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.

真実と幻想と
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

肌を刻んで詩人は血で語る
遠い旅路この魂が手を引く

囲まれて迷うカスバ yeah
底なしの夢

運命と欲望を
波打つ海に捧げた

入江に浮かぶ炎みたいに

抱いてガイタの響きわたる月夜に
飼いならされた男たちを誘って

重ね合うベリーダンス yeah
生まれ来た理由

真実と幻想と
この目に映る全てを
血が枯れ果てるまで ooh

この海とこの丘を
渡る風に言葉をのせる
それは私の証

真実と幻想と

この目に映る全てを
血が枯れ果てるまで歌おう

Overall Meaning

In the song 真実と幻想と by L'Arc~en~Ciel, the first line "肌を刻んで詩人は血で語る" can be interpreted as a poet who writes their poetry with their own blood, carving it into their skin. This can be seen as a metaphor for the pain and sacrifices that artists go through to create their work. The next line, "遠い旅路この魂が手を引く" can be translated to mean that the soul is being led on a distant journey, perhaps for the purpose of finding oneself or seeking the truth.

The chorus, "真実と幻想と　この目に映る全てを　血が枯れ果てるまで ooh" can be translated to mean that the singer will sing about everything that they see with their eyes, whether it is true or just an illusion, until their blood runs out. This can be seen as an expression of the singer's commitment to their beliefs and their willingness to endure any pain or hardship to pursue their passions.

The song as a whole explores themes of sacrifice, self-discovery, and perseverance. The lyrics and intense instrumentation create a powerful and emotional expression of the struggles that artists and individuals may face in their journeys to find their own truth.

Line by Line Meaning

肌を刻んで詩人は血で語る
The poet speaks with his blood carved into his skin.

遠い旅路この魂が手を引く
This long journey is guided by my soul.

囲まれて迷うカスバ yeah
I'm lost in the surrounded Kasbah.

底なしの夢
Bottomless dreams.

運命と欲望を波打つ海に捧げた
I offered my destiny and desire to the undulating sea.

入江に浮かぶ炎みたいに
Like flames floating in the bay.

抱いてガイタの響きわたる月夜に飼いならされた男たちを誘って
Embracing and luring tamed men in the resounding moonlit night of Guita.

重ね合うベリーダンス yeah
Overlapping belly dances.

生まれ来た理由
The reason for my birth.

真実と幻想とこの目に映る全てを血が枯れ果てるまで ooh
Until my blood runs dry, I will sing of everything that appears to my eyes as both truth and illusion.

この海とこの丘を渡る風に言葉をのせるそれは私の証
On this sea and this hill, I place my words on the wind that crosses them. That is my proof.