So I've just started watching Detective Conan again since my hiatus about 2 months ago and I kinda grew on the group band "ZARD" that consists of 4 members and Izumi Sakai as the main vocalists.
At first I don't particularly enjoy ZARD's songs, especially (i know this'll probably trigger a lot of fans) the song "Unmei no Roulette Mawashite", well as time went by i grew on one song "Hoshi No Kagayakiyo" and "Natsu o Matsu Sail you ni" those songs really changed my perception about ZARD, and upon discovering those songs I searched a bit about ZARD on the internet and found out that Izumi Sakai herself had passed away at 27th May 2007 and her last song was "Glorious Mind" for the 21st opening song.
What I think really sets apart Izumi Sakai/ ZARD really really different among other singers, group bands, etc is the lack of public exposure. Rumours spread around who is Izumi Sakai, who is ZARD, and who is the girl in front of every ZARD's album. As those same rumours spread, people start to assume that ZARD is almost the same as the "Milli Vanilli" phenomenon, in which the person who appeared at the crowd is not the singer itself, and the real singer is more comfortable no one knowing.
In the song "Glorious Mind" it's as if Sakai was saying goodbye, "leave me here alone" "tomorrow's a different day" "and i know when i'm ready", those parts of the lyrics truly - truly hit me right at the feels. and the next thing we know that she had passed away not long after the recording.
So overall, ZARD is the embodiment of Izumi Sakai herself, and living as a singer with little to none public exposure can actually boosts it's popularity.
Thank you for reading, this is my first BTW
*Just a recommendation off topic, the song "Makenaide" became a phenomenon in Japan because it was released when Japan was struggling due to economy crisis, not only that it also helped a lot of people in which are the ones who were bullied, kids having a tough time, etc.
