Thursday, September 4, 2008

Oct 22:28th Single Hyakunen no Kodoku

■GARNET CROW ニューシングルリリース決定!!

GARNET CROWの28枚目となるニューシングル「百年の孤独」が、2008年10月22日にリリースされることが決定致しました!

ニューシングル「百年の孤独」は、2008年秋に上映となります「真救世主伝説 北斗の拳ZERO ケンシロウ伝」の主題歌となっており、今秋で生誕25周年を迎える「北斗の拳」の世界観が凝縮された重厚な楽曲に仕上がっています。カップリング曲等、詳細は追ってご報告していきますので、お楽しみにお待ち下さい!!

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Translation:

GARNET CROW's new single decided!

GARNET CROW will release the 28th single 'Hyakunen no Kodoku' (One hundred years of solitude) on Oct 22, 2008.

Hyakunen no Kodoku will be the new theme of upcoming movie 'Makoto Kyuuseishu Densetsu, Hokuto no Ken ZERO, Kenshirou Den' (Legend of the true savior, True Fist of the North Star ZERO, Story of Kenshiro) scheduled for the big screen in autumn. The song embraces the heavy essence of the worldview of Hokuto no Ken which welcomes its 25th anniversary. Details on coupling songs will be reported later.

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Information on the new single was first disclosed on a casual note during LOCKS live tour, but due to confidential issues Yurippe only announced the title which nonetheless stirred up enough excitement among the audience.


5th Movie poster

If you're unfamiliar with Hokuto no Ken,you can check out the following sites:

Wikipedia

Hokuto no Ken 25th anniversary project

I actually grew up watching this anime and what I remember from it is lots of blood spills,violent fist fights and torn clothes (The protagonist's clothes is torn to pieces whenever he pumps up his muscles on adrenaline surge. Don't you wonder how he keeps on the same set of clothes in every episode? Never mind.) It's pretty hardcore and the series has been alive for 25 years apparently. The 25th anniversary project is probably the last theatrical release and I'm really excited GC runs away with the title. The popularity of the series will definitely help them find more listeners. And looking at the title 'A hundred years of solitude', I have my expectations brewing! Search for '北斗の拳', or 'Hokuto no Ken' on youtube and you'll get a sense of the previous title songs. Here's the famous TV OP 'You are shock'.



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More on 'LOCKS' live later...

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

2008 Livescope highlights



http://garnetcrow.com/live/index.html

Tokyo
2008.8.16 Open 17:30 / Start 18:30
2008.8.17 Open 16:00 / Start 17:00

Osaka
2008.8.31 Open 17:30 / Start 18:00

There're 3 shows altogether, 2 in Tokyo and 1 in Osaka. Originally there's only one scheduled in Tokyo but the tickets were so hot selling they had to add another. In the past, the company chose Tokyo footage for DVD release instead of Osaka, as the norm goes.

Set List
Aug 16, Tokyo

01.Saigo no Ritou
02.Natsu no Maboroshi
03.Mou ichido waratte
04.call my name
05.Mizu no nai hareta umi e
06.wish★
07.Endress Desire
08.Wasurezaki (Vo:Okamoto, Chorus:Yurippe & Furui)
09.The first cry
10.Mawari michi
11.Yume no hitotsu
12.Mr.Holiday
13.Namida no yesterday (album ver.)
14.Maboroshi
15.Holy ground
16.Love is a Bird
17.Yume mita ato de
18.Sekai wa mawaruto iu kereto
19.Futari no rocket
20.Kimi no omoi egaita yume shuu meru HEVEAN
21.Argentina
22.Koyoi EDEN no katasumi de
Encore
23.Himawari no iro
24.Futari
25.Spiral

Here comes the HIGHLIGHTS!

Highlight No.1!
The only difference between the set list on 16th and 17th is Yurippe sang 'GARNET shopping' on 17th. In case you wonder what 'GARNET shopping' is...it's the background music(with repetitive lyrics like'GARNET shopping,shopping shopping shopping') used to promote their 8th anniversary products in GARNET TIME special. You can head over to their official site to watch GT special. (or click here to watch it).

They didn't plan this cute little 'GARNET shopping'into the set list but per audience request, Yurippe sang it without music (somehow the other members don't know how to play the tune). I have to mention Yurippe wrote the song, AND wrote the lyrics.

Highlight No.2!
They also involved the audience in record-breaking 'Mr. Holiday' mass dancing. Again, you can watch the complete dance movements in GARNET TIME special.I've embedded the portion here thanks to the uploader. Fast forward to the last few minutes where Yurippe and Nana did a lovely demo.



Highlight No.4!
08.Wasurezaki (Vo:Okamoto, Chorus:Yurippe & Furui)
Furui!! Once in a lifetime the leader of the band comes forward to sing! However according to some fans' recounts, they can barely hear him!

Highlight No.5!
Several fans from the chinese forum 'Tokyo time BBS' went for the Tokyo concert and were lucky enough to get first row seating! (Damn,that's like winning a lottery!) 小泊川(forum id) did an amazing, courageous thing just before GC walked off the stage. He literally dashed to the front (remember he's in first row) and handed a gift card to Furui. The card has China fans' signatures and wishes on it, and of course two big kanji characters that says 'China'. Furui then passed it on to Yurippe and the audience was pleading to see it. Yurippe held it high so the camera caught it on big screen. Here's some photo (taken by, I suspect, a pro photographer) of Yurippe holding up the card.



The original card prepared by 小泊川, front and back
Refer to his live report (in Chinese) here. (You might need to register to see the attached photos.)