The Ponytones: Ponyville's Barbershop Quartet.

[Inactive01 5,299]

So I was just listening to some barbershop music like these and it got me thinking...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was never explicitly mentioned, but judging by the single piece they sang in "Got the Music in You" and the group itself, they're a modern barbershop group.

 

First, let's talk about the group itself. Barbershop groups typically have a group of 4 or 5 singing a capella or with piano accompaniment. Aside from the background music, the Ponytones are a group of 4 ponies comprised of Rarity as soprano, Big Macintosh as bass, Toe-Tapper as tenor, and Torch Song as mezzo soprano. Typically, barbershop quartets are either exclusively male groups or female groups because the musical arrangements require all male or all female groups for smooth harmonization, but you can say the Ponytones are an exception for plot purposes. After all, Verdi wrote barbershop songs for SATB in his operas. Barbershop quartets also have a uniform for all its performers. Just see the videos on the spoiler and you'll see what I mean. Here's the uniform of the Ponytones as well. Their green and yellow bowtie and green sweaters represent a neo-Barbershop costume. All you need are the Straw hats and you have the makings of a classic Barbershop quartet! Rarity sure knows how to revive a musical tradition with her costumes! I'd also like to add that barbershop groups also have catchy group names, like "The Chameleon". I personally think "The Ponytones" are catchier.

 

 

 

Now, let's move on to the songs. Here's the Ponytones singing "Got the Music in You" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPZYUoqqMio

Barbershop quartets sing as an ensemble in a predominantly homophonic texture. In a homophonic texture, two or more voices sing the same rhythm, being in line with one another. So if you and a friend are singing the same rhythm but with different notes, you're still singing homophonically. The Ponytones are matching each other very well when they sing, with the occasional booping (barbershops do that too). Barbershop groups also have to match each other really well because they sing with little to no accompaniment at all! So basically, The Ponytones sing like an ensemble, and since they're singing a capella, it's ever more important that the Ponytones can hear each other's tones and match each other to prevent dissonance. Barbershop groups also sing songs that are very easily recognizable and catchy. Almost everypony is loving "Got the Music in You" because it's so catchy! Even we think it's very catchy! Finally, there's a lot of finger snapping and tap dancing involved with barbershop quartets. The Ponytones can't really snap their fingers, so the background music filled that in. But I wouldn't be surprised if they clapped their hooves during a performance.

 

So now that the Ponytones are officially labelled a barbershop quartet, it would be a dream come true to hear them sing "Home on the Range" to Applejack or "Let it Snow" before Hearth's Warming Eve...

Edited June 29, 2014 by Sterling Crimson

[silvadel 1,393]

I agree it would be nice to see more of the ponytones in the future.  I'd go to one of their concerts -- especially if they had Fluttershy.

[Kay Dreamer 884]

I kinda took it for granted they were a barbershop group, what with the jazz harmonies and the cute uniforms. I suppose it also helps that a cappella choral music is one of my all time favourite things; to sing, arrange and listen to.

 

I'd love to see more of them though. I doubt Hasbro will shell out the licensing fees to broadcast them singing the two songs you mentioned, but that doesn't mean new ones can't be written. In fact, I'd like it even more if they had new ones written. I'd gladly buy their album, I loved them in 'Filly Vanilli'. (Even though they were only a cappella the first time they sung.)

[Inactive01 5,299]

I kinda took it for granted they were a barbershop group, what with the jazz harmonies and the cute uniforms. I suppose it also helps that a cappella choral music is one of my all time favourite things; to sing, arrange and listen to.

 

I'd love to see more of them though. I doubt Hasbro will shell out the licensing fees to broadcast them singing the two songs you mentioned, but that doesn't mean new ones can't be written. In fact, I'd like it even more if they had new ones written. I'd gladly buy their album, I loved them in 'Filly Vanilli'. (Even though they were only a cappella the first time they sung.)

 

Imagine all the songs they could sing that are based off the barbershop style.... It would sound so pretty! I'd love it if they came back, even just as a cameo! No wonder Cheerilee swoonned when Big Mac let his baritone voice speak for itself!

[silvadel 1,393]

Heck, we don't even need something of that level -- If we could just get the voice actors to make a few more songs somehow.

[mlpfiwcat 30]

I liked the pony tones. They had Fluttershy.

[Inactive01 5,299]

It truly is a shame that we've only seem them singing one song. It would have been cool to create a montage of songs that The Ponytones sang together. I mean, no musical group, especially a barbershop group, can survive with just one song!

[ghostfacekiller39 23,879]

I want to hear more of them

Rarity has such a lovely singing voice If she sings, I want to hear it. Her voice makes me melt into a puddle every time I hear her sing

 

So, nice little analysis type thing, Sterling, and I hope we see more of them in the future - if only because of Rarity