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L'Arc~en~Ciel Classics


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Full_Metal1923



Joined: 16 Feb 2007
Posts: 312
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 4:28 pm Reply with quote
L'Arc have been out for years and years as we all know. And throughout those many years, they've had many successful singles and songs and albums. I've read on this site both from editors and my fellow active members on the boards that certain songs are often considered to be L'Arc classics. For various reasons, sometimes they're simply songs that continues the quality and sound of previous songs of familiar territoy per se.

Some of which are just awesome songs that stand out above the rest, perhaps standing out of the norm for L'Arc music. My question is, what defines a L'Arc classic and what songs would you consider L'Arc classics? Note, that this is a question for mainly those who are L'Arc fans since they're most familiar with the vast body of work of L'Arc over the years.

Personally, L'Arc songs featured in anime are often praised as being classics. Such as "Ready Steady Go" - Fullmetal Alchemist, "Blurry Eyes" - DNA2 (also their first single, so I guess this one is more obvious than others), "Driver's High" - GTO and so forth. But when I was reading a Sound Decision article (BTW, how come they've stopped doing them?). "Coming Closer" was praised to be the gem of the album (SMILE), which included "Ready Steady Go". With such praise, I checked it out and I loved it and I think it's one of my favourite songs by L'Arc~en~Ciel. Most recently, "Daybreak's Bell" has also made it in my top 10 of L'Arc songs (that list is mostlly made up of anime themes).


Last edited by Full_Metal1923 on Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:59 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Aromatic Grass



Joined: 31 Dec 2003
Posts: 2424
Location: Raleigh, NC
PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:42 pm Reply with quote
I'm going to go ahead and say that I have only listened to their anime themes.

My favorite song of theirs "SHINE" from Guardian of the Sacred Spirit never gets any recognition. I guess that's why it will probably never be considered a classic. It is my #1, and I also like "Link" and "LOST HEAVEN," which also don't seem to receive much recognition either. Gundam 00's "Daybreak's Bell" may also be a new favorite of mine.

I like "Ready, Steady, Go!," but not as much as the rest. I really didn't like "Driver's High." It was boring compared to their other themes. It's too bad that many people consider those two to be their biggest hits, because they're just not as interesting and likable (imo) compared to the theme songs I mentioned above.
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Full_Metal1923



Joined: 16 Feb 2007
Posts: 312
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:00 pm Reply with quote
I'd really like to hear the full version of "Shine" byt no luck... V_V
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Zoe



Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Posts: 898
Location: Austin
PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:27 pm Reply with quote
Lies and Truth
Niji
Honey
Snow Drop
Forbidden Lover

I miss 1998.
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Amethyst Alchemist
Former ANN Editor


Joined: 02 Jan 2007
Posts: 312
Location: where it's always a good morning
PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:36 pm Reply with quote
Well, I can't say these are probably considered classics now, but they are in my mind Anime smile + sweatdrop : Link and Lost Heaven.

They are my favorite songs from them. I especially adore Link. I think it's my favorite song period. It sounds awesome and has that perfect sentimental feel especially if you know the FMA story and how the song is linked and know they meaning of the lyrics. It's just great.

Lost Heaven is almost as good for the same reasons. It just doesn't sound quite as cool imo.

Even if these songs are never considered L'arc classics, they will always be in my little world Cool .
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Murasakisuishou



Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 1469
Location: NE Ohio
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:32 am Reply with quote
Lost Heaven seconded for me, although I think that Link is awful. I might have liked it more if it weren't the opening for CoS, since it just seemed too...happy.

Another L'arc song I will always love is Spirit Dreams Inside. This was the song that got me into them in the first place, and I still enjoy listening to it 3 years later.

New World, Existence, As One, and Ophelia are also great, too. Heck, I just love the whole AWAKE album Anime hyper
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P€|\||§_|\/|ast@



Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 3498
Location: IN your nightmares
PostPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:25 pm Reply with quote
For those of you interested in a collection of what may be the best L'arc classics, pick up a copy of Clicked Singles Best 13. There's a North American version which can usually be found on Amazon. To come up with this album they had fans vote via internet for their favorite tracks and put the top 13 in an album. It has Blurry Eyes, Heaven's Drive and perhaps my favorite L'arc~en~Ciel song that I think best represents their style is Flower.

I didn't realize there were so many anime theme songs done by them. The only ones I was familiar with was DNA^2, Fullmetal Alchemist and Rurouni Kenshin. I've been a L'arc fan for a quite a long time mostly because they are just such a great band and I love their music, not just because of the anime songs they've done.
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Murasakisuishou



Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 1469
Location: NE Ohio
PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:44 am Reply with quote
Past wrote:
For those of you interested in a collection of what may be the best L'arc classics, pick up a copy of Clicked Singles Best 13. There's a North American version which can usually be found on Amazon. To come up with this album they had fans vote via internet for their favorite tracks and put the top 13 in an album. It has Blurry Eyes, Heaven's Drive and perhaps my favorite L'arc~en~Ciel song that I think best represents their style is Flower.


I'll have to pick up a copy, depending on how much it costs. Thanks for the tip!
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Amethyst Alchemist
Former ANN Editor


Joined: 02 Jan 2007
Posts: 312
Location: where it's always a good morning
PostPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:40 pm Reply with quote
Murasakisuishou wrote:
Lost Heaven seconded for me, although I think that Link is awful. I might have liked it more if it weren't the opening for CoS, since it just seemed too...happy.

Another L'arc song I will always love is Spirit Dreams Inside. This was the song that got me into them in the first place, and I still enjoy listening to it 3 years later.

New World, Existence, As One, and Ophelia are also great, too. Heck, I just love the whole AWAKE album Anime hyper


Link is "happy"? I don't know if you know what the lyrics mean, but if you did you might change your mind.

I also like all the songs you mentioned Smile . For a Japanese-sung English song, Spirit Dreams inside is really nice. I was stuck on Ophelia for a while--so sad. I also really like AWAKE. It's worlds better than SMILE imo.
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P€|\||§_|\/|ast@



Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 3498
Location: IN your nightmares
PostPosted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:37 am Reply with quote
Murasakisuishou wrote:
Past wrote:
For those of you interested in a collection of what may be the best L'arc classics, pick up a copy of Clicked Singles Best 13. There's a North American version which can usually be found on Amazon. To come up with this album they had fans vote via internet for their favorite tracks and put the top 13 in an album. It has Blurry Eyes, Heaven's Drive and perhaps my favorite L'arc~en~Ciel song that I think best represents their style is Flower.


I'll have to pick up a copy, depending on how much it costs. Thanks for the tip!


I myself don't care for some of the songs on the album though. But the handful of songs on it I consider timeless classics (truly great L'arc songs) make it overall a wonderful collection:
Blurry Eyes
flower
Lies and Truth
winter fall
Driver's High

Anemone and NEO UNIVERSE are pretty good too.
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Full_Metal1923



Joined: 16 Feb 2007
Posts: 312
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 11:35 am Reply with quote
Yeah, I disagree on the statement that "Link" is a happy song. It may have an upbeat feel musically but that certainly doesn't make it a happy song. You don't exactly want a song to get you down before watching an anime or movie, that's why musically opening themes are more upbeat.

Take a look at the lyrics and you'll notice that it certainly isn't the most cheerful of songs out of the L'Arc~en~Ciel library.

Thanks for everyone thus far for sharing. Currently in no particular order I'd probably consider these my favourite L'Arc songs, if not classics.

"Ready Steady Go " feat. in FMA
"Link" feat. in FMA: CoS
"Lost Heaven" feat. FMA CoS
"Driver's High" feat. GTO
"Blurry Eyes" feat. DNA^2
"Fourth Avenue Cafe" feat. Rurouni Kenshin
"Niji" feat. Rurouni Kenshin movie
"Daybreak's Bell" feat. Gundam 00
"Lies and Truth" - when I first heard it I was reminded of Eureka 7 O.o
"Coming Closer"

That's essentially my top 10. I wish I could hear the full version of "Shine" though.
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P€|\||§_|\/|ast@



Joined: 14 Feb 2006
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:41 pm Reply with quote
Does anyone have the album Heavenly? It was produced in 1995 and I almost bought it that year, actually didn't pick it up until 2005. It is an awesome album, every song is fantastic, unlike Clicked Singles Best 13 which is more of a greatest hits but doesn't have as many must listen to songs IMO.

I really wish I had more L'Arc albums as those two are the only ones, but I have the FMA Best Soundtrack (I LOVE "Ready Steady Go!") and a LE copy of Roentgen by Hyde.
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Murasakisuishou



Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 1469
Location: NE Ohio
PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:12 pm Reply with quote
Amethyst Alchemist wrote:
Murasakisuishou wrote:
Lost Heaven seconded for me, although I think that Link is awful. I might have liked it more if it weren't the opening for CoS, since it just seemed too...happy.

Another L'arc song I will always love is Spirit Dreams Inside. This was the song that got me into them in the first place, and I still enjoy listening to it 3 years later.

New World, Existence, As One, and Ophelia are also great, too. Heck, I just love the whole AWAKE album Anime hyper


Link is "happy"? I don't know if you know what the lyrics mean, but if you did you might change your mind.


I know what the lyrics mean, since they show them subtitled during the opening credits for CoS, but I think the 'feel' of the song in general is just too upbeat, especially since, start to finish, CoS was such a downer. And really, next to Lost Heaven, Link is like a song from Sesame Street.
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Full_Metal1923



Joined: 16 Feb 2007
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Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:40 pm Reply with quote
You have to remeber it's an opening theme though and it's job is to get the viewer excited for the following events despite what they may be in tone. Sure the movie wasn't the most "happy" of moments in the series it certainly isn't among the moments of the series that require "special treatment" in regards to the playing/removal or in this case the tone of the theme song.

And I still feel that the lyrics fit perfectly and were appropriate for the movie that followed.
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Murasakisuishou



Joined: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 1469
Location: NE Ohio
PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:51 pm Reply with quote
Full_Metal1923 wrote:
You have to remeber it's an opening theme though and it's job is to get the viewer excited for the following events despite what they may be in tone. Sure the movie wasn't the most "happy" of moments in the series it certainly isn't among the moments of the series that require "special treatment" in regards to the playing/removal or in this case the tone of the theme song.

And I still feel that the lyrics fit perfectly and were appropriate for the movie that followed.


The lyrics were fine; it's mostly the tune I have a problem with. Besides, by the time the opening credits even came up, we had already gotten a sense of the melancholy surrounding Ed, and I think a slightly more subdued song would have worked just fine.
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