Recently becoming 椎名林檎情熱 (I've listened to her for 10 years, this is the first time I really get into her songs and performances, after watching her 10th anniversary concert live DVD. A strong recommendation for all of my limited readers:
http://www.emimusic.jp/ringo10th/discography/
In a retrospect, I selected my "personal top 5 椎名林檎 songs (ha, one more)". Enjoy. Before introducing those songs, I would express my gratitude for her effort of composing and performing for 10 years and really widen my horizon in music. The question is, where is her next stop after reaching her 30s?
1. 石膏 (ギブス, from 勝訴ストリップ, 2000) As her commented, this is "a perfect song". Could you feel the love, passion and bitterness within this song?
你總馬上想照相 但不論何時我就討厭那一點 因為一旦照了相 那我就變老了不是嗎
你總馬上說出絕對什麼的 但不論何時我就討厭那一點 因為一旦感情冷卻了 那些不就都變成了謊言嗎
don't you think？ I wanna be with you
就在這裡待著 永遠地 明天的事誰也不知道 所以請緊緊地擁抱我吧 darling
你總馬上露出怯弱的樣子 而我不論何時總為此而感到高興 因為就像寇特可本一般 我不就像寇特妮洛芙了嗎
don't you think？ I wanna be with you
到我身邊來 更加接近地 昨天的事就忘記了吧 然後緊緊地擁抱我吧 darling
四月又來臨了 這讓我回憶起同一天的事
2. 17 (From 罪と罰 Single, 2000) I weep whenever I listen to this song. I feel the loneliness of this tune. I can really connect with that. I think at some point, I'm a type of guy similar to her...
Now I'm seventeen My school is in the country, students wear trainers, read the same magazines
Now i'm seventeen My school is getting tiresome, teachers-they're so young, singling me out
Only like philosophy & after school the time that's what i call my own time Nice girls meet nice boys end of school day while other girls go straight home talking 'bout soaps'n' that
I go home alone like it watching the nameless people, surfing subways, travelling somewhere "…nowhere…"
Now i'm seventeen I do not have a title, depend on no one else, busy being kind (to myself)
Only like philosophy & after school the time that's what i call my own time Nice girls meet nice boys end of school day while other girls go straight home talking 'bout soaps'n' that
I go home alone and have dinner in my sweet home, praying again, again & again... i see the same faces in school & they say that i am different i think it's an honor. I say it's an honor to B different, Ii can't go their way
Surfing subways, travelling somewhere, nowhere nowhere ... I go home alone and have dinner in my sweet home praying again, again & again "...peace..."
Now i'm seventeen, now i'm "…seventeen…"
3. 賭局 (ギャンブル, A modified version from 平成風俗, 2006) This is a theme song from the movie 惡女花魁 (http://www.sakuran-themovie.com/). The intro of this song caught my attention instantly. It is a heart-breaking melody with soul-tearing vocal. One of the lines of the lyrics "值得我愛的人到底在哪裡呢 雖然我知道敷衍的答案" really speaks for me
There are several versions of this song. It was originated from a live version in 絕頂集 (絕頂集, 2000). It was then capo 1 for the modified version with violin and etc in 平成風俗. The version that was used in the movie was without violin and etc, with much heavier and distorted guitars and huge drum sound (this is the version I really really love, but I can't find the whole song for this version...)
A simple but touching tune. I had an impression of Brit rock after the first listening. I become loving this song after several listenings. A vocal full of retrospect, like a deep talk after removing all the make-ups and changing fancy dresses to plain clothes. Usually I'll listen to this tune for about 10+ times before going to the next track... Being a Christian, I've written my lyrics based on this song, with my own confessions.
5. Love is blind (From唄ひ手冥利〜其ノ壱〜,亀パクトディスク) Her voice is so powerful, so dominant, so sorrow. I really love the hysteria behind the vocal. Arrangement of cello gives the song a boast. I really miss this kind of vocal from her for years...
Love is blind, love is only sorrow Love is no tomorrow since you went away Love is blind, how well I remember In the heat of summer Pleasure, winter fades
How long will it take before I can’t remember memories I should forget? I’ve been burning since the day we met
Love is blind, love is without a mercy Love is now you’ve hurt me Now you’ve gone away
Love is blind, love is no horizon And I’m slowly dying here in yesterday...
In the morning waken to the sound of weeping Someone else should weep for me Now it’s over, lover, let me be
Love is blind, love is your caress Love is tenderness and momentary pain Love is blind, how well I remember In the heat of summer Pleasure, winter fades...
I like songs with this kind of topic. Sometimes, I feel that I'm a bad guy and there's some resonance when I listen to these songs:
"The Unforgiven", by Metallica
New blood joins this earth and quickly he's subdued Through constant pained disgrace, the young boy learns their rules
With time, the child draws in this whipping boy done wrong Deprived of all his thoughts The young man struggles on and on, he's known A vow unto his own that never from this day His will they'll take away
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never be Never see Won't see what might have been
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never free Never me So I dub thee “Unforgiven”
They dedicate their lives to running all of his He tries to please them all This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same he's battled constantly This fight he cannot win, a tired man they see no longer cares The old man then prepares to die regretfully That old man here is me
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never be Never see Won't see what might have been
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never free Never me So I dub thee “Unforgiven”
You labeled me I'll label you So I dub thee “Unforgiven”
"The Unforgiven II", by Metallica
Lay beside me, tell me what they've done Speak the words I want to hear, to make my demons run The door is locked now but it's opened if you're true If you can understand the me, then I can understand the you
Lay beside me, under wicked skies Through black of day, dark of night, we share this paralyze The door cracks open but there's no sun shining through Black heart scarring darker still, but there's no sun shining through
No, there's no sun shining through No, there's no sun shining
What I've felt, what I've known Turn the pages, turn the stone Behind the door, should I open it for you?
What I've felt, what I've known Sick and tired, I stand alone Could you be there, 'cause I'm the one who waits for you Or are you unforgiven, too?
Come beside me, this won't hurt, I swear She loves me not, she loves me still, but she'll never love again She lay beside me but she'll be there when I'm gone Black heart scarring darker still, yes, she'll be there when I'm gone Yes, she'll be there when I'm gone Dead sure she'll be there
What I've felt, what I've known Turn the pages, turn to stone Behind the door, should I open it for you?
What I've felt, what I've known Sick and tired, I stand alone Could you be there, 'cause I'm the one who waits for you Or are you unforgiven, too?
Lay beside me, tell me what I've done The door is closed, so are your eyes But now I see the sun, now I see the sun Yes, now I see it
What I've felt, what I've known Turn the pages, turn the stone Behind the door, should I open it for you?
What I've felt, what I've known Sick and tired, I stand alone Could you be there? 'Cause I'm the one who waits The one who waits for you
I take this key And I bury it in you Because you're unforgiven, too
Never free Never me 'Cause you're unforgiven, too
"The Unforgiven III", by Metallica
How could he know this new dawn’s light would change his life forever? Set sail to sea, but pulled off course by the light of golden treasure.
Was he the one causing pain with his careless dreaming? Been afraid, always afraid of the things he’s feeling.
He could just be gone. He would just sail on He’ll just sail on.
How can I be lost, if I’ve got nowhere to go? Search for seas of gold, how come it’s got so cold?
How can I be lost? In remembrance I relive. And how can I blame you, when it’s me I can’t forgive?
These days drift on inside a fog, thick and suffocating. His sinking life, outside its hell. Inside, intoxicating.
He’s run aground. Like his life, water much too shallow. Slipping fast, down with his ship, fading in the shadows.
Now a castaway. They’ve all gone away. They’ve gone away.
How can I be lost, if I’ve got nowhere to go? Search for seas of gold, how come it’s got so cold? How can I be lost? In remembrance I relive. And how can I blame you, when it’s me I can’t forgive?
Forgive me. Forgive me not. Why can’t I forgive me?
Set sail to sea, but pulled off course by the light of golden treasure. How could he know this new dawn’s light would change his life forever?
How can I be lost, if I’ve got nowhere to go? Search for seas of gold, how come it’s got so cold?
How can I be lost? In remembrance I relive. So how can I blame you, when it’s me I can’t forgive?
