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.

a silent letter
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

指先にはもう届かない
はるかな夜空へ
きらめく星をほどいて
放してあげよう
Stay with me 眠りにつくまで
優しい手を離さないで
迷子になった幼い時のようだね

今日窓を開けたら
季節の足音聞いたよ
あぁ君の仕草や笑顔が
...僕の全てさ
Stay with me どうしたらいい?
優しい目が途切れそうさ
迷子のなった幼い時のようだね
...さよならは

...I have been
thinking about you
Dear my love 遠い海原も
渡ってくよこの腕で
嵐の日も二度ともう恐れはしない
Are you feeling 波間に見上げた
星の渦がきれいだよ

迷子のなった幼い時のようだね
...さよならは

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to L'Arc~en~Ciel's song a silent letter reflect on the feelings of love and loss, as well as the desire to hold on to precious moments and memories. The opening lines, "Fingertips cannot reach anymore / To the faraway night sky / Untie the twinkling stars / Let them go," speak to the idea of letting go of something that is out of reach, yet still holding onto its beauty and wonder. The song then shifts to a plea to stay with the singer, "Don't let go of my gentle hand / It's like when we were lost as children."

As the song continues, the lyrics shift to reflect on the changing of seasons and the passing of time, "When I opened the window, / I heard the footsteps of the season / Oh, your gestures and smile / ...are everything to me." The singer then asks, "What should I do?" as they fear the prospect of losing their love, feeling lost like a child once again. The chorus repeats, "Goodbye is like when we were lost as children."

Towards the end of the song, the lyrics shift to a message to a loved one, "Dear my love, I will cross even the distant ocean with these arms of mine / I will never fear the stormy days again." The song ends with a reflection on the beauty of the stars seen from the waves, bringing the singer back to the feeling of being lost like a child.

Overall, a silent letter is a poignant and reflective song that speaks to the idea of cherishing the people and moments in our lives, even when they are out of reach or fleeting.

Line by Line Meaning

指先にはもう届かない
I can no longer reach out with my fingertips

はるかな夜空へ
to the distant night sky

きらめく星をほどいて
unleash the sparkling stars

放してあげよう
let them go

Stay with me 眠りにつくまで
Stay with me until we fall asleep

優しい手を離さないで
Don't let go of your gentle hands

迷子になった幼い時のようだね
It feels like when we were young and lost

今日窓を開けたら
When I opened the window today

季節の足音聞いたよ
I heard the footsteps of the season

あぁ君の仕草や笑顔が
Oh, your gestures and smiles

...僕の全てさ
...are everything to me