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.
未来世界
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
宇宙旅行 正義のヒーロー
こわかった かいぶつたちも
本当にいたころ
銀河系を抜け出て
アンドロメダへと
ひとみときめかせながら
幼いころ 夢見ていた
未来世界 うかぶくるま
こわかった ロボットさえ
すこしさみしそう
信じてたら 行けたの?
未来世界へと
僕は叶わなかったけど
君なら行ける きっと
銀河系を抜け出て
アンドロメダへと
僕は叶わなかったけど
君に会えて 充分
良い夢見て good night
The lyrics to L'Arc~en~Ciel's song 未来世界 or "Mirai Sekai" in English, talks about the dreams that the singer had when he was young. He dreamed of space travel and being a hero of justice. He believed in the existence of monsters and creatures beyond our galaxy. As he gazed upon a picture book, he was fascinated by the idea of traveling to Andromeda galaxy. He was hopeful and fearless, believing that if he just believed, he could go to that world of the future that he had always dreamt of.
The lyrics then shift to the present, where the singer wonders if the future world that he dreamed of can actually be reached. He admits that he wasn't able to reach that future world that he had fantasized about when he was younger, but believes that the person listening to the song can achieve it. With the encouragement to believe in oneself, the singer ends the song with a wish for sweet dreams.
Overall, the song brings up the idea of never giving up on one's dreams and persevering despite the challenges that come. It is also a reminder that even if one isn't able to reach their dreams, it doesn't mean that everything is lost.
Line by Line Meaning
幼いころ 夢見ていた
When I was young, I had a dream
宇宙旅行 正義のヒーロー
Of going on space travel and being a hero of justice
こわかった かいぶつたちも
Even monsters, which used to scare me
本当にいたころ
Were real
銀河系を抜け出て
We left the Milky Way
アンドロメダへと
And went to Andromeda
ひとみときめかせながら
My heart filled with excitement
見つめていた 絵本
As I looked at a picture book
未来世界 うかぶくるま
I dreamt of a future world, floating in a car
こわかった ロボットさえ
Even robots, which used to scare me before
すこしさみしそう
Seemed a little lonely
信じてたら 行けたの?
If I had believed, could I have gone?
未来世界へと
To that future world
僕は叶わなかったけど
Although my wish couldn't come true
君なら行ける きっと
I'm sure you can make it there
僕は叶わなかったけど
Although my wish couldn't come true
君に会えて 充分
Meeting you is enough for me
良い夢見て good night
Sweet dreams, goodnight
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hyde, Ken
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind