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)
Sakana
椎名林檎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
一体生まれてから二十年弱
生きて来たのだろうか 其の上
只 易々と 泳いで行くのかしら 泳いで行くのかしら
たったいま頂戴した言葉 其れ
一体どういう意味を持つのですか
「愛している」 と云う腕の中で
あたしが足の指五本 踵一個
不思議も無く此処にへばりつける
此のことを詳しく説明して下さいな
唇ばかりをそう見つめる前に
はっきりしないあたしの生態 雌
一体 生まれる迄歴史などが
少しでも動いたと 云えるの
只 安々と 泳ぐだけなら 泳ぐだけなら
あたしが届かない雲の彼方に
不思議も無く厳かに構える
日のことを詳しく説明して下さいな
手を取り優しく そう捕える前に
あたしが足の指五本 踵一個
不思議も無く此処にへばりつける
此のことを詳しく説明して下さいな
唇ばかりをそう見つめる前に
In "サカナ" ("Fish"), Shiina Ringo describes herself as a small and dirty animal, questioning whether she has truly lived up until now. She wonders if she can escape her problems as easily as swimming in water. In the second verse, she questions the meaning of the phrase "I love you" that she just heard while being held in someone's arms. She wonders if the person holding her can also easily escape their issues like swimming.
The chorus talks about her being firmly planted in the present moment, with her five toes and one heel stuck to the ground. She wants someone to explain the world to her before focusing solely on her lips. In the final verse, she questions her own existence and whether anything has really changed throughout history. She wonders if she can escape her problems just by swimming, and wants someone to explain the sun before they hold her hand and gently capture her attention.
Overall, the song is about questioning one's place in the world and the meaning behind language and actions. It emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment and seeking understanding before blindly following desires.
Line by Line Meaning
ちっぽけで汚らしい動物 雌
A small and dirty female animal
一体生まれてから二十年弱 生きて来たのだろうか 其の上 只 易々と 泳いで行くのかしら 泳いで行くのかしら
Has it really been less than 20 years since I was born and started living? And yet, I wonder if I'm just swimming along effortlessly.
たったいま頂戴した言葉 其れ 一体どういう意味を持つのですか 「愛している」 と云う腕の中で 只 易々と 泳いで行くのかしら 泳いで行くのかしら
I just heard these words, but what do they actually mean? As he says 'I love you' and holds me, I wonder if I'm just swimming along effortlessly.
あたしが足の指五本 踵一個 不思議も無く此処にへばりつける 此のことを詳しく説明して下さいな 唇ばかりをそう見つめる前に
I have five toes and one heel, and yet I seem to be stuck here without any explanation. Please explain this to me in detail, before just staring at my lips.
はっきりしないあたしの生態 雌 一体 生まれる迄歴史などが 少しでも動いたと 云えるの 只 安々と 泳ぐだけなら 泳ぐだけなら
I'm a female with an unclear ecology. Can it really be said that history has even slightly moved since I was born? If all I have to do is swim along effortlessly, then I will.
あたしが届かない雲の彼方に 不思議も無く厳かに構える 日のことを詳しく説明して下さいな 手を取り優しく そう捕える前に
Beyond the clouds that I can't reach, there is something solemnly standing without any mystery. Please explain to me in detail about this day, before gently taking hold of my hand and catching me.
あたしが足の指五本 踵一個 不思議も無く此処にへばりつける 此のことを詳しく説明して下さいな 唇ばかりをそう見つめる前に
I have five toes and one heel, and yet I seem to be stuck here without any explanation. Please explain this to me in detail, before just staring at my lips.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ringo Shiina
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind