wonderful track by Childlike Wonder! The track starts out right away with this lovely beat that pulls you right into the cheery atmosphere of the song. Then, as the vocals set in, we get an awesome melody that supports them really well. As we enter the build up, the vocals of Vanessa Hudgens are joined by the stunning voice of Childlike Wonder himself! Said build up is also supported by some vocal chops that really spice up the mix, and it’s mostly driven by the vocals similarly to the original song. The drop consists of two main parts: the first part showcases a perfect combination of Future Bass and Future Pop thanks to a beautiful instrumental section, while the second part combines the instrumental with more wonderful vocals by both Ms. Hudgens and Childlike Wonder. For the “Aaaaah”, which made the original really memorable, we actually don’t get much of a beat, which is a really fitting variation for the song. Right after that the beat comes back in full swing for another build up and a slightly different drop, which again works with some vocals from Childlike Wonder himself. We end this wonderful piece on a soothing piano melody.
Proofread by theCANderson, all the thanks to him!
L-Train – Unicorn Strut | Electro Swing
This song explains how to be a unicorn….in a funky way! L-Train has produced a lot of Electro Swing bangers lately, and this song is no exception! It uses vocal chops from the movie song “Fit Right in”, but it isn’t actually a remix–this is an original piece! The track starts out (as you might have expected) with a gorgeous melody, and then we quickly get the synth bass. As in L-Train’s last song, “Mi Amore”, the synth bass is very present in the track. After a bit of the amazing instrumental we get the first vocals, and at first the bass is the only thing accompanying them before other elements gradually join in. After concluding this part on some more of the amazing instrumental we come to my favourite part of the song: while the beat stays the same, we get a loop of the chops “a unicorn trots” and “our unicorn butts”, as the vocals move from one ear to the other. When they’re in the right ear, you hear “A unicorn trots”, and while they’re in your left ear you hear “our unicorn butts”. This is soon followed by an amazing guitar solo. We end on some more vocal parts followed closely by some more of the lovely instrumental.
This was proofread by theCANderson, big thanks to him!
TheHeatRush – Chromaticity | Pop Rock
chro·ma·tic·i·ty
/ˌkrōməˈtisədē/
- the quality of color, independent of brightness.
You want to talk to musicians ready and able to show their excitement about MLP G5. How about up and comer “The HeatRush” (I dig the OC from one dragon pony to another, LOL). Anyway, this song hits the ground running as you get the vibes that the pony bards and musicians of the modern Equestria are spreading stories already about Sunny Starscout’s feats. You could make the case that this song could be at the end G5 movie. Surprisingly enough, the song’s message is backed by a solid arrangement of positive and uplifting rock with lyrics inspired by G5’s mane 5, overcoming all of the lies, propaganda, racial stigma’s and conspiracy theories to bring back the magic for modern Equestria. Sometimes you need others that feel the way you do to inspire real change. As always, The Qilin asks you to judge for yourself. Let your colors burn bright like the title of this song!
EveryDayDashie – The My Little Pony Symphony | Orchestral
EveryDayDashie heralds the 40th anniversary of My Little Pony with this glorious orchestral piece! The artist makes frequent references to the show’s theme while splitting the song into different sections and varying the arrangement in each one in wonderful ways. The track opens with Overture, which has a classic, cinematic feel; the arrangement then takes on a more acoustic angle before becoming more brass-driven in Beginning of Friendship. A small piano interlude gives way to a marching drum section which ramps up into a full band arrangement in Marching Into Ponyville. Another piano guides the listener into a sparkling field of joyous instruments and urges them to Smile. Friendship Feud carries a delightful tension and intensity featuring some awesome electric guitar. A True True Friend is a blissful return to harmonious friendship, and the Finale is the sweet icing on this musical cake. Taken as a whole, it’s a wonderfully constructed tribute to the show that delights at every turn. Take a bow, EveryDayDashie!
Wooshy – Fit Right In (Cover) | Orchestral / Electro Swing
Okay, this is cool. Wooshy (better known for making slick PMVs) has taken this great song and made it sound like it’s playing out of the orchestra pit at a Broadway adaptation of the film (please, oh please make this a reality). The video plays through the original song followed by the adaptation as it runs through the sheet music score, and it’s a great way to see how Wooshy constructed their version. The energy from this arrangement is so uplifting, and it’s great to hear all the supporting percussive instruments add their depth and nuance to this piece. Kudos to the artist–I am super thankful that they decided to follow their muse on this journey!
Thunder Dash – Together In Unity | Piano Solo
In a beautiful call for a unified, loving Equestria and Earth, Thunder Dash, one of the fandom’s absolute champions of positivity, has composed this wonderful piano piece. It’s a touching tribute to the spirit of G5 and the MLP values, and I got some nice Bill Withers vibes while listening, recalling for me another great song about love and solidarity. This song is definitely its own thing, though, and Thunder Dash’s piano work has some really nice melodic progressions that seem to acknowledge the complexities of the world and the difficulty of unifying it even if it would create an obviously better world. In the end, the beautiful hope and heart of this song shines through, urging the listener to work towards a better future no matter the difficulties.
SpinScissor – No More Apologies | Midtempo / Alternate Electronic
SpinScissor is honing the unique emotion in his songs even more through practice of the magic that is music, and this new release might just be a new peak! The emotional melodies throughout that incredible progression certainly resonated with me, while the heartfelt vocals are telling the commitment to newfound meanings explained in the description. Ethereal and magical, the piece will take you to higher planes!
char – Any Fuss | Alternate Electronic
Indubitably among the best and most emotional pony songs ever written in my eyes, char’s tribute released on the 10th anniversary of SGaP’s music is a commitment to the cultural preservation of such pony vocal chops-powered pieces of magic that call upon our Passion. With a progression reflecting Starlight’s character depth and a masterful composition that evokes emotion so well, the song is nothing short of breathtaking, and a gem you don’t want to sleep on!
RedSpark – Phoenix Rising | Epic Orchestral
Phoenixes are unquestionably some of the most dazzling mythical beings portrayed in the MLP universe, and RedSpark’s “Phoenix Rising” pays homage to these compelling creatures with inspired musical story telling. The piece is initially subdued, not immediately throwing the listener into an epic battle, but rather, creating a slow crescendo with strings, horns, and powerful drums that slowly build to epic heights. Later on, the climactic moment drops to a steady pace complimented by faint vocals in the background. Towards the end of the piece, the instruments recede to feature only the vocals in the forefront. However, the powerful drumbeats and the horns soon return to achieve a final epic triumph. Though, overall, the piece is somewhat subdued in nature, strong emotional overtones resonate through every instrument, creating a truly inspiring vibe throughout the track from start to finish. Enjoy this first track from RedSpark’s upcoming new album; it’s a tasty intro of the good things to come!
Horse Music Herald 