Overwhelmed by the lyrical world! Shiina Ringo’s masterpiece

Excessive WealthShiina Ringo

Ringo Sheena – Excessive Wealth

The theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Smile” and Shiina Ringo’s 10th single.

Set entirely to an acoustic arrangement, the lyrics are easy to catch.

The words can be interpreted to mean that what a person truly believes in cannot be taken away by anyone.

Depending on the listener, it can feel sorrowful, yet also uplifting—a mysterious world.

trend; fashion; vogue; popular; epidemic (context-dependent)Shiina Ringo

Shiina Ringo – Trend

Shiina Ringo always comes at us from a fresh angle.

On this track, RHYMESTER’s Mummy-D and Tomoyasu Takeuchi join in on rap and guitar.

The lyrics are set up so that an ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend talk about each other with a touch of sarcasm.

Since the lyrics were co-written by Shiina Ringo and Daisuke Sakama, you might find extra enjoyment listening while wondering, “Did Ringo write this part?”

The Theory of HappinessShiina Ringo

Sheena Ringo – The Theory of Happiness

Famous as a song about a man she dated when she was young, this track shows that youthful feel in both its production and its lyrics.

“Happiness,” a theme that often appears in Shiina’s songs, takes center stage here.

By the way, the lyrics differ between the 8 cm CD and the 12 cm CD, so if you’re interested, check them out!

Midnight is purityShiina Ringo

Ringo Sheena – Purity at Midnight

Since Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra handled the arrangement, the track is brimming with a Ska-Para-style flavor.

Contrary to the title “Mayonaka wa Junketsu” (“Purity at Midnight”), the lyrics could be read as somewhat adult in content.

With words like “distortion,” “tayutau” (drifting), and “zokurei” (servitude) used without hesitation, it’s a song that fully enlivens Shiina Ringo’s world.

Crime and PunishmentShiina Ringo

Shiina Ringo – Crime and Punishment

A song that showcases Shiina Ringo’s signature style in full force.

Many people likely became fans because of this track.

She sings with rolled R’s and a menacing, weighty tone over a richly heavy rock sound—a world that no one else can imitate.

The lyrics can be read as saying, “Love only the me who exists now,” but depending on the listener, the song may evoke many different scenes.

Loser to the MoonShiina Ringo

Playing and singing 'Loser on the Moon'

A song composed when she was 18.

The lyrics—saying, “I might be a loser, but I’m still myself”—connect to Shiina Ringo’s later ethos as well.

It doesn’t have the poppy catchiness or groove of a typical kayōkyoku-style tune, but you can feel the gloomy emotions of youth.

The use of the first-person pronoun “boku” also feels a bit curious—yet that, too, is youth.

slideNEW!Shiina Ringo

Slide

The B-side track of the debut single “Koufukuron” (Theory of Happiness).

A full-on bittersweet ballad, it’s a masterpiece that portrays an unstable romantic relationship with cool precision and lyricism, interwoven with everyday scenes.

It was later included on the 10th-anniversary album “Watashi to Houden.” There’s no shouting or anything like that; it’s a song that requires rhythmic feel in the chorus and good breath control.

Once the song starts, you’re singing almost the whole time, but the melody isn’t difficult, so it should be straightforward to sing.

If you tense up around your shoulders, you’ll shift to chest breathing and won’t be able to inhale properly, so relax and take deep breaths using diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing.

Making sure to project your voice and fully exhale is also key.

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