"IT WAS YOU" and "Netsuai Hakkakuchu" both get a PV

Most of you should be aware of this, considering the 1 million views the Yasutaka Nakata collab-song already has, but in case you weren't, I'll just leave this here.

PS - Let's hope for another million in 2 days.

EDIT: Full version of "Netsuai Hakkakuchu" was uploaded too.

Ringo 15th Anniversary Releases

There's a lot of excitement building up with the approach of Ringo's 15th anniversary in the music industry. A little bit like what happened during the 10th anniversary, with the unforgettable Ringo EXPO 08 and a couple of other releases that culminated with her 5th (or is it 4th?) solo album, Sanmon Gossip.

This time it won't be different: actually it will be better!

The anniversary concerts, called 党大会 (Toutaikai), will run for 5 days in Shibuya's Bunkamura concert venue, and we can pretty much rest assured that there'll be a DVD/BR for that later on. But before all that, we'll have a bunch of stuff to spend money on. A "Collaborations Best Of" album, a "Live Best Of" album, all of the 4 Seiteki Healing discs released in a combo Blu-Ray and all of her live concerts released in Blu-Ray as well. All of it will be released on November 13.

Here are the cover artworks and tracklists, released by kronekodow.

Title: 浮き名(Ukina)
Release Date: 20013.11.13
01 - やさしい哲学／冨田ラボ
02 - CRAZY DAYS CRAZY FEELING／ZAZEN BOYS
03 - ロッキンルーラ／MO'SOME TONEBENDER
04 - IT WAS YOU／椎名林檎と斎藤ネコカルテット
05 - Rock & Hammer／谷口 崇
06 - You make me feel so bad／ZAZEN BOYS
07 - 熱愛発覚中／椎名林檎と中田ヤスタカ（CAPSULE）
08 - MY FOOLISH HEART 〜crazy on earth〜／SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS×椎名林檎
09 - あまいやまい feat.椎名林檎／マボロシ
10 - 危険すぎる／浅井健一
11 - becoming／谷口 崇
12 - きらきら武士 feat.Deyonna／レキシ
13 - 殺し屋危機一髪／SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONSと椎名林檎
14 - APPLE with Ringo Sheena／TOWA TEI
15 - Between Today and Tomorrow／椎名林檎と斎藤ネコカルテット
Bonus Track
16 - MY FOOLISH HEART 〜crazy on shibuya〜／SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS×椎名林檎

Translation:
01 - Yasashii Tetsugaku / Tomita Lab
02 - CRAZY DAYS CRAZY FEELING / Zazen Boys
03 - Rockin' Ruler / MO'SOME TONEBENDER
04 - IT WAS YOU / Shiina Ringo & Saitou Neko Quartet
05 - Rock & Hammer / Takashi Taniguchi
06 - You make me feel so bad / ZAZEN BOYS
07 - Netsuai Hakkaku Chuu/ Shiina Ringo & Yasukata Nakata (Capsule)
08 - MY FOOLISH HEART ~crazy on earth~ / SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS x Shiina Ringo
09 - Amai Yamai feat. Shiina Ringo / Maboroshi
10 - Kiken Sugiru / Asai Kennichi
11 - becoming / Takashi Taniguchi
12 - Kira Kira Bushi feat. Deyonna / Rekishi
13 - Koroshiya Kikiippatsu / SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS & Shiina Ringo
14 - APPLE with Ringo Sheena / TOWA TEI
15 - Between Today and Tomorrow / Shiina Ringo & Saitou Neko Quartet
Bonus Track
16 - MY FOOLISH HEART ~crazy on shibuya~/ SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS x Shiina Ringo

Title: 蜜月抄 (Mitsugetsu Shou)

Release Date: 20013.11.13
01 -  本能　＜“下剋上エクスタシー”2000.4.26 NHKホール＞
02 - 歌舞伎町の女王　＜“座禅エクスタシー”2000.7.30嘉穂劇場＞
03 - ありあまる富　＜NHK「SONGS」2009年放送＞
04 - 迷彩　＜“第一回林檎班大会の模様”2005.12 恵比寿ガーデンホール＞
05 - 今夜だふ　＜発育ステータス"御起立ジャポン"2000.7.8 新宿リキッド＞
06 - 茜さす帰路照らされど…　＜“座禅エクスタシー”2000.7.30嘉穂劇場＞
07 - 積木遊び　＜“下剋上エクスタシー”2000.4.26 NHKホール＞
08 - 浴室　＜“座禅エクスタシー”2000.7.30嘉穂劇場＞
09 - 茎（STEM）　＜“Ringo EXPO 08”2008.11.30さいたまスーパーアリーナ＞
10 - りんごのうた　＜“第一回林檎班大会の模様”2005.12 代官山UNIT＞
11 - 罪と罰 　＜“Electric Mole”2003.9.27 日本武道館＞
12 - 丸ノ内サディスティック　＜“Electric Mole”2003.9.27 日本武道館＞
13 - 密偵物語　＜NHK「SONGS」2009年放送＞
14 - あおぞら　＜“下剋上エクスタシー”2000.4.26 NHKホール＞
15 - ポルターガイスト　＜“賣笑エクスタシー”2003.5.27 九段会館＞
16 - この世の限り　＜“Ringo EXPO 08”2008.11.30さいたまスーパーアリーナ＞

Translation:

01 - Honnou (Gekokujou Xstasy 2000.4.26 NHK Hall)

02 - Kabukichou no Joou (Zazen Xstasy 2000.7.30 Kaho Gekijou)

03 - Ariamaru Tomi (NHK SONGS broadcasted in 2009)

04 - Meisai (Dai Ikkai Ringohan Taikai no Moyou 2005.12 Ebisu Garden Hall)

05 - Konya Dafu (Hatsuiku Status "Gokiritsu Japon" 2000.7.8 Shin Yado Liquid)

06 - Akane Sasu Kiru Terasaredo... (Zazen Xstasy 2000.7.30 Kaho Gekijou)

07 - Tsumiki Asobi (Gekokujou Xstasy 2000.4.26 NHK Hall)

08 - Yokushitsu (Zazen Xstasy 2000.7.30 Kaho Gekijou)

09 - Kuki (STEM) (Ringo EXPO 08 2008.11.30 Saitama Super Arena)

10 - Ringo no Uta (Dai Ikkai Ringohan Taikai no Moyou 2005.12 Daikan Yama UNIT)

11 - Tsumi to Batsu (Electric Mole 2003.9.27 Nippon Budokan)

12 - Marunouchi Sadistic (Electric Mole 2003.9.27 Nippon Budokan)

13 - Mittei Monogatari (NHK SONGS broadcasted in 2009)

14 - Aozora (Gekokujou Xstasy 2000.4.26 NHK Hall)

15 - Poltergeist (Baishou Xstasy 2003.5.27 Kudan Kaikan)

16 - Kono Yo no Kagiri (Ringo EXPO 08 2008.11.30 Saitama Super Arena)

Title: The Sexual Healing Total Care Course 120min

Release Date: 20013.11.13

Disc 1 - Seiteki Healing ~Sono Ichi~

Disc 2 - Seiteki Healing ~Sono Ni~

Disc 3 - Seiteki Healing ~Sono San~

Disc 4 - Seiteki Healing ~Sono Shi~

Title: LIVE

Release Date: 20013.11.13

Disc 1 - Gekokujou Xstasy

Disc 2 - Hatsuiku Status "Gokiritsu Japon"

Disc 3 - Baishou Xstasy

Disc 4 - Electric Mole

Disc 5 - Zazen Xstasy

Disc 6 - Ringo EXPO 08

Disc 7 - Dai Ikkai Ringohan Taikai no Moyou

Disc 8 - Senkou Xstasy Document

Shiina Ringo will participate in Tomita Lab's new album

Update: Inserted the tracklist and other tidbits revealed through Natalie.mu.

Continuing with the collaborations that have marked most of the last years in Ringo's career, there is news of yet another project.

This time, producer Tomita Keiichi, known as Tomita Lab, requested her participation in his upcoming 4th studio album: Joyous. It was revealed that Ringo will lend her voice to 3 different tracks, and also her lyricist skills in one of them, "Yasashii Tetsugaku".

Joyous will have the participation of 3 other vocalists: Yuko Hara (Southern All-Stars' pianist), Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band) and Sakaiyuu. The album will have two editions: first-press and normal-press. The first-press will come with 2 CDs, the second of which will contain instrumental versions of the songs from the first CD (8 tracks in total). The first CD will have 10 tracks.

Title: Joyous
Release Date: 23.10.2013
01 - やさしい哲学 feat. 椎名林檎 (Yasashii Tetsugaku)
03 - 都会の夜 わたしの街 feat. 原 由子, 横山 剣, 椎名林檎, さかいゆう (Tokai no Yoru, Watashi no Machi)
09 - この世は不思議 feat. 原 由子, 横山剣, 椎名林檎, さかいゆう(Kono Yo wa Fushigi)

Bonus Disc:
02 - やさしい哲学 -Instrumental-
04 - 都会の夜 わたしの街 -Instrumental-
08 - この世は不思議 -Instrumental-

For a bit of related trivia, Tomita Lab arranged Yumi Matsutoya's cover of "Kaede", in the Sweets for my Spitz covers compilation album. Ringo participated in that album with a cover of "Spica".

There is room for speculation too: is this a new path for Ringo? Considering how Kameda has been producing most of her releases since a long time, is she trying to work with different people now? Maybe Tomita Lab?

She has done a awful lot of collaborating in this year already and, after Jihen's break-up, I think that means a lot. Let's see how it goes after the 15th anniversary shows in November.

"Koroshiya Kiki Ippatsu" PV out now

Enjoy it.

Ringo collaborates with Soil & "Pimp" Sessions once again

There's a new Ringo song around the corner, and this time it's a collaboration with Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, a band she has worked with a lot of times before. It's called "殺し屋危機一髪" (Koroshiya Kiki Ippatsu), meaning something like "The Assassin's Close Call" but officially translated as "The Assassin's Assassin".

The lyrics were written by Ringo herself and the song was composed by her and Tabu Zombie, the band's trumpeter and one of the founding members. The arranger is Saitou Neko, another regular, and the song will feature a small orchestra.

There is a special teaser clip on YouTube and NicoNicoDouga, and a full PV will be released on June 7. The song in the teaser clip is called "ピンプパンサー" (Pimp Panther), which will either be a B-Side of the single or another track of a future album, if I may take any guess.

If the title of the song and video can tell us anything is that this is probably going to be reminiscent of spy action songs like "Mayonaka wa Junketsu", "Mittei Monogatari" or maybe "Karisome Otome".  The video is also very reminiscent of "Konya wa Karasawagi".

But that's just taking guesses, we'll have to check it out on June 7.

This collaboration represents the 2nd stage of Soil & "Pimp" Sessions 10th Anniversary, following April's release of "Jazzy Conversation", a collaboration with Rhymester, one of Mummy-D's hip-hop bands. You should remember Mummy-D from all the collaborations with Ringo, as well.

These anniversary releases point out to an eventual Soil's album this year, with "殺し屋危機一髪" included.

The following image, posted on kronekodow as a "mysterious photograph", looks pretty much like what the single cover will look like, without any words on it.

"Jazzy Conversation" was a digital-only release, but this time it will be a retail release also.

Title: 殺し屋危機一髪 (Koroshiya Kiki Ippatsu)

Release Date: 26/06/2013
Price: 1200 Yen
VICL-36788

Lastly, here's a bunch of screens from the teaser clip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official YouTube Channels

After a long time, both Shiina Ringo and Tokyo Jihen have official YouTube channels, through Vevo. Most of the videos are uploaded there, with 240p to 360p maximum resolutions. Some of the old ones are 480p, but, in the case of "STEM", the aspect ratio is incorrect: 4:3 instead of 16:9.
Not great, but not bad either, since we can finally share most of them legaly and without worrying about their eventual take-down.

However, it isn't a perfect solution, since some of the videos are locked outside of Japan. Kind of lame, if you ask me.

Shiina Ringo Official YouTube Channel

Tokyo Jihen Official YouTube Channel

Wake up everyone, there's a new Ringo single coming!

Long time since worthwhile news, am I right?

Shiina Ringo is releasing a new single next month and it's a double A-Side, made of two tie-ins. She does like to tie-in, doesn't she?

The first song, いろはにほへと, serves as Fuji TV's new dorama series, 鴨、京都へ行く。(Kamo, Kyoto e Iku.), which already started airing. The second song, 孤独のあかつき, ties-in with NHK-E's new cross-interview show, SWITCHインタビュー 達人達 (SWITCH Interview Tatsujin-tachi), whose first episode aired last Saturday.

Here are the release details, with the official cover picture.

Title: いろはにほへと／孤独のあかつき (Iro wa nioedo / Kodoku no Akatsuki)

Release Date: 27 May 2013

01 - いろはにほへと (Preview)

02 - 孤独のあかつき (Preview)

Both songs were composed by Ringo, and while the lyrics for いろはにほへと were written by her as well, Watanabe Aya was in charge of 孤独のあかつき 's lyrics.

Pre-orders are available at the usual online stores.

Ringo was invited to Nakamura Kenzaburou XVIII's NHK Memorial TV Program

Because of their close friendship, Shiina Ringo shared some words about Nakamura Kenzaburou XVIII's, at a NHK-G special memorial program about the kabuki player's life who died last week. Nakamura Kenzaburou was responsible for the "Sannin Kichisa" play, for which Ringo wrote the song "Tamatebako".

Her part on the memorial program was very brief, but I took some snapshots either way because it's the most recent pictures we see of her. I'd say she seems pretty fit for a KZK 2, don't you think?

Tokyo Jihen "returns" in February...

Tokyo Jihen, or should I say EMI, are returning this coming February, or at least two new releases are, according to Kronekodow. Yet another best DVD and another best CD collection, both released February 27th, 2013.

Although this time expect it to suck your wallet dry.

Hard Disk

Complete CD-Box (21.000Y, around $255)

- All 5 albums

- color bars

- Shinyawaku

- Special 9 track CD with songs that didn't make it to CD format yet and also unreleased tracks

Includes a hard-cover 52 page Photobook, 4GB Tokyo Jihen USB with photos and an instrumental version of "Service" called "Kaomisen Hen", which means something like Debut Chapter (wth?). Apparently the size of this thing will be the same as a analog record, according to my crappy translation.

First-Press Edition will come in a hard-cover book format.

Golden Time

DVD/BR (3.400Y / 4.100Y)

PV Collection:

- Gunjou Biyori

- Sounan

- Shuraba

- OSCA

- Killer Tune

- Noudouteki Sanpunkan

- Sora ga Natteiru

- Onna no Ko wa Daredemo

- Atarashii Bunmeikaika

- Konya wa Karasawagi (New Edit)

- Tadanaranu Kankei (New Edit)

- Senkou Shoujo (New Edit)

Comes with a special booklet concering the PVs and the first-press edition will have a plastic sleeve case.

New Tokyo Jihen releases this August

Today Kronekodow revealed the covers for the new Jihen releases. We can only guess if this is going to be EMI's last batch of money-milking after the band announced it's dissolution in last February 11th.

Regardless, we're still bound to get some interesting contents from both items: the B-Side CD collection "Shinyawaku" and the live best-of DVD/BR "Chin Play Kou Play". Here are the contents for both of them.

Title: 深夜枠 (Shinyawaku) (The Edge of Late at Night)

Release Date: 29 August 2012

01 - ハンサム過ぎて (Handsome Sugite)

02 - 我慢 (Gaman)

03 - BB.QUEEN

04 - 体 (Karada)

05 - ピノキオ (Pinochio)

06 - 鞄の中身 (Kaban no Nakami)

07 - 恋は幻 (Koi wa Maboroshi)

08 - 落日 (Rakujitsu)

09 - ダイナマイト (Dynamite)

10 - 心 (Kokoro)

11 - その淑女ふしだらにつき (Sono Onna Fushidara ni Tsuki)

12 - 顔 (Kao)

13 - ただならぬ関係（新曲）(Tadanaranu Kankei) (New Song)

Title: 珍プレー好プレー (Chin Play Kou Play) (Unusual Play, Good Play)

Release Date: 29 August 2012

Tours:

From "Dynamite!” 2005.02.09 ／ Nagoya Century Hall

01 - 林檎の唄 (Ringo no Uta)

02 - 車屋さん (Kurumaya-san)

03 - 恋の売り込み (I’m Gonna Knock On Your Door)

From “DOMESTIC Virgin LINE” 2006.02.19 ／ Nippon Budokan

04 - 葬列 (Souretsu)

05 - 虚言症 (Kyogenshou)

06 - 母国情緒 (Bokoku Jousho)

07 - 落日 (Rakujitsu)

From “Just can't help it!” 2006.05.26 ／ NHK Hall

08 - 雪国 (Yukiguni)

09 - ダイナマイト (Dynamite)

10 - 喧嘩上等 (Kenka Joutou)

From "Spa & Treatment” 2007.11.21 ／ Zepp Tokyo

11 - 金魚の箱 (Kingyo no Hako)

12 - 私生活 (Shiseikatsu)

13 - 黒猫道 (Kronekodow)

From “ウルトラＣ” 2010.05.12 ／ Tokyo International Forum A

14 - 電波通信 (Denpa Tsushiin)

15 - 生きる (Ikiru)

16 - 乗り気 (Noriki)

From “Discovery” 2011.12.07 ／ Tokyo International Forum A

17 - 空が鳴っている (Sora ga Natteiru)

18 - 秘密 (Himitsu)

19 - 今夜はから騒ぎ (Konya wa Karasawagi)

From “Domestique Bon Voyage” 2012.02.29 ／ Nippon Budokan

20 - 新しい文明開化 (Atarashii Bunmeikaika)

21 - 能動的三分間 (Noudouteki Sanpunkan)

22 - 群青日和 (Gunjou Biyori)

Festivals and Events:

From “0724YAMABIKARI”

2004.07.24 / Chicken George, Kobe

01 - その淑女(をんな)ふしだらにつき (Sono Onna Fushidara ni Tsuki)

From “FM802 MEET THE WORLD BEAT 2004”

2004.7.25 / Expo Commemoration Park, Osaka

02 - 御祭騒ぎ (Omatsuri Sawagi)

From “FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL '04”

2004.7.30 / Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawa, Niigata

03 - 遭難 (Sounan)

From “COUNTDOWN JAPAN 06/07”

2006.12.30 / Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall

04 - 花魁 (Oiran)

05 - ブラックアウト (Blackout)

From “RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2008 in EZO”

2008.08.15 / Ishikari, Hokkaido

06 - 閃光少女 (Senkou Shoujo)

From “SOCIETY OF THE CITIZENS Vol2.”

2008.08.24 Tokyo Dome City Hall

07 - BB.QUEEN

08 - ミラーボール (Mirror Ball)

From “COUNTDOWN JAPAN 09/10”

2009.12.30 / Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall

09 - 我慢 (Gaman)

10 - ありあまる富 (Ariamaru Tomi)

From “EMI ROCKS 2010”

2010.11.06 / Saitama Super Arena

11 - 天国へようこそ (Tengoku he Youkoso)

12 - 透明人間 (Toumei Ningen)

From “EMI ROCKS 2012”

2012.02.19 / Saitama Super Arena

13 - ｓａ＿ｉ＿ｔａ

14 - キラーチューン (Killer Tune)

Bonus Feature:

幕の内サディスティック (Makunouchi Sadistic)

Special feature concerning the most performed song by the band, Marunouchi Sadistic.

PS - Regarding the blog's 3rd year, celebrated last June 26th, yay!
PSS - Regarding the link's issue, I'm still trying to find time to solve/upload it all. There are rumours that megaupload might be returning, so I'm inclined to wait a little bit to see if it's true or not... Thanks for your patience!