Do you think the musical numbers are declining in quality?

[Sepul-Coloratura 762]

Do you feel like the quality of songs are declining? I think they do have a constant production value, but as being memorable, clever and how they compliment the story, melodically and lyrically, performance wise, I don't feel like the more recent songs are any better. For me, Flawless was their last memorable song, A Kirin Tale if being generous. The word 'Cringy' is overused and been used a lot for wrong reasons, and I'm not gonna use that word because it doesn't fit what I'm describing, but if something feels awkward in a song, it's not a good sign. Blank Flanks Forever and the song from Uprooted are the epitome of what I'm saying. I know it's a very subjective matter, but do you know what's the best song of MLP is? Happy birthday song to Pumpkin and Pound Cake.

But seriously. They never topped the classics like Smile Song, Art of the Dress, Winter Wrap Up, A True True Friend, and even Pinkie Pie's Singing Telegram. What do you think?

[Megas 27,761]

I dunno, I'd argue the problem is that they're very less frequent. I remember in S4 almost every other episode had a song, meanwhile, by S6 there was like, what six songs in the whole season?

[Splashee 28,566]

@Sepul-Coloratura, yea I agree with you.

However, why do you think you called the Smile song, Winter Wrap Up, and such, "classics"?

There might be something more than just the songs being good that made them classics? But what was it?

[bigbertha 415]

Not really. Sure, the amount of meaningless and/or bland schlock has increased over the years, but I can't think of a season where there wasn't at least two really great songs.

The only exception is season 7. Combined with not having a lot of songs, the songs are okay at best and incredibly annoying at worst.

And I'd say season 1 is the only season where I like every song in it.

[Sepul-Coloratura 762]

41 minutes ago, Splashee said:

@Sepul-Coloratura, yea I agree with you.

However, why do you think you called the Smile song, Winter Wrap Up, and such, "classics"?

There might be something more than just the songs being good that made them classics? But what was it?

clas·sic

/ˈklasik/

Learn to pronounce

adjective

1. 1. 

   judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind.

They are iconic songs from MLP, and they stood the standards for later episodes.

Edited July 29, 2019 by Sepul-Coloratura

[Splashee 28,566]

I remember actually liking this show because of "Winter Wrap Up". And when the "Smile" was new, I re-watched it multiple times before watching the rest of the episode. Just by my own experience, I would easily call them "classics" over.... Let's say "Best Friends Until the End of Time"... ... ... *falls over* Bad example.

When I saw the reactions from everyone when they heard "Invisible" from "Forgotten Friendship", which many didn't know wasn't a Daniel Ingram song, I was starting to think about pop-music versus classic cartoon music. People tend to choose pop-songs as their favorites, because they are ... pop-songs which are made to be popular.

 

This is really a difficult subject to wrap my head around!

[Will Guide 21,362]

Nope. I thought that villian song of the Villainous League in Frienemies was great. It's simply a matter of opinion. Just because someone don't like the quality of songs doesn't mean they should force others to hate it as well. And until the final episode airs and is seen by my own eyes, I am withholding judgement of the final season as a whole.

[Will Guide 21,362]

1 hour ago, Kiryu-Chan said:

I dunno, I'd argue the problem is that they're very less frequent. I remember in S4 almost every other episode had a song, meanwhile, by S6 there was like, what six songs in the whole season?

https://www.youtube.com/user/Letupita725HD

Actually according to this playlist a fan made of every song sorted by season so far with Season 9 only going up to the Midway point, there are actually about 16 songs total in Season 6, counting the theme songs and short songs by Pinkie Pie.

I personally enjoy most of them, and as long as they can be enjoyed by a fan, that's the important part regardless of quality or quantity. If an objectively bad Episode or Song can find a fan that enjoys despite Its obvious flaws, well, that's quite amazing in my eyes.

Edited July 29, 2019 by Will Guide

[Sparklefan1234 172,272]

Yes, I do.

Season 4/Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks were when the songs in Friendship is Magic hit their peak, IMO. 

[gingerninja666 487]

I loved both A Kirin Tale (to the point where it almost single handedly carried the episode for me) and A Better Way to be Bad. I'd also hold up all the songs from A Hearthswarming Tail (with Pinkie's Present specifically capturing the sweetness of Pinkie's character in a way that hasn't been done since Smile) Maybe they're not as consistantly good as they used to be, but they can still knock it out of the park.

Edited July 30, 2019 by gingerninja666

[Sepul-Coloratura 762]

20 minutes ago, Will Guide said:

Nope. I thought that villian song of the Villainous League in Frienemies was great. It's simply a matter of opinion. Just because someone don't like the quality of songs doesn't mean they should force others to hate it as well. And until the final episode airs and is seen by my own eyes, I am withholding judgement of the final season as a whole.

OK, cool. But what's about that forcing others to hate it part? No need to be too scared of criticism.

17 minutes ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

Yes, I do.

Season 4/Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks were when the songs in Friendship is Magic hit their peak, IMO. 

I meant FiM by not including the EQG series. But I agree Rainbow Rocks had some of the best musics of both FiM and EQG. 

[Sparklefan1234 172,272]

4 minutes ago, Sepul-Coloratura said:

I meant FiM by not including the EQG series. But I agree Rainbow Rocks had some of the best musics of both FiM and EQG. 

 

Sorry. I just thought that the fourth season as a whole (Including, Rainbow Rocks) was when FiM was at it's best from a catchy song standpoint. 

[gingerninja666 487]

Also, Your Heart is in Two Places. I like that one a lot too. It feels like the lyricist is just showing off at certain points with the rhymes.

Edited July 30, 2019 by gingerninja666

[Sepul-Coloratura 762]

3 minutes ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

 

Sorry. I just thought that the fourth season as a whole (Including, Rainbow Rocks) was when FiM was at it's best from a catchy song standpoint. 

I liked Generosity, Make a Wish, Filli Vanilli songs, Let the Rainbow Remind You. But they were more detached from the story, relatively speaking. I think Pinkie's Lament hits most of the marks.

[Splashee 28,566]

You all have amazing arguments, really! Everything I read I just nod and say "Yes exactly".

 

There are many songs in FIM that are very catchy, that are easily forgotten, such as "Hearts as Strong as Horses" or "Battle for Sugar Belle". Then we have songs that just keeps popping up in our heads like "Helping Twilight Win the Crown" <- that one was in my head for an entire summer waiting for season 4, so yea!

 

But do you ever think about the songs "You Got to Share, You Got to Care" or "The Flim Flam Brothers Song"?

[Tacodidra 61,271]

I like the new songs too, but I do feel the older ones were more memorable and catchier. Somehow I don't find myself going back to listen to the new songs like I did with many of the earlier ones. In the last couple of seasons, I've actually liked many of the EqG songs more than those in FIM (especially "So Much More to Me" which is one of my absolute favorites in MLP).

1 minute ago, Splashee said:

But do you ever think about the songs "You Got to Share, You Got to Care" or "The Flim Flam Brothers Song"?

I've always loved "The Flim Flam Cider Song". I generally prefer the pop songs in MLP over the more musical-styled ones, but that's one of the exceptions. It's very catchy and I especially like how it grows near the ending. As for the later Flim and Flam songs, I found them pretty forgettable.

[Sepul-Coloratura 762]

1 minute ago, Splashee said:

You all have amazing arguments, really! Everything I read I just nod and say "Yes exactly".

 

There are many songs in FIM that are very catchy, that are easily forgotten, such as "Hearts as Strong as Horses" or "Battle for Sugar Belle". Then we have songs that just keeps popping up in our heads like "Helping Twilight Win the Crown" <- that one was in my head for an entire summer waiting for season 4, so yea!

 

But do you ever think about the songs "You Got to Share, You Got to Care" or "The Flim Flam Brothers Song"?

Surprisingly for some people, I think more of You Got to Share than Helping Twilight Win the Crown.

But all the songs you mentioned there are the least memorable ones for me. Flim Flam song was good for what it is, but not that much amusing as a stand alone song if you ask me. I also don't enjoy Flim Flam's episodes as much as others, so not that much my favorite. Battle for Sugar Belle was amusing for what it is, but also not a song that comes back in my head.

[Will Guide 21,362]

8 minutes ago, Splashee said:

 or "The Flim Flam Brothers Song"?

Which one? There's at least 3 of them.

The Cider Squezzer 3000

The Miracle Curative Tonic

Their "Friendship"  University song

[Splashee 28,566]

Not to forget Daniel Ingrams actual music skills here (as a composer I really like just listening to his music alone), I put together just a few catchy moments (you can try to guess the songs, you will probably know them all by heart anyways):

http://www.logotypes.se/tmp/MLPT/Splashee/DanielInstumentals.mp3

 

 

[Sepul-Coloratura 762]

40 minutes ago, Splashee said:

Not to forget Daniel Ingrams actual music skills here (as a composer I really like just listening to his music alone), I put together just a few catchy moments (you can try to guess the songs, you will probably know them all by heart anyways):

http://www.logotypes.se/tmp/MLPT/Splashee/DanielInstumentals.mp3

 

 

Honestly, I don't know where they are from

[heavens-champion 1,905]

Well, "Out On My Own" from 'On Your Marks' was pretty forgettable...

[Patty Thundersnow 4,179]

NO, not at all. As a guy who knows his music (5 years of choir from 8th grade through high school), i've got a keen ear for music. The quality certainly has NOT declined at all. Daniel Ingram has done a great job with the musical numbers throughout the entire series. Sure, some will be better than others, but that is to be expected.

[Splashee 28,566]

9 hours ago, Sepul-Coloratura said:

Honestly, I don't know where they are from

First one is "BBBFF" from A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1, second one is "Love Is In Bloom" from A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2, third is "Helping Twilight Win the Crown" from EQG movie, and the last one is "Dance Magic" from EQG special Dance Magic.
All Daniel Ingram.

Being able to compose music that has so much expression, that is is almost difficult to tie the music itself to a song, AND have a really good song (singing performance and sometimes lyrics) is very difficult (obviously he is more than just a composer), and to make it refreshing and new every time.

That's the quality we get from FIM and EQG. It is probably the only thing that G5 will keep having.

 

 

EDIT:
So why not also demonstrate the harmony in the singing, and the best and easiest way to do so it taking the last part of EQG move "Helping Twilight Win the Crown":
http://www.logotypes.se/tmp/MLPT/Splashee/helping_twilight.mp3

So when you combine the music and the vocals, and the music has its own stuff, the vocals have harmony layers, and none of them overlap (at least not at a detectable level), then it is good stuff

Edited July 30, 2019 by Splashee

[Lambdadelta 1,462]

Newer seasons have good songs like Flawless, A Kirin Tale, A Better Way To Be Bad, All Hearth Warming Tail songs, Best Gift Ever songs, The Perfect Pear song, The Movie songs and some catchy songs there and there. So, what is the declination in quality in newer season? They have more forgettable songs that shove into episodes that don't need songs, and no song for finale episodes. After season 6, the show just getting less and less songs but no significant improvement in quality in return. Season 9 so far is the worst with only one amazing and memorable song (A Better Way to be Bad) but even so, it isn't even the best of the series, not even close. Don't forget Rainbow Roadtrip, I just forgot all the songs right after I heard them, they are even more forgettable than any lesser songs of season 6.

To answer OP's question, yes, the musical numbers are declining in quality but it's not a huge decline, not yet... 

[Rushing cash 836]

On the average, slightly, but from time to time there are real gems, like a kirin tale and a better way to be bad, they were amazing songs, and the sisters song was great to, but in the last 2 seasons the majority were very forgettable. Season 7 was pretty good.  

Edited July 30, 2019 by Rushing cash