NOTICE

This blog is no longer in service. Actually, it hasn't been since the end of 2008. But you can go over to the new blog which started in 2013 and see what's going on... check out: www.theSLman.com.

About Niko Donburi

Niko Donburi is best known for his parodies about the thriving virtual world known as Second Life. His lyrics depend largely on satirizing issues and aspects of Second Life--be it grey goo, Linden Lab, furries, or virtual romance.

Niko's parodies about Second Life are well known through out the SL community and were a staple of SecondCast, SL Under the Radar and other popular Second Life podcasts during the peak years of SL . Niko was a featured performer at the 2007 Second Live Community Convention in Chicago, Illinois, and he still holds the record for the largest virtual live music concert ever held in Second Life at 400+ separate sims.

Niko's music is frequently heard in the clubs of Second Life, with old skool virtual deejays keeping songs such as Dear Linden, Dear Linden, It's the End of the World as we know it (in Second Life), and My Favorite Things (About Second Life) in rotation. It's been said that if you really want to know the history of Second Life, all you need to do is listen to Niko's songs.


The Songs

Clicking on each song title will take you to that specific song to listen to or download. All songs may be used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. Lyrics are available on the left side panel.

The Linden - On the train ride back from SLCC2007 in Chicago, I ran into a Linden... (parody of "The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers)
Virtual Stranger - For all those who have had their heart broken in Second Life.... (original)
My Favorite Things (about Second Life) - Pretty much self-explanatory... (parody of "My Favorite Things," the O&E classic)
Should I log in or Should I go now? - Sometimes it's no fun to be in SL... (parody of "Should I stay or should I go?" by The Clash)
Dear Linden, Dear Linden - The ultimate Second Life protest song... (parody of "Dear Abby" by John Prine)
SL Man - True stories about some of my virtual friends... (parody of "Piano Man" by Billy Joel)
It's the end of the world as we know it (in Second Life) - With every change or addition to the Grid, someone somewhere thinks it's all gonna end... (parody of "It's the End of the World as we Know it" by REM)
44 lines about 22 Lindens - I got to wondering one day about who these Lindens really are and what do they actually do... (parody of "88 Lines about 44 Women" by The Nails)
Escape (The Second Life Song) - Looking for love in SL? Best be careful your spouse doesn't find out... (parody of "Escape (the Pina Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes.)
Wastin' Away in Second Life - An ode to the greatest time sink ever created... (parody of "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett)
Second Life (that's where I want to be)- the anthem of the addictive world of Second Life (parody of "Up in Smoke" by Cheech and Chong)
Living Virtually - What keeps bringing people back to Second Life are not the graphics, the ability to create your own content or any other technological feat. It is the people. (original).

Machinima

Not all of my Second Life songs are parodies. Here are machinima for five of them that are not....

One of my most popular songs, this parody of the Cheech & Chong classic summarizes the Second Life experience quite nicely. It's annotated to explain what I'm actually singing about!




As amazing as Second Life is, it's the people behind the avatar that make it all worth while. This song is my way of thanking all those who have been my virtual friends...





As many of you know, Second Life allows you to reach a level of intimacy with another person that is beyond the physical. The wall of physicality that we carry with us in the real world gets set aside, exposing our hearts and minds. Such exposure can easily lead to wounds. This song tries to answer the question of how can someone whose virtual cause so much pain that is physical? It was made by my good friend chugabug midnight during the record breaking show from liam and chrissy's barcelona sim and is dedicated to....






Whenever I would bring anyone into SL, the first place I would show them was Svarga. Svarga was the center of artificial life in Second Life. Everything in the entire sim was created to be interdependent, from the clouds to the insects to the plants. You can read more about Svarga here, at New World Notes.


But Svarga, like Niko Donburi, is now a thing of SL lore. It no longer exists. Fortunately, I had filmed a machinima exploration of the sim, which does not do it justice but at least provides a glimpse at what many consider was the most incredible thing ever created in Second Life. This is a solo guitar composition written specifically for the machinima.





Finally, I would be remiss if I did not include this one of Koryo. This is a parcel long donated to me as a music creation space from my best SL friend, Elwood Abernathy. When I am not performing live in Second Life I would often plug in and play here. Since this was my first machinima, you'll note I forgot to turn off my title. If you look closely, however, you'll see that I am listed as busy. Fitting, that. I had scoured the SL vendors and included as much artificial life on the parcel as possible, including weather effects, renewing flowers, butterflies, birds, insects, and, of course, my cat.




Saturday, March 24, 2007

House of Flames gig goes down in, well, flames!





So there I am, three-fourths of the way through my House of Flames gig when someone hijacks my stream! Apparently the in-world vendor I purchased it from sold it to someone else as well. So I'm trying to play a quiet acoustic tune whilst some other guy has decided to DJ deathcore or something. Quite an abrupt sound switch for my listening audience.

I've IMed the stream provider and am awaiting a response--and my money back. After all, my gig was ruined and I lost income I would have normally received PLUS came across looking as a complete noob who doesn't know how to stream a show. Hopefully the stream proprietor will make good so that I don't have to name names and spread word of what happened. Screw ups DO happen and I am willing to live with that, but I want my 4,000 Linden back.

Watch this space for more details....
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Friday, March 16, 2007

IT'S OFFICIAL: SLCC2007 here we come!


Just as I was getting ready to log off yesterday evening, I received an IM from Nethermind that the selection of performers for SLCC2007 in Chicago had been made and that I was chosen to be one of the soloists that will be backed by the house band!!

So, if you are in Chicago August 24th - 26th, be sure and stop by the Chicago Hilton and check out the live performance. It is also my understanding that a SLCC2007 Compilation Album is going to be put out featuring a song from each of the performers. While I'll be putting out a poll in-world to determine which tune should go on the CD, feel free to drop me a comment as well.
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Thursday, March 15, 2007

Surprise! Donburi on Secondcast #53

I was listening to SecondCast episode #53 "Beer in the Ballroom" when I heard Johnnie mention my name as the one who did the intro music to SecondCast episode #52 "One Year Anniversary." Then he went ahead and played "Dear Linden, Dear Linden" again!

Episode #53 was about SLCC2007. I've submitted my stuff to be one of the "chosen five." Hmmm.... coincidence? Guess we'll just all have to wait and see. In the meantime, why not listen to some tunes?
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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

gig: March 24 at House of Flames

I'll be headlining the House of Flames line-up for the March 24th "March Madness" show. I've submitted some material for use in their podcast which should be coming out shortly. I sent them a new tune written especially for the upcoming gig: My Favorite Things (About Second Life) so hopefully they'll give it a play.
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007

NIKO DONBURI: THE SL COMMUNITY MUSICAL MUSE

There is nothing cooler than run a google search on yourself and finding a post. Lordfly Digeridoo had a nice post about me on his GridBlog:

"If you’ve been listening to Secondcast lately, you might have caught 'Dear Linden, Dear Linden' by Niko Donburi, an acoustic guitar musician who happens to write catchy songs about Second Life. His song style is pretty catchy, even the faux-covers (of REM and Cheech and Chong, so far), but the lyrics cover pretty much most of the facets of the SL experience. Give him a listen :)"

Hopefully the SLCC judges are reading!
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Sunday, March 04, 2007

Kat's Place podcast



Katronix Serf (cool name), the host of the The Kat's Place podcast, has asked me to write him a theme song for his show. Take a listen and let me know what you think of it. He also features Dear Linden, Dear Linden as one of his spotlight tunes so now you've GOT to listen in....
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Friday, March 02, 2007

[t2]SecondTunes


Bobby Fairweather has spent a lot of time getting SecondTunes up and running. It allows us SL based musicians to sell or give away our mp3s in-world. My bio page can be found here. And yes, I know that that is a low def picture I have up but I haven't had the chance to upload a better one yet.

At any rate, stop by Bobby's music store in-world and get some tunes!
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Thursday, March 01, 2007

SLCC?

Today was the deadline for submissions to SLCC2007. Only five performers will be selected to play on stage during the live event. I submitted three of my SL tunes: Second Life (That's Where I Want To Be), Dear Linden, Dear Linden and It's the End of the World As We Know It (In Second Life). Watch this space to find out if I am one of the chosen few...!
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