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.

Promised Land
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

「花が咲いているよ色とりどりの花が」
夢見るならどうぞ気が遠くなるから
「雨を降らせましょう何日も絶やさずに」
でもあなたもどうせ逝く時はいっしょさ

飢えた狼たちが愛を偽造する
「さぁ私を信じて下さい」

止まらない炎は進む
遅すぎた目覚めの後はあぁ「さよなら」さ

「愛を育てましょう」なんて不思議な言葉で
もう取り返せないそう未来なんかない
架空のお話はそう素敵な現実
今それならすぐにさぁ火星に行こう

教えられた歴史争いのプロフィール
「さぁ奇跡を信じて下さい」

願いは焼き尽くされて
終わらない瓦礫の世界であぁ誰に捧ぐ?
Devil's walk in the strawberry fields
しぼりたての涙をどうぞあぁ召しあがれ
「愛すべき者よ!」

あぁ誰もいない夜空に向かって
あぁあなたを救えるの?

Devil's walk in the strawberry fields
Devil's walk in the strawberry fields

止まらない炎は進む
遅すぎた目覚めの後はあぁ「さよなら」さ
Devil's walk in the strawberry fields

しぼりたての涙をどうぞあぁ召しあがれ
蜜の味がするかい?

Overall Meaning

The Japanese lyrics of L'Arc~en~Ciel's "Promised land" paint a picture of a world in turmoil, where flowers bloom in colorful chaos and wolves hunger for love. The song speaks of dreams and hope, but also of the harsh reality that all things must end, love can be lost, and the past cannot be changed. The first verse offers a vivid image of a flower garden and invites the listener to dream, as the world can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, the second line's pessimistic tone hints at the inevitability of disappointment, as even a dream can only provide temporary relief. The third line is an invitation to let the rain pour down and wash away pain, and yet, the fourth line reminds us that death will eventually come for us all, regardless of how we try to find comfort.

Line by Line Meaning

花が咲いているよ色とりどりの花が
Look at the colorful flowers in full bloom

夢見るならどうぞ気が遠くなるから
But be warned, it might make you dizzy

雨を降らせましょう何日も絶やさずに
Let's rain down constantly, day after day

でもあなたもどうせ逝く時はいっしょさ
But you too, will pass away eventually

飢えた狼たちが愛を偽造する
Desperate wolves will counterfeit love

さぁ私を信じて下さい
Come on and believe in me

止まらない炎は進む
The unstoppable flames keep going

遅すぎた目覚めの後はあぁ「さよなら」さ
After waking up too late, it's like saying goodbye

愛を育てましょうなんて不思議な言葉で
Such a mysterious phrase, "let's nurture love"

もう取り返せないそう未来なんかない
We can't undo it anymore, there's no such thing as future

架空のお話はそう素敵な現実
The fictional story is actually a beautiful reality