Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Pure Beauty: Shiina Ringo



From Tokyo Jihen's DVD "Just Can't Help It". Wonderful song, beautiful mise-em-scène. Shiina Ringo is a gem of a singer. This DVD is worth getting. I got mine from CDJapan - as usual!

Yukiguni

Nure yuki ya Odawara de waraeba yokarou
Minami wa mou kobore ume

"Kitai nado shite imasen."
Ima mo hodoita te no naka nani mo nai mama

Onna ga nakeba otoko wa nigeru
torikaesu you na busui wa shinai koto sa

"Oboete wa inai deshou." Ano hi tsunaida te no naka saita yakusoku

Onna ga mateba otoko wa damaru
Tokedashita nara isoide hora
Wasurete shimae
Otoko wa korosu no sa
Hayaku tate
Kogoete shimawanai you ni

12 comments:

  1. Shiina Ringo is awesome isn't she? I find it so interesting that she is so popular and yet all these manufactured pop singers are super popular. The music is a bit too much on the jazz side for my taste, but I may pick up a DVD anyway.

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  2. Hi Kuri!

    The DVD is really worth it. She is way too good. Unfortunately, the video has been removed now... They have released another DVD this year, cannot recall the name right now. I actually think Tokyo Jihen has released more DVDs than CDs so far.

    I like her a lot, lot, lot.

    Do you like Mika Nakashima? Is it worth it getting any of her CDs?

    a.

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  3. Yeah, they have lots of DVDs out. I love her song "ここでキスして。" so I was thinking about getting the Dynamite Out DVD.

    She rules!

    I don't like Mika Nakashima very much, although she's very talented. I just don't find her music very interesting for some reason. I don't feel any emotion behind it. They've both got similar styles I think; lot of jazzier stuff, although Nakashima has a more pop sound.

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  4. Hi Kuri!
    I will try and get some Nakashima samples in CDJapan before I decide. But the style I really love is Shiina's. I also love Cocco and Nomiya Maki. They are brilliant. Nomiya has a perfect Portuguese when she sings! I
    I don't like when they go very "pop", though. That's why I think Ayumi Hamasaki would not be right for me. I don' know, really...
    Talk to you later!
    a.

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  5. Yeah, samples would be safest. I don't think Nakashima is extremely pop - definitely different from Hamasaki who is pure pop. Nakashima sounds pretty mainstream, but not really like anyone else. It's hard to explain :D Have you heard Miwa Hasegawa? She's totally Japanese in a more traditional manner, but I think she's really cool. Not pop at all.

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  6. Miwa Hasegawa??? Oh, need to check it asap! Sounds just like my kind of stuff! Must tell you, I found that I really love Enka, believe it or not!
    I will check Hasegawa up and let you know!
    a.

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  7. LOL, Enka? Hee. I think there are some Enka songs that I like, but on the whole, it's not a genre I gravitate towards :D Who have you been listening too?

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  8. He he! I know what you mean, it's very old-fashioned, no? Some Kaji Meiko is what I've been listening to, but I want to find out some more (women, prererrably).
    Kuri, need your help! Remember that you recommended Miwa Hasegawa? I could not find her anywhere (YesAsia or CDJapan). Do you know if she's known by another first name? Because they have lots of Hasegawas, but no Miwa. Please let me know, OK?
    :)
    Talk to you later!
    a.

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  9. Sorry! I guess I've been too sleep deprived lately, I gave you a completely messed up name! It's actually Miwa Sasagawa. Her website is http://www.sasagawamiwa.com/top.html

    There should be samples on the site. I have some of her albums also. :D
    Samples here too:
    http://listen.jp/store/artist_1161830.htm

    People seem to have put her stuff on youtube also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzHTsFMU6oo
    I'm very curious what you think.

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  10. Hi Kuri!
    I managed to sample her on CDJapan and LOVED it! I think the 2nd CD is muybe the best? You know, the one with the face of an old woman? Some songs sound a bit "celtic" actually, a bit Irish almost. But I love, I think she has a very soothing voice and the arrangements are very good. I added her to my list on CDJapan, thanks so much!
    Now I will check her on Youtube!
    (You are an enabler, hey? He he!)
    a.

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  11. Yay! I'm so glad you liked it, since she's quite different from Shiina Ringo, hee. I think they are both very original though.

    I totally agree about the Irish sound. I want to describe her as modern Japanese folk, although I think folk music is usually a bit softer than her stuff. Kind of edgy like Tori Amos, but not quite so modern or just very Japanese :D

    Haha, actually, I preferred her first album to her second, although there are some very good songs on her 2nd album. I hear her 3rd album is very good, but I haven't listened to it yet (bought it for my aunt).

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  12. Hi Kuri!
    Actually I did not hear samples from the 1st album yet, just the 2nd and 3rd! I will do that later. She is quite good, and you are right - quite different from Shiina, but very good.
    You know who I like as well? That girl that sang with DAI (Do As Infinity). They made the ending song for that quirky horror flick, "Uzumaki". She can sound very gloomy! I like it. And Cocco as well, I got acquainted to with the music for "Vital" and "Kairo" (ending themes).
    But I will order Sasagawa's CD (either the 1st or the 2nd one). Just loved it. I cannot understand of course (mehh...), but I love the songs anyway, sometimes just because the words sound beautiful - even if I don't understand them. I like the way they flow and sound!
    :)
    a.

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