After quitting school to enter a musical contest, Shiina was quickly signed to EMI, then promptly left Japan to avoid the trappings of contract work. After returning, she quickly released a series of singles and albums, all self-penned (a relative rarity for Japanese pop artists), and all meeting with great success on the Japanese charts. A hiatus to start a family followed, itself followed (after a divorce) by both a new album and a new side project, the band 東京事変. (Tokyo Jihen - or Tokyo Incidents)
After more success with the band, Shiina returned to a solo career in 2006 as the Music Director for the film 「さくらん」(Sakuran), quickly taking the number one slot on the Oricon charts with the album Heisei Fuuzoku released in tandem with a major soundtrack project. Following was a B-sides album which peaked quickly at the number one Oricon slot. In the years proceeding this, she spent most of her time dedicated to Tokyo Jihen occasionally revisiting her solo work.
Despite being involved in the main Japanese pop scene, Shiina has created a niche for herself based on a much wider musical range than most artists. Where most pop singers develop a basic sound based on contemporary pop aesthetics and throwaway lyrical matter, Shiina builds on a base of jazz, rock, Motown, and even French chanson equally well (the chanson works especially well with her trademark nasal delivery), infusing her projects with a very different aesthetic, and gaining a fan base separate from the core constituents of the Japanese pop apparatus.
Despite the release of album 三毒史 (trivisa-itihasa) in 2019, released after a myriad of singles being majorly included in aforementioned work. In 2020, Ringo and band Tokyo Jihen turned their backs to their past, doing a major reunion, with the drop of a few projects, such as sixth studio album 音楽.
Discography
Singles
幸福論 (Koufukuron)（1998）
歌舞伎町の女王 （1998）
ここでキスして。 (Koko de kisu shite)（1999）
本能 （1999）
幸福論（1999）
ギブス (Gibs)（2000）
罪と罰 （2000）
真夜中は純潔 （2001）
絶頂集 （2000）
茎（STEM）～大名遊ビ編～ （2003）
りんごのうた (Ringo no Uta)（2003）
この世の限り (Kono Yo no Kagiri) (2007） (With Saitou Neko and her brother Shiina Junpei)
ありあまる富 (Ariamaru Tomi)（2009）
カーネーション (Carnation)（2011）
自由へ道連 (Traveling Companion to Freedom) (2012)
いろはにほへと (Les Couleurs Chantent) (2013)
孤独のあかつき (The Solitude of Dawn) (2013)
NIPPON (2014)
至上の人生 (A Life Supreme) (2015)
最果てが見たい (2015)
長く短い祭 (2015)
神様、仏様 (2015)
ジユーダム (2016)
目抜き通り (2017)
獣ゆく細道 (2018)
Albums
無罪モラトリアム (Muzai Moratorium) (1999)
勝訴ストリップ (Shouso Strip)（2000)
加爾基 精液 栗ノ花（Karuki Za-men Kuri no Hana）(2003)
平成風俗 (Heisei Fuuzoku) (2007) (with Neiko Sato)
三文ゴシップ (Sanmon Gossip) (2009)
日出処 (Hi Izuru Tokoro) (2014)
三毒史 (trivisa-itihasa) (2019)
Covers Album
唄ひ手冥利～其ノ壱～ (Utaitemyori Sonoichi)（2002）
逆輸入 ～港湾局～ (Reimports Vol.1) (2014)
逆輸入 〜航空局〜 (Reimport Vol.2 -Civil Bureau Aviation) (2017)
Compilations
私と放電 (Me & Electric Discharge) (2008) - (B-Sides)
ニュートンの林檎 (Apple of Universal Gravity) (2019) - (Overview)
この世の限り
椎名林檎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
もしも果てが見えたなら
如何やって笑おうか愉しもうか
もうやり尽くしたね
じゃあ何度だって忘れよう
そしてまた新しく
出逢えれば素晴らしい
But still my dear, if the end draws near, what should I do?
If you hold me tight, I'd feel all right but still be blue
But if a song were to play just for us for a moment
To take the heartache away
Well, then I'd say, I'll make a song for you
Nothing too old, and nothing too new
Sing to the light of day
You'll smile for me, we'll be happy that way
Da-la, da-la, da-la, da-la
Just turn away and take this point of view
Nothing is old, and nothing is new
When you look at me and say I'll forget you
If you were me, who would you be when the sun goes down?
Two faces bright but I fear the night might come around
And if reflections appear from the past, all our moments
Smiles, love and laughter, I fear
Well, then I'd say, I'll make a song for you
Nothing too old, and nothing too new
Sing to the light of day
You'll smile for me, we'll be happy that way
And take this point of view
Nothing is old, and nothing is new
When you look at me and say
Nice to meet you, would you mind if I stay? If I stay
The lyrics to "この世の限り" present the idea of the transience of life, asking if there are limitations to this world. The singer wonders how they should approach life if they knew it was going to end soon - should they laugh or feel content? Feeling as though they have exhausted all possibilities, they suggest forgetting everything and starting anew. However, the possibility of an end still lingers, prompting a sense of helplessness. The singer imagines a scenario where a song could temporarily take away the pain of impending loss. In this moment, they vow to make a song for their loved one, one that is not too old or too new, and one that will bring a smile to their face. The song ends with a plea for this person to stay.
The lyrics are thought-provoking, emphasizing the inevitability of life's end and the uncertainty that accompanies it. It encourages appreciation of the present moment and the people around us. The suggestion to create something new and beautiful, like a song, in the face of impending loss is particularly poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
この世に限りはあるの?
Is there a limit to this world?
もしも果てが見えたなら
If one can see the end,
如何やって笑おうか愉しもうか
How can one laugh or enjoy it?
もうやり尽くしたね
We've done everything already.
じゃあ何度だって忘れよう
Let's forget countless times.
そしてまた新しく出逢えれば素晴らしい
If we meet again, it would be wonderful.
然様なら初めまして
Then, nice to meet you.
But still my dear, if the end draws near, what should I do?
Even if the end comes near, what should I do?
If you hold me tight, I'd feel all right but still be blue
Even if you hold me tight, I will feel okay, but still be sad.
But if a song were to play just for us for a moment
However, if a song were played just for us in a moment,
To take the heartache away
To relieve the pain in our hearts.
Well, then I'd say, I'll make a song for you
In that case, I will make a song for you.
Nothing too old, and nothing too new
The song will be neither too old, nor too new
Sing to the light of day
Sing a song to the light of day
You'll smile for me, we'll be happy that way
You will smile for me, and we will be happy that way.
Just turn away and take this point of view
Just turn away and see it from a different point of view.
Nothing is old, and nothing is new
Nothing is too old or too new.
When you look at me and say I'll forget you
When you look at me and say you will forget me.
If you were me, who would you be when the sun goes down?
If you were in my place, who would you be when the sun sets?
Two faces bright but I fear the night might come around
Two cheerful faces, but I am afraid the night will come.
And if reflections appear from the past, all our moments
And if memories of our past appear, all of our moments
Smiles, love, and laughter, I fear
Smiles, love, and laughter, I am afraid.
Nice to meet you, would you mind if I stay? If I stay
It's nice to meet you, may I stay? If I stay.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jue Yan, Ringo Sheena
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind