Es VOL.46 “REQUEST BEST”全曲解说(2)

●○◦ From music freak Es Vol.46

9. “Eiyu”
Included on their ninth album, 『Memories』. At the time, the album opened up new ground for the band by bringing together songs approached from many different angles, but this melancholic track is distinctive for having harmonized melodies throughout. It is rare to hear a song double its vocal lines so completely alongside such a visceral band sound. Its heroic, literary lyrics also feel connected to “Umi wo Yuku Shishi.” Could the creation of such dramatic songs reflect the influence of their energetic live activity in 2010?

10. “Maizy”
Included on their final album, 『Terminus』. A beautiful mid-tempo ballad with Nakamura's strong yet gentle vocals. The first half, with its lyrical piano and acoustic-guitar melodies, rises into an agonizingly dramatic chorus—a formal beauty of the GARNET CROW sound, brought to life by vivid expressive power. “Maizy” is presumably a person's name, but Maizy is also a place in France, and it is enjoyable how this single word evokes a European image. The fragility of the ending is exquisite as well.

11. “wish★”
Included on their second album, 『SPARKLE ～Suji-gaki-dori no Sky Blue～』, released on April 24, 2002. A relatively unusual GARNET CROW song: a danceable, fast-moving number. Furui's club-flavored arrangement and modern sense are evident in his use of synthesizer sounds. AZUKI's lyrical feel, with its liberal use of English, is fresh and innovative. Nakamura even introduces a rare vocal ad-lib in the latter half, and the song is well known as a live number that gets the audience moving—an intriguing track for fans.

12. “Sky Blue”
Included on their second album, 『SPARKLE ～Suji-gaki-dori no Sky Blue～』. It follows the classic GARNET CROW style of gradually building from a relaxed verse, yet its development and structure remain impossible to predict until the very end—masterfully done. The sound has a noble atmosphere, making effective use of cello and introducing falsetto backing vocals, while the lyrics carry the distinctive lyricism of early GARNET CROW. The result is richly satisfying and leaves a refreshing aftertaste.

13. “The Crack-up”
Included on their eighth album, 『parallel universe』, released on December 8, 2010. The arrangement's originality is striking: the intro begins brightly, then creates a vivid contrast with the minor-key vocal melody. Its world seems to answer the album title, and the revelatory lyrics, together with Nakamura's powerful vocals, create a sense of urgency. Can the world change its shape? Now that it has changed, this work feels almost prophetic, carrying a mysterious quality.

14. “Yuudachi no Niwa”
Included as the B-side of their 11th single, “Spiral,” released on August 14, 2002. It is, if anything, a light and agreeable song, but its lyrics, calmly singing of ordinary daily life and inner landscapes, must have touched a chord with fans. These gentle, unassuming GARNET numbers have an irreplaceable appeal.

15. “Wasuresaki”
Their 17th single, released on November 17, 2004. This is a song that truly invites nostalgia. It has everything that stimulates the tear ducts: a melody you want to hear as a piano-and-voice performance, and lyrics about love and romance that make your heart ache in the sweetest way. It is not only about youth, nor only about sadness. The melody and lyrics of this song are especially suited to adults who, after experiencing many romances, have blossomed back into purity.

16. “Natsu no Maboroshi (secret arrange ver.)”
An alternate version of their fifth single, released on October 25, 2000. It was included on their first album, 『first soundscope ～Mizu no Nai Hareta Umi e～』. This version feels different from the intro onward, and the greatest difference from the original is the rhythm track. While the single version emphasizes a rhythmic, danceable quality, this one is built around more natural instrumental sounds, allowing Furui's organ-like tones to stand out. Hearing a secret arrangement like this gives us a glimpse of how GARNET CROW tried various arrangements and versions during production before arriving at the final form. Could there be other secret versions of other songs as well? It makes you wonder.

■DISC-2

1. “Kimi Tsuresaru Toki no Otozure wo”
Included as the final track of their fourth album, 『I'm waiting 4 you』, released on December 8, 2004. It is strange how placing it at the opening of DISC-2 completely changes the way the song feels. This is one to listen to while returning to the lyrics again and again. “Kimi Tsuresaru Toki no Otozure wo”—the phrase is sad, but hope never disappears; built around this number, the unhurried melody sinks into the heart. Perhaps it is a song that deserves to be reevaluated now more than ever.

2. “Over Drive”
Their 31st single, released on April 14, 2010. This is a thoroughly pop number. GARNET CROW have often seemed to make dark worlds their specialty, but this song is a straight-ahead major-key number from beginning to end. Its sound seems to express a world like that of Southern All Stars or Yuming, and it may be GARNET CROW's only orthodox summer song.

3. “Namida no Yesterday”
Their 25th single, released on July 4, 2007. The number begins with a danceable, black-music-flavored intro, moves into a rock-tinged opening with strings, and then catches the ear with light phrases when the modulated vocal enters—a sophisticated arrangement. Is this another GARNET CROW summer song? The buoyancy of its four-on-the-floor rhythm, its accessible pop chorus, and the nostalgia of writing “Yesterday” in the title all reveal a band that, over thirteen years, kept challenging itself with many different kinds of songs.

4. “Kimi to iu Hikari”
Their 14th single, released on September 10, 2003. GARNET CROW lyrics often feature the sky, the sea, various scenes, and animals, but this song begins with a jellyfish. The wavering quality of the music perfectly matches the image in that phrase. It is a powerful song of hope and an excellent mid-tempo ballad with a divine image, yet it also gives off an intimate atmosphere. Perhaps that comes from the song's own lack of desire.

5. “Rhythm”
Included on their first album, 『first soundscope ～Mizu no Nai Hareta Umi e～』, released on January 31, 2001. Even simply listening to the grooving rhythm track of this energetic rock number reveals the craftsmen's attention to detail throughout, making you realize that this was the sound of a seasoned professional team already on their first album. Okamoto's wild guitar sound is excellent, and Nakamura's powerful vocals fit naturally into the arrangement. The quality is high enough that it could easily have been released as a single. GARNET CROW had been expressing a rich variety of songs from the very beginning.

6. “flying”
Their sixth single, released on November 29, 2000. Just as you are enjoying its fresh momentum, you learn that it was effectively the first song GARNET CROW worked on as a group. The fact that they released it as their sixth single shows how carefully they prepared their songs and sound for their debut. The arrangement is carefully developed from intro to ending, Nakamura's flowing high-register melody in the chorus is a joy to hear, and both the melody and style are superb. It is easy to see why it became known as a standard song beloved at their live shows.

7. “Mysterious Eyes”
Released on March 29, 2000, as GARNET CROW's memorable debut single. At the time, they appeared in the unusual form of a double-single debut with “Kimi no Ie ni Tsuku made Zutto Hashitte Yuku,” but perhaps both songs were so good that they simply released them together. It remains a wonderful song even today. All the charm of early GARNET CROW is packed into its fresh brightness. Even after thirteen years, the consistency of their musical identity remained intact, and that is what shows the sincerity of their music.

8. “As the Dew”
Included as a new song on their second best-of album, 『THE BEST History of GARNET CROW at the crest...』, released on February 10, 2010. Another song with an urban arrangement. The light piano phrases call to mind Furui's love of AOR, and Okamoto's passionate guitar solo (so short!) is quite something too. Nakamura's restrained vocals and AZUKI's cool lyrics have a hard-boiled quality, allowing you to savor GARNET's storytelling sound.