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.
L'heure
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
NOTE: Femme = -F- / Homme = -H-
(cette chanson est un dialogue parlé entre deux personnes d'un couple français).
-F- Qu'est-ce que tu as pris au petit déjeuner ce matin ?
-H- Je n'ai rien mangé.
-F- Tu n'as pas faim?
-H- Si j'ai faim.
-F- Quoi de neuf ces derniers temps ?
-H- Rien de spécial.
-F- Vraiment rien d'intéressant ?
-H- Non pas vraiment...
(Coupure Musicale)
-F- Hummm... On n'a rien prévu aujourd'hui...?
-H- Bah non...
-F- (Spoupir) Rien à faire....
-H- Hé Oui !
-F- Bon, bah alors ?
-H- Qu'est-ce qu'on fait ?
-F- On va au lit ?
(Fin Musicale)
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
L'HEURE / written and performed by L'Arc~en~Ciel on the album "RAY" (2005)
NOTE: Woman = -W- / Man = -M-
(this song is a spoken dialogue between two French siblings -supposedly a married couple-).
-W- What did you have for breakfast this morning?
-H- I did not eat anything
-F- You are not hungry?
-H- Yes, I am hungry.
-F- What's new today?
-H- Nothing special
-F- Really nothing interesting?
-H- No, not really...
(Musical break)
-F- Hummm... We have not forecast anything to do today...?
-H- Bah no we have not.
-F- (whisper) Nothing to do...
-H- No, nothing!
-F- So, what then?
-H- What do we do?
-W- We go to bed?
(Musical ending)
The song “L’Heure” by L'Arc~en~Ciel portrays the mundane aspect of relationships through the dialogue between two individuals in a married couple. The lyrics are in French, adding a layer of romanticism to the conversation. The woman starts the conversation by asking the man about what he had for breakfast, and the man sheepishly responds that he had nothing. This mundane exchange sets the tone for the rest of the song where they both struggle to find something unique or interesting to say to each other.
The woman tries to bring up fascinating topics, but the man fails to engage. Their conversation is accompanied by a musical break and ends with them asking each other what they want to do. The woman suggests they go to bed, a metaphor for choosing to avoid engaging with each other. The song depicts the monotony of a relationship where the couple struggles to find anything interesting or new to talk about, and even mundane topics become challenging to discuss. It portrays a situation of familiarity breeding contempt, and the couple chooses to avoid the uncomfortable silence by going to bed.
Line by Line Meaning
W- What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Asking about the other person's eating habits
H- I did not eat anything
Admitting to not having eaten breakfast
F- You are not hungry?
Expressing surprise at the other person not eating
H- Yes, I am hungry.
Clarifying that they are indeed feeling hungry
F- What's new today?
Asking if anything interesting has happened
H- Nothing special
Replying that nothing out of the ordinary has occurred
F- Really nothing interesting?
Trying to confirm if there is truly nothing worth discussing
H- No, not really...
Admitting that nothing of note has taken place
(Musical break)
Interlude in the conversation
F- Hummm... We have not forecast anything to do today...?
Noting that there are no plans for the day
H- Bah no we have not.
Agreeing that nothing has been scheduled
F- (whisper) Nothing to do...
Muttering that there is nothing to do
H- No, nothing!
Affirming that there is indeed nothing to do
F- So, what then?
Asking what they should do with their time
H- What do we do?
Posing the same question back to the other person
W- We go to bed?
Suggesting that they go to sleep as a way to pass the time
(Musical ending)
Conclusion of the song
Contributed by Cole M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.