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.

Twinkle Twinkle
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

夢は儚き夢は
まだその眼に熱を伝えているの?
空にこの手を今空へ
届かないまま翳してみよう
果てた実を庇う術はもう
そこへ埋めて
Yeah
流れてゆく星の涙を数えながら

揺れる時をわたって
君の傍で僕の眼の前に
晒されだした
全ての愛で
Lost yourself in happiness
Changing,
Nothing gonna changing.
彷徨い巡る季節に惑わされて
縋るこの血が今縋るものに
身を委ねてみよう
果てた実はやがて空へ
向かうだろう
Yeah
流れてゆく星の涙を数えながら
揺れる時をわたって
君の傍で僕の眼の前に
晒されだした
全ての愛で
Lost yourself in happiness
Get it on! Get it on! Get it on!
Nothing to fear

Yeah
零れてゆく星の涙は
消えてゆくけど
ほらまた一つ生まれ来る
君の傍で僕の心に今刻みこむ
全ての愛で
Lost yourself in happiness
Get it on! Get it on! Get it on!
Nothing to fear

Get it on! Get it on! Get it on!
Nothing to fear

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of L'Arc~en~Ciel's song "twinkle twinkle" talk about the transience of dreams and the passing of time. The opening lines ask if the dreams are still giving warmth to the person's eyes while also hinting at their fleeting nature. The singer then talks about trying to reach up to the sky with their hands, but they can't quite make it, and instead decide to protect the withered fruits by burying them. The theme of being unable to reach a goal is linked to the idea of counting the tears of a shooting star as it passes by and crossing the trembling time.

The chorus is about being exposed to all the love that surrounds them while they're with their loved one, and also losing oneself in happiness. The second verse talks about how people can sometimes get lost in confusion during different seasons, leading them to cling onto something/someone. In the end, they decide to entrust their fate to what they're clinging onto, and it's revealed that the withered fruit will eventually make their way to the sky. The song ends on a hopeful note of something being born again, and the singer cutting all of their love into their heart as they stand next to their loved one.

Line by Line Meaning

夢は儚き夢は
Dreams are fleeting dreams

まだその眼に熱を伝えているの?
Are you still moved by that dream?

空にこの手を今空へ
Now, I'll reach my hand up into the sky

届かないまま翳してみよう
Even if I can't reach, I'll try to shadow it

果てた実を庇う術はもうそこへ埋めて
The trick to protect the dead fruit is to bury it there

Yeah
Yeah

流れてゆく星の涙を数えながら
As I count the tears of the stars streaming past

揺れる時をわたって
Weaves through the swaying time

君の傍で僕の眼の前に晒されだした全ての愛で
Exposed before my eyes, all this love that I have for you by your side

Lost yourself in happiness
Lost yourself in happiness

Changing, Nothing gonna changing.
Changing, nothing's going to change