Did you think that Shiina Ringo's voice was atrocious, at first?

[Scribble R]

I don't like her voice on 'Georgy Porgy.'

What about Koko de kiss shite? All of a sudden, I can't get enough of the opening. It always used to make me reach for the fast forward button in a panic.

"I'll never be aboo, to give up all...."

Now I can't stop playing it. I especially love how it transitions into the main song: ("once agaiiiiiiiiiiyaaaaaaaaayn!")

I've also noticed how people consider her voice in OSCA a bit too much, but I think it's brilliant (The sole reason as to why I like that song is because of how OTT her voice is). I also can't stop rewinding the last part of Morphine. I think, Silverrime, you nailed it when you said her voice was "pleasure spiked with pain." A bit like sex, maybe -- maybe even sex in public. Something very dangerous/daring/ohnoshedidnotjustgothere kind of way.

[waxringo]

I always loved her voice...very unique. And the first time I really listened to her was a live DVD...so...i got the full effect. My ear is tuned differently than most peoples, though. Most people that I introduce her to can't stand her voice. I think it's lovely. I also think that I sing very similiarly to her, so maybe that is another reason as to why I can stand it.


sidenote: how can you NOT love her voice in Georgy Porgy? I think that is one of my favorite songs...I had it on repeat the other day for about 2hrs. I LOVE IT!!

[Lena-chan]

I don't like her voice on Dynamite at Meet The World Beat 2004
and I find her voice on MM's kabukicho no jou the most gorgeous thing in the world °o°

[Ringo~Bingo]

Originally Posted by Lena-chan

I find her voice on MM's kabukicho no jou the most gorgeous thing in the world °o°

Me too it's so wonderful!!!!!

♪ musume no atashi ga joooooooou ♪

[ringomaster]

Voice isn't bad, just noisy and grating. It can also be sultry. It can also be fucking terrible beyond belief (see Dynamite).

[Mr Sands]

But, but, Dynamite is fucking aces!!!

[jigenbakuda]

Well in a sea of voices that all sound similar, ringo-hime stood out to me. I was pleased that her voice did not sound normal. Of course I was not that immersed in j-culture at that time... So all I heard was commercial pop singers.

Unlike most people here, The first album I hear ringo do was HF and I adored the vocals in that, and I compare everything else to that... So I'm a little different than most on this forum. I never really noticed her voice was something that could be annoying to someone until someone else pointed it out to me. To me it was just a highly recognizable voice.

[Maou]

I never understood the hate of her voice. It was always pleasing to my ear. Then again, I was already prepared for the onslaught by Tomiko Van's similar, less intense voice.

[lin_hikaru_7]

I remember when I first heard Ringo...it was "La Salle De Bain".

I had found it on the internet, took a listen and was just blown away. I had no idea what she was saying, but it was all so fantastically wonderful sounding that I immediatley had my neighbor friend listen, and her reaction was the same.

I think I exposed a few more people to the song, and they all liked it...when I finally learned the lyrics I was a little bit shocked, but in a good way, and suddenly, I could actually make out the words.

My Mom hasn't been completely converted, she likes some of her stuff (and thinks she's pretty cute), and I know for a fact she might get them stuck in her head I play them so much.

You know how Ringo used to love Janis Ian and her sad romantic songs? When my Mom was a teen, and she was feeling depressed, she would play Janis Ian's albums and mope and weep and stuff (off-topic).

[TeslaGuy]

Her voice didn't lure me; her mind did. She will never be my favorite Japanese singer; that award belongs to Cocco. But I love the way she thinks.