Ringo Shiina

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Ringo Shiina 椎名 林檎
Birth name	Yumiko Shiina
Born	November 25, 1978 (1978-11-25) (age 30) Urawa (Present: Saitama)[1], Saitama, Japan
Genres	Rock, Punk rock, Alternative rock, Experimental rock, Chamber music, Chanson, Jazz, Big band, Bossa Nova, ムード歌謡/Mood songs, 演歌/Enka
Occupations	Singer, Songwriter, Composer, Musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, bass guitar, drum, koto, shamisen, harmonica, melodica, harpsichord, accordion
Years active	1998–2004, 2007-present (solo) 2004–present (group)
Labels	Toshiba-EMI (1998–present)
Associated acts	Tokyo Jihen
Website	Official Site
Notable instruments
Duesenberg Star TV model DSR-SP

Ringo Shiina (椎名 林檎, Shiina Ringo^?)^[2], born Yumiko Shiina (椎名 裕美子, Shiina Yumiko^?), is a Japanese singer-songwriter born on November 25, 1978. She works both as a solo musician and singer as well as a member of the band Tokyo Jihen.

She once called herself in "Shinjuku-kei Jisaku-Jien-ya (新宿系自作自演屋, the person who performs in a play of her own writing in the Shinjuku style^?)", and she mentioned so in her website, Nekoyanagi Line. She currently introduced herself with a singer of mood-songs and a light music player from 2004 to 2009 in her website.^{[citation needed]}

She was ranked number 36 in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians provided by HMV in 2003.^[3]

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Initial solo career 1.2.1 Concert, Concert tour 1.2.2 Backing band 1.3 Tokyo Jihen 1.4 Resumption of solo work 1.4.1 Concert, Concert tour 1.4.2 Backing band 2 Awards 3 Singing and songwriting style 4 Influences 4.1 Japanese Musicians 4.2 Western Musicians 5 Theme Songs and Tie-ins 6 Music used by others 7 Songs provided by other musicians 8 Songs covered by other musicians 9 Collaborations 10 Stage Name - Ringo - 11 Other Media 11.1 1998 11.2 1999 11.3 2000 11.4 2001 11.5 2002 11.6 2003 11.7 2004 11.8 2005 11.9 2006 11.10 2007 11.11 2008 12 Musical instruments 12.1 Electric guitars 12.2 Acoustic guitars 12.3 Electric bass 12.4 Instrument amplifier 12.5 Keyboard instruments 13 Discography 13.1 Albums 13.1.1 Solo 13.1.2 Tokyo Jihen 14 Notes & References 15 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Yumiko was born in Urawa (Present: Saitama), Saitama Prefecture to Kōtarō and Akiko Shiina, an oil company executive and full-time homemaker. She was born with an esophageal atresia in which the esophagus narrows as it approaches the stomach. Treatment of this involved several operations, at least one of which requiring her right shoulder blade to be cut open. These surgeries left Shiina with large scars on her shoulder blades, said to give the impression that an angel's wings had been removed.^[4]

Her first exposure to music came from her father's interest in jazz and classical music; additionally, her mother had majored in dance in college and practiced ballet. Her parents owned a large collection of music, a piano, and a guitar, and her father also was a devoted reader of music magazines. She began to take piano lessons at the age of 4 and studied classical ballet starting at the age of 5.

While very outgoing as a young child, Shiina became shy and quiet after her family moved to Shimizu (Present: Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka), Shizuoka Prefecture on account of her father's job. Her parents remember her as a mostly trouble-free child, except that she could not stand being alone and would throw tantrums if she could not have a friend to play with. Otherwise she was generally retiring and spent her early school days without attracting attention.

Following that, the family moved (again because of her father's job) to Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture and Shiina entered junior high school there. Fukuoka became an important city for her, though she lived there for only six years. While there she once again became an outgoing person. Her official biography originally announced that she came from Fukuoka, and she often answered interviews in Fukuoka dialect "Hakata-ben" at the time of her debut.

Entering junior high, she realized that it was impossible to become a ballet dancer. Her body had become less symmetrical, owing to the results of the operations in her infancy. The new piano and ballet teachers who didn't know her circumstances pointed out in succession that she couldn't give power equally to the right and left parts of her body, and she noticed that. She stopped taking ballet lessons, and stopped studying piano soon afterwards. On the other hand, she started listening to a wider range of music other than classical music or the records of her parents. She got absorbed in drama and longed to be a dramatist or to be involved in stage design. She was asked by her drama teacher to add music to the lines of a play, and taking advantage of this opportunity, she began her musical activities. She formed a band with her classmates and performed in the school festival. She played drums at the beginning, but finally sang as the lead singer. Although the band broke up, she began to make demos and began to aim to be a professional musician.

Just at that time, a man her parents knew recommended that she have an audition for the "Horipro talent scout caravan of 1994". The total number of applicants is about 40,000-50,000 on average at the ordinary year. However, they were looking for a new Japanese idol. Although she advanced to the finals of the national convention as the Kyūshū representative, she noticed that she had to wear a swimsuit. She decided to be businesslike to become a singer, and participated in the finals stage, however, she didn't win the audition.

After entering high school, she worked in about 10 different bands and improved her musical skills by performing live. She was a guitarist and a lead singer in the main band, but, in the other bands, she played keyboards, a bass, or drums.

At the same time, she also busked near Nishitetsu Fukuoka station in Tenjin.

In 1995, she participated in the national convention of "The 9th TEENS' MUSIC FESTIVAL" which Yamaha Corporation sponsored as a member of the all-girl band, Marvelous Marbles in which she performed vocals, and won a prize to encourage youth.

She became a fan of the indie rock group Number Girl at that time. Hisako Tabuchi, the guitarist of the rival band with which she had often played with live was a member of Number Girl. She began to play the guitar emulating Hisako Tabuchi. She attended various shows when possible. A few years later, she asked Hisako Tabuchi to play guitar in recording some her songs, and formed the Indie rock band called Hatsuiku Status with Tabuchi. Ahito Inazawa, the drummer of Number Girl participated in recording of her third album Karuki Zaamen Kuri-no-Hana. In addition, she participated in the album of the new band Zazen Boys which Shutoku Mukai, the vocalist of Number Girl and Inazawa also sang backing vocals.

In 1996, she quit senior high school, and participated in "The 5th Music Quest 1996" which Yamaha Corporation sponsored similarly as a solo artist while working part-time in a pizzeria and in a security firm. She had already been requested to sign the contract from 2 or 3 record labels at the preliminary contest stage of Fukuoka Prefecture, but she participated in the finals stage just in case and won an Award of Excellence, (the winning tune was "Kokode Kiss shite"). However, she insisted that Yamaha could not use her talent to the fullest, and refused a contract with Yamaha. She ended up agreeing to a contract with Toshiba EMI. She said that the ratio of the factor that she contracted with EMI was the Blankey Jet City 80%, ORIGINAL LOVE 10%, The Beatles and the rest 10%.

Since she had already finished writing/composing most of the tunes for two albums, she submitted them at a planning meeting for her debut. However, she was harshly criticized by directors of EMI about her lyrics, and her opinions clashed with theirs many times. Since she was disgusted with the situation, she left for the U.K. counting on her friend's help in January, 1997. The lyrics of "Tadashii Machi" and "Identity" expressed her mind at that time. She was determined to make her debut as a singer after much worry, and went back to Japan three months later.

[edit] Initial solo career

Ringo Shiina's first official single was released May 1998, when she was 19 years old. It was entitled "Kōfukuron" ("Happiness Theory"). In the video for this single, Shiina alluded to her surgery scars by wearing a pair of wings on her back. She thought to make "Keikoku" or "Gibs" the first single, but the then EMI director rejected it. She hated the arrangement of this song because it was no different from her demo very much, and, if anything, she wanted to make the c/w song "Suberidai" a title song, but her opinion didn't pass. This song was not selling after all. However, thanks to that failure, she was dropped from the list of high recommendation by EMI, and got possible to give her opinion about her promotion freely.

She chose "Kabukicho no Joou" as the second single. She intervened in direction of the music video and appointed the location spot. This song was not selling again, but showed her name to the world with the sensational lyrics and with melody to remind people of an old Japanese popular song though it was modern. She offered a song to Ryoko Hirosue who declared openly that she was her fan these days. She liked her so as to see Senkou Ecstasy tour in the front row, being pushing and shoving with spectators.

The third single was "Koko de Kiss Shite" which is a catchy tune by the radical change from the former single. This song was her first hit song. She cut the scene which she appeared in alone from a music video and left the scene a band played. Encouraged by this success, she reselled "Koufukuron", and it was a hit. She offered a song to Rie Tomosaka who was her close friend before for the first time just after that.

Next came the release of her first album, Muzai Moratorium (Innocence Moratorium), in February 1999. This album was a great success. However, she aggravated influenza and was hospitalized, and could not but cancel recording of "Gibs" which must have become the following single. So "Honnou" was released as the 4th single. Her opinion was adopted for direction of music video. The motif was decided on a hospital because she was accustomed to the hospital from a child. She was often hospitalized when she was a child, and she was hospitalized with influenza just before that. It was a cyberpunk image or an image like a spacecraft's interior for her, but, since it was said that it seems to be costume play, she was disappointed.

The 5th and the 6th single, "Gibs" and "Tsumi to Batsu" were released at the same time because the schedule dragged on, and then her second album, Shōso Strip (Lawsuit Winning Strip), in March 2000. This album also makes a smashing success and it is her album which sold most at present. However, before then, she began to say that she would resigned as "Shiina Ringo" when she released three original albums. Though she wanted to be a branch to the last in the music scene, she became the mainstream against her will. She set some schemes to be popular, but it has been successful better than her expectation. She was one of Japanese female musician's tops 3 with Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki even in popularity or an income. Since she wasn't able to bear that even her relatives' staff regarded her as an icon, and that her fans said, "We love her since she surprises us each time", she wanted to stop being a commercial icon.^[5] It was common knowledge soon, she appeared on the front page of a tabloid with a headline that "Shiina Ringo will change her name to Shiina Mikan(orange)." First of all, she began to produce the third album "Fushigi, Waizatsu, Ekisentorikku (不思議・猥雑・エキセントリック, Wonder, Vulgar, Eccentric^?)" (tentative title) with the intention of making it the last album by her self.

She released the 7th single, which she was going to record in the third album, Mayonaka wa Jyunketsu in March 2001, and created a video in retro-anime style because of her pregnancy, depicting Ringo as a sort of mid-'60s spy movie heroine. This is the only single recorded in no album at present.^[6] Just after that, Shiina married Junji Yayoshi, a guitarist of her backing band, at the age of 24, and had a son. The two divorced 14 months later. She intended to take a rest and never come back, but the surroundings didn’t permit it, and released the cover album which is a two-disc compilation of multi-lingual covers entitled Utaite Myōri (Singer's Luck) in a last resort. Since she thought that it was deception, she began to produce the third album that she decided to record previously.

She was strongly recommended an overseas expansion by people around her at that time. There was a proposal to sell her third album in foreign countries. When she refused it flatly, they didn't recommend it any more.

In 2003, she released her third album, titled Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana (Lime, Semen, Chestnut Blossoms).^[7] She was pleasant to choose the member of the tour for the 3rd album, and she thought that she could remain a musician if she composed music for them who performed interestingly.

Towards the conclusion of her solo career, she had her trademark beauty mark removed, and released her final solo single, "Ringo no Uta" ("Apple's Song"), which was adopted in the national children's song TV program "Minna no Uta." This song can be described as a vivid summation of her career, including a music video with references to all of her previous videos.

[edit] Concert, Concert tour

1998

Battle of the bands, nationwide promotional campaign, and so on.

1999

"Senkou Ecstasy" (先攻エクスタシー, Attacking-first Ecstasy^?) by Gyakutai Glycogen

"RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 1999 in EZO"

"Manabiya Ecstasy" (学舎エクスタシー, School Ecstasy^?) by Tensai Praeparat

2000

"Gekokujou Xstasy" (下剋上エクスタシー, Usurpation Ecstasy^?) by Gyakutai Glycogen

"Gokiritsu Japon" (御起立ジャボン, Stand up Japan^?) by Hatsuiku Status

"Zazen Extasy" (座禅エクスタシー, Zen meditation Ecstasy^?) by Gyakutai Glycogen

2003

"Baishou Ecstasy" (賣笑エクスタシー, Selling Variety Show Ecstasy^?)

"Sugoroku Ecstasy" (雙六エクスタシー, Sugoroku Ecstasy^?) by Tokyo Jihen

[edit] Backing band

[edit] Tokyo Jihen

On May 31, 2004, Shiina formed a band called Tokyo Jihen (東京事変^?). Tokyo Jihen is Japanese for "The Tokyo Incidents" and was first introduced in Shiina's Sugoroku Ecstasy tour and are featured on Shiina's Electric Mole DVD.

The original lineup of Tokyo Jihen was: Ringo Shiina (vocals, guitar, melodica etc.), ヒラマミキオ Mikio Hirama (a.k.a. Mikki) (guitar, backing vocals), 亀田誠治 Seiji Kameda (bass guitar), ヒイズミマサユ機 Masayuki Hiizumi (a.k.a. H是都M, H Zetto M or HZM, from jazz instrumental band PE'Z) (keyboard/piano) and 刄田綴色 Toshiki Hata (drums). All of them were members of the backing band of Shiina Ringo's solo tour "Sugoroku Ecstasy" in 2003.

In July 2005, the band announced that keyboardist Masayuki Hiizumi and guitarist Mikio Hirama had left Tokyo Jihen, and that new members were being sought for Tokyo Jihen's second album. In September 2005 the band announced through its website that it had selected two new members, 長岡亮介 Ryosuke Nagaoka (a.k.a. 浮雲 Ukigumo) on guitar and backing vocals and 伊澤啓太郎 Keitaro Izawa (a.k.a. 伊澤一葉 Ichiyou Izawa) on keyboards. Shortly thereafter, the band announced it would be releasing its second album (featuring the new lineup) in January 2006, and that it would be playing two concerts, at the Osaka-Jo Hall in Osaka and the Budokan in Tokyo, in February 2006.

[edit] Resumption of solo work

In late 2006, Ringo announced that she would resume work as a solo artist as the Music Director for the 2007 film Sakuran, a movie based on the Moyoco Anno manga about a girl who becomes an oiran courtesan in the Edo-era Yoshiwara district. A new single and album have been announced, both of which seem to tie in closely to the movie (no soundtrack is planned) and appear to be due to the huge inspiration she received from working on the movie. Though Ringo is working on her own, she has also solicited the help of violinist Saitō Neko and the band Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, with whom she has performed before, to assist her in the recording of her new material. A song between her and Soil, titled "Karisome Otome (Death Jazz ver.)" was released on iTunes Japan exclusively on November 11, 2006. It quickly leaped to the top of the charts and remained there for days. After the success of the new album, she has continued work with Tokyo Jihen with a new album scheduled for a late September 2007 release.

In March, 2009, Shiina Ringo receives the newcomer prize in 2008 of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Fine Arts Award in the Popular Culture category.

In March 2009, Ringo announced that she will be releasing a new solo single entitled Ariamaru Tomi ("ありあまる富", Overflowing Wealth^?) on May 27th, 2009. It will be used as the theme song of the TBS drama "Smile" that begins broadcast on April 27, 2009. The single will cost ¥1000, including tax.^[8] She is also set to release a new album titled Superficial Gossip on June 24, which will contain 14 tracks - 12 all-new songs plus a solo version of Karisome Otome and a new EXPO Version of Marunouchi Sadistic. ^[9]

[edit] Concert, Concert tour

2008

"RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2008 in EZO"

"Shiina Ringo (nama)Ringo Haku ～Jusshuunen-Kinensai～" (椎名林檎 (生)林檎博’08 ～10周年記念祭～, Shiina Ringo (live)Ringo Expo '08 -The 10th anniversary festival-^?)

2009

"Kame no Ongaeshi" (亀の恩返し, The Grateful Kame^?)

[edit] Backing band

[edit] Awards

1999

• Space Shower Music Video Awards 99 - Best Female Video for "Honnou"

2000

• Space Shower Music Video Awards 00 - Best Female Video for "Tsumi to Batsu"
• 42nd Japan Record Awards - Best Album for "Shouso Strip"

2002

• Space Shower Music Video Awards 02 - Best Animation Video for "Mayonaka wa Junketsu"
• Space Shower Music Video Awards 02 - Best Web Site

2004

• Space Shower Music Video Awards 04 - Best Art Direction Video for "Kuki (STEM) ~Daimyou Asobi hen~"

2005

• Space Shower Music Video Awards 05 - Best Group Video for "Gunjou Biyori" (Tokyo Jihen)

2007

• 31st Japan Academy Prize - music prize and excellent prize for "Sakuran" (music director)

2008

• Space Shower Music Video Awards 08 - Best Technical Works Video for "Killer Tune" (Tokyo Jihen)

2009

• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Fine Arts Award in the Popular Culture category - The newcomer prize of 2009

[edit] Singing and songwriting style

Shiina is an accomplished musician and songwriter who writes music spanning numerous genres. She is well known for her eccentricity, rolling her "r"s and creating promotional music videos with striking visuals.

She admired Eddi Reader’s voice, but she felt that she didn't have the clear voice like Eddi and sounded hoarse. She had an inferiority complex in her husky voice since childhood. Then, she actually referred to Janis Ian's singing and made also "Seventeen" influenced by Ian's "At Seventeen". She later covered "Love Is Blind".

She listens to many genres of music. At the time of her debut, there were about 10 pages of lists which her favorite musicians' names were closely written in. They were various with classical music, the Japan and U.S. standard number in the 50's-60's, contemporary rock, and the local band of Fukuoka. ^[10]

She can play various musical instruments. She mainly plays rhythm guitar, but she plays other musical instruments. In live music, she sometimes plays the piano and plays the bass guitar rarely. In recording, she sometimes plays a piano and a drum, and rarely plays uncommon musical instruments, such as a melodica and a samisen.

Shiina's lyrics often contain complex and archaic language. Printed lyrics in her liner notes regularly feature kanji that are not in common use.

Musically, Shiina's songwriting style steadily became more complex over the course of her solo career, incorporating more varied instruments and more elaborate production with each album. Although Shiina's influence in songwriting is still dominant in Tokyo Jihen, arrangements have been stripped down to a more standard rock and roll style, highlighting the roles of the individual players in the band.

[edit] Influences

[edit] Japanese Musicians Oldies The Peanuts Hiromi Ōta Junko Yagami Kiyoshi Hasegawa Eiko Shuri Takao Kisugi Hakudo Otsuka Akira Inaba Keiko Maruyama Toi et Moi Mayumi Itsuwa Momoe Yamaguchi The Stalin Recently Kirinji Guitar Wolf Blankey Jet City Quruli Elephant Kashimashi DMBQ Super Junky Monkey Yura Yura Teikoku Cascade Chara Heart Bazaar Takashi Taniguchi Number Girl BARBEE BOYS DEXIED THE EMONS MO'SOME TONEBENDER ORIGINAL LOVE (Takao Tajima)

[edit] Western Musicians All times Trine Rein Björk France Gall Lisette Melendez Shanice Cyndi Lauper Madonna Marvin Gaye Michael Jackson New Edition Arrested Development Public Enemy Tony! Toni! Toné! Eternal Nina Simone Sarah Vaughan Ella Fitzgerald Maria Callas Carole King Janis Ian Tracy Chapman Sheryl Crow Robert Schumann Claude Debussy Zoltán Kocsis Cyprien Katsaris Radiohead Nirvana Suede Fairground Attraction The Cranberries Red Hot Chili Peppers Rage Against the Machine Pearl Jam Todd Rundgren Led Zeppelin The Beatles Helloween Mr. Big Sex Pistols Dead Kennedys

The music that dominated Shiina's childhood were Debussy's piano pieces. Due to her piano and ballet background, Shiina was not fond of music which was not plain piano music at that time. With the exception being The Peanuts, which her father loved. Shiina loved ballet music played by symphonies, and she often listened to the records in the ballet lesson that Yoko Morishita, the ballerina, edited at that time.

In the days of attending primary school, Shiina often listened to "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind's Sound Track, Toward the faraway land ..." of Joe Hisaishi and "Rendezvous" of Sadao Watanabe, and Billy Joel, Mayumi Itsuwa, etc. These records were owned by her parents. Under her mother's influence, Shiina also loved the older Japanese pop songs.

In Junior High, Shiina fell in love with the sound of Motown under the influence of her older brother and became a huge fan about Soul Train, citing Marvin Gaye to be a favorite. During this period, Shiina rarely listened to the Japanese music that she grew up with.

Whilst attending senior high school, Shiina started listening to Blankey Jet City, Radiohead, Björk and Sex Pistols. Shiina was shocked by the lyrical content of Blankey Jet City, sparking an interest within her to listen to Japanese music again. She always said that Thom Yorke of Radiohead was one of the people whom she respected (Two others being Peter Greenaway and Ken-ichi Asai/Benzie from Blankey Jet City). She also said that when she listened to Björk, and her heart was freed. She was also influenced by the Sex Pistols but more for their stage presence rather than their musicality. Shiina mentioned that it's ridiculous if a person from a middle class background poses as a punk. Shiina also had a fondness for Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as citing "Evil Empire" by Rage Against the Machine, and "No Code" by Pearl Jam to be some of her favorite albums of all time.

It was noted that after leaving high school, she revisited the music of Todd Rundgren, Led Zeppelin, and "The White Album" of Beatles etc.

Shiina admired Madonna, as well as her self-producing capability. When she was compared with Courtney Love because of the name of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love which a lyrics of "Gibs" shows, or because of the performance on the live just after her debut, Ringo said that she didn't know well about Courtney Love and she referred to Madonna rather than Courtney.

The Irish girl appearing in a lyrics of "Akanesasu Kiro Terasaredo" is Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries.

When Jimmy Eat World first gained popularity, Shiina claimed, "I was right!"

Her performance using a megaphone is a parody or hommage to Michiro Endo who is the vocalist of The Stalin. Therefore, it was written as "Japanese Communist Party (日本共産党)" to her megaphone on her early live show.

She formed the band "Uchuu Antena (宇宙アンテナ, Space Antenna^?)" with Takashi Taniguchi (谷口崇, Taniguchi Takashi^?), who was the winner of "The 5th Music Quest 1996", in Fukuoka in 1996. They were active as "Takashi Taniguchi & Ringo Shiina" for a while even just after making their respective debut in Tokyo. They sang each songs, such as "Kabuki-cho no Joou", or the cover of Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder. She was influenced by Taniguchi’s "Yubi de Sayounara (指でさようなら, Good-bye with a finger^?)", and wrote the words of "Meisai."

[edit] Theme Songs and Tie-ins

• The ending theme of "Ai no Hinadan (TBS)" (1998)
  • Koufukuron
• The theme song of "POP JAM (NHK)" (1998)
  • Kabukichou no Joou
• The theme song of the late-night TV drama "Shin-D Kokode Kiss Shite. (NTV)" (from March 2, 1999 to April 27)
  • Kokode Kiss Shite.
• The Ending theme of "DOWN TOWN DX (NTV)" (1999)
  • Kokode Kiss Shite.
• The theme song of "FUN FUN'S RECOMMEND#007 (NTV)" (1999)
  • Honnou
• "Suntory The Cocktail Bar Cassis & Orange -shaker-" TV commercial (from April 23, 1999)
  • Koufukuron [Etsuraku hen]
• "Suntory The Cocktail Bar Cassis & Orange -squeeze the orange-" TV commercial (from April 23, 1999)
  • Akane Sasu Kiro Terasaredo
• " Suntory The Cocktail Bar Love Story(kyohou-grape and yogurt) -grape-" TV commercial (from July 16, 1999)
  • Rinne Highlight
• " Suntory The Cocktail Bar Sparkling(3 kinds) -sparkling campaign-" TV commercial (from September 21, 1999)
  • Keikoku
• " Suntory The Cocktail Bar Mimosa -cracker-" TV commercial (from September 25, 1999)
  • Kabukichou no Joou
• " Suntory The Cocktail Bar Fairy Tale (peach and yogurt) -fairy tale-" TV commercial (From February 5, 2000)
  • Aozora
• The song used in the children's TV program "Minna no Uta" (NHK)" (from October, 2003 to January, 2004)
  • Ringo no Uta
• The song used in the movie "Casshern" (from April 24, 2004)
  • STEM~Daimyo Asobi hen~
• Mobile phone for au of Sanyo Electric, "W21SA" TV commercial (from August 12, 2004)
  • Gunjou Biyori (Tokyo Jihen)
• The theme song of the TV drama "Oooku～Hana no Ran～ (大奥～華の乱～, Oooku～The Revolt of The Magnificence～^?)" (Fuji Television) (from October 13, 2005 to December 22)
  • Shuraba (Tokyo Jihen)
• The theme song in case Ichiro Suzuki goes into a batter's box (2007)
  • Yokushitsu
  • Identity
• The songs used in the movie "Sakuran (さくらん)" (from February 24, 2007)
  • Karisome Otome (DEATH JAZZ ver.) (Shiina Ringo X SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS)
  • Kono Yo no Kagiri (Shiina Ringo X Saito Neko + Junpei Shiina) – the ending theme
• The ending theme of the kabuki "Sannin Kichisa (三人吉三)" (2007)
  • Tamatebako
• Kei car of SUBARU, "STELLA" and "R2" TV commercial (from November 7, 2007)
  • Senkou Shoujo (Tokyo Jihen)
• The ending theme of the movie "Mouryou no Hako (魍魎の匣, The Box of Evil Spirits^?)" (from December 22, 2007)
  • Kingyo no Hako
• The theme song of the TV drama "Yasuko to Kenji (ヤスコとケンジ, Yasuko and Kenji^?)" (NTV) (from July 12, 2008 to September 20)
  • Amagasa (singer: Tokio)
• The opening theme song of the TV anime "Genji Monogatari Sen-nenki "Genji" (源氏物語千年紀 Genji, The Tale of Genji Millennium "Genji"^?)" (Fuji Television) (from January 15, 2009 to March 26)
  • Hiyori-hime (singer: Puffy AmiYumi)
• The theme song of the TV drama "Sumairu (スマイル, Smile^?)" (TBS) (from April 17, 2009 to June)
  • Ariamaru Tomi
• The song used in the children's TV program "Minna no Uta" (NHK)" (from June, 2009 to July, 2009)
  • Futari-bocchi Jikan

[edit] Music used by others

In 1998, Shiina Ringo provided Ryoko Hirosue with "Private" as c/w song of her single "Jeans."

In 1999, Shiina offered the single "Cappuccino" and c/w "Mokuren No Cream" to her friend, Rie Tomosaka. The two songs were recorded on Rie Tomosaka's album "Murasaki" with "Shampoo" which she newly offered. All three songs were lyrics/music/produced by Shiina Ringo and arranged by Seiji Kameda.

In 2000, Shiina offered the single "Shojo Robot" and the c/w song "Ikenai Ko" and "Nihon ni Umarete" to Rie Tomosaka. All three songs were lyrics/music/produced by Shiina Ringo and arranged by Seiji Kameda. She took charge of producer from a song to a visual side overall. She not only took the record jacket and Rie's portrait photograph, but appeared in promotion video in the role of a pianist. Incidentally, the role of a guitarist is Hisako Tabuchi and the role of a drummer is Rino Tokitsu. Ringo's photograph also appears in the reverse side of the jacket.

In 2003, Shiina's single "Ringo no Uta", released on November 25, 2003 that was her birthday, was broadcasted in children's TV program "Minna no Uta" of NHK from October, 2003 to January, 2004.

In 2004, Shiina took charge of music in the stage play "KK produce #4 Lens" which Kentaro Kobayashi, one of a pair of stand-up comedians "Rahmens", produced / directed, and came on himself.

In 2006, Shiina took charge of the music director in the movie "Sakuran." She showed the demo of the instrumental music at first, but it was changed into the arranged existing songs by the director's intention.

In 2007, Ichiro Suzuki(Seattle Mariners), a major league player, chose her "Yokushitsu" and "Identity" as a AT-BAT MUSIC of 2007 with "Tomaranai Ha~Ha" of Eikichi Yazawa.

In 2007, Shiina offered "玉手箱/Tamatebako (casket)" which is a newly-written music to Kanzaburo Nakamura's kabuki "三人吉三/Sannin-Kichiza". This musical piece is used in the end of the program, and there is no schedule of making CDs. This music was forbidden from recording in the open full-dress rehearsal for reporters. In addition, at the time of the performance of "東海道四谷怪談/Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (Tokaido Yotsuya ghost story)" of Kanzaburo Nakamura starring in 2006, he had applied "Yokushitsu" while entering a spectator.

In 2008, Shiina offered the single "Amagasa" (雨傘, Umbrella^?) and c/w song "Kachuu no Otoko" (渦中の男, The man concerned^?) which is released on September 3, 2008 to Japanese boy's band, TOKIO. Taichi Kokubun who is a member of TOKIO answered on the TV program^[11] that he took to Tokyo Jihen's performance, and asked her to offer a song.

In 2009, Shiina offered the single "Hiyori-hime" (日和姫, Weather princess ^?) which is released on February 25, 2009 to Japanese rock duo, Puffy AmiYumi. Ami who is Shiina's fan got to know with her through the introduction of Hikaru Utada. Ami made friends with her gradually and was offered a song by her.^[12]

In 2009, Shiina offered the song to Rie Tomosaka's album "Toridori." (トリドリ。, Various^?).

In 2009, "Futaribocchi Jikan" from Shiina's album "Sanmon Gossip" was broadcasted in children's TV program "Minna no Uta" of NHK from Jun, 2009 to July.

[edit] Songs provided by other musicians

In 2008, Burt Bacharach provided Shiina Ringo with "You". This song was performed for the first time in "RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2008 in EZO" on August 16, 2008. However, it isn’t recorded yet.

[edit] Songs covered by other musicians

In 2006, KERA & the synthesizers (ケラ&ザ・シンセサイザーズ) covered "Yattsuke Shigoto (やつつけ仕事, A sloppy work/A Damned Job^?)" in the third album "Tonari no Onna (隣の女, The woman next door^?)" released on June 21, 2006. The front man "Keralino Sandrovic (ケラリーノ・サンドロヴィッチ)" is a prominent Japanese dramatist, and was a member of Japanese new wave band "Uchoten (有頂天, ecstasy^?)", and he is also the president of the theatrical company "Nylon 100℃ (ナイロン100℃)" and independent record label "Nagom Records (ナゴム・レコード)", an actor, a playwright, a stage director, a movie director.

In 2007, Nishikawa Satoko (西川郷子), the member of Shang Shang Typhoon, covered "Honnou (本能, Instinct^?)" in her solo album "Hibiki (郷音, Sound in hometown^?)" released on February 21, 2007.

In 2008, Hayato Kaori (隼人加織), the Japanese singer of mixed Brazilian mother and Japanese father, covered "Kesho naoshi (化粧直し, Powdering My Nose^?)" in her first album "pluma" released on March 26, 2008. She translated the lyric into Portuguese.

In 2008, Tonozuka Ryuichiro (土濃塚隆一郎), the jazz flugelhornist, covered "Marunouchi Sadistic (丸の内サディスティック, Marunouchi Sadistic^?)" in his album "Top Gear" released on August 9, 2008.

In 2008, GENERAL HEAD MOUNTAIN covered "Tsumi to Batsu (罪と罰, Crime and Punishment^?)" in their album "Tsuki Kanashi Buruu (月かなしブルー, the blue with the sad moon^?)" released on June 4, 2008.

In 2008, Hasegawa Kiyoshi (長谷川きよし), Japanese singer-songwriter, covered "Kesho naoshi (化粧直し, Powdering My Nose^?)" in his 40th anniversary album "40nen. Mada kore ga Best dewa nai. Hasegawa Kiyoshi live recording. (40年。まだこれがベストではない。長谷川きよし ライヴレコーディング。, 40 years. This is not yet best. Kiyoshi Hasegawa, live recording.^?)" released on October 1, 2008.

In 2008, Scott Murphy, ex-Allister which was a pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois, covered "Kabuki-chou no Jo-ou (歌舞伎町の女王, Queen of Kabukicho^?)" (My English Translation version) in his album "Scott Murphy - Guilty Pleasures 3" released on December 3, 2008.

In 2009, Marié Digby covered "Gibusu (ギブス, Orthopedic cast^?)" in her cover album "SECOND HOME" released on March 4, 2009.

In 2009, fragrance covered "Kabukichou no Joou (歌舞伎町の女王, Queen of Kabukicho^?)" in her album "COLORFUL" released on March 11, 2009.

[edit] Collaborations

In 1998, Shiina Ringo participated in "becoming" and "Rock&Hammerg" as a chorus in the album "becoming" of Takashi Taniguchi(谷口崇) who was a friend of her same province and was the winner of "The 5th Music Quest 1996" and had formed the band with her just before her debut.

In 1999, it is Rie Tomosaka and Shiina to chat in "Good for us!" which is collected in her album "Murasaki".

In 1999, Shina played the piano in the 4th track "Shiroi Yume" of Heart Bazaar's album "Baobab" released from the indie label.

In 2000, Shiina participated in recording of Rie Tomosaka's "Shojo Robot" as a pianist and a chorus. A guitar is Hisako Tabuchi (from Number Girl), a bass is Eikichi Iwai, a drum is Rino Tokitsu.

In 2002, Shiina sang a duet with Kusano Masamune, Nao Matsuzaki, Hikaru Utada and Junpei Shiina in her cover album "Utaite Myouri ~Sono Ichi~".

In 2002, Shiina sang "Where Is the Love" with Junpei Shiina in his cover album "discover".

In 2004, Shiina participated in Zazen Boys' album "Zazen Boys II" (#2、4、5) released on September 1 as backing vocal.

In 2005, Osawa Shin-ichi (Mondo Grosso) asked to her the collaboration at the interview.^[13] He said, "I want to do something together with Mrs. Utada Hikaru or Miss Shiina Ringo." However, neither collaboration was realized.

In 2005, Shina sang with Shuutoku Mukai of Zazen Boys in his song "Kimochi" in Bokura no Ongaku-Our Music- on July 8.

In 2005, Shiina participated in Mo'some Tonebender’s album "Rockin' Luuula" released on December 7. She was in charge of backing vocals and piano in "Rockin' Luuula", and was in charge of backing vocals and kazoo in "Mashed Potatoes Boogie".

In 2006, Shiina participated in Ken-ichi Asai's solo debut single "Kikensugiru" released on July 12 as a backup singer.

In 2006, Shina appeared as a secret guest for Zazen Boys and Mo'some Tonebender in Rising Sun Rock Festival 2006.

In 2006, Shiina collaborated with SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS on her single "Karisome Otome".

In 2007, Shiina collaborated with Saito Neko and Shina Junpei on her single "Kono Yo no Kagiri".

In 2007, Shiina appeared with Tokyo Jihen as a guest singer for Ken Hirai in J-Wave 2000+7.

In 2008, Shiina sang a duet in "Kimochi" with Mukai of Zazen Boys, and in Elephant Kashimashi's "Kanashimi no Hate" with Shu Koyama of Scoobie Do in Society of The Citizens vol.2.

In 2009, Shiina participated in Maboroshi^[14]'s 3rd album "Maboroshi no Shi" released on March 25. She was in charge of vocals. "Amai Yamai (あまいやまい, The sweet illness^?) feat. Shiina Ringo" is released by digital distribution in advance. In this album, Crystal Kay participate besides. Shiina also appeared in their "Maboroshi Tour 2009" as a secret guest.

In 2009, Shina sang her song "Senkou Shoujo" with Ken Hirai in Seiji Kameda's event "Kame no Ongaeshi"

In 2009, Shiina Ringo was featured in SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS's new album, "6" in the track, "MY FOOLISH HEART ～crazy on earth～".

[edit] Stage Name - Ringo -

At the audition of 1996, she introduced herself as "Shena Ringo" for the first time. "Ringo" means "apple" in Japanese. She said that "Ringo" originated from her class nickname when she often blushed in public, or from The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr on a TV program. However, she said that it was a stopgap and she doesn't reveale the true reason yet though there were some reasons about why she gave her name as "Ringo."

About the way of naming, she declared recently that she named herself "Ringo" by following cartoonist, Sensha Yoshida whom she likes. His first name is also the name of an object ("Sensha" in this case meaning "Battle Tank" ). (cf. also Yoshimoto Banana; Matsuo Basho.)

[edit] Other Media

[edit] 1998

Strangely enough, Shiina is the same age as Ayumi Hamasaki and MISIA who entered the music industry in the same year, and they are all from the same city, Fukuoka-shi. Shiina and Hamasaki even lived in the same ward (ku). The Seijinshiki of Fukuoka-shi in 1999 got upset by the rumor that the three people return home to attend it. However, only Shiina didn’t come.

[edit] 1999

There have also been girls called "Ringo Gal" who imitated Ringo Shiina’s clothing, and were featured by a tabloid TV show in Japan. They wore clothes of Vivienne Westwood and had Armour Rings on their fingers.

Haruko Haruhara of FLCL was produced under the influence of Ringo Shiina. There is the heading "Pursue the opinion of Haruko Haruhara = Ringo Shiina(ハルハラハル子=椎名林檎説を追う)" in the liner notes of Vol. 1 of the DVD, and the book "flclsm FLCL Design Works"(Kadokawa Shoten) also has description that there are some Ringo fans among the animation director Kazuya Tsurumaki and other staff.

[edit] 2000

The Duesenberg Starplayer guitar which Ringo Shiina has used recorded the historical sales of about 1000 sets in Japan, which is mentioned in the history of the Duesenberg company. It was entirely thanks to her that Duesenberg, which was not very well known, became popular in Japan.

It is said that the character "Takana Shirakawa" from the Japanese manga Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar is largely modeled after Ringo Shiina's personality. The manga's author is a fan, and the influence is appaerent as Takana has a beauty spot on her lips in the same position as Ringo's.

Lenny Kravitz stated that he admired Ringo's Music video and both her way of making music and the presentation, and said that he wanted to meet her^[15].

[edit] 2001

The game character Murasaki from pop'n music 7 was modeled after her. Murasaki is "Jisaku-Jien-kei Aatisuto (自作自演系アーティスト, the artist who performs in a play of her own writing^?)" and wears a kimono. The songs which she sings are "Ringo to Hachimitsu (林檎と蜂蜜, an apple and honey^?)" and "Ringo Fujin (林檎夫人, Mrs. Apple^?)", etc.

Harold Sakuishi drew the frontispiece of the 27th episode of his manga "BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad" on the model for the record sleeve of Shiina's single "Honnou." (Page 133 of Vol. 9)

Shiina got a mention in the Japanese movie "All About Lily Chou-Chou" with The Beatles, Bjork, and UA.

[edit] 2002

It is said that the character "I-No" from the fighting game Guilty Gear XX was modeled after her.

The nurse with brown-dyed hair "Mayumi" who appears in Hideo Okuda (奥田英朗, Okuda Hideo^?)'s novel "The Psychiatrist Irabu Series(「精神科医・伊良部シリーズ」)"^[16] which started in 2002 was modeled on Shiina Ringo, and there are the lines that a character asks about Shiina's newly released song in this novel.

[edit] 2003

When Courtney Love visited Japan, she came to the office of the magazine "rocking on." She asked them, "I'm planning to gather many female artists shortly and to found concert tour. Is there any Japanese female artist whom you recommend me?"　The editor recommended Shiina Ringo and Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her to her. Then, Courtenay tried to invite her to the tour. However, she failed to get in contact due to Ringo's commitment to her third album.^[17] The plan of the tour also came to nothing afterwards.

[edit] 2004

"Shiina" who appears in "Shiina basu tei de matsu. (椎名バス停で待つ。, Shiina waits at the bus stop.^?)" which is the c/w song of Maximum the Hormone (マキシマムザホルモン, Makishimamu Za Horumon^?)’s fifth single is Shiina Ringo.

[edit] 2005

Mika Nakashima was asked by the magazine writer, saying "how did you create the role of Nana Osaki in the movie Nana?", and Nakashima answered that she referred to Shiina Ringo's band because it was written in the original manga that she is the basis of the image of Nana.^[18]

The main characters of the Japanese movie "Linda Linda Linda" must learn a cover of a song within three days, and say the following lines. "How about Ringo Shiina?", "It is impossible in three days!"

[edit] 2006

Shiina got a mention in "Last dance" which is a episode in the final series of the Japanese television drama "Furuhata Ninzaburō".

Taro Aso, the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan, stated about 3J (J-pop, J-fashion, Japanimation) which sweeps over Asia at the street oratory by the President candidates of the presidential election of Liberal Democratic Party in 2006 and in the book that he had written^[19], and he mentioned her along with Hikaru Utada as typical existence of J-pop.

[edit] 2007

Mika visited to Japan and mentioned Ringo in several interviews as one of his favorite Japanese artists, alongside Puffy AmiYumi, The Yellow Monkey, Yoko Kanno, Yoshida Brothers^[20][21].

[edit] 2008

Jack Barnett(Vo/G) of These New Puritans who was visiting Japan for the Summer Sonic 08 said the following in an interview.^[22] "I really, really love Ringo Shiina! Since Ringo Shina's CD was not sold in the U.K., I bought all her work I could find when I visited Japan last time and brought them all home." He made her video participating in audition link to his blog before.

[edit] Musical instruments

[edit] Electric guitars

• Duesenberg Starplayer II (Surf Green)

  She bought it by installments in her amateur days.

• Duesenberg Starplayer TV (Silver Sparkle)
• Duesenberg Starplayer TV (black-and-gold checkered pattern using gold leaf)

  This guitar is her signature model, "Ichimatsu (市松)". This was sold as the limited edition of Shiina Ringo's 5th anniversary.

• Duesenberg V-Caster (Surf Green)
• Fender Jaguar Special (made by Fender Japan)
• Fender Telecaster (custom-made by Fender Japan)
• Fender Stratocaster (Jimi Hendrix tribute)
• Gibson Firebird
• Gibson Flying V
• Gibson RD Artist
• NAGARE (Blue)

  This guitar is based on Fender Jazzmaster, and is equipped with the flashbulb, so it shines while playing. it doesn't make a sound unless opening a lock with a key.

• Rickenbacker 620 (Jetglo)

  She bought it with her royalties received first.

• Tele Phantom (Red, made by Songbird guitar)

  This guitar is using "Vox Phatnom markⅥ" as the motif, and is the same model of the guitar of Ukigumo except a color.

• etc.

[edit] Acoustic guitars

• K.Yairi FK-1J

[edit] Electric bass

• Danelectro 58 Longhorn

[edit] Instrument amplifier

• Orange Overdrive OR412

  She began to use this under the influence of Susumu Nishikawa who was her session guitarist in the early days.

[edit] Keyboard instruments

• Toy piano

  She used it on Senko Ecstasy tour.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Solo

Date of Release	Title
24 February 1999	無罪モラトリアム Muzai Moratorium (Innocence Moratorium)
31 March 2000	勝訴ストリップ Shouso Strip/Shōso Strip (Lawsuit Winning Strip)
13 September 2000	絶頂集 Zecchoushuu/Zecchoshu/Zecchosyu/Zecchôshû (Ecstasy Collection)
27 May 2002	唄ひ手冥利 ～其ノ壱～ Utaite Myouri ~Sono Ichi~/Utaite Myōri ~Sono Ichi~ (Singer's Luck ~Part One~)
23 February 2003	加爾基　精液　栗ノ花 Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana/Karuki Zaamen Kuri no Hana (Lime, Semen, Chestnut Blossoms)[7]
21 February 2007	平成風俗 Heisei Fuuzoku/Heisei Fuzoku/Heisei Fūzoku (Japanese Manners/The Heisei era manners and customs)[23]
2 July 2008	私と放電 Watashi to Houden (Me and Electric Discharge)
24 June 2009	三文ゴシップ Sanmon Gossip (Superficial Gossip)

[edit] Tokyo Jihen

Date of Release	Title
25 November 2004	教育 Kyouiku/Kyoiku/Kyôiku (Education)
26 January 2006	大人(アダルト) Adult (Adult)
26 September 2007	娯楽(バラエティ) Variety (Variety)

[edit] Notes & References

[edit] External links

• Official website of Shiina Ringo at EMI Music Japan/Virgin Music (Japanese)
• SR Nekoyanagi Line - Official website of "Kuronekodow" which is a private office of Shiina Ringo (Japanese) (English)
• Official website of Tokyo Jihen at EMI Music Japan/ (Japanese)