Arguably the most riveting and compelling cartoon to have come about in this century is “Adventure Time.” Created by Pendleton Ward, the first episode aired on April 5, 2010, roughly two years after the pilot aired on December 7, 2008 and has since received massive acclaim from both critics and fans alike for its characters, animation and mature and relevant content. Personally, I fell in love with “Adventure Time,” for how original and unique the show was compared to current cartoons, and even live-action programming that has consumed our demographic. The randomness and casual introduction of themes, events, and characters is a genuine parallel to the events of life, because as those among the living can note, meeting someone new, or experiencing and creating something different normally does not have a dramatic build up. It is mere coincidence and is achieved within the moment rather than preceding ones. This consistent focus on spontaneity is what allows “Adventure Time” to develop not only great episodes but meaningful songs. The songs in “Adventure Time” feel as if they come from the heart and are a true expression of one’s feelings and character, and not a forced or rehearsed song inserted to prolong an episode. The songs are meaningful and have an honesty to them which is why fans become excited when one of their beloved characters start to sing. Based on the opinion of fans, and myself (aka, the omnipotent article writer), these are the ten best songs from “Adventure Time.”

10. “Bacon Pancakes” – Jake

The shortest song on this list but probably the most popular, not just among fans, but of the general public. “Bacon Pancakes,” has so many different mixes, remixes, bacon pancake recipes, tutorials and fan-made extended versions on YouTube that is almost overwhelming. But, you can’t blame them, it’s catchy as hell and it brings the beloved foods of pancakes and bacon together. More importantly, it is able to showcase who Jake is in 12 seconds, a fun, care-free and loveable dog.

9. “Good Little Girl” – Marshall Lee and Fiona

Rule 63, or gender-swapping, uncommonly appears in “children’s” cartoons, but “Adventure Time” is by no means just for children. In this song, the gender-swapped Finn, Fiona, and the gender-swapped Marceline, Marshall Lee, engage in a melodic duet about their perceptions of each other. That Marshall assumes Fiona is just a good little girl, and Fiona is not buying the whole ‘bad little boy’ routine by Marshall Lee. This is a clever song that sees Fiona and Marshall Lee interact for the first time, and it almost perfectly parallels the relationship Finn and Marceline had when they first hung out. Marceline being mischievous, almost villainous and Finn surprising Marceline in his bravery and unflinching behavior towards her.

8. “All Warmed Up Inside” – Jake

There are only a few cartoons that make a best friend relationship seem legitimate. “Steven Universe” does it justice with Steven and Connie, Mac and Bloo are great in “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” Mordecai and Rigby are each other’s yin and yang in “Regular Show,” and you cannot count out the legendary friendship of Bart and Milhouse from “The Simpsons.” However, none of them stack up to Finn and Jake. These two are inseparable, living together forever and even if Jake is basically married to Lady Rainicorn. They are always looking out for one another while never hesitating to keep the other in check. This song showcases the depth their relationship goes as Jake is willing to travel to the evil fire kingdom, to serenade Flame Princess, in order to cheer Finn up and help him get over Princess Bubblegum with the same melody that Finn sings in his heartbroken state. Peas in a pod.

7. “All Gummed Up Inside” – Finn

This is Finn in his heartbroken state. Curled up, surrounded by pictures and pieces of Princess Bubblegum (he’s literally curled up with a piece of her hair), while singing his song of woe. Not only is this song pivotal to the introduction of Flame Princess, as Jake goes off just after this song to find Finn a new lady, but it is an honest depiction of heartbreak. Anyone hung up on someone else who cannot reciprocate that same feeling and love is devastated, and feel that they can never move on, and all they want to do is lay on the ground and just play with clumps of their hair (is that a thing?). This song is one of the deeper tunes in the “Adventure Time” playlist, as it is a more truthful and emotional song about real occurrences of life because for a cartoon to be good it needs to be relevant and realistic so that it may be enchanting. This song most certainly is fascinating and is a good jumping-off point for the rest of the songs on this list.

6. “Nuts” – Marceline

Get used to seeing and hearing Marceline on this list. It may be a considerably short song, and a song that appears random, but as I mentioned earlier, the songs in this show are very much like life in that they seem improvised and almost coincidental. This is better shown in Marceline’s apple hitting Ice King’s synthesizer-key-board-thing, playing a soft tune, allowing Marceline to find an easier and more comfortable way to express her feelings. In this case, Ice King or Simon, as we find, was a parental figure to Marceline when she was young as both her parents were absent during this time, but the relationship the two had been tarnished and broken. This song is captivating and explains why Marceline is both apprehensive and welcoming to the Ice King, as she misses and loved the man he used to be, while he was also the only person she could look up to when she was a child. However, Ice King became consumed by his powers and in turn abandoned Marceline emotionally: “Every time I move away eventually you find me and start hanging around,” in an allegorical sense is the emotional grip Ice King still has on Marceline since her childhood and every time Marceline tries to move on or block him out her mind, he is still able grab hold and stay with her. Which is also played out in the literal sense as Ice King unknowingly continues to follow Marceline around from home to home.

5. “I Remember You” – Marceline and Ice King

The song following “Nuts,” is both a sense of closure for Marceline and an incredible way to f*@k with her head. What happened to Simon (now the Ice King) as well as his reasoning and apology for abandoning her is explained as Marceline reads the words of her former, and long gone protector of the previous apocalyptic world. It is also a way for Marceline to connect to Simon as she sings the words he had written to her so long ago, but it is so hard for her at the same time, for Simon is the Ice King. He is still there but what made him so special to Marceline is gone, and all she sees when she looks at him is the remnants of the man who had protected her, but also abandoned her. It is why during the song we see Marceline shedding a tear, and closing her eyes because she cannot bring herself to look at Ice King because she will only see the shadow of Simon, the Simon who had left her and became decrepit in his madness. Longing to be with the Simon, she clings to these discovered words, now song lyrics, for they represent the last tangible memory of Simon, and the closure it brings with the memories of the past.

4. “Fry Song” – Marceline

This Marceline track is about her actual father, and the acts that are definitive of his character and that ultimately hurt Marceline. Marceline wrestles with the relationship she has with her father, as she is unable to distinguish whether he actually loves her, if he is using her for his own self-fulfillment, or if he even cares about her. The eating of her fries seems to symbolize a traumatic and occurring between the two that they cannot rectify or have not talked about since. It has since evolved in Marceline, acting like an emotional cross to bear and making her feel irrelevant to everything, as the only person who is supposed to care and love her does not. In a nutshell, it is a song about the effect an emotionally absent parent can instill upon their child, while signifying the importance of empathy and simply being there for someone. Now that is maturity, which is what makes this show so endearing.

3. “Everything Stays” – Marceline

From the recent mini-series from “Adventure Time,” “Stakes,” this song is featured twice. Both as a flash back of Marceline’s as she was sung this song by her mother when she was an infant, and at the close of the series, as the resolution sweep over OOO. To Marceline, this is one of the final and sentimental memories she has of her mother, as it was used as a comfort for Marceline to feel safe and feel the love of her mother. The song is almost a reassurance to Marceline that everything remains the same, if only in a few ways. When she heard it as a young girl, cradled in her mother’s arms, she was an innocent, honest and joyful girl. Now, even as a 1000 year old woman, she is still herself from when she heard the song from her mother, what has changed is just that she’s aged and is independent. From a universal standpoint it is a song of maturity, and what change is. People and events do not change drastically, they may adapt or move in another direction but deep down that person or thing still holds a piece of who or what they were for they had to have started somewhere. They cannot escape the memories or endeavors of the past.

2. “I’m Just Your Problem” – Marceline

The only way to open the door lord’s door is to play an honest and sweet jam. Marceline takes the first swing at it, and what a take it is. Marceline begins with a typical, morbid Marceline jam with burying’s and blood sucking, but once that blood sucking is to a “pretty pink face,” Princess Bubblegum is quick to chime in with her distaste, calling it…”distasteful.” Marceline is offended and goes off with “I’m Just Your Problem.” There are a lot of points of significance with this song, one being that “I’m Just Your Problem” alludes to a possible romantic relationship that Marceline and Princess Bubblegum had shared, which is only made more likely with the progress of the show. It is one of the first hints towards a same-sex romantic relationship in a cartoon and it is handled so well both emotionally with its context and subtle, showcasing one of the many points of maturity featured throughout the show. It is also imperative to point out that “I’m Just Your Problem” identifies the friction and emotional pain that coincide with relationships. To feel as if you are neglected and forgotten by the one you love and not able to abide or live up to the standards they so desire. However, you will always love that person and will always make the effort to patch things up even if the feelings are not mutual because to you there is no other way, which we can only assume is what Marceline is referring to.

1. “My Best Friends In The World” – Finn

There’s no better way to end this list than with the OOO’s greatest hero, Finn the Human. This song follows Marceline’s “I’m Just Your Problem,” and is the song that breaks the door lord’s door, which logically deserves a spot higher than the aforementioned song. Logic aside, this song is perfect. This song is exactly what makes Finn so loveable and a hero: his honesty. In this song Finn confesses that what the door lord had taken from him was a clump of Princess Bubblegum’s hair (mad creepy) but also showcases the emotions he feels from his friends without holding back. He loves them, and would not want to spend a minute with anyone else because they are his best friends in the world. He admits his enjoyment of Marceline and Princess Bubblegum anger towards one another but most importantly he does not hold back in his feelings towards Princess Bubblegum. He lets out all his frustration and confusion he feels when thinking about their relationship, not being able to decipher whether she thinks of him as “a joke, a knight, or [her] brother.” However, this analysis can swing in another direction that illustrates Finn’s desire to be close to the people he values. Being human, Finn’s insecurities can make him feel separated from others. One of the most predominant of these is his age; he is significantly younger than the other characters. He doesn’t want to be perceived as “a joke, a knight, or [a] brother,” he wants to be their best friend, just as they are to him. This song is a catharsis for any teenager who is confused about their place in life but knows only of their emotions, and wants to let it out but is for some reason scared to. It is good to be upfront about one’s emotions, it is relieving and powerful, which is symbolized with the breaking of the door. In a literary sense, “My Best Friends in the World” is the embodiment of Finn and of an appealing protagonist; a hero who wears his or her heart on their sleeve, who is genuine, honest about their feelings and is able to break the door lord’s door with said honesty. Not to mention, it is catchy as hell and you’ll want to download it onto your phone.