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.

Butterfly's Sleep
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

少女のように可憐な瞳は
透明なままで
交わらない淡く白い肌
蝶のように舞うドレス

秘めた想い結ばれなくとも
永遠を願った季節は
そっと影を密め暗闇の支配

歪んだ歯車

その大地を焼き払えばいい
その全てを奪い合えばいい

もう二度と貴方の目は
この美しい夜明けを
映すことも叶いはしない
命を束ね棒げても

(Please rise from the dead on)
(Please rise from the dead on)
(Please rise from the dead on)
Death with my last kiss

その大地を焼き払えばいい
その全てを奪い合えばいい
あぁ何を何を望まれて
悲しみを生み出すのか?

いつまでもその寝顔を
静かに見つめていた
眠りを誘う優しい風が
二人を包むまで

この恋は時を越えて
貴方の元に咲かせよう

幾千の夜と朝を迎え
誰の手にも届かない地で

Overall Meaning

In "Butterfly's Sleep," L'Arc~en~Ciel sings about a girl whose delicate eyes remain transparent, and whose lightly white skin dance like a butterfly in her dress. Though her hidden feelings go unreturned, she wishes for an eternal season. However, the shadows darken and the twisted gears rule in darkness. The lyrics suggest that perhaps burning the earth and taking everything would be the way to regain the beautiful dawn. A plea for resurrection is repeated at the end, as the girl's gentle sleeping face is gazed upon until a gentle wind wraps the two in slumber. The singer declares that this love will surpass time and that it will bloom by the listener's side, even after thousands of nights and mornings that no one can reach.

The song's title, "Butterfly's Sleep," might seem like a contradiction. This refers to the famous myth of the man who dreamed he was a butterfly dreaming he was a man. In this case, the girl's lightness and airy quality are reminiscent of a butterfly. The lyrics suggest that the girl is in a kind of sleep or dreamlike state, where her desires remain unfulfilled.

The phrase "Please rise from the dead on Death with my last kiss" could be interpreted in a number of ways. One possible meaning is that the singer wants to impart the kiss of life to the girl, so that she awakens from her dreamlike state. Another potential interpretation is that the girl has already passed away, and the singer wishes her a peaceful rest in the afterlife.

Line by Line Meaning

少女のように可憐な瞳は
Her eyes, innocent and delicate like a young girl's, remain crystal clear

透明なままで
Transparent and unclouded

交わらない淡く白い肌
Her pale skin, so light and ethereal, never touches another's

蝶のように舞うドレス
Her dress dances like a butterfly in the breeze

秘めた想い結ばれなくとも
Though their secret feelings will go unfulfilled

永遠を願った季節は
In a season where they wished for eternity

そっと影を密め暗闇の支配
Silently, shadows encroach and darkness rules

歪んだ歯車
As crooked gears turn

その大地を焼き払えばいい
It would be better to just burn this earth

その全てを奪い合えばいい
Or steal everything away from each other

もう二度と貴方の目は
Never again will your eyes