Es VOL.41 “THE ONE 〜ALL SINGLES BEST〜”歌曲解说(first half)

●○ From music freak Es Vol.41

GARNET CROW
“THE ONE ～ALL SINGLES BEST～” LINER NOTES

●For songs with surviving interview material, we include comments from the members; for the others, we provide an explanation of the song.

DISC 1

01. Mysterious Eyes
(1st / Released March 29, 2000)
Opening theme for the Yomiuri TV / Nippon TV anime “Detective Conan”

One of the two songs released simultaneously as their major-label debut singles. Nakamura’s clear, fresh vocal wraps around the light rhythm track. A sparkling, classic pop sound.

This song is part of GARNET CROW’s history, so I have a special attachment to it. (Okamoto)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.74

02. I’ll Keep Running Until I Reach Your House
(2nd / Released March 29, 2000)

This song was the title track of the indie mini-album released in November 1999, before their major-label debut, and was also released as a major-label debut single. The indie and major-label versions have different arrangements; this collection includes the Miguel Sa Pessoa & Hirohito Furui version of the major-label single. The clear tone of the acoustic guitar, the refreshing chorus, the effective saxophone solo, and the meticulous arrangement turn the lyrics into a soothing song that captures the happiness found in ordinary daily life.
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.74

03. Rocket for Two
(3rd / Released May 17, 2000)
“I’m MUSIC FREAK” campaign song

This song was also included on the indie mini-album. Live bass and live drums were newly added to the arrangement for the single release. Nakamura’s vocals bounce through the straightforward major-key melody, and the chorus sung in the high register is especially memorable. It has since become a popular live staple.
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.74

04. Even If I Line Up More Than a Thousand Words...
(4th / Released September 27, 2000)
Dome Co., Ltd. commercial song / MFTV “I’m MUSIC FREAK” campaign song

Since it was released in autumn, it became a song with a bittersweet feeling that gradually sinks into the heart. For the vocal recording, I focused on the resonance of the words and sang so that they would blend smoothly into the backing track. (Nakamura)

I wrote the lyrics hoping to give a slightly gentler feeling to a relationship in which neither person was at fault, but they could not draw close to each other. (AZUKI Nana)

I worked to make the arrangement slowly draw the listener’s ear in, so that by the end it would feel like watching a complete film. (Furui)

For the guitar, I tried to create a refined, inorganic quality. (Okamoto)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.70

05. Summer Illusion
(5th / Released October 25, 2000)
Ending theme for the Yomiuri TV / Nippon TV anime “Detective Conan”

I tried to bring out a lively, fresh, refreshing image. If I had to compare it to a color, it would be clear blue. (Nakamura)

As for what to listen for, you will fall even more in love with Nakamura’s voice. Please savor the pleasant resonance that appears throughout the song. (AZUKI Nana)

I hope you can feel a GARNET that is different in its own way from what we have done before, as well as Nakamura’s appeal, throughout the song. (Furui)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.71

06. flying
(6th / Released November 29, 2000)
Theme song for Namco’s PlayStation game “Tales of Eternia”

The song begins with a weighty intro, but as it progresses, its sonic world keeps expanding and becoming lighter, giving you the feeling of a bird spreading its wings into the sky. It became a fantastical, expansive work that also connects with the world of the game for which it served as the theme song.
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vols.72 and 74

07. Last love song
(7th / Released May 9, 2001)
Ending theme for TV Asahi’s “Beat Takeshi’s TV Tackle”

I wrote it wanting to make something catchy and easy to remember. In fact, I injured myself just before recording the vocals, so it is a very memorable song because I sang it while experiencing an incredible amount of pain. (Nakamura)

As for the lyrics, I tried to capture, in some way, the temperature of people’s honest emotions within truths that have a fleeting nature. (AZUKI Nana)

It sounds simple, but we did some intricate work with the rhythm. It is mid-tempo, but I wanted it to have a sense of speed... (Furui)

We overdubbed several layers of acoustic-guitar arpeggios. We also used a 12-string guitar to give it a clear sound. (Okamoto)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vols.78 and 89

08. call my name
(8th / Released August 8, 2001)
Ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Project ARMS”

I wrote this because I wanted to make a large-scale ballad. It is Furui’s absolute favorite song. (Nakamura)

Personally, I wanted this to be a single. When I heard Nakamura’s demo, it felt grand, and images for the bridge came to me, so I wrote them down before I could forget them. (Furui)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.89

09. Timeless Sleep
(9th / Released November 21, 2001)
Ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Project ARMS”

Within a taut, sharply tense atmosphere, we placed a delicate melody and beautiful guitar phrases, while deliberately singing the vocals with raw strength so they would reach more deeply into everyone’s hearts. Please enjoy the contrast between the singing and the sound. (Nakamura)

The finished track puts rock at the forefront. In words, perhaps you can feel warmth within the chilly cold of winter. The pizzicato strings in the chorus should heighten the sense of poignancy even further. (Furui)

It took a long time to make. (AZUKI Nana)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.84

10. After Dreaming
(10th / Released March 13, 2002)
Ending theme for the Yomiuri TV / Nippon TV anime “Detective Conan”

We had been holding on to this song for about a year in this arrangement. It is a song I have treasured deeply, so I hope you will listen to it carefully... It is a song that suits spring. (Nakamura)

There are many words in the B section that I feel I want to say, or that seem important. Rather than focusing on what I want to say through the lyrics in particular, I hope people will listen to the whole song and take away all kinds of meanings from it. (AZUKI Nana)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vols.88 and 89

11. Spiral
(11th / Released August 14, 2002)
Image song for Fuji TV’s “Kandō Factory Sport!”

We were producing this song at the same time as the album “SPARKLE ～筋書き通りのスカイブルー～.” We moved forward with the idea of trying something energetic and summery. (Nakamura)

Certainly, we approached it from an idea separate from the album. Considering a new GARNET CROW feeling and the time of year when it would be released, I wanted a sporty result with a strong sense of tempo. We paid close attention to every detail, from the relaxed opening as it begins to rise, to the groove after it starts running. (Furui)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.93

12. Crystal Gauge
(12th / Released December 11, 2002)
Ending theme for TBS TV’s “pooh!” in December

It began with the idea of something band-like, or perhaps guitar pop, with the acoustic guitar at the center.
I hope you will listen for the way the acoustic guitar intertwines with the resonance of the singing and the words. (Nakamura)

This time there was not so much a theme I wanted to express as an image I had. If there had been no voice, I could not have written it. It would not have become this from the melody alone. (AZUKI Nana)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.97

DISC 2

01. Nights I Cannot Cry, Mornings I Cannot Cry
(13th / Released July 23, 2003)
Ending theme for TV Asahi’s “Uchimura Produce”

The broad theme was the feeling of “Let’s try again!” or “Let’s live!” that came from reflecting on the many things I was experiencing for the first time. I gave the A and B sections a nostalgic atmosphere. Perhaps it feels like missing one’s hometown? For me, I think this melody came from the feeling of looking back on my live experiences and thinking, “They feel nostalgic now.” (Nakamura)

It was not a song I had kept in storage; it was written entirely for this release. Perhaps because of that, while retaining the familiar GARNET CROW scent, I think you can also sense a new fragrance. For example, I sprinkled in rap, and I think the song has an image that makes your body want to start dancing on its own. (Furui)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.104

02. The Light Called You
(14th / Released September 10, 2003)
Ending theme for the Yomiuri TV / Nippon TV anime “Detective Conan”

We were making this at the same time as “Nights I Cannot Cry, Mornings I Cannot Cry,” but I thought ballads were something to listen to around the beginning of autumn, so it became the second release. I sang this song while almost crying during the chorus. Singing a melody and lyrics that fit so perfectly makes me truly heartsick. (Nakamura)

I listened to the demo tape once, and the words, images, and everything else came to me all at once. It all arrived without my having to think about anything. When I started writing from the beginning, the words for the chorus came smoothly too, and I finished the whole thing in one burst. No matter who sings it, it would not have that same feeling; I really think there is no substitute for the texture and atmosphere of that voice. (AZUKI Nana)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.106

03. Our Own Future
(15th / Released January 14, 2004)
Image song for Fuji TV’s “Kandō Factory Sport!”

At first, we were developing this as an album track. We made it more Latin and ethnic, so it would serve as a kind of spice within the album, but when we decided to make it a single, we tried an arrangement that leaned a little more toward rock. There is still a little Latin flavor left. (Nakamura)

The lyrics are very positive, aren’t they? It is a song to start the New Year with some energy. (laughs) (AZUKI Nana)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.110

04. Let’s Make Flowers Bloom to Adorn You
(16th / Released June 16, 2004)
Ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Monkey Turn”

I feel that this work is filled with a strong wish for people to reconsider the precious people in their lives—family, friends, benefactors, lovers, and others like them. (Nakamura)

When I listened to the demo in a completely blank state of mind, an image of someone setting off appeared before me. More than anything, the first image was of someone leaving this life. I was thinking about people who would depart before me and wondering how I would want to see them off... I imagined a funeral in which the person was sent off through a field of flowers, and the song came together all at once from there.
I think it took this form because the demo gave me such a gentle, warm, and powerful impression. (AZUKI Nana)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.114