GARNET CROW Disbands, a Dream Passed On: “The Songs Are Alive”

They did not favor extreme media exposure, did not use social media such as Twitter, and did not compete through personal elements. GARNET CROW, a group of music creators who continued their activities under a song-first principle, brought their 13 years of band activity to an end.

“As GARNET CROW, we have poured out everything.”

On March 30, at the TOKYO DOME CITY HALL performance of “GARNET CROW livescope 2013 ～Terminus～,” the four members suddenly announced their “disbandment,” saying, “As GARNET CROW, we have poured out everything. Thank you so much for supporting us over these long 13 years. Today I am filled with gratitude toward all of you and with a sense of accomplishment.” As their final stage, they prepared “GARNET CROW livescope ～THE FINAL～,” with performances on May 24 at Tokyo International Forum Hall A and on June 8 and 9 at the Main Hall of Grand Cube Osaka, also known as the Osaka International Convention Center.

The Powerful Works They Surely Wanted to Deliver Precisely Because This Was the Culmination

The performance began with “Rhythm,” a song from the first album “first soundscope～水のない晴れた海へ～.” Alongside popular songs such as hit singles, they generously performed powerful works they surely wanted to deliver precisely because this was the culmination. There was also a moment where they connected and presented songs from the “Detective Conan” themes, inseparable from GARNET CROW: their major debut work “Mysterious Eyes,” and “Over Drive,” the first single of their tenth anniversary year and a milestone song that reached a new frontier.

In the middle of the show, a special formation of Yuri Nakamura (vo), bass, drums, and strings led by Daisuke Ikeda brought the fantastical “夢のひとつ” into the venue. For the final installment of Hitoshi Okamoto’s (g) regular live vocal corner, he performed “千以上の言葉を並べても…”. During the MC, they shared an episode from around their debut, when Hirohito Furui (key) was so busy that he fell asleep while playing the keyboard, and each member spoke about a song of memories. The main set then closed with upper tunes such as “Smiley Nation” and “今宵エデンの片隅で,” sung back and forth between the members and all the fans, filling the venue with smiles.

“With 13 Years of Gratitude Toward Everyone”

The calls of “Garnet!” did not stop. As if answering those voices, the four members appeared again. They imitated Daisuke Ikeda’s high-energy conducting style (Furui and AZUKI Nana (key)), and tried Dandy Sakano’s one-shot gag “Gets!” (Nakamura and Okamoto), creating an atmosphere that was simply joyful. But the next moment, they said, “With 13 years of gratitude toward everyone, here is an unreleased song,” and sincerely delivered “バタフライ・ノット,” which would be performed for the first and last time at this show. The audience simply listened intently to the melancholy rock ballad, one that could be called the true essence of the GARNET sound. Then, as everyone sang together again on “Fall in Life ～Hallelujah～,” the live show finally moved toward the time of farewell.

The Final Song Performed Was “夢みたあとで”

At Tokyo International Forum, the four seemed to have deliberately held back from mentioning the disbandment too much, but on the final day, Yuri Nakamura gave a message to the fans. If one were to describe it, it should have been a scene worthy of being called a highlight for a band that had been active for many years. However, at the very end, she said, “Thank you so much for 15 years!” (the correct number was 13), and turned red. The venue was swept into laughter. Yet the homelike warmth born there instead created even more emotion. The dreamlike time spent together with GARNET CROW. The song performed at its end was “夢みたあとで.” The famous ballad, almost too fitting as the last song, was released with their whole body and soul, and the tears fans must have held back from the announcement of disbandment until this day overflowed all at once.

An Expression of the Will to Inherit GARNET CROW’s Dream

The members of GARNET CROW, having poured everything out, waved to the fans again and again, saying, “Thank you for supporting us for 13 years!” The curtain onstage closed and opened again, and each time the four appeared with smiles, cheers rose from the venue. Eventually the curtain no longer opened, and the announcement that the performance had ended played inside the hall. Even so, almost all the audience members remained in their seats, and with a level of excitement like the actual show was still continuing, they unexpectedly sang full choruses of songs such as “Fall in Life ～Hallelujah～” and “今宵エデンの片隅で.”

Earlier in the MC, Nakamura had said, “We will disband, but the songs are alive,” and “Please continue to treasure the works we have created and listen to them.” The fans’ singing voices, echoing on and on, were the answer to that. It felt almost like an expression of the will to inherit GARNET CROW’s dream.

Yuri Nakamura’s (vo) Message to the Fans, in Full

Since our debut in 2000, we have run nonstop up to this point. I believe this is thanks to all of our fans. Thank you so much for so much warm support over these 13 years!

We have always had one thought: that we want to continue creating songs that will remain in everyone’s hearts, without compromise. With that single-minded feeling, we have continued making music until now. We will disband, but the songs are alive. In some casual moment in your hearts, or at some important turning point in your lives, I hope our songs will flow again, and that your lives will become richer and richer. That is my wish. Please continue to treasure and listen to the works we have created. Thank you!

Today is the last live, but at the end, I would also like to take this opportunity to once again thank the staff and everyone involved who prepared such a grand, glorious stage for us. And above all, to all the fans who have supported us until now, I want to express my heartfelt thanks once more. Thank you so much for 15 years!

(Laughter from the audience)

...Thank you so much for 13 years!! I added two years to my age (laughs).

I want to say thank you to everyone, and I want to say thank you for the emotion you have given me, but I cannot find any words other than “thank you,” and that feels truly frustrating. The song we would like you to hear at the end is... an important song that gave you the chance to know us.

For 15 years... (laughs)

For 13 years!

...Why do I keep saying 15 years!?

AZUKI Nana: (laughs)

(After regaining composure)

The song we would like you to hear at the end is... an important song that gave us the chance to do live shows, gave us the chance to appear in media, and gave many more people the chance to know the name GARNET CROW. We would like you to listen to that song, and then we will say goodbye.

I will sing it with 13 years of gratitude. Everyone, thank you so much for today! Please, take care of yourselves! Thank you for everything until now!

Interview & text: Tetsuo Hiraga