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.
Inner Core
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The soul says "Welcome to the inner core, inner core of myself"
「君には始まりも終わりもない 死は生であり 生は死だ!
君が見たこともない愛を信じるように 意識は存在する 永遠に」
歪められて浮遊する 現世侵すその声に
隠せぬ戸惑いを笑う彼は私なのか
信じてた世界の殻が剥がされる
千億の足跡が目の前に広がる
The real truth I realize それは言葉を超えた
I realize 「何か」を意味する
The real truth I realize それは領域を超えた
I realize 「自己」を意味する
Where is my body where is it?
軽い眩暈のあと漂う意識に
記憶の洪水が直接流れこむ
The real truth I realize それは言葉を超えた
I realize 「何か」を意味する
The real truth I realize それは領域を超えた
I realize 「自己」を意味する
My body is unnecessary! I realize
My soul says
My soul says
「君には始まりも終わりもない 死は生であり 生は死だ!
未来も過去も意味をもたない
君が見たこともない愛を信じるように 意識は存在する 永遠に」
The song "Inner Core" by L'Arc~en~Ciel is a reflective piece on the nature of existence and the human consciousness. The lyrics paint a picture of the inner workings of the human soul and the discovery of the “inner core” that is the essence of oneself. The lines, “The soul says 'Welcome to the inner core, inner core'” and “The soul says 'Welcome to the inner core, inner core of myself'" suggest a deeper spiritual awakening or revelation that the singer has had or is experiencing.
The song opens with the lines, “There is no beginning or end to you. Death is life and life is death! Just like believing in a love you've never seen before. Consciousness exists, eternally.” These lines speak to the cyclical nature of life and death and imply a search for meaning in one's existence. The chorus continues to emphasize this, with lines like “The real truth I realize, it transcends words. It means ‘something’” and “My body is unnecessary! I realize,” suggesting that the answers to the singer’s questions about the purpose of existence and the nature of consciousness lie beyond the physical realm.
The song ends with the lines, “There is no beginning or end to you. Death is life and life is death! The future and the past have no meaning. Just like believing in a love you've never seen before. Consciousness exists, eternally.” These lines bring the song full circle, reflecting a sense of acceptance and understanding of the interconnectedness of all things.
Overall, the lyrics of "Inner Core" convey a sense of introspection and personal awakening as the singer explores the depths of their consciousness.
Line by Line Meaning
The soul says "Welcome to the inner core, inner core"
The singer's soul is greeting them to explore their true self, or inner core.
"君には始まりも終わりもない 死は生であり 生は死だ!
Death and life are intertwined, and the singer believes that for them, there is no beginning or end.
君が見たこともない愛を信じるように 意識は存在する 永遠に"
The singer believes that consciousness and the existence of a love that the listener has not yet experienced will endure eternally.
歪められて浮遊する 現世侵すその声に
The artist feels distorted and adrift in a voice that invades their present reality.
隠せぬ戸惑いを笑う彼は私なのか
The artist questions whether the one who laughs at their confusion is truly themselves or not.
Where is my body where is it?
The singer has lost track of their physical being and is searching for it.
信じてた世界の殻が剥がされる
The singer's beliefs about the world are being stripped away.
千億の足跡が目の前に広がる
The artist is confronted with countless paths to take.
The real truth I realize それは言葉を超えた
The artist has come to understand the truth in a way that cannot be expressed through words alone.
I realize 「何か」を意味する
The truth the artist has discovered holds significance that cannot be fully understood.
The real truth I realize それは領域を超えた
The singer has discovered a truth that transcends limitations or boundaries.
I realize 「自己」を意味する
The truth the artist has discovered pertains to their inner self or true nature.
軽い眩暈のあと漂う意識に
The singer is left with a slight dizziness as their consciousness floats free.
記憶の洪水が直接流れこむ
A flood of memories rushes directly into the singer's consciousness.
My body is unnecessary! I realize
The singer has come to an understanding that their physical body is not essential.
My soul says
The artist's inner self or true nature speaks.
"未来も過去も意味をもたない
The artist believes that both the future and past hold no significance.
君が見たこともない愛を信じるように 意識は存在する 永遠に"
The singer believes that, as with believing in love never before experienced, consciousness will endure eternally.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hyde, Sakura
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind