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)
Leadig Lady
椎名林檎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
知ったこっちゃあないわ
追い付こうと思っているから恰好が悪いの
本当の感度を見せて
どんな処を気に入ったの?
きっと洗脳よ
いいじゃない "貴方はあなた"
真似しないで
冴えているこのヤりかた
あたしだけに赦された
唯一無二な方法
「みんなにはひみつ」だってさ
知ったこっちゃあないわ
内緒ごとなんて大嫌い
死んだら如何すんの
本音の侭居させて
どんな処を隠したいの?
ちょっと陰謀よ
取り憑かないで
そうでしょう "流行の女"
美化しないで
萌えているこのヤりかた
あなたの観ている私は
平成時代の偶像
可愛くないわ
そうです "私はあたし"
茶化さないで 飢えている刹那を奪うな
突き抜けたいの
いいじゃない "生身の女"
曝露したいの
妬いているあなたは誰?
ヤりかた次第で必ず楽しめるのよ
何故ならほら人生の主役はあたし
最優秀賞受賞!
The lyrics to "Leading Lady" by 椎名林檎 speak of a confident and independent woman who seeks to stand out from the crowd. She refuses to chase after the expectations that society has set for her as a woman, expressing her own feelings and desires without shame. She questions why she should conform to the expectations of others, when she is perfectly happy being herself.
In the first verse, the woman acknowledges that she is often told she can't keep up, but she brushes off that criticism and instead focuses on her own goals. She wants to show her true character and asks what the person she's interested in likes about her, rather than trying to fit into a mold that doesn't feel authentic. She tells the person not to chase after her, and instead just accept her for who she is.
In the second verse, the woman talks about how she hates keeping secrets and just wants to be open and honest about everything. She wants to be herself and not be influenced by what others think she should be. She urges the person not to become obsessed with her and not to idealize her. She claims that she's not trying to be cute or perfect, but rather just wants to be true to herself.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to embrace their own unique identities, rather than conforming to society's expectations. It urges listeners to be confident and true to themselves and not to chase after the approval of others. It's a song that celebrates individuality and independence.
Line by Line Meaning
「追い付けない」なんて云うのね
You say that you can't keep up, but I don't care
知ったこっちゃあないわ
I don't care if you know it or not
追い付こうと思っているから恰好が悪いの
I know you're trying to catch up and it's making you look foolish
本当の感度を見せて
Show me your true sensitivity
どんな処を気に入ったの?
What kind of things do you like?
きっと洗脳よ
You must be brainwashed
追い掛けないで
Don't chase after me
いいじゃない "貴方はあなた"
It's okay to be yourself
真似しないで
Don't imitate me
冴えているこのヤりかた
This is the way I shine
あたしだけに赦された
I'm the only one who can forgive myself
唯一無二な方法
It's my one and only way
「みんなにはひみつ」だってさ
I say it's a secret to everyone
知ったこっちゃあないわ
I don't care if you know it or not
内緒ごとなんて大嫌い
I hate keeping secrets
死んだら如何すんの
What will happen when I die?
本音の侭居させて
Let me speak my true feelings
どんな処を隠したいの?
What kind of things do you want to hide?
ちょっと陰謀よ
It's a little conspiracy
取り憑かないで
Don't be obsessed with me
そうでしょう "流行の女"
Yes, I'm a trendsetter
美化しないで
Don't beautify me
萌えているこのヤりかた
This is my charming way
あなたの観ている私は
The me that you're watching
平成時代の偶像
Is the icon of the Heisei era
可愛くないわ
I'm not cute
そうです "私はあたし"
That's right, I am who I am
茶化さないで 飢えている刹那を奪うな
Don't make fun of me, don't rob me of this hungry moment
突き抜けたいの
I want to break through
いいじゃない "生身の女"
It's okay to be a real woman
曝露したいの
I want to expose myself
妬いているあなたは誰?
Who are you that's envious of me?
ヤりかた次第で必ず楽しめるのよ
You can definitely enjoy it depending on how you do it
何故ならほら人生の主役はあたし
Because you see, I'm the artist of life
最優秀賞受賞!
Winner of the best award!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ringo Shiina
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind