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)
日和姫
椎名林檎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
どんな事件だって躱さないわ
才能 有能
豪遊大脳
官能
行け最前線
曖昧見舞い選びたい年頃
もっと難題を私に出して
「正解」
たった今しか味わえない色が好いの
そうでしょう
そうよ概念なんか要さないわ
先天的楽観で息を吐いて吸うわ
直感 実感
号泣速乾
快感
行け最前線
私の感度証明
曖昧見舞い分かりたい年頃
もっと本題で貴方を見せて
「正解」
たった今しか触れられなくても良いの
どうでしょう
貴方と私はもう
出逢えている?
知合えている?
嗚呼 最前線
貴方の声も
きっといつしか聴こえなくなるから
現在の最大限を聴かせて
「正解」
たった今 使い果たすために逢おうよ
ハロー
The lyrics to 日和姫 are essentially a call to live life to the fullest and not be hindered by preconceived notions or societal expectations. The singer declares that they do not set any concepts for themselves and will not shy away from any event or challenge that comes their way. The three stanzas each present a different aspect of the singer's personality or way of living life. In the first stanza, they boast about their talent, ability, and sensuality. The second stanza speaks of their intuition, experiences, and pleasure-seeking nature. The last stanza is a question about whether the person they are addressing has really met them or knows them. The singer invites them to experience the present moment to the fullest, as they may not have another chance.
The lyrics seem to encourage the listener to live courageously and explore their own potential. The singer emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment, not being limited by preconceived notions, and embracing the unasked-for challenges that come along the way. The song's title, "hiyorihime," refers to a weather goddess in Japanese folklore that controls the temperature and weather. This mythical figure represents the unpredictable nature of life that the singer in the song is embracing.
Line by Line Meaning
今日も概念なんか設けないわ
Today, I won't set any preconceptions.
どんな事件だって躱さないわ
I won't avoid any events no matter what they are.
才能 有能 豪遊大脳 官能
Talent, ability, indulgent brain, sensuality.
行け最前線 貴方の合図解明
Go to the front line, and I'll decipher your signals.
曖昧見舞い選びたい年頃 もっと難題を私に出して
In this ambiguous age, give me more difficult problems to solve.
「正解」たった今しか味わえない色が好いの そうでしょう
"Correct answer," I like the color that can only be tasted right now. Isn't that so?
そうよ概念なんか要さないわ
That's right, I don't need preconceptions.
先天的楽観で息を吐いて吸うわ
I inhale and exhale with innate optimism.
直感 実感 号泣速乾 快感
Intuition, reality, quick-drying tears, pleasure.
行け最前線 私の感度証明
Go to the front line, and I'll prove my sensitivity.
曖昧見舞い分かりたい年頃 もっと本題で貴方を見せて
In this ambiguous age, show me more of the real you.
"正解"たった今しか触れられなくても良いの どうでしょう
"Correct answer," It's ok to only touch it now, isn't it?
貴方と私はもう出逢えている? 知合えている?
Have you and I already met? Have we gotten to know each other?
嗚呼 最前線 貴方の声も きっといつしか聴こえなくなるから 現在の最大限を聴かせて
Ah, the front line. Your voice will surely stop being heard someday, so let me hear it to the fullest now.
"正解"たった今 使い果たすために逢おうよ ハロー
"Correct answer," Let's meet right now, so we can use it up. Hello.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ringo Shiina
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind