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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Rainbow Rocks Encore Shorts Review

Since three new music videos related to Rainbow Rocks were recently released, I feel I should share my thoughts on them.

THE OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS IN THIS BLOG POST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF ZACK WANZER, NOT THE MY LITTLE PONY FANDOM IN GENERAL

Wow, I have not said those words since my Hearts and Hooves Day review back in February. Then again, since the 14th of that month, I haven't reviewed anything related to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic since I was so heavily focused on Thomas and Friends. But now, we're making a quick visit to Equestria... or rather, Canterlot High. Why? Very recently, three music videos related to Rainbow Rocks have been released, and I think it's worth sharing my thoughts on each of them.

If you missed my review of the original eight shorts, no worries, cause you can check them out here.

What these shorts all have in common is that they're all written by Daniel Ingram (the show's music composer) so that won't be noted for any of them.

Life is a Runway
Performed by Kazumi Evans
This is Rarity's solo track of the Rainbooms; it expresses her personal philosophy on the meaning of life. In the video, we see Rarity at (presumably) Carousel Boutique working on new designs for dresses when she transforms into wearing a new dress. Out on the streets, she flirts with Bulk Biceps and later magically transforms Derpy, Lyra, Bon Bon and Cheerilee (in minor, non-speaking roles) by giving them new looks and dresses. We're also presented to a visual with Rarity being followed by two live fashion mannequins. The song has a piano intro before it transitions to a more pop-music theme. (And by pop, I mean the genre of music, not popular.) 

My Past is Not Today
Performed by Rebecca Shoichet
This is Sunset Shimmer's solo song. The lyrics talk about what she was like in the original Equestria Girls before she turned over a new leaf by the events of Rainbow Rocks. Metaphorically, she was a phoenix rising from her ashes, and she was moving on from the trouble she caused in the past. We also see her throwing away her pictures when she was Princess of the Fall Formal - why she threw away the first, I'm not sure; maybe it led to her becoming a monster, literally AND metaphorically? - and new animated flashbacks of the students shunning her, except for the Human Six (including Twilight). In the background, the sun sets to represent Sunset's dark past before it rises again, representing her change of heart.

Friendship Through the Ages
Performed by Rebecca Shoichet, Ashleigh Ball, Kazumi Evans, Andrea Libman, and Shannon-Chan Kent
Unlike the previous two, this one is a group song by the Rainbooms. The song begins at a ballroom performed by Twilight with Sunset on the piano, before transitioning to Fluttershy in a meadow with her animal friends. Next, we see a Yellow Submarine-esque sequence with Rarity in her Sgt. Pepper costume (quite clever, I must say!) and then Rainbow Dash rocking out before pulling a Pete Townshend by smashing her guitar, which transitions to Applejack outside of a barn on her bass. Lastly, Pinkie Pie is in a futuristic disco room, and then we see the original Human Six parodying the Queen II album cover. Throughout the music video, each member of the Human Six take Sunset through different genres of music.

Final Thoughts
All three music videos were a real surprise; I'll bet no one has expected any of them to show up. All the songs are fantastic and a joy to listen to, and they showcase just how clever they can be with the animation, especially the transitions. I look forward to how the shorts for Friendship Games will go - maybe we'll get some development for Flash and some insight on the human world's Twilight?

Rating: 9 out of 10

Edit (4/2/15) - This blog post had been posted as an April Fool's joke to make you believe I was reviewing Duke the Lost Engine, but don't fear! I will actually post the true review on the 2nd.

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