Es VOL.46 “REQUEST BEST”全曲解说(3) and 总集本第二弹发售预告

●○◦ From music freak Es Vol.46

9. “Sekai wa Mawaru to Iu Keredo”
Their 26th single, released on November 14, 2007. You might hear the relaxed rhythm and gentle, autumnal number like sunlight through the trees and think the song is going to be just that, but its lyrical world is different. The content is highly apathetic, unfeeling, and bitter. Yet when Nakamura's powerful, full-throated vocals meet this pessimistic world, why does it move us so deeply? This distinctive world, which disguises emotion as indifference while still stirring emotion, hides the true essence of GARNET CROW. Surely many fans have found salvation in this song...

10. “Kaze no Naka no Orgel”
Included as the B-side of their 34th and final single, “Nostalgia,” released on September 26, 2012. From the nostalgic minor-key intro to the languid vocals, I thought, “This is heavy... surely the chorus will modulate into the usual major-key development...” But this song does not. There is one bright phrase that breaks free in the line “an organ in the wind,” but the overall tone is low enough to make your heart stir uneasily. This song, too, cannot escape the final spell of “disbanding.” And that is fine. Even the feeling of resignation has become their ally, drawing tears from us.

11. “Nora”
Included as the B-side of their 29th single, “Doing all right,” released on May 20, 2009. The lyrics have an indescribably warm, gentle quality. AZUKI Nana's words begin with “Yuyake Koyake,” evoking the honest atmosphere of the good old Showa era, and make you nod in admiration. It is no surprise that the song became the theme for a family drama. Nora presumably refers to a stray cat. This kindhearted work, reminiscent of I Am a Cat, is immensely likeable.

12. “call my name”
Their eighth single, released on August 8, 2001. Listening to the beautiful pastoral acoustic-guitar intro, I remember the neo-acoustic boom of that time. Revisiting this masterpiece, I am convinced that it already possessed a universality beyond any passing boom. Above all, AZUKI Nana's lyrics are extraordinary: the artistic scent evoked by the opening phrase, “Rembrandt,” is expressed alongside the quiet happiness of everyday life. Nakamura's vocal ability is equally remarkable, conveying all of it with wistfulness, fragility, and strength. It stands out brilliantly among GARNET CROW's love songs.

13. “'Sayonara' to Tatta Hitokoto de...”
Included as the final track on Disc 2 of the best-of album 『Best』, released on October 26, 2005. It was first performed at the third live tour, 『GARNET CROW livescope 2005 ～I'm waiting 4 you & live～』. I have never seen a lyricist express the single word “goodbye” with such delicacy and precision. The lyrics and melody are perfectly suited to this dramatic song, while the mischievous arrangement throws in the sound of a melodica as an accent. There is music that only these four could make.

14. “Marionette Fantasia”
Included on their third album, 『Crystallize ～Kimi to iu Hikari～』, released on November 12, 2003. Another wistful number in a minor key. Okamoto's acoustic-guitar sound throughout heightens the song's serenity. Nakamura's vocals, sung over a waltz rhythm, are beautiful, and the falsetto heard in the chorus is especially captivating. A stylish number that makes you want to dance in the middle of the night—an adult fantasy in every sense.

15. “Holy ground”
A masterpiece included on their second album, 『SPARKLE ～Suji-gaki-dori no Sky Blue～』. Celebrating GARNET CROW's dark world and noble artistry, this song is the very source of their originality, a number that must have been a miraculous creation and a joy for any artist to make. Above all, Nakamura's almost divine falsetto voice at the end tells the whole story. When the song was performed live, its overwhelming presence could bring the entire venue to silence. Truly a sacred song.

16. “Last love song”
The song that closes REQUEST BEST is, fittingly, “Last love song,” just as its title suggests. Their seventh single, released on May 9, 2001. This song, whose title evokes both an ending and a beginning, is also renowned as one of their signature works. Its flawless, meticulous sound work, unwavering melody and vocals, and profound lyrics unlike those of a conventional love song all make it J-pop music that only a professional collective like GARNET CROW could create. They were truly one of a kind.

～The LIVE DVD released on the same day as REQUEST BEST!!～

『GARNET CROW livescope ～THE FINAL～』
GIZA studio　GZBA-8026–8027　¥5,775 (tax included)

DISC 1
01. Rhythm
02. Misty Mystery
03. flying
04. Natsu no Maboroshi
05. Last love song
06. Himawari no Iro
07. Mysterious Eyes
08. Over Drive
09. closer
10. Sora ni Hanabi
11. Yume no Hitotsu
12. Sen Ijo no Kotoba wo Narabetemo...
13. Namida no Yesterday
14. Lonely Night
15. wish★
16. U

DISC 2
17. call my name
18. Sekai wa Mawaru to Iu Keredo
19. Yellow Moon
20. Futari
21. Smiley Nation
22. Koyoi Eden no Katasumi de

（Encore I）
23. Butterfly Knot
24. Fall in Life ～Hallelujah～

（Encore II）
25. Yume Mita Ato de

The final performance of GARNET CROW's last live show, held on Sunday, June 9, at the Osaka International Convention Center (Grand Cube Osaka), has been made into a video and is finally here!

With 25 songs including the encores, the set list is varied in both era and style, with a well-balanced rise and fall that lets you fully savor GARNET CROW's appeal. It makes for an unmissable video work.

And then... The four members remained true to their own aesthetic to the very end, showing no tears and putting on a stage just as they always had. They closed the curtain on thirteen years in a bright and spirited fashion. Yet when you look back through the footage, the close-up expressions make the subtle movements of their hearts unmistakable, revealing how strong a will they carried onto that stage.

The recording also includes a scene from the final MC in which Nakamura accidentally said “Thank you for fifteen years” while referring to their thirteen-year career, suddenly transforming the tense atmosphere into a warm, homelike one. The performance is essential viewing: it captures the atmosphere vividly enough for even those who could not attend, including not only the music but also the MC.

The second collection book, 『music freak magazine & Es Flash Back GARNET CROW Final Memories』, is coming soon!!!

Following the first collection book released in 2010, this second volume has been announced by the music magazine 『music freak』, which has followed GARNET CROW's works, live shows, and many other activities since their debut!

The first volume collected pages from the December 10, 1999 issue (Vol.61), where they first appeared in the magazine, through the August 10, 2009 issue (Vol.176), when GARNET CROW celebrated its tenth anniversary. It offered a one-volume look back at ten years of their history, including interview pages and live reports, the monthly relay column written by the members in turn, original promotional features created by the editorial department, and every cover design, and was warmly received. This second volume will include every page published since then—including cover designs and the members' columns—as well as full-size reproductions of product advertisements previously published in the magazine. These were the advertisements created by record labels to announce releases in magazines and newspapers. Having the historical product ads collected together is a rare feature unique to music freak. There will also be new pages created especially for this collection book, making it an unmissable volume to read and look through.

This is a definitive edition to preserve forever, allowing you to look back over GARNET CROW's history all at once!

All cover designs from music freak magazine Vol.177 onward are included at their original size.

The LIVE REPORT section follows them not only to one-man live shows, but also to events such as the Oto-dama festival and in-store events held to celebrate CD releases!

Packed with interviews, including a page on Okamoto's solo activities. Another highlight of the second collection is that almost everything is in color! The members' relay columns are also in color from Es onward.

The biggest attraction of the second volume is the wealth of historical magazine advertisements. The two advertisements above both introduce the same work—the two titles from their first major-label single—but use different designs. music freak has carried advertisements in many different designs over the years. Production is underway with plans to include almost all of them in this volume!

■Regarding product specifications and how to order■

（1）Product specifications
This product is scheduled to include GARNET CROW covers and pages published through music freak Es Vol.48, which will be issued at the end of December this year. (Some pages may be omitted for editorial reasons.) The final page layout will be decided after Es Vol.48 is published, so the number of pages and price have not yet been determined. The size will remain the same as the first volume: A4 variant (297 mm high × 229 mm wide).

（2）How to order
An advance-order period will be established for this product.
Products handled by mf STORE usually remain on sale until stock runs out, but for this item, everyone who applies during the advance-sales period is guaranteed delivery. Payment for orders placed during this advance-order period is planned to be by postal transfer.

When music freak Es reader members receive music freak Es Vol.48 (issued at the end of December 2013), it will include a dedicated flyer with a postal transfer form. Please use that dedicated flyer.

Further details about the finalized product specifications and shipping will be announced in music freak Es Vol.48. Please wait a little longer.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email or telephone.

MRM Mail-Order Department　tel: 03-5571-1937 (weekdays, 11:00–19:00)
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