GARNET CROW
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| Japanese name: | ガーネット クロウ |
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| Date of creation: | 1999 |
| Origin: | Japan |
| Genres: | Pop, Rock, Latin |
| Years active: | 1999-present |
| Labels: | Tent House: 1999 Giza Studio: 2000–present |
| Website: | www.garnetcrow.com |
Garnet Crow, or GARNET CROW, is a Japanese pop/rock band formed in 1999 and associated with the Giza Studio record label. Members include Yuri Nakamura, Hitoshi Okamoto, Nana Azuki, and Hirohito Furui, with Nakamura leading on vocals. Music produced by Garnet Crow has its roots in the Neo Acoustic genre, and representative works include "flying," "Yume mita ato de," and "Yume Hanabi."[1] Despite prolific early singles, the band neither performed live nor appeared on TV prior to 2002.
The mixed composition of Garnet Crow and Nakamura's deep vocals set the group apart from its contemporaries. Each individual member has also seen industry success: Nakamura and Azuki often share the limelight for Garnet Crow, but Okamoto has achieved a solo career under the name SUPER LIGHT, and Furui is a sought-after music arranger – one of the highest paid in Japan. He also single-handedly wrote and arranged the soundtrack for a TV documentary about the Amazon, and released it as a digital download album called "imagination".
GARNET CROW first made their appearince on the indie music scene with their first mini album, "first kaleidscope ~Kimi no Uchi ni Tsuku Made Zutto Hashitte Yuku~". The six songs from this album were widely played on indie radio stations. In 2000, GARNET CROW made it into the world of mainstream music with their simultaneous single releases of Mysterious Eyes and Kimi no Uchi ni Tsuku Made Zutto Hashitte Yuku, a mellow, relaxed version of the title track to their indie album. Thanks to heavy exposure on Detective Conan, Mysterious Eyes became a big hit and is still one of their best-known songs today.
The name GARNET CROW was firstly inspired by the jewel, garnet. Yuri described it as being "not as red as ruby... a deeper, blacker colour." The band wanted to create music that was more deep and meaningful than the sugary-sweet pop scene in Japan. They had originally planned on calling the band "GARNET", but felt that it didn't quite sound right. Eventually, they decided to add the word "crow". This gave the band's name an eerie, lasting image. It was also chosen because of the similarity to "kuro", meaning "black", as a reference to the dark colours of garnets.
Contents
Members
- Yuri Nakamura （中村由利） (vocals, music composition)
- Nana Azuki （AZUKI七） (keyboard, lyrics)
- Hirohito "Godhand" Furui （古井弘人） (keyboard, music arrangement)
- Hitoshi Okamoto （岡本仁志） (guitar)
AZUKI Nana uses a stage name for her work, but her real name is believed to be Sugatani Rie, which is the name she used in her past career as a model and TV personality. She often writes lyrics for other GIZA artists, and her work for others includes Aoi Aoi Kono Hoshi ni and Free Magic.
Nakamura Yuri is also commissioned to write melodies for other artists, as is Okamoto Hitoshi. They have done work for people such as Kuraki Mai, ZARD and Iwata Sayuri.
Together, Okamoto and Nakamura form the band's subgroup MINIQLO. The name is a shortened version of "Mini GARNET CROW", although Yuri often jokes about its similarity to Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo. Characteristically, MINIQLO plays more natural, acoustic versions of GARNET CROW's songs. Okamoto plays guitar for MINIQLO and provides backing vocals, while Yuri sings and plays piano.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| Oricon [2] | ||
| 2001 | First Soundscope: Mizu no Nai Hareta Umi e
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6 |
| 2002 | Sparkle: Sujigakidōri no Sky Blue
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4 |
| 2003 | Crystallize: Kimi to Iu Hikari
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5 |
| 2004 | I'm Waiting 4 You
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11 |
| 2006 | The Twilight Valley
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4 |
| 2008 | Locks
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5 |
| 2009 | Stay: Yoake no Soul
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7 |
| 2010 | Parallel Universe
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10 |
Mini-albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| Oricon [2] | ||
| 1999 | First Kaleidscope ~Kimi no Uchi ni Tsuku made Zutto Hashitte Yuku~
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| 2010 | Paralyzed Frequency (MINIQLO)
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| 2010 | above all else!! (MINIQLO)
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Compilation albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| Oricon [2] | ||
| 2005 | Garnet Crow Best
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| 2010 | The Best History of Garnet Crow At the Crest...
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Remix albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| Oricon [2] | ||
| 2005 | Garnet Crow Remixes Cool City Production Vol.8
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Concept albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| Oricon [2] | ||
| 2010 | All Lovers
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Singles
- Mysterious Eyes (2000)
- Kimi no Uchi ni Tsuku made Zutto Hashitte yuku (2000)
- Futari no Rocket (2000)
- Sen-ijou no Kotoba wo Narabetemo... (2000)
- Natsu no Maboroshi (2000)
- flying (2000)
- Last love song (2001)
- call my name (2001)
- Timeless Sleep (2001)
- Yume mita ato de (2002)
- Spiral (2002)
- Crystal Gauge (2002)
- Nakenai Yoru mo, Nakanai Asa mo (2003)
- Kimi to iu hikari (2003)
- Bokura Dake no Mirai (2004)
- Kimi wo Kazaru Hana wo Sakasou (2004)
- Wasurezaki (2004)
- Kimi no Omoiegaita Yume Atsumeru HEAVEN (2005)
- Haredokei (2005)
- Rai Rai Ya (2006)
- Yume Hanabi (2006)
- Koyoi Eden no Katasumi de (2006)
- Maboroshi (2006)
- Kaze to RAINBOW / Kono Te wo Nobaseba (2007)
- Namida no Yesterday (2007)
- Sekai wa mawaru to yuu keredo (2007)
- Yume no Hitotsu (2008)
- Hyakunen no Kodoku (2008)
- Doing all right (2009)
- Hana wa Saite, Tada Yurete (2009)
- Over Drive (2010)
- Smiley Nation (2011)
- Misty Mystery (2011)
Song themes in Detective Conan
Opening themes
- Mysterious Eyes - Opening 7 (Episodes 168~204)
- Namida no Yesterday - Opening 20 (Episodes 475~486)
- As the Dew - Opening 28 (Episodes 565~582)
- Misty Mystery - Opening 32 (Episodes 627~)
Closing themes
- Natsu no Maboroshi - Closing 10 (Episodes 205~218)
- Yume mita ato de - Closing 14 (Episodes 266~287)
- Kimi to iu hikari - Closing 18 (Episodes 329~349)
- Wasurezaki - Closing 20 (Episodes 377~397)
- Sekai wa mawaru to yuu keredo - Closing 28 (Episodes 487~490)
- Doing all right - Closing 33 (Episodes 530~539)
Movie themes
- Over Drive - Movie 14 (The Lost Ship in the Sky)
See also
References
- ^ "Garnet Crow Ongaku Haishin Shichou". Music.jp. 2007. http://pc.music.jp/product/detailartist.aspx?aid=1324. Retrieved on 7 Jan. 2008.
- ^ a b c d e "Oricon Charts > Garnet Crow". oricon.com. http://www.bookoffonline.co.jp/display/L001,p=1,tg=31,cid=xlis_cdartist17632,q=%2582%2566%2582%2560%2582%2571%2582%256D%2582%2564%2582%2573%2581%2540%2582%2562%2582%2571%2582%256E%2582%2576. Retrieved on 2010-12-18.
