Ringo Shiina

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ringo Shiina
椎名 林檎


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Yumiko Shiina
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1978|11|25
Died =
Origin = Urawa [ [http://freiya.wordpress.com/j-pop/ringo-shiina/ Ringo Shiina « Eámanë Vanimeldlë Séregon ] ] , Saitama, Japan
Instrument = vocal, guitar, piano, keyboards, Bass guitar, drum, koto, shamisen, harmonica, melodica, harpsichord, accordion
Genre = Rock, Alternative rock, Chamber music, Chanson, Jazz, Big band, Punk rock, ムード歌謡/Mood songs, 演歌/Enka
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 1998–2004, 2007-present (solo)
2004–present (group)
Label = Toshiba-EMI (1998–present)

Associated_acts = Tokyo Jihen
URL = [http://www.toshiba-emi.co.jp/vmc/artist/domestic/ringo/ Official Site]
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments = Duesenberg Star TV model DSR-SPnihongo|Ringo Shiina|椎名 林檎|Shiina Ringo [Her name can be romanized many ways, including Shina, Shiina, Sheena, and Shéna Ringö. This extends to album listings where she's even listed as Sheena Rinngo on her album "Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana" but as Shéna Ringö on other releases. All are considered acceptable.] is a Japanese singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist born on November 25, 1978.

Right now, most of her energy is focused on her band, "Tokyo Jihen".

She was ranked at No.36, in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians, provided by HMV. [ [http://www.hmv.co.jp/news/newsDetail.asp?newsnum=309260027 音楽 情報ニュース/op 100 Japanese pops Artists - No.53/HMV ] ]

Biography

Early life

Yumiko Shiina was born in Saitama Prefecture to Kōtarō Shiina, an employee of an oil company, and Akiko Shiina, a full-time housewife. She was born with an illness in which the esophagus narrows as it approaches the stomach, resulting in many surgeries. These surgeries left Shiina with large scars on her shoulder blades, said to give the impression that an angel's wings had been removed. [http://centigrade.blandplanet.com/features/bandinfo/shiinaringo/ringoallergy_chapter01.htm "The girl who was born sick and had to have her angel's wings removed"] ]

Her understanding of the arts began with her father's interest in jazz and classical music. Also, her mother majored in dance in college and practiced ballet. There was a large collection of music, a piano, and a guitar in her house. Shiina's father was also a devoted reader of music magazines. The young girl began practicing piano at age 5, as well as learning classical ballet.

While Shiina was very outgoing as a young child, she later became shy and quiet. Her parents remember her as a mostly trouble-free child, except that she could not stand being alone, throwing tantrums if she could not have a friend to play with.

She then moved to Shizuoka Prefecture on account of her father's work, and spent her early school days there.Following that, she moved to Fukuoka Prefecture because of the same cause, and entered Junior high school there. Fukuoka became an important city for her, although she only lived there for five years. At first, it was officially announced that she came from Fukuoka, and she often answered interviews in Fukuoka dialect at the time of her debut.

Entering Junior high, she realized that it was impossible to become a ballet dancer, and stopped ballet. Her body had become less symmetrical, owing to an operation in her infancy. She also stopped learning piano, and started listening to a wider range of music. 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. 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 40000-50000 on average. However, they were looking for a new Japanese idol. Although she advanced to the finals of the national convention as the Kyushu representative, she noticed that she had to wear a swimsuit. 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, and 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 co-starred live participated in "Number Girl". She began to play the guitar yearning after 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 formed as a chorus, too.

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 was invited at the stage of the preliminary contest of Fukuoka Prefecture by two or more record labels. And she went into the finals 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.

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 opinion clashed with them 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" & "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.

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. Next came the release of her first album, "Muzai Moratorium" ("Innocence Moratorium"), in February 1999, and then her second album, "Shōso Strip" ("Lawsuit Winning Strip"), in March 2000. She released the only single that was not included in any of her album, "Mayonaka wa Jyunketsu" in March 2001, and created a video in retro-anime style, depicting Ringo as a sort of mid-'60s spy movie heroine. cite web
author=Various
url=http://www.japantoday.com/jp/comment/46
title=Most Japanese TV music programs are rubbish
publisher=japantoday.com
date=June 13, 2001
accessdate=2001-06-13

] She went on a short hiatus when she was expecting a child, but returned a year later with a two-disc compilation of multi-lingual covers entitled "Utaite Myōri" ("Singer's Luck").

At the age of 24, Shiina married Junji Yayoshi, a guitarist, and had a son. The two divorced 14 months later. In 2003, she released her third album, titled "Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana" ("Lime, Semen, Chestnut Blossoms")."Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana" literally translates to "Lime, Semen, Chestnut Blossoms", with the first and third items both being said to smell like semen, and the second item being a non-standard reading of the characters for nihongo|"semen"|精液|seieki. The word "karuki" is derived from the Dutch word "kalk", meaning lime, and as such is often translated as "chalk". In Japanese, however, the word has come to specifically refer to "Calcium hypochlorite", a lime/chlorine compound that is often used as disinfectant in swimming pools. The album title is written with phonetic "ateji" (literally ka-ru-ki) that have no meaning; the word "karuki" is normally written with katakana.] 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 can be described as a vivid summation of her career, including a music video with references to all of her previous videos.

Concert, Concert tour

;1998: Battle of the bands, nationwide promotional campaign, and so on.

;1999 : nihongo|"Senkou Ecstasy"|先攻エクスタシー|Attacking-first Ecstasy : "RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 1999 in EZO" : nihongo|"Manabiya Ecstasy"|学舎エクスタシー|School Ecstasy ;2000 : nihongo|"Gekokkujou Ecstasy"|下剋上エクスタシー|Usurpation Ecstasy : nihongo|"Gokiritsu Japon"|御起立ジャボン|Standing up Japan: nihongo|"Zazen Ecstasy"|座禅エクスタシー|Zen meditation Ecstasy ;2003 : nihongo|"Baishou Ecstasy"|賣笑エクスタシー|Selling Variety Show Ecstasy: nihongo|"Sugoroku Ecstasy"|雙六エクスタシー|Sugoroku Ecstasy

Backing band

nihongo|Zetsurin Hectopascal|絶倫ヘクトパスカル|Matchless Hectopascal (1998-1999)
* Vocals, Electric guitar: 椎名林檎 Shiina Ringo
* Electric Guitar: 西川進 Susumu Nishikawa
* Electric Bass: 亀田誠治 Seiji Kameda
* Drums: 河村智康 Noriyasu Kawamura

nihongo|Gyakutai Glycogen|虐待グリコゲン|Abuse Glycogen (1999-2000)
* Vocals, Electric guitar: 椎名林檎 Shiina Ringo
* Electric guitar: 西川進 Susumu Nishikawa (1999) → 弥吉淳二 Junji Yayoshi (2000, he is Shiina's former husband)
* Electric bass guitar: 亀田誠治 Seiji Kameda
* Synthesizer, Keyboard instrument: 皆川真人 Masato Minagawa (from Thinners, SPARKY)
* Drums: 村石雅行 Masayuki Muraishi

nihongo|Syuudan Jiketsu|集団自決|Group Suicide (1999)
* Vocals, Piano: 椎名林檎 Shiina Ringo
* Electric guitar: 西川進 Susumu Nishikawa
* Electric bass guitar: 亀田誠治 Seiji Kameda

nihongo|Tensai Praeparat|天才プレパラート|Genius Praeparat (1999)
* Vocals, Electric guitar: 椎名林檎 Shiina Ringo
* Electric guitar: 戸谷誠 Makoto Totani (from MILK CROWN, Thinners)
* Electric bass guitar, Theremin: 岩井英吉 Eikichi Iwai (he formed Chirinuruwowaka with GO!GO!7188’s Yuu later)
* Drums: 西川央 Nishikawa (he is Shiina's friend and is an amateur)

nihongo|Hatsuiku Status|発育ステータス|Growth Status (2000)
* Vocals, Electric bass guitar: 椎名林檎 Shiina Ringo
* Electric bass guitar: 村田純子 Junko Murata (from Hachioji Gulliver)
* Electric guitar: 田渕ひさ子 Hisako Tabuchi (from Number Girl, toddle, Bloodthirsty Butchers)
* Electric bass guitar: 鳥井泰伸 Yasunobu Torii (from PANICSMILE, Gaji)
* Drums: 吉村由加 Yuka Yoshimura (from DMBQ, Hydro-Guru, OOIOO, MENSU, METALCHICKS)

nihongo|Shiina Ringo Nora-neko Gassou Gakudan|椎名林檎のらねこ合奏楽団|Shiina Ringo Stray Cat Ensemble Orchestra (2003)
* Vocals: Shiina Ringo
* Bandmaster: Saito Neko

nihongo|Tokyo Jihen|東京事変|Tokyo Incidents (2003)
* Vocals, Electric guitar: Shiina Ringo
* Electric guitar: 晝海幹音 Mikio Hirama
* Synthesizer, Keyboard instrument: H是都M HZM (Masayuki Hiizumi, from PE'Z)
* Electric Bass: 亀田誠治 Seiji Kameda
* Drums: 刄田綴色 Toshiki Hata

Others1 (1998)
* Vocals, Piano: 椎名林檎 Shiina Ringo

Others2 (1998-1999)
* Vocals, Piano: 椎名林檎 Shiina Ringo
* Electric guitar: 鈴木玲史/Akihito Suzuki (from HEART BAZAAR)
* Electric bass guitar: 亀田誠治 Seiji Kameda

Others3 (1999)
* Vocals, Piano: 椎名林檎 Shiina Ringo
* Violin: 斎藤ネコ Saito Neko

Tokyo Jihen

On May 31, 2004, Shiina formed a band called nihongo|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/Ichiyō 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.

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.

inging 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. [ [http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/cool_japan/rinngo.html "TIMEasia Magazine: Rinngo's a Star"] ]

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.

Influences

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
* Yura Yura Teikoku
* Cascade
* Heart Bazaar
* Takashi Taniguchi
* Number Girl
* BARBEE BOYS
* DEXIED THE EMONS
* MO'SOME TONEBENDER

Western Musicians

* 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
* 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 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" to her megaphone on her early live show.

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"

* Mobile phone for au of Sanyo Electric, "W21SA" TV commercial (from August 12, 2004)
** "Gunjou Biyori"

* The theme song of the TV drama "Oooku～Hana no Ran～ (Fuji Television)" (from October 13, 2005 to December 22)
** "Shuraba"

*The theme song of the movie "Sakuran" (from February 24, 2007)
**Karisome Otome (DEATH JAZZ ver.) (Shiina Ringo X SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS)

*The ending theme of the movie "Sakuran" (from February 24, 2007)
**Kono Yo no Kagiri (Shiina Ringo X Saito Neko + Junpei Shiina)

*Kei car of SUBARU, "STELLA" and "R2" TV commercial (from November 7, 2007)
**"Senkou Shoujo"

Offer of her musical piece

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

In 1999, She 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, She 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, her 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, She 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, she 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, she offered "Yokushitsu" and "Identity" as a theme song in case he goes to the batter's box to Ichiro Suzuki, a major-league player.

In 2007, she 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 CD's. 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 September, 2008, she offered the single nihongo|"Amagasa"|雨傘|Umbrella and c/w song nihongo|"Kachuu no Otoko"|渦中の男|The man concerned to Japanese boy's band, TOKIO.

Collaborations

In 1998, she 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 Ringo to chat in "Good for us!" which is collected in her album "Murasaki".

In 2000, she 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 2005, Shiina Ringo 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, Shina Ringo participated in Ken-ichi Asai's solo debut single "Kikensugiru" released on July 12 as a backup singer.

Stage Name - Ringo -

At the audition of 1996, she introduced herself as "Shiina Ringo" for the first time. "Ringo" means "apple" in Japanese. It is said to originate from her class nickname when she often blushed in public. The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr may also be an inspiration. She also declared recently that she likes cartoonist, Sensya Yoshida.His first name is also the name of an object ("Sensya" in this case meaning "Battle Tank" ). (cf. also Yoshimoto Banana; Matsuo Basho.)

Dominant Influence

In 2000, Duesenberg Starplayer guitar which Ringo Shina 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.

There have also been girls called "Ringo Gal" who imitated Ringo Shina’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.

It is said that the character called "I-No" which appears in the fighting game called Guilty Gear XX is modeled after her.

To the question "How did you create the role of Nana Osaki in the movie Nana?", Mika 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. [Nikkei entertainment October issue in 2005]

It is said that the character called "Takana Shirakawa" which appears in the Japanese manga called Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar is modeled after her in her personality mainly. Because the manga writer is her fan, and Takana has a beauty spot on lips at the same position as her.

The Western artists who mentioned Shiina

At the interview of the November, 2000 issue of rockin'on, Lenny Kravitz admired her Music video and the way of making music and the presentation, and said that he wanted to meet her once.

When Shiina Ringo recorded her third album, Courtney Love visited Japan. Since Courtney discovered her and took to her, Courtney tried to spot and recruit her. However, Courtney failed in contact with her because she was busy with work of the album. This topic was told by MC in the TV program "MTV World Chart Express" of MTV JAPAN.

When Mika visited Japan in 2007, he mentioned her as one of the favorite Japanese artists with Puffy AmiYumi, The Yellow Monkey, Yoko Kanno, Yoshida Brothers in some interviews of a TV program, a magazine, etc.

Musical instruments she owns

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.
*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
*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.

Electric bass

*Danelectro 58 Longhorn

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.

Discography

Albums

with Tokyo Jihen

Notes & References

External links

Official sites
* [http://www.emimusic.jp/vmc/artist/domestic/ringo/ Shiina Ringo's official site] (in Japanese, at Toshiba-EMI)
* [http://www.tokyojihen.com/ Tokyo Jihen's official site] (in Japanese, at Toshiba-EMI)
* [http://www.kronekodow.com/ SR Nekoyanagi Line] (in Japanese, at Kronekodow)
* [http://www.duesenberg.de/ Duesenberg's official sites] Fansite, Lyrics & Translations, etc.
* [http://forums.electricmole.net/ Electric Mole Forums] - fan community forums
* [http://freckle.tenkeimedia.com/nl/ringo/ Nostalgic Lavender// Shiina Ringo] - the most up-to-date and comprehensive lyrics & translations
* [http://www.ether-sea.com/ringo/ Ringo Catalogue] - Shiina Ringo/Tokyo Jihen fansite with comprehensive information & lyrics
* [http://www.everlasting-dream.net/ringo/ Ringo Jihen] (in English)
* [http://rsitei.com/ Rsitei] (in Japanese)
* [http://nippop.com/artist/artist_id-59/artist_name-ringo_shena/ Nippop Profile |Ringo Shena]
* [http://shiinaringo.se/ Shiina Ringo/Poltergeist] (in Swedish/English)
* [http://www.project-j.org/shena.htm Project J's profile] en icon
*LyricWiki.org [http://lyricwiki.org/%E6%A4%8E%E5%90%8D%E6%9E%97%E6%AA%8E_%28Ringo_Shiina%29] - lyrics & translations of Shiina Ringo and Tokyo Jihen
* [http://wiki.theppn.org/Shiina_Ringo Wiki.ThePPN's profile] en icon
* [http://maji.byethost10.com/Ringo/index.html Ringo Zone] - Japanese Lyrics, Romaji and Chinese Translations