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

●○ From music freak Es Vol.41

05. A Fading Bloom
(17th / Released November 17, 2004)
Ending theme for the Yomiuri TV / Nippon TV anime “Detective Conan”

As for the title, I was listening to the song absentmindedly, and those were the first words that came to mind, so I used them as they were. (AZUKI Nana)

I feel that the world of the song expanded after the lyrics were written. Compared with the demo stage, once the lyrics and arrangement were finished, images of nostalgic scenery and a gentle feeling emerged, and the world opened up enormously. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.120

06. Collect the Dreams You Envision: MÄR HEAVEN
(18th / Released May 18, 2005)
Opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “MÄR”

The original demo already existed by the end of the previous year, and it was a ballad. When the new year began, we wondered what would happen if we made it up-tempo, so we tried it out and it turned out really cool. The change from a ballad to this arrangement was Furui magic. The vocal range is not especially high this time, so I think it will go straight into your ears easily.
(The title is long, but) if you sing the melody, you are actually singing the title too. (laughs) So please sing it and learn it. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.126

07. Sunny Clock
(19th / Released November 23, 2005)
Opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “MÄR”

In terms of sound, I feel we went with a natural sound that evokes early GARNET CROW. Furui also said that he arranged it with the feeling of returning to the beginning, if not exactly returning to his roots.
I was not particularly conscious of it as a fifth-anniversary song or as a song following a best album. Of course, we chose it as a single, but we did not try to do something different or take on a new challenge. We worked at our own pace, taking care to preserve our world without breaking it. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.132

08. Rai・Rai・Ya
(20th / Released March 1, 2006)
Image song for the TBS nationwide Canon Special “Ancient Excavation Mystery: The Amazon’s Hidden Giant Civilization”

The title “Rai・Rai・Ya” was added at the very end of production. At first, we had placed a fake vocal like “ai-ai-ya~” over the melody, just as in the demo, but because this was the strongest melodic section at the very end, we decided it would be better to add lyrics. AZUKI then came up with “Rai・Rai・Ya.” It is such a distinctive song that I hope it will become one people cannot forget after hearing it once. It sings about a grand scale, nature, what it means to be human, and how we should live, so I hope listeners can feel something fundamental about humanity in it. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.136

09. Dream・Fireworks
(21st / Released July 5, 2006)
Opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “MÄR”

The early version was also rock and up-tempo, but it had a cleaner feeling. There was nothing wrong with that, but when we decided to release it as a single, I thought it would be better to bring out a kind of roughness, in the best sense, and a stronger rock character, so we changed it.
When I first read the lyrics, they felt very nostalgic. They had an atmosphere that made me recall old memories of my own; it was a little bittersweet, but I also felt something strong in them, and I hoped that would come across. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.139

10. In a Corner of Eden Tonight
(22nd / Released August 16, 2006)
Ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime “MÄR”

We made this song because we wanted a bright major-key song like “Rocket for Two.” It is a song that really gets you moving, or makes you feel positive, so it was fun to make. “Dream・Fireworks” is also up-tempo, but it has a different feeling, and I think we created something easy to listen to.
I like the word Eden, so I was happy when I saw it in the lyrics. Eden can also mean an imaginary place, but I sang it hoping that the place where I live now could be Eden. Rather than something far removed from reality, I want the space and world I inhabit to be Eden—a “dreamlike, comfortable world.” (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.141

11. Illusion
(23rd / Released September 13, 2006)
Theme song for TV Asahi’s Thursday mystery series “The New Woman of the Forensic Science Laboratory”

This song already existed as a song during an earlier stage of our production process. A staff member happened to notice it, and it became a candidate for single release, so I was surprised myself. It had originally been written as a ballad, but I thought it would be better to give it a little groove, so I asked Furui to arrange it with the feeling of a ballad that had a little more rhythm and groove.
“In a Corner of Eden Tonight” is bright, with its energy moving from the inside out, whereas this song turns further and further inward. I think we aimed for something deep, like diving into the deep sea or returning to the ocean. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.142

12. Wind and RAINBOW
(24th ※ double A-side single with “If I Reach Out This Hand” / Released February 21, 2007)
Opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “MÄR”

I wrote this because I wanted to try a slightly stronger, more solid sound. We kept the groovy rhythm and lively feel of Latin music while moving the sound itself in a more rock-oriented direction.
AZUKI said that “RAINBOW” looked coolest in uppercase English letters rather than in katakana. (laughs) Apparently she tried various forms, but the uppercase English spelling felt the most natural.
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.146

DISC 3

01. If I Reach Out This Hand
(24th ※ double A-side single with “Wind and RAINBOW” / Released February 21, 2007)
Ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime “MÄR”

We created it very straightforwardly, without using any tricks... I made it while valuing the beauty of the melody, the phrases in the lyrics, and my own voice. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.146

02. Yesterday of Tears
(25th / Released July 4, 2007)
Opening theme for the Yomiuri TV / Nippon TV anime “Detective Conan”

There were more than ten different versions of the arrangement, lyrics, and vocals before it finally took this form. By then, we knew it would be released around summer, and we also knew it would be our 100th song. It feels very GARNET CROW-like to deliberately release, as the 100th work, a poppy, catchy summer tune that runs counter to our image of being dark and shadowy. (laughs) I think the lyrics suit the expression “sentimental” very well. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.151

03. People Say the World Goes Round
(26th / Released November 14, 2007)
Ending theme for the Yomiuri TV / Nippon TV anime “Detective Conan”

This was the first time I made a song by listening to a drum loop, laying chords over it, and then adding a pleasant melody to those chords. I usually start with the melody, but this time I started with the rhythm. That is why I think the rhythm feels pleasant consistently from the beginning to the end. Perhaps that connects to the song’s floating feeling and the comfort of its “just-right temperature,” which wraps around you warmly. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.155

04. One of My Dreams
(27th / Released August 13, 2008)
Ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Golgo 13”

The lyrics convey the feeling that we treasure things precisely because they are fragile. For the vocal recording, I consciously placed the words carefully in the A and B sections so that listeners could more strongly receive that image. This time, a sense of fragility arose as a key idea, and the image expanded from there.
The part of the lyrics I especially like is the B section of the second verse. I love it, and it has stayed with me. (Nakamura)
　　　　　　　from music freak magazine vol.164