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)
Midsummer Fugitives
椎名林檎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Prison walls would free us, got to break out
Danger sleeps beside us, so what could you do
Leave it open wide and steal away
Run free, come on with me
Jump on my back
And feel the sweat drip down
Don't turn away, it's time to live
Summertime for a day, each day
So it sits before us, and I can't get through
A great force is threatening the future you
We are two survivors, and we won't be long
Time is living on here day to day
Come now, don't miss this time
The summertime has nothing to forgive
Just dive in with your eyes
Don't be ashamed, it's nothing new
The sky caught in the clouds
As bright as blue light streaming
Into our lives now
The darkened clouds heave heavy light
As dark as bright
This is life, black and white, each day
Come look and see the dark it's sinking down into day
So come here and sit with me
Don't say a word
Just let the world slip by through you
Our hopeful noise, it only binds
It only ties us into time
Oh I just want to break out into you
And run as free and hot as life
And now I'm sure, we should go
Ready set, bye-bye
Midsummer Fugitives by 椎名林檎 is a song with a message of liberation and freedom. The song voices the singer's desire to escape from the oppressive world, represented by prison walls and a great force threatening their future. The singer encourages their partner or friend to break away from the constraints of society and run free with them. The song is an invitation to embrace the joy and freedom of life.
The first verse describes the singer's belief that prison walls would free them, indicating that being locked away in the world is more oppressive than living in a cell. The second verse reveals that there is a great force threatening their future, but the singer is determined to survive and make the most of each day. The chorus expresses the singer's desire for freedom, encouraging their companion to come and join them, and enjoy life for Summertime for a day, each day.
The bridge of the song exemplifies the beauty of life, represented by the bright blue sky, dark clouds that break into a bright light, and the contrasting experience of life that is both black and white. Finally, the singer invites their companion to sit with them, let the world slip by, and make hopeful noise, binding them together in time. The song concludes with the singer's firm decision to escape from the world, asking their companion to join them as they run free.
Line by Line Meaning
Stuck inside between us, I have no doubt
We are trapped together and there is no escape
Prison walls would free us, got to break out
Being in jail would ironically release us from our current confinement
Danger sleeps beside us, so what could you do
We are living in constant danger and must face it head-on
Leave it open wide and steal away
Take the opportunity to escape and leave our troubles behind
Run free, come on with me
Let's run without any restrictions or limitations
Jump on my back
Rely on me to lead the way and escape together
And feel the sweat drip down
Experience the intensity and excitement of the moment
Our hearts are screaming out
Our emotions are so strong that they cannot be contained
Don't turn away, it's time to live
Don't be afraid to fully embrace life and take risks
Summertime for a day, each day
We should enjoy life as if it were summertime every day
So it sits before us, and I can't get through
We are faced with a daunting challenge that seems impossible to overcome
A great force is threatening the future you
An ominous presence looms over us and threatens our future
We are two survivors, and we won't be long
We have already survived so much, but our time is limited
Time is living on here day to day
Time continues to move forward, regardless of the challenges we face and the choices we make
Come now, don't miss this time
Don't let this moment pass by without fully experiencing it
The summertime has nothing to forgive
There is nothing to regret about fully embracing life and enjoying every moment
Just dive in with your eyes
Fully immerse yourself in the experience with passion and excitement
Don't be ashamed, it's nothing new
Don't feel embarrassed or guilty about embracing life and being adventurous
The sky caught in the clouds
The sky is obscured by the clouds
As bright as blue light streaming
The sky is illuminated by blue light breaking through the clouds
Into our lives now
The beauty of nature adds to the intensity of the moment
The darkened clouds heave heavy light
The clouds that once obscured the sky are now contrasted with heavy brightness
As dark as bright
The contrast between darkness and light is emphasized
This is life, black and white, each day
Life is a constant contrast between good and bad, victory and defeat
Come look and see the dark it's sinking down into day
The darkness of life is fading, giving way to hope and happiness
So come here and sit with me
Take a moment to slow down and appreciate the world around us
Don't say a word
Silence can be the best way to experience the moment
Just let the world slip by through you
Allow yourself to fully surrender to the beauty of the moment
Our hopeful noise, it only binds
Our own noise and distractions can prevent us from experiencing life to the fullest
It only ties us into time
Our distractions keep us trapped in the cycle of time and prevent us from living in the present
Oh I just want to break out into you
I want to escape the world and be fully present with you
And run as free and hot as life
I want to fully embrace life and experience all that it has to offer with you
And now I'm sure, we should go
After experiencing the intensity and beauty of life, it is time to move forward
Ready set, bye-bye
It is time to leave our troubles behind and embrace the future with excitement and passion
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ringo Shiina
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind