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.
fate (everybody knows but
L'Arc~en~Ciel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
深く 駆け抜ける運命
望み 儚く抱き寄せ
燃える 嵐の渦へ
あぁ遠ざかる光
あぁ鼓動の叫びに
この腕が この胸が
大地を越えて心を越えて
大切な人のために・・・?
長いレールの彼方で誰が笑うというの?
いつ許しあえるのか
いつ終わりが来るのか
止められなくて逃れられない
幻想に操られ
手探りだけで走り続ける
この先が過ちであろうと
何が愛なのか? 何が嘘なのか?
解らない―――無情な時間が迫る―――
切ないほどに君を想って
この腕が この胸が
凍えるほどに震えるほどに
君だけを 君だけを
春が来れば夜が明ければ
あの空へ あの場所で
faster than anyone
if I ran through the dark
本当に結ばれるだろうか?
何が愛なのか? 何が嘘なのか?
解らない・・・ただ 君だけが恋しい
The lyrics of "fate", by L'Arc~en~Ciel, reflect on the power and complexity of destiny. The song begins with a description of a frozen forest, in which destiny runs deeply. The singer holds fleeting hopes close, and runs towards a burning vortex of a storm. The chorus talks about a distant light fading, and a cry deep within. The singer pines for someone so much that their arms and chest yearn to reach out beyond the earth and transcend the heart. The song asks a poignant question about who laughs beyond the long rails.
The next verse wonders when forgiveness will come or when the end will arrive. The singer feels trapped in a fantasy without any control and runs blindly into ahead, even though it will surely end in a mistake. The bridge questions what love and lies are, as time ticks away mercilessly. The chorus repeats, but this time, the singer feels that they can see and reach out to this person more intimately than ever before. They tremble with anticipation, and pray for them to be reunited under the spring and morning skies, both faster than anyone.
Line by Line Meaning
凍る 針葉樹の間を
Running deeply through the frozen conifers
深く 駆け抜ける運命
Our fate runs deep like our sprint through the trees
望み 儚く抱き寄せ
Embracing fleeting desires
燃える 嵐の渦へ
Heading towards the fiery vortex of the storm
あぁ遠ざかる光
Oh, the light is fading away
あぁ鼓動の叫びに
Oh, the pounding of our hearts cry out
切ないほどに君を想って
Thinking of you so painfully
この腕が この胸が
These arms, this chest
大地を越えて心を越えて
Transcending the earth and our hearts
大切な人のために・・・?
For the sake of our beloved?
長いレールの彼方で誰が笑うというの?
Beyond the long rails, who is laughing?
いつ許しあえるのか
When can we forgive each other?
いつ終わりが来るのか
When will the end come?
止められなくて逃れられない
Unable to stop, and unable to escape
幻想に操られ
Manipulated by illusions
手探りだけで走り続ける
Continuing to run blindly
この先が過ちであろうと
Even if what lies ahead is a mistake
何が愛なのか? 何が嘘なのか?
What is love? What is a lie?
解らない―――無情な時間が迫る―――
Don't know- ruthless time is approaching
凍えるほどに震えるほどに
Trembling so much that it freezes
君だけを 君だけを
Only you, only you
春が来れば夜が明ければ
When spring comes and the night ends
あの空へ あの場所で
To that sky, to that place
faster than anyone
Faster than anyone else
if I ran through the dark
If I ran through the darkness
本当に結ばれるだろうか?
Will we truly be bound together?
ただ 君だけが恋しい
Only you whom I love
Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.