Variations on a Theme

Welcome

2009-08-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Variations on a Theme, an mp3 rotation run by me, Megums! I'll put up new music at least once a month, and more often if I find something I really like. Most of it will probably be in English or Japanese, but I might get a little crazy and put up some German or Russian music. Feel free to request songs that you'd like to see here; I might cobble together a playlist of all the music I own and make you choose from that... But I might be too lazy.

The only thing I ask in return is that you COMMENT when you download something. Or maybe you didn't take anything but you're going to lurk until I put something new up. Just COMMENT. If there aren't any comments then I won't know you're there. Even if you're the only one here, I'll still put up music just for you!

The current layout features the amazingly sexy Hyde of L`arc~en~ciel. And despite the fact that he's married, I still want his babies.

Also, I apologize for my lack of coding skills. The links won't work unless you're scrolled all the way up. I had it working at first, but then I screwed it up and... I'll get it fixed eventually.

News

8.18.08

New rotation is partially up! I thought I'd put up the ones I have uploaded so far, so they don't just rot there. I'm working on the rest of them now.

I think I'm going to get on a three week schedule. So the next rotation will be September 8th. See you then!

Zweite

2008-08-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

Song: Forever
Artist: L`Arc~en~Ciel
Album: Smile
Genre: Rock
Language: Japanese
Length: 4:40 [6.6 MB]
Comments: This is a great song. It was in my head for a week after the first time I heard it. It's pretty mellow, and a bit waltzy from the 6/8 time. Which also happens to be my favorite time signature, woo!
{[Listen?]}

Song: New World
Artist: L`Arc~en~Ciel
Album: Awake
Genre: Rock
Language: Japanese
Length: 4:06 [5.8 MB]
Comments: This is pretty different from "Forever." It has more of a driving beat. It's kind of an inspiring song; I can see it being used as an anime theme. (Maybe it is?) Highly Recommended!
{[Listen?]}

Song: Turn the Page
Artist: Blind Guardian
Album: A Twist in the Myth
Genre: Power Metal
Language: English
Length: 4:18 [6.3 MB]
Comments: Does Blind Guardian even sing in German ever? Because that would totally win. Anyhow, this song is another happy one. It sounds kind of Irish to me in the beginning, which I like.
{[Listen?]}

Song: Ready, Set, Go!
Artist: Tokio Hotel
Album: Scream
Genre: Rock
Language: English
Length: 3:35 [5.0 MB]
Comments: Dahahahaa, Tokio Hotel. My true love(s). This song is perfect. Like all of their songs. Even though I do prefer them singing in German. The music video to this song is nominated for the MTV "New artist of the year award" or somewhat. And they had best win, seeing as the competition is Hannah Montana (oh, excuse me, Miley Cyrus) and that stupid song about kissing a girl. We need more foreign musics in the States, for serious. Highly Recommended! Actually, go buy this album right now. NOW.
{[Listen?]}

Song: Those Nights
Artist: Skillet
Album: Comatose
Genre: Rock
Language: English
Length: 3:46 [5.3 MB]
Comments: I saw Skillet play in concert at Unity, right before TobyMac. They're pretty cool. You'd like them even if you're not into Christian music I think.
{[Listen?]}

Song: Not Crying
Artist: Flight of the Conchords
Album: The Distant Future
Genre: Comedy
Language: English
Length: 3:24 [6.6 MB]
Comments: Haha, this song is from the hilarious show "The Flight of the Conchords". This song is him telling the girl who just broke up with him that he's not crying. "I'm not crying 'cause you won't be here to hold my hand/For your information there's an inflamation in my tear glands". This song is great.
{[Listen?]}

Song: Akai Kazaguruma
Artist: Alice Nine
Album: Gion Shouja no Kane ga Naru
Genre: Rock, Visual Kei
Language: Japanese
Length: 4:20 [6.1 MB]
Comments: Shou's voice reminds me of Hyde. This song is good. Kind of repetitive, but still good. If you're into Japanese rock, listen to this.
{[Listen?]}

Song: Hey Yo!
Artist: Battle
Album: 말해 (Tell Me!)
Genre: Pop
Language: Korean
Length: 3:09 [4.5 MB]
Comments: Hmmm. Battle is one of those epitome of man-pop boy bands. The kind who have all the girls screaming "they are soooo cute!" I don't usually listen to stuff like this (anymore), but it's kind of a guilty pleasure thing sometimes. I guess it's the sort of thing you'll like if you like this sort of thing.
{[Listen?]}

Leftovers:
Secondhand Serenade - Fall for You
Tokio Hotel - Leb' Die Sekunde

Ichibanme

2008-07-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

Song: Naturally
Artist: Hamasaki Ayumi
Album: I Am...
Genre: Pop, trance
Language: Japanese
Length: 4:17 3 MB
Comments: Hamasaki is possibly the best known Japanese pop singer? Maybe? Even if she isn't, she's still pretty darn good. This album is a bit old, but it's still really good. It's not too fast, and it's not hyper like Otsuka Ai. It's a bit speedier than a calm mellow song, but not anything that will get you tired just by listening to it.
{[Listen?]}

Song: The Question is, what is the Question?
Artist: Scooter
Album: Jumping all over the World
Genre: Techno, hard dance, happy hardcore, jumpstyle
Language: English, but Scooter is a German group
Length: 3:46 5 MB
Comments: I heard about Scooter from a friend, who heard about them from a German exchange student. This song does get a little repetitive... But if you don't get overly bored with it it's a good song. It seems a lot longer than it is though. (To me anyway...)
{[Listen?]}

Song: Asterisk
Artist: Orange Range
Album: Иatural
Genre: Alternative Rock
Language: Japanese
Length: 4:15 5 MB
Comments: This song is the first opening theme to Bleach, and is AMAZING. Orange Range is the best. Their style is highly unique. But about this song... It's a wonderful blend of singing and "rap." It clips along at a decent tempo; I like to listen to it when I'm riding my bike and sing along breathlessly (to the amusement of passers-by). 'Tis a happy song.
{[Listen?]}

Song: Otherland
Artist: Blind Guardian
Album: A Twist in the Myth
Genre: Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Folk Metal
Language: English
Length: 5:15 8 MB
Comments: This song was written for the [best] book series [in the world] "Otherland" by Tad Williams. Check them out (the books) if you're into fantasy or science fiction or having fun sexy times. Oh, and this song also helped to get me interested in power metal. It's definitely not the most intense thing you've ever heard, but good nonetheless.
{[Listen?]}

Song: Danse Macabre
Artist: Saint-Saëns
Album: It's probably on more than one, so...
Genre: Broad: classical; more specifically: awesome
Language: all. :]
Length: 7:09 6 MB
Comments: If you're new to the classical music scene, don't knock it before you try it. Translated, the title is the "Dance of Death," which makes it sound even cooler, ね? It was rather controversial when Saint-Saëns wrote it, and it wasn't accepted very well. Now, however, you'd be a freak not to like it. DOWNLOAD THIS NOW.
{(Listen?]}

Song: Leb' Die Sekunde
Artist: Tokio Hotel
Album: Schrei
Genre: Alternative rock, glam rock (like European-style visual kei)
Language: German
Length: 3:44 6MB
Comments: Tokio Hotel sucks when they sing in English. For serious. BUT. Their German music is made of so much win it's unbelieveable. Plus they're only 18! Crazy! This song is another good one to ride your bike to. It's kind of inspiring? Happy? I have very basic emotions, I guess. o_o;;
{[Listen?]}

Song: Fall for You
Artist: Secondhand Serenade
Album: A Twist in My Story
Genre: Acoustic rock, piano rock
Language: English
Length: 3:05 2MB
Comments: Aww. This song is cute/sad. Depressing. If you've just broken up with someone, it'll have you in tears (if you're sad about it, that is. >>); if you're in love you'll probably think it's adorable. Very subjective these here musicks.
{[Listen?]}

Exits

2008-07-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

<< # Play It Loud ? >>

Do you take umbrage?

Link Exchange:
Crazy Apples
Lunatic Harmony
&Ampersand

Fanlistings:
{[Asian Kung-Fu Generation]}{[Breaking Benjamin]}{[ELLEGARDEN]}{[Epik High]}{[Harry and the Potters]}{[Hyde]}{[Orange Range]}{[The TRAX]}{[Tokio Hotel]}{[ UVERworld]}

Rules

2008-07-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

Everyone hates them, they're all the same, but they have to be here nonetheless.

1. Comment if you like something, if you hate it, or are indifferent. Then I can put up more of what you want.
2. Delete the files after 24 hours (support the artist, and buy the songs, or the album they're from).
3. Don't link to my files. Link to my site.
4. I'm not going to put up a playlist of the music I have, but feel free to request songs. The worst that could happen is I don't have it.