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Kono Namida Hoshini Nare
c/w O.mo.i.de
 
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Music by: Yuuichirou Iwai
Music by: Terao Hirokatsu
Released: 1 December 1999
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listen | lyrics
listen | lyrics
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This single has been used as the theme song for the Japanese serie
Kasouken no Onna.
The single is in the style of their previous singles, MIND GAMES and up. There is the
similar use of a dominating background music that reminds me of their 29th single in
particular. I think this is Zard's new style due to the fact they use different composers
for their singles now.
The song is still very good though and I would rate it four stars out of five. But what
makes this single better than that is the c/w song O.mo.i.de. When I first listened to it, I
immediately liked it better than the single song. It has a much calmer music and it
is a wonderful sing-along song.
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Get U're Dream
no c/w song
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Music by: Aika Ohno
Released: 6 September 2000
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listen | lyrics
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Zard's second maxi single, but strangely there is no c/w song included. Perhaps they
already had in mind to release Promised You as another maxi single, right after
Get U're Dream. So, counting the secret track too, we have here four different versions of
the same song.
Version 1 is arranged by Takeshi Hayama, a person who has been arranging Zard's songs
for many years now. You will notice that in version 1, because this version stays closely
to the typical Zard arrangement with not too much (weird) stuff throw in.
Version 2, arranged by Akihito Tokunaga, has a dance-tune to it, due to the use of heavy
drumbeats throughout the song.
Version 3 is totally different from the other versions. In version 1 and 2 we have a fast-paced
melody accompanied with Izumi Sakai's vocal, whereas in version 3 the song seems to rely
heavily on Izumi Sakai's vocal only. The song is performed slowly and we also get to hear
Izumi Sakai playing with her voice, which is quite unique.
The secret track is very similar to version 1. Let's say it is a remix of version 1 without losing
the overall feeling of the original.
To conclude this review I will tell which version has my personal preference. All the different
versions have their own feeling to it, so it really depends on your personal taste. In my case
I would choose version 1, because it has a real Zard feeling to it.
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Promised You
c/w The only truth I know is you
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Music by: Seiichiroh Kuribayashi
Music by: Akihito Tokunaga
Released: 15 November 2000
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listen | lyrics
listen | lyrics
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I haven't rated a Zard single with the maximum of 5 stars for a while
(last one was Atarashii Door), but this maxi single certainly deserves
the maximum score. Although the individual tracks on the single may
not be as good as their previous single (Get U're Dream), it is the
combination of both songs that makes this single so strong:
a slow ballad and a more upbeat song, and both great to listen to.
I had got plenty of time to listen to both the tracks on the single before
I wrote this review, but I still don't know for sure which one of the songs
I like better. I think this gives a good indication of how good both songs are.
Before the release of this single, it was no real surprise how Promised You
will sound, because it has been on air as an ending theme song for quite some time.
It is a slow song, quite comparable to Eien, and is beautifully sung by
Izumi Sakai supported by some male backup vocals here and there.
The c/w track of this single is of course the big mysterious song. You had no clue
beforehand how this one will sound, though from the title, The only truth I know is you,
you would expect an even slower song. But nothing is less true. The intro indeed
starts slowly, but quickly changes into a much faster tempo with a chorus that is really
addictive and easy to sing along with. Another remarkable thing is the sudden change
in rhythm, almost at the end of the song. You will also find this same rhythm change in another
Zard song, Take me to your dream (another one of my favorite), at exactly the same
part of the song. It it this subtal difference that makes both songs so special.
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