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.
EXISTENCE
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
この部屋から出て行けよ好い加減に
眠れないよ 何時もの様に
頭の中居座る
Take away, their existence
Take away, their insistence
気づいた時は手遅れ追い帰せない
夢の番人のつもりなのかい
頭の中居座る
Take away, their existence
Take away, their insistence
連れ去られた夜と手招くまぶしい
太陽が無邪気な笑顔で
目覚めろと追い詰める
I'll wake up the moment you close your eyes
I'll make you watch documentary movies every single night
The more you try to forget
The more I'll be at your side
I am the vampire who lives in the darkness of your mind
You will not be able to sleep
So why don't you just stay awake?
Take away, their existence
Take away, their insistence
君の肌に沈み 優しく溺れられたなら
肺が溢れるまで 満たしたい君で
連れ去られた夜と 手招く眩しい太陽へ
銃口を突き出して掴み取れ自由を!
Take away
Take away
Take away
Take away
You will not be able to sleep
You will not be able to sleep
So why don't you just stay awake?
The song "EXISTENCE" by L'Arc~en~Ciel depicts a person who is stuck in their own mind and cannot escape the constant thoughts and memories that haunt them. The first few lines "The clock hands are already in the third week. Get out of this room and be decent" imply that time is passing and the person is still stuck in the same place mentally. They cannot sleep and their thoughts are taking control of their mind.
The repeated phrases "Take away their existence" and "take away their insistence" refer to the person's desire to get rid of these thoughts and memories, which are trying to take over their existence. However, as the song progresses, it is revealed that the person is actually fighting against a vampire - a creature that represents their own inner demons. The vampire is trying to keep the person awake and prevent them from finding peace. The line "I am the vampire who lives in the darkness of your mind" reveals that this vampire is a part of the person themselves - a manifestation of their own fears and anxieties.
Line by Line Meaning
時計の針は既に3週目に突入
The clock has already entered its third round
この部屋から出て行けよ好い加減に
Get out of this room, for good measure
眠れないよ何時もの様に
I can't sleep, as usual
頭の中居座る
It's stuck in my head
Take away. Their existence.
Take away their existence
Take away. Their insistence.
Take away their insistence
奴が来たら更に状況は悪化
If he comes, the situation will worsen
気づいた時は手遅れ追い帰せない
When you realize it, it's too late and you can't go back
夢の番人のつもりなのかい
Are you supposed to be the guardian of my dreams?
連れ去られた夜と手招くまぶしい
The night I was taken away and the dazzling invitation
太陽が無邪気な笑顔で目覚めろと追い詰める
The sun chases you to wake up with an innocent smile
I'll wake up the moment you close your eyes
I'll wake you up as soon as you close your eyes
I'll make you watch documentary movies every single night
I'll make you watch documentary movies every night
The more you try to forget
The more you try to forget
The more I'll be at your side
The more I'll be at your side
I am the vampire who lives in the darkness of your mind
I am the vampire who lives in the darkness of your mind
You will not be able to sleep
You won't be able to sleep
So why don't you just stay awake...?
So why not just stay awake...?
君の肌に沈み優しく溺れられたなら
If I could sink into your skin and gently drown
肺が溢れるまで満たしたい君で
I want to fill you up until your lungs overflow
連れ去られた夜と手招く眩しい太陽へ
To the night I was taken away and the dazzling sun that beckons me
銃口を突き出して掴み取れ自由を!
Point the gun and seize your freedom!
Take away.
Take away
Take away.
Take away
Take away.
Take away
Take away.
Take away
You will not be able to sleep
You won't be able to sleep
You will not be able to sleep
You won't be able to sleep
So why don't you just stay awake...?
So why not just stay awake...?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hyde, Ken
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind