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.
White Feathers
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
眺めの良い窓は閉ざしたまま 鳥の絵を
部屋のすみには 足をつながれた鳥が必死に羽ばたき
彼はそれを哀しげに見つめては 彼女に想いをはせて
Will you please tell me the way to the sky
すぐそばに今存るのに
Will you please tell me the way to the sky
とどかないもっと高く
今が昼なのか夜なのかさえ解らない
幾つもの夜を越えて ふいに彼は重い窓を開けた
太陽と風が部屋に広がり 彼を外へつれ去った
Will you please tell me the way to the sky
舞い上がる 風の中
Will you please tell me the way to the sky
閉ざしたまま
羽根は広がらず落ちて行く
It look like white feathers
少しの歪みの後にすべてを知る 叶わぬ事を
Will you please tell me the way to the sky
すぐそばに存るのに
Will you please tell me the way to the sky
指先さえ ふれられない
Will you please tell me the way to the sky
あの鳥のように
この地につながれている
Will you please tell me the way to the sky
ああ 空は何も変わらず
そこにいた
The lyrics of L'Arc~en~Ciel's song "White Feathers" describe a person who is painting a picture in a room where white feathers are falling. The room's windows are closed, preventing a view of the sky, and a bird with tied feet is struggling to fly in one corner. The singer looks at the bird with a sad expression and thinks about a person whom he loves. He then asks "Will you please tell me the way to the sky?" multiple times, expressing a desire to escape the confines of the room and reach the sky like the struggling bird. The singer finally opens the heavy window after multiple nights of feeling trapped and is taken away by the sun and wind outside.
The lyrics seem to convey a feeling of being trapped and unable to escape a situation, as well as a longing for freedom and the unknown possibilities outside. The use of white feathers falling in the room and a bird unable to fly can be interpreted as symbolic of the singer's own struggle to break free from their perceived confines as well.
Line by Line Meaning
白い羽根が舞いおちる部屋の中で彼は絵を画く
He draws a picture in the room where white feathers dance
眺めの良い窓は閉ざしたまま 鳥の絵を
The window with a good view remains closed with a bird's picture
部屋のすみには 足をつながれた鳥が必死に羽ばたき
A bird bound by the legs flaps its wings desperately in the corner of the room
彼はそれを哀しげに見つめては 彼女に想いをはせて
He looks sadly at it and thinks of his girlfriend
Will you please tell me the way to the sky
Asks for directions to the sky
すぐそばに今存るのに
Although it's already right beside
遠のいて行く
It's getting far away
とどかないもっと高く
Out of reach, even higher
今が昼なのか夜なのかさえ解らない
Doesn't even know if it's day or night
幾つもの夜を越えて ふいに彼は重い窓を開けた
After many nights, he suddenly opened the heavy window
太陽と風が部屋に広がり 彼を外へつれ去った
The sun and wind filled the room and took him away outside
舞い上がる 風の中
Rising up in the midst of the wind
閉ざしたまま
Remains closed
羽根は広がらず落ちて行く
His wings don't spread and he falls
It look like white feathers
Appears like white feathers
少しの歪みの後にすべてを知る 叶わぬ事を
Realizes everything after a little distortion and unattainable things
指先さえ ふれられない
Cannot even touch by fingertips
あの鳥のように この地につながれている
Tied to this ground just like that bird
ああ 空は何も変わらず そこにいた
Ah, the sky is still the same, I was there
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Hyde, Ken
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind