There are at least four artists performing under this name:

1. Infin… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four artists performing under this name:

1. Infinite's member Kim Myungsoo (김명수)
2. The solo project of Hiroyuki Usui (臼井弘行)
3. The French artist L (Raphaële Lannadère)
4. Los Angeles based darkwave/ebm/industrial project

1. 엘/L is Infinite's Kim Myungsoo (김명수; born March 13, 1992) stage name, is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as a vocalist of boy band Infinite in 2010 and its sub-group Infinite F in 2014. He left Woollim Entertainment in August 2019 but will continue to be a member of the group. Debuted as a soloist in February 3rd of 2021.

2. L is the solo project of Hiroyuki Usui (臼井弘行) (guitar, vocals, vibes, harmonium, bass, drums, cello, field recordings, didgeridoo). His only album "Holy letters" was recorded in 1989-1990. On it, he blends delicate folk, psychedelia, and experimental sounds into a mostly subdued but undeniably glowing suite. The layered but careful instrumentation on tracks like the epic "Holy Letters" and "Troll" backs the alternately plain-spoken and crooning vocals perfectly. Odd touches like snatches of throat singing and bowed vibraphone leap out of the mix at just the right time. There are overt references to the blues (the first track is an oblique cover of Blind Willie Johnson's "Cold Was The Ground") - but other than the occassional slide guitar touch, the connection is overwhelmingly in the timeless feeling and atmosphere.
"Holy Letters" was self-released by Hiro in 1994 (in an oversized package including the CD and a 7", on Holy Castle), primarily to be given away to friends. A handful of copies were sold via Tokyo's Modern Music/PSF operation in Japan and by Forced Exposure in the US, but other than that, it disappeared completely. Hiroyuki Usui's name pops up in several intriguing places in the apparently still underdocumented Japanese underground lexicon. While he now concentrates mostly on didgeridoo (and his profession of garden design), he once played drums in Fushitsusha (late 70's/early 80's), A-Musik (with the legendary vocalist Phew), Marble Sheep, and several other true-underground outfits.
In 2003-2004, the American VHF label stumbled upon a box of leftover copies of this album and sold them on their website. The response was great, and led to a digipack CD reissue in 2004 including both CD and 7" from the original package, plus an alternate version of "Troll" from the original sessions.

3. The French L (Raphaële Lannadère) is a singer-songwriter who released her first ep "Première Lettres" in 2008. She is currently touring France. More information on her MySpace (www.myspace.com/lmusique)

4. Los Angeles based darkwave/ebm/industrial project first releasing music in 2020: https://lmusicofficial.bandcamp.com/

Romance et Série Noire
L Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pin-ups de Pigalle
Aux allures de madone
Contrebande Chanel
Perles, poudre, coco
Gangsters, demoiselles
Narcochic et pipo
Spleen d'un soir de bal
Qui traîne et se fredonne

{Refrain:}
Romance et série noire
C'est la nuit qui sourit
Romance et série noire
Romance et série noire

Parure pacotille
Pour petite Lolita
Molesquine rétro
Des histoires d'amour
Baisers rouges whisky
Ecstasy et tangos
Violons et caetera
Jusqu'au lever du jour

{au Refrain}

Bar clandé ou tripot
Pour un coup de poker
Lunettes, fétiches, fourrure
Vrais caïds, fausses idoles
Quartier Nord, Baby Doll
Pour une passe pas chère
Love et rêve au peep show
Night clubs où rien ne dure

{au refrain}

Romance et série noire {x3}
Et série noire
Romance
Romance
Romance

Et série noire
Et série noire

Overall Meaning

The song "Romance et Série Noire" by L depicts a night in Pigalle, the famous red-light district in Paris, where the atmosphere is a mix of romance and darkness. The lyrics portray a scene where gangsters, prostitutes, and drug smugglers mingle with Lolitas and fake idols, all under the cover of night. The first verse describes the different characters that can be found in Pigalle: the "pin-ups" who resemble madonnas, the smugglers of Chanel perfumes, pearls, and cocaine, and the girls who embody the "narcochic" and "pipo" lifestyle. The second verse portrays the different scenarios and emotions in Pigalle: the pacotille jewelry for Lolitas, the retro Moleskine notebook with stories of love, the whiskey-induced red kisses, and the ecstasy-fueled tangos. The third and last verse talks about the different places in Pigalle where one can experience both love and danger: the clandestine bars or gambling dens, the peep shows, and the night clubs where nothing lasts.

The chorus repeats "Romance et série noire" several times, emphasizing the dual nature of Pigalle, where love and danger are always present. The contrast between romance and darkness is also highlighted in the line "C'est la nuit qui sourit" (It's the night that smiles), where the night can be both alluring and threatening.

Overall, the lyrics of "Romance et Série Noire" paint a vivid picture of Pigalle at night, portraying the district's dark underbelly with poetic and descriptive language.

Line by Line Meaning

Pin-ups de Pigalle
Women with a provocative appearance, often found in the Pigalle area of Paris

Aux allures de madone
With the appearance of a virgin and religious icon

Contrebande Chanel
Smuggled Chanel goods

Perles, poudre, coco
Jewels, powder, cocaine

Gangsters, demoiselles
Criminals, young ladies

Narcochic et pipo
Drug-fueled and superficial

Spleen d'un soir de bal
Melancholy feeling at a ball

Qui traîne et se fredonne
That lingers and is hummed

Romance et série noire
A mix of love and darkness

C'est la nuit qui sourit
It is the night that is pleased with this mix

Parure pacotille
Cheap jewelry