L’Arc~en~Ciel’s Masterpieces: A Comprehensive Showcase from Major Hits to Hidden Gems

Lies and TruthL’Arc〜en〜Ciel

L’Arc～en～Ciel「Lies and Truth」-Music Clip-

A classic song that portrays a poignant, aching love.

The lyrics, which symbolize the distance between two people and the difficulty of communication, are truly heart-wrenching.

Released in March 2001, this track is notable for having a chorus that continues longer than usual; the members themselves have described it as “the one where the chorus goes on surprisingly long.” Highly recommended for those who resonate with the complexity of human relationships and the search for truth.

STAY AWAYL’Arc〜en〜Ciel

L’Arc~en~Ciel – STAY AWAY ROCK ODYSSEY 2004

Released in July 2000 as L’Arc~en~Ciel’s memorable 20th single.

A limited edition of 500,000 copies featuring member figurines was issued initially, sparking major buzz among fans.

In the music video, all performers are created with CGI, and everyone dances the same choreography—an unusual approach for L’Arc.

HEAVEN’S DRIVEL’Arc〜en〜Ciel

L’arc heaven’s Drive

Released in April 1999, about six months after the previous work, this is their 15th single.

Despite having no commercial tie-ins, it became a monster track that achieved the band’s highest first-week sales.

With its intense riffs and exhilarating sense of speed, it remains highly popular among fans as a thrilling, hard-hitting song.

READY STEADY GOL’Arc〜en〜Ciel

L’Arc～en～Ciel「READY STEADY GO」-Music Clip-

Released in February 2004, two years and five months after the previous work, this long-awaited 22nd single thrilled fans.

Its lively sound and uplifting lyrics make it an energizing track.

It’s perfect for hyping up the crowd, so it’s often played as the first song in the encore at live shows.

The title translates to “Ready, set, go” in Japanese.

It’s an ideal song when you need the courage to take a first step.

PiecesL’Arc〜en〜Ciel

L’Arc～en～Ciel「Pieces」-Music Clip-

Pieces, the first ballad released as a single, came out in June 1999 as their 16th single.

The music video’s theme is “A cursed knife retains memories.” Although it tells a heartrending, tragic story, it’s a popular song that fans often praise as the most beautiful ballad.

flowerL’Arc〜en〜Ciel

L’Arc～en～Ciel「flower」-Music Clip-

An ambitious work, with an anecdote that composer Hyde himself said, “If this song doesn’t sell, then the world is wrong.” Released in October 1996, this track is one of the most popular among fans, taking the top spot in the vote to determine the songs included on the best album released in 2001.

Summer MelancholyL’Arc〜en〜Ciel

L’Arc~en~Ciel “Summer Melancholy [time to say good-bye]” -Music Clip-

The third single, “Natsu no Yuutsu,” was released in October 1995.

It’s a recut of the song of the same name included on the third album, heavenly, with new arrangements added for the single release.

The single version features a chorus that wasn’t on the album, and the track itself was significantly altered.

Among fans, opinions are divided over which they prefer—the original or the single version.