Formed in 1991, L'Arc~en~Ciel is one of the most popular rock bands from Ja… Read Full Bio ↴Formed in 1991, L'Arc~en~Ciel is one of the most popular rock bands from Japan. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist hyde, leader and bassist tetsuya, guitarist ken, and drummer yukihiro, who replaced drummer sakura in 1997. From their beginnings in Osaka, Japan, they previously included guitarist hiro and drummer pero. All four members are established composers which adds variety to their catalog of songs. Their music ranges from ballads, to hard rock, to light pop-rock tunes.

Their debut single Blurry Eyes released in 1994 was used as the opening theme for the animated TV show DNA². In late 1996, L'Arc~en~Ciel gained worldwide attention for the first time after the release of their fourth album, True. This album includes the single the Fourth Avenue Cafe, which was used as an ending theme for the popular animated TV show Rurouni Kenshin. However, drummer sakura was arrested for drug possession and consequently all L'Arc~en~Ciel merchandise was removed from store shelves. The release of their single the Fourth Avenue Cafe was canceled and the song was immediately removed from the TV series.

sakura left the band in 1997, and former DIE IN CRIES drummer yukihiro replaced him for the REINCARNATION tour that year, subsequently serving as a support member for their first single after the incident, 虹 (Niji). Eventually, yukihiro officially joined the band and released the album HEART in 1998.

After the release of their eighth album REAL in 2000, L'Arc~en~Ciel went on a hiatus, releasing only compilation albums aside from their 2001 single, Spirit dreams inside -another dream-, the theme for the CG-animated Final Fantasy movie. During this time, each member engaged in solo projects: yukihiro with the band acid android, ken and former L'Arc~en~Ciel drummer sakura with SONS OF ALL PUSSYS, HYDE as a solo artist, and tetsu as TETSU69. On March 31st, 2004, L'Arc~en~Ciel released SMILE, their first album in four years.

On July 31st, 2004, L'Arc~en~Ciel performed their first concert in the United States at Otakon, a Japanese animation convention. They performed for an audience of more than 12,000 in Baltimore, Maryland.

They are best known outside of Japan for the song READY STEADY GO, which served as the second opening theme for the animated series Fullmetal Alchemist, and Link for the show's respective theatrical film. These songs earned them substantial Western popularity and attention to their album, SMILE, which was released in the United States by American label Tofu Records.

After more than a year since SMILE, the band released AWAKE on June 22nd, 2005, which was accompanied by ASIALIVE, L'Arc~en~Ciel's first tour to take them to South Korea and China, as well as the Japanese AWAKE tour.

The year 2006 marked the band's 15th anniversary since their debut. It was celebrated with the release of a box set of books titled L'Arc~en~Ciel BOX, re-releases of their first 15 singles along with the albums ark and ray, and the L'Anniversary live concerts held on November 25th and 26th. They also finally released the Fourth Avenue Cafe, the single canceled nearly 10 years prior, as part of their 15th anniversary celebrations.

The year 2007 saw increased activity for the band, with the release of four new singles, four DVD releases, the new album KISS, and the beginning of two back-to-back tours. The first was TOUR 2007-2008 THEATER OF KISS in Japan, followed by L'7 ～trans ASIA via PARIS～. The latter tour took them through Shanghai, Taiwan, Paris, Seoul, Hong Kong, and a return to Japan for shows in Tokyo and Osaka. At the end of this tour it was announced that the band would not tour again until their 20th anniversary in 2011. The band, however, says they're not on hiatus.

2008 saw the release of two new single from the band, DRINK IT DOWN released in April, and the double A-side NEXUS 4 / SHINE in August. Since then, HYDE has begun a new solo project with former OBLIVION DUST guitarist K.A.Z as VAMPS, with the release of a self-titled album and successful tours in Japan and the United States. With the legacy of 11 albums and 35 singles, L'Arc~en~Ciel continue to gather more and more fans throughout the world who eagerly await their return to renewed band activities.

ガラス玉
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

バランス失くした魚のように
僕はらせんを描く
水面に揺らめくキレイな月が
泳ぎ疲れた肌をそっと照らして
こぼれてゆく吐息はガラス玉
たくさんの光り集め舞い上がってく
words into the silence
月はそっと波を揺らすけれど

とめどなく流れ出した
記憶は胸をしめつけて
あのやさしさもあのときめきも
持ってくよ
時に抱かれてinto the silence
into the silence
...もう僕はこれ以上泳げないから

今また凍った雫の
波紋が指先まで広がり......
あヽ少しずつ途絶えてく
真っ白な時に魅せられて
あの歌さえもう思い出せない
あヽこのまま僕は消えてしまいそう
into the silence

水面に揺らめくキレイな月が
泳ぎ疲れた肌をそっと照らし......

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to L'Arc~en~Ciel's song ガラス玉 ("Glass Marble") convey a sense of weariness and resignation. The singer compares himself to a fish out of balance, swimming in spirals as he struggles to stay afloat. The beauty of the moon reflected on the water's surface brings him some solace, but his breaths escape him like fragile glass marbles. Still, he gathers up his scattered light and rises toward the sky. Despite the moon gently rocking the waves, memories flood his mind and trap him in a stranglehold. He remembers his past loves and feels their caring hands on his chest, but he knows that he can no longer keep swimming forward.

The second verse follows the singer as he sits and watches ripples made by frozen droplets spread across the surface of the water. The beauty of the pure white surroundings arrest him, making him forget the song that once brought him hope. He fears that he will disappear in this frozen world and be forgotten. Once again, he is lured into the silence, where the moon glows softly and the water shimmers with silent energy.

Line by Line Meaning

バランス失くした魚のように
Like a fish out of balance, I draw a spiral

僕はらせんを描く
I draw a spiral

水面に揺らめくキレイな月が
The beautiful moon shimmering on the water's surface

泳ぎ疲れた肌をそっと照らして
Gently illuminating my tired skin

こぼれてゆく吐息はガラス玉
My exhaling breaths are like glass beads

たくさんの光り集め舞い上がってく
Gathering many lights and dancing upwards

words into the silence
Words into the silence

月はそっと波を揺らすけれど
The moon gently shakes the waves

とめどなく流れ出した
Flowed out endlessly

記憶は胸をしめつけて
Memories hold my heart tight

あのやさしさもあのときめきも
That kindness and that excitement