When Laputa was originally formed in 1993, the band's lineup was Aki on vocals, Hiro on guitar, Kusuba on bass, and Tomoi on drums. With that member lineup Laputa released their first demotape "Saddistの夢 (Saddist no yume)" in September. In November of 1993, Hideno, previously in AI SICK FACE, joined Laputa as an additional guitarist. Laputa then released their second demotape "奈落の底 (naraku no soko)" in December of '93. Hiro left Laputa shortly thereafter. Junji, formerly of visual indie band Ad de Vidar, then joined Laputa in January of 1994 as a guitarist replacing Hiro. Laputa then released their first single "私が消える (watashi ga kieru)" in May of 1994. Hideno left Laputa in July of 1994, later joining visual band Merry Go Round. Kouichi, formerly in popular indie visual band Silver-Rose, joined Laputa in the same month replacing Hideno. Laputa released an indie video titled "Paradoxical Reality" in September of 1994. Kusuba left Laputa on January 7th of 1995, and would later be in the bands Lúcide and Kraidhearz. Junji then switched instruments and became Laputa's bassist, and Laputa then had the lineup they would keep for the rest of their career. In February of 1995 Laputa released their first indie album "眩～めまい～暈 (memai)" which met with success in the visual indie scene. Laputa shot a music video for the song "Vertigo" from "眩～めまい～暈 (memai)". In February of 1996 Laputa released the indie mini-album "眩めく廃人 (kurumeku haijin)" which featured three new songs and new versions of the popular songs "Vertigo" and "Insatiable" from the "眩～めまい～暈 (memai)" album. In July of 1996 Laputa released an indie live video titled "箱庭 (hakoniwa)" featuring performances from a concert at SHIBUYA ON AIR WEST from their Paradoxical Reality TOUR IV that year.
With their increasing popularity in the visual indie scene, Laputa caught the attention of big record companies and signed to the major label Toshiba-EMI in August of 1996. Laputa released their first major single "硝子の肖像 / GARASU NO SHOUZOU" in September of 1994, which peaked at #34 on the Oricon singles chart. In October Laputa's first major album "蜉～かげろう～蝣 / KAGEROU" was released, peaking at #24 on the Oricon albums chart. Laputa released their second major single "eve ~Last night for you~" in May of 1997, peaking at #33 on the Oricon singles chart. Laputa's second major album "絵～エマダラ～斑 / e.m.a.d.a.r.a" was released in June of 1997, peaking at #24 on the Oricon albums chart. In July of 1997 Laputa released a live video called "MOV(i)E ON DARKNESS" featuring performances from a concert at SHINJUKU LIQUID ROOM in April of that year. In November of 1997 Laputa released their third major single "meet again", peaking at #20 on the Oricon singles chart. In February of 1998 Laputa released their fourth major single "揺れながら… (yurenagara)", peaking at #25 on the Oricon singles chart. Laputa's third major album "麝香 / Jakou" was released in February of 1998, peaking at #10 on the Oricon albums chart. On the same day of Jakou's release, the video "CLIPS OF CRUNCH LOOP" was released, featuring Laputa's music videos for their first four major singles and one for the song "麝香 (Jakou)". From September of 1998 to May of 1999 Laputa released the four major singles "Feelin' the sky", "Breath", "Chimes", and "Virgin cry", which peaked on the Oricon singles chart at #15, #29, #25, and #23 respectively. Laputa's fourth major album "翔～カケラ～裸 / c.a.k.e.r.a" was released in June of 1999, peaking at #10 on the Oricon albums chart. On the same day of its release, the video "CLIPS OF CRUNCH LOOP II" was released, featuring Laputa's music videos for the four singles from the "翔～カケラ～裸 / c.a.k.e.r.a" album along with bonus videos for the songs "WITH the WIND" and "Pink animals". In February of 2000, Laputa released the album "Coupling Collection + xxxk [1996-1999 singles]", a collection of the c/w songs (B-sides) from their eight major singles, along with the new song "xxxk animals" and a new version of the song "BUZZ" which was originally featured as a hidden song on their "揺れながら… (yurenagara)" single from 1998. "Coupling Collection..." peaked at #43 on the Oricon albums chart. In October of 2000, Laputa released the three-disc best-of album "3DISC BEST ~1995-1999 except Coupling Collection~", which featured 32 songs in all including Laputa's eight major singles and 24 other songs ranging from their first indie album "眩～めまい～暈 (memai)" from 1995 to their "翔～カケラ～裸 / c.a.k.e.r.a" album from 1999. "3DISC BEST..." peaked at #41 on the Oricon albums chart. That was their last release for the Toshiba-EMI label which the band left, then signing to the smaller major label Nippon-Crown. Laputa released their ninth major single and their first single on Nippon-Crown, "Shape ~in the shape of wing~" in October of 2000, peaking at #26 on the Oricon singles chart. In December of 2000 Laputa released the video "CLIPS OF CRUNCH LOOP III", featuring music videos for all three songs on the "Shape ~in the shape of wing~" single and a Director's Cut version of the music video for "Shape ~in the shape of wing~". In February of 2001 Laputa released their tenth major single "Silent on-looker", peaking at #43 on the Oricon singles chart. In March of 2001 Laputa released their fiifth major album "楽～ヘブン～園 / Heaven", peaking at #50 on the Oricon albums chart. In November of 2001 Laputa released the live video "Heaven to Perfection [Tour001 Programized-Heaven final-mission]", which featured performances from their tour that year. In March of 2002 Laputa released the mini-album "glitter", surprising many by showing the band changing styles and moving in a more electronic-oriented direction. "glitter" peaked at #66 on the Oricon albums chart. A music video for the song "POPular UPrising" from "glitter" was released. In June of 2002 the band released the dance single "深海 (shinkai) / Brand-new color", peaking at #58 on the Oricon singles chart. A music video for the song "深海 (shinkai)" was released. In July of 2002 the band released the album "誘～New Temptation～惑", peaking at #50 on the Oricon albums chart. Kouichi, who had been Laputa's lead songwriter since the "蜉～かげろう～蝣 / KAGEROU" album writing about 80% of the band's music, was reportedly in a hospital or clinic for much of this time in 2002. Because of this, he wrote only two songs on the "誘～New Temptation～惑" album, and Laputa's tour for the album consisted of less than ten concert dates. Junji wrote more of the songs on "誘～New Temptation～惑" than any other member, and would remain Laputa's lead songwriter for the rest of their career. Tomoi even wrote his first vocal songs for Laputa on the "誘～New Temptation～惑" album, the music and lyrics for the song "Dummy", and the lyrics for the song "Last". Up until then Tomoi had only co-written the instrumental song "BUZZ" with Junji. In April of 2003, Laputa released the mini-album "Sparks Monkey", peaking at #75 on the Oricon albums chart. After a year of on-and-off touring, Laputa released the mini-album "Material Pleasures" in March of 2004, peaking at #89 on the Oricon albums chart. In May of 2004 Laputa announced through their fanclub that they were disbanding, citing a desire for each of them to evolve. They released a best-of CD+DVD of their material from their years on the Nippon-Crown label titled "BEST AL+CLIPS 2000~2004" on July 28th, 2004, toured from August to September, and played their last live on September 5th, 2004 at Shibuya Koukaido. A DVD of the last live titled "ALL BURST" was released on December 15th, 2004.
Since Laputa's disbandment, Aki opened an official site at akiakiaki.com, and has written in his site's diary about writing music for an upcoming solo-project. Kouichi has a solo-project called Everlasting-K which will release its first CD on March 30th, a five-track mini-album titled "voulez-vouz". Junji has an upcoming solo-project called HALATION with a website at halation.jp. Tomoi has a website called Tomoi's Room #34, though his future activities remain unclear.
Silent on-looker
Laputa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rikaisha fuzai de kiri ni tsutsumarete
Shikareta REERU shuujaku wa miezu
Fuan wa tsunori arawaru genjitsu
Shizuka ni toki wa nagare sagashi tsukare boku wa kowarete iku
Sadame wo misetsukerare misetsukerare
Mou mayowanai sa
Yukue shirazu okiwasureta yume
MORARU de odoru doukeshi mitai sa
Hitori de ikiru sonna yoyuu sae
Tsuyogari dake de aseri ni kawatta
Shizuka ni toki wa nagare sagashi tsukare boku wa kowarete iku
Sadame wo misetsukerare misetsukerare
Ah boku wa Silent on-looker
Daremo mina seoikirenai yume ni
Tsubusarete iradatteru
Sonna toki kakae kirenai yuutsu
Esoragoto made mo mujou ni kanashiku
Sora ni wa kumo ga nagare yume wo nosete tooi mirai e to
Yume UTSUTSU chikaradzukite chikaradzukite
Ah boku wa Silent on-looker
Sameta me de miwatashite miru
Muhyoujou kidotteru
Boku dake ga watashi dake ga tsuyoku
Negau koto sae mo minikuku
Daremo mina seoikirenai yume ni
Tsubusarete iradatteru
Sonna toki kakae kirenai yuutsu
Esoragoto made mo mujou ni kanashiku
The lyrics of Laputa's song "Silent On-looker" express a sense of confusion, disorientation, and resignation towards life. The singer is lost, wrapped up in a fog of uncertainty, unable to find their true self. They are surrounded by illusions, doubts, and anxiety, unable to see the horizon, to make sense of their existence. The feeling of being a spectator of their own life, unable to act, just watching events unfold before their eyes, is expressed in the title "Silent On-looker."
The first verse describes the singer's state of mind, feeling lost, without a clue about who they really are. They are trapped by doubt, covered in fog, unable to see beyond their fears. The second verse expresses a sense of loneliness and isolation, being lost in dreams and illusions, dancing like a clown to hide their true emotions. The chorus repeats the title, emphasizing the sense of being a passive observer of life, unable to break free from the cycle of sadness and frustration.
In the last two verses, the singer reflects on the meaning of their existence, seeing themselves as different from others, unable to share their deepest feelings and emotions. They see themselves as the only one who can understand the pain and sadness of life, unable to find solace in their dreams or hopes. The song ends on a note of pessimism and despair, acknowledging the fleeting and meaningless nature of life, the inability to escape from the cruel reality of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Yukue shirazu hontou no jibun
I'm lost and don't know my true self
Rikaisha fuzai de kiri ni tsutsumarete
I'm wrapped in fog of uncertainty
Shikareta REERU shuujaku wa miezu
I can't see the target of my trapped rail
Fuan wa tsunori arawaru genjitsu
My anxiety is growing into a reality
Shizuka ni toki wa nagare sagashi tsukare boku wa kowarete iku
As time quietly flows, I search for answers and am slowly breaking down
Sadame wo misetsukerare misetsukerare
Mou mayowanai sa
My fate is laid bare, and I will not lose my way anymore
Yukue shirazu okiwasureta yume
I forgot my dream and don't know where to go
MORARU de odoru doukeshi mitai sa
I dance like a clown in a moral vacuum
Hitori de ikiru sonna yoyuu sae
Tsuyogari dake de aseri ni kawatta
I've become restless and phony, despite the freedom of living alone
Ah boku wa Silent on-looker
Ah, I'm a silent onlooker
Daremo mina seoikirenai yume ni
Everyone is being crushed by unattainable dreams
Tsubusarete iradatteru
And they're frustrated by being crushed
Sonna toki kakae kirenai yuutsu
Esoragoto made mo mujou ni kanashiku
At such times, the unbearable melancholy reaches even the make-believe world
Sora ni wa kumo ga nagare yume wo nosete tooi mirai e to
Clouds in the sky carry dreams to a distant future
Yume UTSUTSU chikaradzukite chikaradzukite
Dreams and reality come closer and closer
Ah boku wa Silent on-looker
Ah, I'm a silent onlooker
Sameta me de miwatashite miru
I open my eyes and look around
Muhyoujou kidotteru
Everyone looks afraid
Boku dake ga watashi dake ga tsuyoku
Only I am strong, only I am myself
Negau koto sae mo minikuku
Even my desires are ugly
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-pr1ef4nn4r
Kouichiさんの作る曲大好きです。Kouichiさん最高です。
@user-pr1ef4nn4r
いいね👍️👍️コメントしてくださりありがとうございます。嬉しいです。
@etsidemain5970
ce que je peux aimer ce groupe. merci pour le post
@user-hb2wq9le8k
復活して
@user-hb2wq9le8k
傍観者
@HOJyana
なんだかなあ、、、、、という歌詞。