Es VOL.4 more GARNET CROW life 第 4 回 and 季节相关的歌曲(second half)

●○○From music freak Es Vol.4

more GARNET CROW life Vol.4

“Himawari no Iro” (The Color of Sunflowers)

*(Included on the 5th album, “THE TWILIGHT VALLEY”)* 2006.10.4 release　GZCA-5092

Sunflowers, sunflowers, bloom more
You may simply sway throughout the summer
Inviting people, shining down
Until you perish in the sunlight

This medium-tempo song pierces the ear with a nostalgic acoustic-guitar intro and a weighty sound in the chorus that brings to mind a vast open field. In the lyrics, the sunflower appears as a dazzling presence watched by everyone, and it is sung poignantly in a lustrous voice.

“Namida no Yesterday” (Yesterday of Tears)

25th single　2007.7.4 release　GZCA-4096

Yesterday of tears, swaying summer breeze
I reached out and caught the summer that had vanished
How free it is—simply to think
Hey, the seabirds are taking flight

A catchy song whose four-on-the-floor rhythm creates the exhilaration of summer. In YURI NAKAMURA’s words, it is a wistful song that suits the expression “sentimental,” which is also very GARNET CROW. The rhythmic keyboard melody also lifts the mood. It was their 100th song overall, a milestone for the group.

“Mijikai Natsu” (A Short Summer)

*(B-side of the 27th single, “Yume no Hitotsu”)* 2008.8.13 release　GZCA-4109

When the short summer passes
The days that disappear like bubbles will grow brighter
Still carrying these yearning feelings
Let’s go home to the place where a light burns

This medium-tempo song lets you enjoy the contrast between the nostalgic atmosphere of the A and B sections and the chorus, where the development changes completely. The chorus’s feeling of breaking through evokes the sunlight of summer, while the high, powerful vocals raise the temperature of the entire song. The wistful lyrics also deserve attention.

Fall

“Matsuri no Jikan” (Festival Time)

*(B-side of the 17th single, “Wasuresaki”)* 2004.11.17 release　GZCA-4028

Lighting begins to glow, leaving behind the orange color of the sunset
The lively loneliness flowing through it—festival time

The opening, with its unusual tones, makes a powerful impression. YURI NAKAMURA has said that she was surprised by the arrangement. What is sung calmly over a firm rhythm is the “festival time” that colored summer, remembered as fall arrives. It is a song where the scents of fall and summer coexist.

Winter

“A crown”

*(Included on the 1st indie mini-album, “first kaleidscope 〜Kimi no Ie ni Tsuku Made Zutto Hashitte Yuku〜”)*
1999.12.4 release　TCR-001

At dusk, with the winter wind blowing
Let’s hold hands and walk for a change
Let’s go buy the ingredients for tonight’s dinner together

An up-tempo song whose percussion and acoustic guitar feel warm, while the stylish keyboard melody rings out with a cool tone. The lyrics, which capture a slice of everyday life, are filled with the message that there must be wonderful things even in days spent casually.

“in little time”

*(B-side of the 2nd single, “Kimi no Ie ni Tsuku Made Zutto Hashitte Yuku”)* 2000.3.29 release　GZCA-1029

On a night this warm for December
We went out on a whim
We held hands and slept in the car the whole time
Until the morning sun woke us both

A medium-tempo song made comfortable by its gentle keyboard melody. The lyrics capture the feelings of a protagonist spending time alone while remembering a happier period. Sung almost in a whisper, they become even more poignant and echo through the taut, hushed space. The clear sound that evokes the cold of winter is also striking.

“Crier Girl & Crier Boy 〜ice cold sky〜”

*(B-side of the 12th single, “Crystal Gauge”)* 2002.12.11 release　GZCA-7006

Winter night, ice cold sky
The stars—a midsummer firework display in winter
Blooming like a screen
As if they might disappear at any moment
How beautiful are the things that change…

A minor-key song that brings its poignancy fully to the foreground. The chorus serves as an accent and heightens the sense of mystery. AZUKI has said that she used the word “Crier” with the meaning of someone who cries easily; keeping that in mind, the high vocal in the chorus begins to sound as if it were crying.

“Tatoeba 12-gatsu no Yoru ni” (For Example, on a December Night)

*(B-side of the 19th single, “Hare-dokei”)* 2005.11.23 release　GZCA-4055

Singing Ave Maria without knowing what it meant
Those days we spent are already far away
Even so, I look back and try to find where I am going
For example, on a December night

The cool, stylish minor-key style GARNET CROW does so well comes fully to the fore. The dramatic development gives the song an even richer range of expression. It is unusual for the lyrics to specify a time of year so narrowly—not simply a season, but “December.” The dignified vocals also deserve attention.

“Kono Fuyu no Shirosa ni” (In the Whiteness of This Winter)

*(Included on the 4th album, “I’m waiting 4 you”)* 2004.12.8 release　GZCA-5052

In the whiteness of this winter, I want to shut my heart away and sleep beside you
Why, like snowmelt, do these stagnant feelings flow away?

A song that creates a distinctive groove from a simple melody. The fragility floating through the entire track is further highlighted by the inorganic tones and chorus, gradually seeping into the listener. The innovative instrumental break, with its R&B flavor, is a rare kind of development among their songs to date.