And we are back to Gackt.
Yes, I know no one is surprised.
Picture for this layout taken from the album art of Chachamaru's album Air. Song lyrics, of course, from Gackt's Secret Garden. Layout done entirely in CSS. Was going to throw in some PHP but I am sick and tired of it from messing with it in my Macross site all day, so never mind. XD and all that.
VERSION 4.0: Soon Love Soon [Himeji Castle, Japan]
I know this is a little different, but hey, there is a first time for everything. Inspired by Vienna Teng's Soon Love Soon from her album "Waking Hour." Vienna is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter who has already made a lot of fans with her first album, and if you listen to see it, it's not hard to see why. She's really good. I highly recommend it.
Hmm...not much else to say for this layout. Constructed, as always, for 800x600 MSIE 6.0+. Uses CSS, which as we all know is quirky and still not cross-browser compatible for some browsers. If you're using Netscape, chances are the background image won't display on some pages. Also if you're in a different resolution, chances are that things will be positioned funny.
VERSION 3.0: Mikage Souji, Shoujo Kakumei Utena [40 Miles From the Sun]
My Utena marathon inspired this third layout. I finally got to see the Black Rose Arc episodes with my tapes donated by Laurel and Jen ^_____^ and I think Mikage has surpassed Saionji as my favorite Utena character. The two Mikage episodes (22 and 23) got me hooked, as well as his awesome duel chorus.
The song 40 Miles From the Sun is by Bush. I was actually first introduced to it in an Utena fanfic about Ruka and Mikage called Jamais Vu. If you haven't read it, go to http://www.mancer.net/utena now to read one of the best Utena fanfics in existence.
The window title "I am an Imaginary Living Body" is from the translation of Mikage's duel chorus Watashi Kuusou Seimeitai. If you've seen the Black Rose Arc, I won't have to explain the butterfly on the splash page and the hand cursor. If not, well...go watch it. ^_~
VERSION 2.0: Heero Yuy, Gundam Wing [Peace and Love, Incorporated]
Inspired by the song by Information Society and too much Sainan no Kekka overload, this layout features the perfect soldier in all his angsty and lethal glory. Both pictures of Heero are from the Just Communication 1st TV opening. Gundam is (duh) Wing Zero. Lyrics are from "Peace and Love Incorporated" by Information Society, which was actually the song for one of my favorite Utena fan music videos. Don't ask me how Utena got me thinking of Gundam Wing. I think I need sleep.
VERSION 1.0: L'~Arc~en~Ciel
What better way to start out a site than with a tribute to my favorite band? L'Arc~en~Ciel (also known as Laruku) is made up of four members from Osaka, Japan: HYDE on vocal, KEN on guitar, TETSU on bass, and YUKIHIRO on drums. They're one of the most popular rock bands in Japan today and also the most talented and creative rock band I've ever heard.
If you haven't heard any of L'Arc~en~Ciel, I suggest you start out with their album Heavenly. It's (in my opinion) their most "poppy" album, with very little of their earlier or later innovative feel, but it is a good test album for beginners with catchy songs like "Still I'm With You" and "Vivid Colors." Or if you're feeling a little more daring, get Ark, which features the driving song "Driver's High," the fan favorite "Dive to Blue," the ballad "Pieces," and the wild "Butterfly's Sleep."
The picture above is from left to right: Tetsu, Ken, Hyde, Yukihiro. The lyrics are from Laruku's song Butterfly's Sleep.