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)
宗教
椎名林檎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
毒で本望 嘘で元々さ
可成なら甘いものが善い
湯呑勘定 蟲歯も厭はない
「立て」「撃て」「切り裂いても敬ひ去れ」「歇むな」「惡むな」
「吐け」「出せ」「引き摺つても歩き行け」「振り向くべからず」(色彩)
こんなにビルも道路も増えて居るのに
飲むでも飲み切れぬ壜で不條理を凝視せよ
季節は廻つて急ぎ足
花は咲いた 蜂を呼寄せた
幾度も繰り還しをする
實る様で 枯れるのが常と
「待て」「伏せ」「不可解でも崇め逝け」「病むな」「憎むな」
「視ろ」「嗅げ」「不愉快でも味わひ識れ」「覚悟を極めろ」
芳醇
長壽の勝訴が何時になつても見當たらないのだ 如何して
品位が麗しいのは事實なのに
泣いて負けを認むる獣の條理を諷刺せよ
あ 通り雨 憂ひ菩薩 雲 行きて また 晴れて
配置されし 僕の記号 期待すれば氣付いてしまふ
模範だらけ 模倣だらけ (行け 行け 花は咲いた 蜂を呼寄せた)
續いて 往く 續いて 往く 此の 營み (誰か僕に巧いお菓子を 誰か僕に 誰か僕に 誰か僕に)
The song 宗教 by 椎名林檎 carries a powerful and poetical message about the human condition and societal structures. The lyrics convey a sense of yearning for something truly valuable, while also exposing the paradoxical nature of modern life. The opening lines, "Someone give me a clever sweet / I want poison, originally a lie," speaks to the idea that people often crave what is bad for them, and alludes to the idea that we are not always honest with ourselves about our desires. The lyrics go on to describe the societal pressures and expectations that people face, admonishing us to "shoot", "cut", and "spit out" our way through life to succeed. However, the song ultimately encourages listeners to embrace their true selves, even if society rejects them, and to find value in the midst of the chaos.
Throughout the song, the lyrics describe the fleeting nature of life and the paradoxes we must navigate. The "perfect wine glass" can never be found, even as the city grows and expands around us. The seasons turn quickly, and nothing is permanent. However, there is a beauty and richness to be found in the impermanence, and the lyrics urge us to savor the bitter and the sweet. Even as we face the dark and difficult aspects of life, we are encouraged to find the strength to go on, to defy societal conventions and to be our true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
誰か僕に巧いお菓子を
Someone give me some good sweets
毒で本望 嘘で元々さ
If it's poison, I expected it; if it's a lie, it was inevitable
可成なら甘いものが善い
If it's possible, then sweetness is good
湯呑勘定 蟲歯も厭はない
Drinking from a teacup is fine; I don't even mind cavities
「立て」「撃て」「切り裂いても敬ひ去れ」「歇むな」「惡むな」
Stand tall, shoot, tear apart, but leave with respect; don't stop, don't hate
「吐け」「出せ」「引き摺つても歩き行け」「振り向くべからず」(色彩)
Vomit it out, let it out, even if you have to drag yourself, keep walking, don't look back (colors)
丁度好い洋盃が何処に行つても見付からないのだ 如何して
こんなにビルも道路も増えて居るのに
飲むでも飲み切れぬ壜で不條理を凝視せよ
I can never find the right glass; how is it that there are so many buildings and roads, but I'm forced to stare at life's absurdity from an unfinished bottle that I can't even finish drinking
季節は廻つて急ぎ足
花は咲いた 蜂を呼寄せた
幾度も繰り還しをする
實る様で 枯れるのが常と
The seasons turn quickly; flowers bloom and attract bees; going around and around repeatedly, it seems to bear fruit, but withers as always
「待て」「伏せ」「不可解でも崇め逝け」「病むな」「憎むな」
「視ろ」「嗅げ」「不愉快でも味わひ識れ」「覚悟を極めろ」
Wait, crouch, even if it's incomprehensible, worship it; don't get sick, don't hate; see it, smell it, even if it's unpleasant, savor it; prepare yourself
芳醇
Rich aroma
長壽の勝訴が何時になつても見當たらないのだ 如何して
品位が麗しいのは事實なのに
泣いて負けを認むる獣の條理を諷刺せよ
Even if justice will never prevail, how can it be that elegance is a fact, yet we acknowledge the logic of beasts that cry in defeat? Satirize it
あ 通り雨 憂ひ菩薩 雲 行きて また 晴れて
配置されし 僕の記号 期待すれば氣付いてしまふ
模範だらけ 模倣だらけ (行け 行け 花は咲いた 蜂を呼寄せた)
續いて 往く 續いて 往く 此の 營み (誰か僕に巧いお菓子を 誰か僕に 誰か僕に 誰か僕に)
Ah, the passing rain, a melancholy bodhisattva; the clouds go by and clear again; if you wait with hope, you'll realize my symbolism; it's full of models and impersonations (go on, go on, flowers bloomed and attracted bees), keep going, keep going, this is my play (someone give me some good sweets, someone give me, someone give me, someone give me)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ringo Sheena
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind