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.
虹
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
途切れそうなほど透明な声に
歩き出したその瞳へ
果てしない未来が続いてる
本当はとても心はもろく
誰もがひびわれている
降り出した雨に濡れて
信じてくれるから
誰より高く 空へと近づく
輝きを集め光を求める
燃え尽きても 構わないさ
全ては真実と共にある
「少年は人の影に歪んだ憎しみを見た」
そんな世界なんてもう何も見たくないよ
なにも！なにも！なにも！
「記憶の天秤にかけた 一つの傷が釣り合うには 百の愛を要する けれど 心は海岸の石のよう 波にもまれ たくさんの傷を得ることにより 愛は形成されてゆく」
それでも想う 貴方のことを
季節が流れていても・・・
目を閉じていつも見てた風景のように
何度目かの雨もあがった
せつない人よ 叶わぬ願いよ
なぜこの胸から愛は生まれて行く？
咲き乱れた花は揺れて
沈んだ大地に降り注ぐ
時は奏でて想いはあふれる
途切れそうなほど透明な声に
歩き出したその瞳へ
終わらない未来が捧げよう
(chorus)
stairway to heaven
labyrinth to heart
The song 虹 (niji) by L'Arc~en~Ciel is a beautiful and heartfelt ballad that speaks of hope and determination. The lyrics start with the passage of time and the overflowing emotions that come with it. The singer mentions that the voice is so transparent that it feels like it's about to break. The lyrics then shift to the singer's lover, who is standing in front of an endless future. The singer acknowledges that everyone's heart is fragile, but even in the pouring rain, the lover stands still because they believe in the singer. The singer then talks about collecting wonderful memories of the shining light and the infinite love that is formed through countless wounds. The chorus of the song is a repeated line, where the singer speaks of a stairway to heaven and a labyrinth to the heart.
The song's lyrics are very deep, and it reflects how life can be tough, and we all have our ups and downs. Still, we need to muster up the courage to move forward without any fear of failure or disappointment. The lyrics also touch on the fragility of our souls and hearts, which makes us all human, but it's also a sign of our strength to stand up and fight through all the vulnerabilities. The Stairway to Heaven is symbolic of the dream we all hold in our hearts, while the labyrinth to the heart shows how unpredictable and unknown the journey is going to be.
Line by Line Meaning
時は奏でて想いはあふれる
Time orchestrates overflowing emotions
途切れそうなほど透明な声に
In a transparent voice that's on the verge of breaking
歩き出したその瞳へ
To those eyes that began to walk
果てしない未来が続いてる
The endless future continues
本当はとても心はもろく
Actually, the heart is very fragile
誰もがひびわれている
Everyone has cracks
降り出した雨に濡れて
Drenched by the pouring rain
君はまた立ち止まってしまうけれど
But you stop again
信じてくれるから
Because I believe in you
誰より高く 空へと近づく
Approaching the sky higher than anyone
輝きを集め光を求める
Gathering brilliance and seeking light
燃え尽きても 構わないさ
Even if it burns out, it doesn't matter
全ては真実と共にある
Everything is with the truth
「少年は人の影に歪んだ憎しみを見た」
"The boy saw hatred that was warped by people's shadows"
そんな世界なんてもう何も見たくないよ
I don't want to see such a world anymore
なにも！なにも！なにも！
Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!
「記憶の天秤にかけた 一つの傷が釣り合うには 百の愛を要する けれど 心は海岸の石のよう 波にもまれ たくさんの傷を得ることにより 愛は形成されてゆく」
"To balance one injury on the scales of memory requires a hundred loves. However, the heart is like a stone on the coast, and love is formed by being injured many times by the waves."
それでも想う 貴方のことを
I still think of you
季節が流れていても・・・
Even if the seasons pass ...
目を閉じていつも見てた風景のように
Like the scenery always seen when closing your eyes
何度目かの雨もあがった
The rain has stopped many times
せつない人よ 叶わぬ願いよ
To the person with painful, unrequited love
なぜこの胸から愛は生まれて行く？
Why does love come from this heart?
咲き乱れた花は揺れて
The blooming flowers sway
沈んだ大地に降り注ぐ
Pouring down on the sunken land
終わらない未来が捧げよう
Dedicating an endless future
stairway to heaven
Stairway to heaven
labyrinth to heart
Labyrinth to heart
Contributed by Eli V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nozomi_654
「虹」歌詞
歌：L'Arc～en～Ciel
作詞：HYDE
作曲：KEN
時は奏でて想いはあふれる
途切れそうなほど透明な声に
歩きだしたその瞳へ
果てしない 未来が続いてる
本当はとても心はもろく
誰もがひびわれている
降り出した雨に濡れて
君はまた立ち止まってしまうけど
信じてくれるから
誰より高く 空へと近づく
輝きをあつめ光を求める
燃えつきても 構わないさ
全ては真実と共にある Ah…
「少年は人の影に歪んだ憎しみを見た」
そんな世界なんてもう何も見たくないよ
何も! 何も! 何も!
それでも想う 貴方のことを
季節が流れていても…
目を閉じていつも見てた風景のように
何度目かの雨もあがった
せつない人よ 叶わぬ願いよ
なぜこの胸から愛は生まれて行く?
咲き乱れた花は揺れて
沈んだ大地に降り注ぐ
愛を時は奏でて想いはあふれる
途切れそうなほど透明な声に
歩き出したその瞳へ
終わらない未来を捧げよう
@GurakawaYuu
時は奏でて想いはあふれる
途切れそうなほど透明な声に
歩きだした (stairway to heaven)
その瞳へ (labyrinth to heart)
果てしない 未来が続いてる
本当はとても心はもろく
誰もがひびわれている
降り出した雨に濡れて
君はまた立ち止まってしまうけど
信じてくれるから
誰より高く 空へと近づく
輝きをあつめ 光を求める
燃え尽きても (stairway to heaven)
構わないさ (labyrinth to heart)
全ては真実と共にある
「少年は人の影に 歪んだ憎しみを見た」
そんな世界なんて もう何も見たくないよ
何も! 何も! 何も!
それでも想う 貴方のことを
季節が流れていても
目を閉じていつも見てた風景のように
何度目かの雨もあがった
せつない人よ 叶わぬ願いよ
なぜこの胸から愛は生まれて行く?
咲き乱れた (stairway to heaven)
花は揺れて (labyrinth to heart)
沈んだ大地に降り注ぐ
愛を時は奏でて想いはあふれる
途切れそうなほど透明な声に
歩き出した (stairway to heaven)
その瞳へ (labyrinth to heart)
終わらない未来を捧げよう
@user-md2rt3mz1e
少年は人の影に歪んだ憎しみを見た
そんな世界なんてもう何も見たくないよ
何も何も
この曲の発売当時、
私は思春期真っ盛りで、
父親はDVで、
兄は暴走族で、
家が荒れに荒れた状態で、
ヘッドフォンでこの曲を無心に聴いていた。
ラルクに支えてもらった思春期だった。
感謝しています。
@llazugon8977
Kenちゃんが「虹のイメージが浮かんできて、数秒でこの曲作った」って言ってたの聞いてやっぱこの人天才だわと思った。
@minet5262
学歴もすごいですからね。人柄も良さそうだし。🤗
@huihui1842
普通なら「over the rainbow」をそのまなぞるだけで終わりだよな、メガドライブのゲームにハマってた奴なら尚更だし😂
@llazugon8977
あと、Kenちゃんから「虹」の音源を渡されたHydeさんは一回聴いただけで全てのメロディーを完璧に覚えてしまったっていう逸話もある。才能が異次元すぎ。
@SHgenki
若いときは流行ってたって感じだけど、歌詞を見返して今、聞けば聞くほど名曲だと感じる。当時はメロディーサビが凄く良い感じぐらいだったけど、歌詞の美しさに惹かれる。
@swytk3908
メンバー欠員からのこの強烈な曲
とんだけセンスの塊なんだよこの人たち
@huihui1842
普通のサラリーマンには無理ね😅😅😅
@user-ep5ol3ro5f
愛情からのメッセージだったんだなぁと思いました。当時愛情や思いやりの気持ちをこれっぽっちも分からなかったですが。
@user-eg5iv7po2x
虹って曲名だけ聴いたら明るいイメージだけど、虹ってタイトルでこれだけダークなイメージでなおかつ、明日への希望を歌うなんてラルク以外出来ないよ。
@taktak852
「敢えて虹と言う言葉を歌詞に使わないことで、滅多に見れない虹を表現した」
もう、センスの塊でしかないと思いました。