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)
Letters
椎名林檎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
暖かい砂の上を歩き出すよ
悲しい知らせの届かない海辺へ
君がいなくても太陽が昇ると
新しい一日の始まり
今日選んだアミダくじの線が
どこに続くかは分からない
怠け者な私が毎日働く理由
ああ 君にお別れを
ああ この海辺に残されていたのは
いつも置き手紙
ああ 夢の中でも 電話越しでも
ああ 声を聞きたいよ
ああ 言葉交わすのが苦手な君は
いつも置き手紙
忙しいと連絡たまに忘れちゃうけど
誰にだって一、二度はあること
今日話した年上の人は
ひとりでも大丈夫だと言う
いぶかしげな私はまだ考えてる途中
ああ 花に名前を 星に願いを
ああ 私にあなたを
ああ この窓辺に飾られていたのは
いつも置き手紙
ああ 少しだけでも
シャツの上でも
ああ 君に触れたいよ
ああ 憶えている最後の一行は
「必ず帰るよ」
ああ 安らぐ場所を 夢に続きを
ああ 君に「おかえり」を
ああ この世界のどこかから私も
送り続けるよ
ああ 夢の中でも 電話越しでも
ああ 声を聞きたいよ
ああ 言葉交わすのが苦手なら
今度急にいなくなる時は
何もいらないよ
In "Letters," Shiina Ringo sings about being in a warm sandy place, walking towards a beach where sad news can't reach her. Even though the person she sings to is not there, the sun still rises, marking the beginning of a new day. The lines she draws from the Amida lottery she chose today lead to an unknown destination. She ponders on her own laziness and questions why she works every day. In her hands, she holds the sky, and in her heart, a storm. She says goodbye to the person she loves, always leaving behind a letter at this beach.
She expresses a desire to hear their voice, whether in her dreams or over the phone, as she finds it difficult to exchange words with them directly. She acknowledges that she isn't the best at keeping in touch when she is busy and occasionally forgets to reach out. Someone older she spoke to today assures her that it's okay to be alone. However, she remains skeptical and is still in the midst of contemplating this thought.
She wants to give the flowers a name and make wishes upon the stars, and she wants this person to be with her. On her windowsill, she keeps the letters they left behind. She longs to touch them, even if it's just on top of their shirt. She remembers the last line of their letter, assuring her that they will definitely return. She continues to send them "welcome back" greetings from a comforting place, whether it be in dreams or over the phone. If they find it difficult to exchange words, she assures them that she doesn't need anything if they suddenly disappear.
Line by Line Meaning
暖かい砂の上を歩き出すよ
I start walking on the warm sand
悲しい知らせの届かない海辺へ
Towards a seaside where sad news doesn't reach
君がいなくても太陽が昇ると
Even without you, the sun rises
新しい一日の始まり
The beginning of a new day
今日選んだアミダくじの線が
The line of the Amida lottery I chose today
どこに続くかは分からない
I don't know where it leads
怠け者な私が毎日働く理由
The reason why lazy me works every day
ああ 両手に空を 胸に嵐を
Oh, both hands holding the sky, storm in my chest
ああ 君にお別れを
Oh, saying goodbye to you
ああ この海辺に残されていたのは
Oh, what remained in this seaside
いつも置き手紙
Are the always left letters
ああ 夢の中でも 電話越しでも
Oh, in dreams or through the phone
ああ 声を聞きたいよ
Oh, I want to hear your voice
ああ 言葉交わすのが苦手な君は
Oh, you who are not good at exchanging words
いつも置き手紙
Always leave letters
忙しいと連絡たまに忘れちゃうけど
I may forget to contact you when I'm busy
誰にだって一、二度はあること
It happens to anyone, once or twice
今日話した年上の人は
The older person I talked to today
ひとりでも大丈夫だと言う
Saying it's okay to be alone
いぶかしげな私はまだ考えてる途中
Skeptical me is still in the process of thinking
ああ 花に名前を 星に願いを
Oh, giving a name to flowers, wishing on stars
ああ 私にあなたを
Oh, you to me
ああ この窓辺に飾られていたのは
Oh, what was decorated on this windowsill
いつも置き手紙
Are the always left letters
ああ 少しだけでも
Oh, even just a little
シャツの上でも
On top of my shirt
ああ 君に触れたいよ
Oh, I want to touch you
ああ 憶えている最後の一行は
Oh, the last line I remember
「必ず帰るよ」
"I will definitely return"
ああ 安らぐ場所を 夢に続きを
Oh, a place of peace, continuing in dreams
ああ 君に「おかえり」を
Oh, saying "welcome back" to you
ああ この世界のどこかから私も
Oh, from somewhere in this world, me too
送り続けるよ
I will keep sending
ああ 夢の中でも 電話越しでも
Oh, in dreams or through the phone
ああ 声を聞きたいよ
Oh, I want to hear your voice
ああ 言葉交わすのが苦手なら
Oh, if you're not good at exchanging words
今度急にいなくなる時は
When suddenly disappearing next time
何もいらないよ
I don't need anything
Writer(s): Hikaru Utada
Contributed by Aiden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maria Ozawa
For anyone who think he speeds up videos:
-He has nearly doubled the required hours to reach “expert” level for a skill, so he should be able to play quite a bit faster than whatever speed seems “normal”.
-Imagine working on a project for multiple hours a day—just to have people claim it’s fake/sped up when you finally master it.
-Have some respect for someone who has dedicated 19+ years to a craft for your listening enjoyment.
Maybe its time to bring back the little bobble head or a wall clock so you don’t have to deal with stuff like this!
Keep on jammin’ Kyle
もあ
暖かい砂の上を歩き出すよ
悲しい知らせの届かない海辺へ
君がいなくても太陽が昇ると
新しい一日の始まり
今日選んだアミダくじの線が
どこに続くかは分からない
怠け者な私が毎日働く理由
ああ 両手に空を 胸に嵐を
ああ 君にお別れを
ああ この海辺に残されていたのは
いつも置き手紙
ああ 夢の中でも 電話越しでも
ああ 声を聞きたいよ
ああ 言葉交わすのが苦手な君は
いつも置き手紙
忙しいと連絡たまに忘れちゃうけど
誰にだって一、二度はあること
今日話した年上の人は
ひとりでも大丈夫だと言う
いぶかしげな私はまだ考えてる途中
ああ 花に名前を 星に願いを
ああ 私にあなたを
ああ この窓辺に飾られていたのは
いつも置き手紙
ああ 少しだけでも
シャツの上でも
ああ 君に触れたいよ
ああ 憶えている最後の一行は
「必ず帰るよ」
ああ 安らぐ場所を 夢に続きを
ああ 君に「おかえり」を
ああ この世界のどこかから私も
送り続けるよ
ああ 夢の中でも 電話越しでも
ああ 声を聞きたいよ
ああ 言葉交わすのが苦手なら
今度急にいなくなる時は
何もいらないよ
Tell me that you'll never ever leave me
Then you go ahead and leave me
What the hell is going on
Tell me that you really really love me
Then you go ahead and leave me
How the hell do I go on…
Tell me that you'll never ever leave me
Then you go ahead and…
Black1 Music
The rain falls on my windows
And a coldness runs through my soul
And the rain falls, oh, the rain falls
I don't want to be alone
I wish that I could Photoshop
All our bad memories
'Cause the flashbacks, oh, the flashbacks
Won't leave me alone
If you come back to me, I'll be all that you need
Baby, come back to me
Let me make up for what happened in the past
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, I'll be everything you need
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, boy, you're one in a million
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, I'll be everything you need
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, you're one in a million
Lower east side of Manhattan
She goes shopping for new clothes
And she buys this and she buys that
Just leave her alone
I wish that he would listen to her side of the story
It isn't that bad, it isn't that bad
And she's wiser for it now
I admit I cheated, don't know why I did it
But I do regret it
Nothing I can do or say can change the past
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, I'll be everything you need
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, boy, you're one in a million
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, I'll be everything you need
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, you're one in a million
Everything I ever did, heaven knows I'm sorry, babe
I was too young to see, you were always there for me
And my curiosity got the better of me
Baby, take it easy on me
Anything from A to Z, tell me what you want to be
I open my heart to thee, you are my priority
Can't you see you've punished me, more than enough already
Baby, take it easy on me
Baby, take it easy on me
Baby, come back to me
Baby, come back to me
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, I'll be everything you need
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, boy, you're one in a million
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, I'll be everything you need
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, you're one in a million
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, I'll be everything you need
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, boy, you're one in a million
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, I'll be everything you need
Come back, baby, come back to me
Come back, you're one in a million
aりん
語彙力がなくなって、どう称賛していいか分からなくなる
素晴らしすぎる
みゆき 赤瀬
本当に素晴らしい❤
あこしゃちょー
何年経とうとも色褪せないし、世界で1番大好きな曲。バックの楽器の使い方も含めて本当に美しい。
さささ
このカバーが好きすぎて何年たっても聞いてしまう
Maria Ozawa
For some reason I absolutely love the beauty of an almost-completely expressionless face. She's looking dead at the camera pulling off the most emotionlessly inhuman yet oddly passionate expression and barely moving her mouth for the majority of the video. Love the first chorus and especially the first verse, both for the video and as a song.
Speaking of the song, I'd found out about the rest of the Exodus album on Spotify since I absolutely love many of the remixes people had done and wanted to hear her original, non-KH-related works.
Judging by many of the reactions from non-fans/average people that were like "what the fuck" upon seeing the song title, I feel like the only person that actually saw the song title and was totally interested . . . I then clicked to hear the song on Spotify and the beat is fab, the chorus is catchy, and the song nearly has two full perspectives. Love it.
Black1 Music
今日、初めてこの曲を聴きました！！！
めちゃ中毒性があって、勝手に体が音楽にノッてしまうような楽しい曲！！宇多田さんの曲はおしゃれでかっこよくて楽しい！！
Viole Grace
Muitíssimo obrigado por postar esta obra de arte!
パンちゃん
concordo
みゆき 赤瀬
素敵な声ですね😊
或る人
国宝級音楽家のコラボレーション
贅沢だわぁ