Before his debut, in November 2007, Shimizu sang in English on amateur night at the Apollo Theater in New York City. He was called a "one in a million soul singer" by a local newspaper in New York. The second time he performed at the Apollo Theater was on November 19, 2008. He sang the song "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto in Japanese, where he was given a standing ovation from an audience of 1,500 people. He said he sang it because he wanted to show his Japanese pride and demonstrate the beauty of the Japanese language.
Shimizu's first single, titled "Home", was released on February 20, 2008, and he appeared on Music Station two days after the single's release to promote it. "Home" peaked at ranked at number 5 and sold 27,820 units in its first week. After 17 weeks, it had sold 125,735 copies. His second single, "Aishiteru" (アイシテル, I Love You), was released on June 4, 2008 in Japan. It ranked at number 4 and sold 22,778 units in its first week. After 12 weeks, it had sold 47,114 copies. Shimizu released his third single "My Treasure" on October 22, 2008. It ranked at number 15 and sold 9,540 units in its first week. After 5 weeks, it had sold 15,365 copies.
He also collaborated with Miliyah Kato. Together they released 4 singles and an album, in 2014 they did a tour together.
His most recent album - "White" - was released in 2018.
Studio Albums
[2008.11.26] Umbrella
[2010.03.03] Journey
[2011.03.09] COLORS
[2012.03.21] Naturally
[2014.03.12] ENCORE
[2016.03.30] PROUD
[2017.06.28] FLY
[2018.06.27] WHITE
Split Albums
[2014.04.02] THE BEST (Miliyah x Shimizu Shota)
Cover Albums
[2012.11.28] MELODY
Best Albums
[2015.02.25] ALL SINGLES BEST
Silver & Gold
Shota Shimizu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
すぐ消してしまう
おまえはいつもそうさ yeah, yeah
最後の chip を賭けて消えてしまう
さっきまではしゃいでたのに
それでも明日になれば yeah
Silver and Gold
Oh, yeah
薄明かりの街灯にもたれて
つまらなそうに
夜を見てる oh yeah
例えばその横顔が
時にうらやましい oh, oh
だから一緒に居たいんだろう oh yeah
それでも明日のことは
どうせわからない oh
Silver and Gold
The lyrics of Shimizu's song "Silver & Gold" depict the struggles and uncertainty that often come with romantic relationships. The song's opening lines describe the habit of quickly extinguishing a newly lit cigarette, which serves as a metaphor for the singer's tendency to give up on love before truly investing in it. The chorus refers to the eponymous silver and gold, which represent the mixed emotions and conflicting desires that the singer experiences. Despite his struggles, he acknowledges that tomorrow is a new day and that he will continue to move forward, even if he is uncertain of what the future holds.
The second verse paints a picture of the singer standing beneath a dim streetlight and staring off into the night, seemingly bored and uninterested. However, he quickly admits that he is envious of his partner's profile and desires to be closer to them. The final line of the song brings the listener back to the theme of uncertainty, as the singer acknowledges that he cannot predict what the future holds, but he will continue to pursue love regardless.
Overall, "Silver & Gold" is a poignant and introspective song that captures the complexities of romantic relationships, particularly when it comes to balancing one's own desires with the uncertainty of the future.
Line by Line Meaning
まだ 火を点けたばかりの煙草を
You quickly put out the cigarette you just lit
すぐ消してしまう
You always do this, yeah, yeah
おまえはいつもそうさ yeah, yeah
You bet your last chip and just disappear; even though you were just having fun
さっきまではしゃいでたのに
But tomorrow will come, yeah, and everything will be just as usual, oh, oh
それでも明日になれば yeah
You lean against the dimly lit street lamp, looking bored
薄明かりの街灯にもたれて
Even your profile makes me jealous sometimes, oh, oh
例えばその横顔が
That's why I want to be with you, oh yeah
だから一緒に居たいんだろう oh yeah
But we can never know what will happen tomorrow, oh
それでも明日のことは
It's like this, silver and gold, oh yeah
どうせわからない oh
Silver and Gold
Oh, yeah
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Shota Shimizu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind