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.

bravery
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

足りない言葉並べても本当の事は伝わらない
優しいだけじゃ守れない正しいだけじゃ伝わらない

写真には写らない
作り笑顔の下の気持ちなんて絶対

聞かせないでずっと壊さないでそっと
それがあなたたちの望んだ世界さ

昔はよかったなんて言わないで
あのキラめく時間の中の何を知ってるっていうのさ

消えないキズがあることも一途な君には判らない

偽りの真実にしがみついて
逃げてそして心さまよって

いやしないさきっとそんな人ずっと
それはあなたたちの作った世界さ

昔はよかったなんて言うけれど
その瞳の奥に何を写してきたっていうのさ
見てきたように何でも言うけれど
ただ表しか見てないあなたに何が判るの
The truth will be never shared to anyone

来なくてもいいよ見なくてもいいよ
邪魔しないでずっとこれが私たちの決めた事だから

昔はよかったなんて言わないで
あのキラめく時間の中の何を知ってるっていうのさ
いじわるなことばかりもう言わないで
僕らが選んだ道が過ちならもういない
You have no bravery to know the truth

You will help us we will help you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Bravery" by L'Arc~en~Ciel express the idea that the truth is not always easy to express, even with words. The singer laments that being kind and honest are not always enough to protect oneself or make one's point. The images that appear in photographs or the words that people say do not always tell the full story. The message is that sometimes people choose to hide their true feelings or intentions, creating a world that may not be what they really want.

The song speaks to the universal human experience of having scars and wounds that are invisible to others. The singer acknowledges that not everyone will be able to understand the depth of their pain or their attachment to false beliefs. The idea of escaping from the truth, running away and wandering in search of something that can never be found, is also present. The singer advises others not to interfere, noting that they have made their decision and that they know that choice will result in pain. The line "the truth will be never shared to anyone" implies that some things cannot be understood or expressed, and that we must accept that as a part of our everyday lives.

Line by Line Meaning

足りない言葉並べても
Even if we string together insufficient words

本当の事は伝わらない
Truth cannot be conveyed

優しいだけじゃ守れない
Kindness alone cannot protect

正しいだけじゃ伝わらない
Being right alone cannot convey

写真には写らない
Cannot be captured by a photograph

作り笑顔の下の気持ちなんて絶対
Never reveal the feelings underneath a fake smile

聞かせないでずっと
Don't let me hear it, always

壊さないでそっと
Please don't break it, softly

それがあなたたちの望んだ世界さ
That is the world you wished for

昔はよかったなんて言わないで
Don't say that the past was better

あのキラめく時間の中の
In that shining moment