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)
Morphine
椎名林檎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
あたしには鳥が4羽ついてるので
家には納豆が有ります
あたしにはグリコゲンがあるし
驚きなのは地下鉄のレール
素敵な貴方をたたえます
素敵な赤色のボトムス
あたしには少し似合わないし
驚きなのは空色のカーテン
あたしの脳のなかで麻薬物質は
とめどなくとめどなく排出されゆき
あたしはひたすら だ液を吐き捨てる
密やかな密やかな 行為に専念していました
驚きなのは空色のカーテン
あたしの頬が赤く染まりゆく中で
高らかな高らかな貴方の声を聞き
あたしはひたすら 目をつぶって昔の
密やかな密やかな夢を見続け
あたしの脳のなかで麻薬物質は
とめどなくとめどなく排出されゆき
あたしはひたすら だ液を吐き捨てる
密やかな密やかな 行為に専念していました
The lyrics to 椎名林檎's song モルヒネ depict a person returning home alone, accompanied only by four small birds. The singer notes that there is natto (fermented soybeans) at home, and that she herself has glycogen, a substance stored in the liver and muscles that is used for energy. She then remarks on the beauty of a red skirt, noting that it doesn't quite suit her. The surprising thing here is the sky blue-colored curtain.
The singer then discusses the release of narcotic substances in her brain, which causes her to endlessly vomit saliva. She becomes intensely focused on this secret, private act, which fills her entire being. As her cheeks flush and her body becomes overwhelmed, she hears a loud voice, which brings memories of secret dreams rushing back to her. The surprising thing here is again the sky blue-colored curtain.
The lyrics of モルヒネ explore themes of isolation, addiction, and fragmentation. The singer is profoundly alone, returning home without anyone else, and consumed by a secret ritual that only she can experience. The narcotic substances in her brain have taken over, and they have become the focus of her entire existence.
Line by Line Meaning
家にはひとりで帰ります
I go home alone
あたしには鳥が4羽ついてるので
But I always have four birds with me
家には納豆が有ります
There's natto at home
あたしにはグリコゲンがあるし
And as for me, I have glycogen
驚きなのは地下鉄のレール
What surprises me are subway rails
素敵な貴方をたたえます
I praise you, who are wonderful
あたしには とりえなんて無いですので
I have no particular skills
素敵な赤色のボトムス
Beautiful red bottoms
あたしには少し似合わないし
But they don't suit me well
驚きなのは空色のカーテン
What surprises me are the sky blue curtains
あたしの脳のなかで麻薬物質は
Narcotic substances in my brain
とめどなくとめどなく排出されゆき
Continue to be constantly secreted
あたしはひたすら だ液を吐き捨てる
I just vomit saliva
密やかな密やかな 行為に専念していました
And devoted myself to a secret act
あたしの頬が赤く染まりゆく中で
As my cheeks turn red
高らかな高らかな貴方の声を聞き
I hear your loud and clear voice
あたしはひたすら 目をつぶって昔の
I just close my eyes and remember the past
密やかな密やかな夢を見続け
And continue to dream of secret dreams
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ringo Sheena
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind