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.
Round and Round
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
頭をぶつけるまで傷付けるから
今まで一体何を教わってきたの？
自分の血を見るまで近よらないで！
あなたの世界はとても理解できない
救い様のない程歪んでるよ
笑えない知性の無いお遊びの果てに
造られた緑の上 鮮やかな光で
壊れてしまったまま 回るよ
Round and Round Merry-Go-Round
[round in merry world]
僕らを乗せて
Round and Round Merry-Go-Round
[round in merry world]
止められない 連鎖反応
途切れそうなくらい
Round and Round
大切な愛を抱いて
穏やかさに満たされて
無機質に造られた緑の上
鮮やかな光で 壊れてしまったまま
誰も気付かないで 回るよ
Round and Round Merry-Go-Round
[round in merry world]
僕らを乗せて
Round and Round Merry-Go-Round
[round in merry world]
危険を散りばめられたまま
[round in merry world]
明日への扉に手をかける
[round in merry world]
止められない 連鎖反応
気が触れるくらい
Round and Round
The song Round and Round by L'Arc~en~Ciel presents a strong message against adult society. The first verse states that "I hate adults who don't know the pain / They hurt you until you hit your head / What have you learned so far in your life? / Don't come close until you see your own blood!" These lines criticize adults who don't understand the struggles of the younger generation and who continue to harm them without realizing it. The second verse follows with "I can't understand your world / It's so twisted that there's no salvation / At the end of foolish fun without intelligence / If you want to leave the garden, ask your mom." This section emphasizes the disconnect between the younger and older generations and the lack of understanding they have for each other.
The chorus of the song, with its catchy tune and repeating lyrics, adds to the overall theme of the song. The line "Round and Round Merry-Go-Round" represents the cycle or repetition of the world's problems and how difficult it is to break away from them. The bittersweet tone of the song conveys a sense of hopelessness in trying to escape from the restraints of society.
Overall, L'Arc~en~Ciel's Round and Round is a poignant message of frustration towards the rigid structures and cycles of society. It warns against blindly following the routines and ideas of previous generations and promotes the idea of breaking away from these cycles in order to forge new paths.
Line by Line Meaning
痛みを知らない大人は嫌い
I hate adults who know no pain
頭をぶつけるまで傷付けるから
Because they hurt until I hit my head
今まで一体何を教わってきたの？
What exactly have I been taught so far?
自分の血を見るまで近よらないで！
Don't get close until you see your own blood!
あなたの世界はとても理解できない
I can't understand your world very well
救い様のない程歪んでるよ
It's so distorted beyond salvation
笑えない知性の無いお遊びの果てに
At the end of the meaningless, unintellectual play that I can't laugh at
庭を出たいならママに聞いてごらん
If you want to leave the garden, ask mom
造られた緑の上 鮮やかな光で
On the created green, with brilliant light
壊れてしまったまま 回るよ
Spinning as it is broken
Round and Round Merry-Go-Round
Round and Round Merry-Go-Round
[round in merry world]
[round in merry world]
僕らを乗せて
Take us for a ride
止められない 連鎖反応
Unstoppable chain reaction
途切れそうなくらい
Almost seems to be interrupted
大切な愛を抱いて
Embracing precious love
穏やかさに満たされて
Filled with calmness
無機質に造られた緑の上
On the inorganic green that was created
誰も気付かないで 回るよ
Spinning without anyone noticing
危険を散りばめられたまま
Still studded with danger
明日への扉に手をかける
Put your hand on the door to tomorrow
気が触れるくらい
Enough to make you go crazy
Round and Round
Round and Round
Contributed by Grayson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.