[The Legend of Heisei and Makuhari] GLAY’s Best Collection of Popular Songs and Hidden Gems

a Boy ~I’ll never forget~GLAY

[GLAY] a Boy ~I’ll Never Forget~ [cover]

The 10th single was used as the theme song for NHK’s “POP JAM.” It’s a ballad whose simple beat lets the lyrics sink in smoothly.

Unusually, the bassist JIRO handles the backing vocals.

It’s a song that makes you feel like you can live strongly even on your own.

southeasterly windGLAY

GLAY / Southeast Wind

The reading is “Minami Gochi.” It’s a very pop song, an so-called festival tune featuring chorus participation by Kuzu (Hiroyuki Miyasako and Tomomitsu Yamaguchi) and YUKI.

It’s famous for TERU and the audience dancing together when it’s performed live.

Be sure to learn it and go to a show!

Their HOLY X’MASGLAY

Their Holy X’mas

This is a winter ballad included on the 2002 album “UNITY ROOTS & FAMILY, AWAY.” Rather than a love-centered Christmas song, it is woven from the perspective of Christmas for all people, with diverse skin tones and eye colors.

The lyrics gently portray universal wishes for happiness, dreams, and the true meaning of Christmas, leaving listeners with a calm, warm feeling.

In 2023, an anthology edition was released two decades later, featuring a live arrangement version as well.

It’s a gentle song you’ll want to play quietly on a peaceful Christmas night spent with family and friends.

Back Home With Mrs.SnowmanGLAY

Back Home With Mrs.Snowman

A heartwarming GLAY song that tenderly depicts returning home at year’s end and welcoming the New Year.

It was included as the final track on the album “Back To The Pops” in October 2024.

Written and composed by TAKURO, with arrangement contributions from Shinya Kiyozuka and Koharu of Charan-Po-Rantan.

The track also features narration by Ryota Yamasato of Nankai Candies and sound effects of fireworks from Hakodate.

The lyrics, expressing a wish to welcome the New Year with a loved one amid a snowy hometown landscape, convey deep affection for family and partners.

While nodding to the sound of 1990s J-pop, the interplay of tense guitar riffs and drums is another highlight.

It’s a heartwarming piece you’ll want to listen to with someone special during the year-end and New Year holidays.

White RoadGLAY

GLAY / White Road

The 32nd single was released as a lead single for the ballad best-of album “-Ballad Best Singles- WHITE ROAD.” It’s a song inspired by thoughts of their hometown, Hakodate, and the entire music video was filmed there.

The theme of SHUTTER SPEEDSGLAY

Theme of shutter speeds: gray

A track from the 3rd album “BELOVED.” It was re-recorded for the 2009 release “THE GREAT VACATION VOL.2 ~SUPER BEST OF GLAY~.” It’s the first song composed by JIRO, featuring a prominent bass riff.

Tapestry Weave ~so far and yet so close~GLAY

GLAY / Tapestry ~so far and yet so close~ (from TAKURO Produce Live 2009)

Unusually for a GLAY song, the lyrics use “I” as the first-person pronoun, and while it is a love song, they can also be interpreted as reflecting the relationship between the fans and GLAY.

Even ten years after its release, in January 2015, frequent performances on tour captured many hearts and the song reached No.

1 on USEN’s request rankings, and in May 2015 it was released as a single—a masterpiece.

It is also said to be a sister song to the aforementioned “White Road.”