# My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - General Discussion \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438 "2011-07-26T22:27:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/221 "2011-08-12T22:18:30Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I’m a fan of Giggle at the Ghostly, Art of the Dress, and Cupcakes in that order. > > (Apparently Art of the Dress is a takeoff of Putting it Together from Sundays in the Park with George by Sondheim. I dunno if all the songs are based on other songs but I liked Art of the Dress more than Putting it Together.) “At the Gala” is more Sondheim. It’s a takeoff of the song “Ever After” from _Into The Woods_. Far as I’m aware, though, everything else is original. I would swear Applejack’s part during Winter Wrap-Up was something familiar (I keep wanting to say like Dave Matthews or something, but I know that can’t be right), but nothing else has been identified by The Internet. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/222 "2011-08-12T22:24:48Z")
I love Sweetie Belle’s rendition of Hush Now, Quiet Now. And Fluttershy’s version of Pinkie Pie’s song about Zecora (“She’s an evil enchantress…”) ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/223 "2011-08-12T22:36:55Z")
Definitely the Winter Wrap-up song. I get chills on Twilight’s solo everytime. “I wanna belong So I must do my best today Do my best today” ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/224 "2011-08-13T00:18:47Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Anypony have a favorite song? I’m partial to Winter wrap-up, myself. _Art of the Dress_, and the start of Rainbow Dash’s bit in _At The Gala_. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/225 "2011-08-13T03:26:37Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Anypony have a favorite song? I’m partial to Winter wrap-up, myself. _Art of the Dress_, it is perfectly sung and I like the message. I loved Rainbow dash’s part in \*At the Gala \* ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/226 "2011-08-13T03:28:07Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > _Art of the Dress_, and the start of Rainbow Dash’s bit in _At The Gala_. uncanny ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/227 "2011-08-14T22:40:55Z")
For me, “Winter Wrap-up”. Note to self: do not ready Brony threads without earworm remedy at hand. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/228 "2011-08-14T22:46:44Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > For me, “Winter Wrap-up”. > > Note to self: do not ready Brony threads without earworm remedy at hand. Winter Wrap-Up, Winter Wrap-Up! Let’s finish our holiday cheer~ Winter Wrap-Up, Winter Wrap-Up! 'Cause tomorrow Spring is here, 'Cause tomorrow Spring is here! You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/229 "2011-08-15T15:55:16Z")
“Art of the Dress” wins it for me. The singer for Rarity has a great voice, and the melodic reference to [the Sondheim piece](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg2YCUzuG-s) fits the theme of art vs commerce perfectly. “Art of the Dress” presents a surprisingly complex take on a very “adult” question (and slyly comments on the production of the show itself), but presented in a way that children can understand. It encapsulates everything great about MLP:FiM in four awesomely catchy minutes. _All we ever want is indecision All we really like is what we know Gotta balance style with adherence, Making sure we make a good appearance Even if you simply have to fudge it Make sure that it stays within our budget!_ “Winter Wrap Up” comes in second. The lyrics aren’t quite as on-point as for “Art of the Dress,” but the music more than makes up for it (and there are still plenty of great lines). I particularly love Rainbow Dash’s part - and that sequence during the reprise when the pegasus ponies blast through the snowstorm is an awe-inspiring, Disney-esque merging of music and animation. And of course, for pure comedic value, you can’t beat Flutterguy’s N’awlins rendition of “Evil Enchantress.” ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/230 "2011-08-15T17:00:54Z")
Tan, Art of the dress has to be number 1 or 2. It almost makes me like Rarity. What’s the adult question being addressed in that song? When does the second season air? Has Hasbro planned some stuff for bronies? ---
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/231 "2011-08-15T17:15:10Z")
I really enjoy the remixes. After a quick Youtube search, here are some of the ones I like: PinkiePieSwear - Giggle at the Ghostly (Simple Joy Mix) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZQYqPo4NDXQ/hqdefault.jpg "Giggle at the Ghostly (Simple Joy Mix)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQYqPo4NDXQ) JackleApp - Giggle at the Ghostly (Ponyhouse Mix) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/x0nWX2U-6Og/maxresdefault.jpg "Giggle at the Ghostly") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0nWX2U-6Og) JackleApp - Cupcakes Yay! Cupcakes! (Flutterpie mix) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gRgDHz3jo4w/maxresdefault.jpg "Yay! Cupcakes!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRgDHz3jo4w) AllicornUK - PMV: Evil Enchantress (Allicorn’s Abra-ca-zebra Mix) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRlAAUWr3Dg) WoodenToaster - Pinkie’s Lie (MLP FiM Remix) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PLjpTtxH4Jo/hqdefault.jpg "WoodenToaster - Pinkie's Lie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLjpTtxH4Jo) ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/232 "2011-08-15T18:02:29Z")
Two remixes I really like: [Rainbow Dash Likes Girls (Stay Gay, Pony Girl)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcjso2HmQqo&feature=related) [Rainbow Dash Likes Colts (Stay Straight, Pony Girl)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sok8KPWmT84&feature=related) These aren’t remixes of one particular song. They take bits of lots of different Pony-related songs and sounds and stir them into new music. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/233 "2011-08-15T18:44:02Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Tan, > > Art of the dress has to be number 1 or 2. It almost makes me like Rarity. > > What’s the adult question being addressed in that song? The conflict between a working artist and her clients. Does the artist maintain her vision/ integrity at the possible expense of her livelihood, or does she compromise for the sake of sales? Is it her job to follow her client’s exact wishes, or is there room for creativity and personal flair? It’s never as simple as “artists are paid to do what the client wants” versus “never sell out ever.” Real artists have to deal with these conundrums all the time, and the writers and animators of MLP:FiM are no exception. For example, Lauren Faust intended Celestia to be a “queen” as befits a head of state, but Hasbro insisted she be a “princess” because it sells better to little girls. Since the distinction doesn’t really matter from a character or storytelling standpoint, Faust agreed to make Celestia a princess. A contrasting example would be most of the rest of the show: it’s Faust’s singular artistic vision, after all, that made FiM into far more than the soppy dreck that comprises most animation for young girls. These are complicated questions with no easy answers. And the very topic of artistic integrity versus commercial viability is, generally speaking, way above the pay grade of your average preteen MLP viewer. “Art of the Dress” does a beautiful job of conveying the battle between the two conflicting sides at a level understandable by anyone, without dumbing anything down or any air of condescension. That it also serves as biting satire _and_ ridonkulously infectious pop music is what elevates it from “cool song about the artistic process” to “true genius” in my book. > [@](#): > > When does the second season air? Has Hasbro planned some stuff for bronies? I don’t think there have been any official announcements, but my guess is they’ll start airing Season 2 around October, since that’s the timetable they followed for Season 1. I’ve heard that they’ll be throwing in more brony-targeted background gags this season too (although I hope they don’t get _too_ obtrusive about it). For example, Derpy’s appearances will be intentional this time around, probably like when she showed up in “Feeling Pinkie Keen” as a delivery pony. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/234 "2011-08-15T19:19:14Z")
Although in the actual episode, we see no indication that the other ponies are bankrolling the expense of making the dresses in any way. Rarity offers to do them all a huge favor and they proceed to walk all over her. The song is about the balance between artistic integrity and commercial success but the episode is about how not to be a weenie and let your friends take advantage of you. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/235 "2011-08-15T19:27:08Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Although in the actual episode, we see no indication that the other ponies are bankrolling the expense of making the dresses in any way. Rarity offers to do them all a huge favor and they proceed to walk all over her. The song is about the balance between artistic integrity and commercial success but the episode is about how not to be a weenie and let your friends take advantage of you. Yeah, that’s the part that I’m assuming is a subtle dig at the networks. It doesn’t make much sense in the context of the story, but makes perfect sense if you view that verse as commentary on television production in the 21st century. **Edited to add:** I’d also argue that the point of the episode isn’t about assertiveness vs. being a weenie per se. Rarity’s friends might not be paying her for the dresses, but the root conflict _is_ one between an artist and her clients. Keep in mind that the resolution of the conflict isn’t that Rarity learns to stand up for herself, but that her original designs end up impressing Hoity Toity. It’s Rarity’s friends who learn the lesson that you shouldn’t take advantage of other people’s generosity. Rarity herself represents the triumph of the singular vision over art-by-committee. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/236 "2011-08-15T19:39:54Z")
Yeah, it’s a little bit of a mixed message. The obvious message is “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” which is what the Aesop covers, but it certainly goes deeper than that for viewers with broader experience. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/237 "2011-08-16T16:26:45Z")
So I may have gotten a little misty-eyed the last time I watched Cutie Mark Chronicles. Which episodes make you tear up? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/238 "2011-08-16T19:16:30Z")
Cutie Mark Chronicles does it for me, too, plus I gotta admit I felt really bad for Fluttershy towards the end of Bird In The Hoof. Poor thing thought that she had killed Philomena! I swear, that phoenix is as much of a troll as her owner. ps - Check out Kyrospawn’s new [MLP soundboard](http://kyrospawn.deviantart.com/art/MLP-FIM-Soundboard-alt-V5-2-244757196?). ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/239 "2011-08-17T14:06:59Z")
I’ll admit to a mild case of the throat lumpies during the montage at the end of “Winter Wrap Up” - particularly the segment I mentioned earlier in the thread in which the pegasus ponies blast through the clouds. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438/240 "2011-08-17T14:19:53Z")
> [@Mr.Me](#): > > Cutie Mark Chronicles does it for me, too, plus I gotta admit I felt really bad for Fluttershy towards the end of Bird In The Hoof. Poor thing thought that she had killed Philomena! I swear, that phoenix is as much of a troll as her owner. Yeah, between Celestia inviting the gals to the Gala because she knew it would suck and wanted to see what would happen and the phoenix incident…I think Celestia might be the evil one in the family, not Luna. Speaking of, I’m really curious about why we never see Luna. Is she locked in a bedroom Misery style while Celestia gets her revenge? I have seen fan art explaining where she is, but I want the real deal. I love Luna. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-general-discussion-edited-title/590438.md?page=13)