2011-2012 Jihen Releases & Tour Discussion

[Entry№1]

Originally Posted by Tokyo Jihad

"No no, I wasn't doing what I truly wanted then. I always wanted to sell gum and make up."

lol, she covered Hitachi no Ki in her demotapes so it isn't totally out of the realm of possibilities. I always got the impression that Ringo wasn't ever totally sure what she wanted, but I know for certain she didn't want to be perceived as one-dimensional. It seems lately (as in, the last 5 years or so) she has been forming herself to the status quo social roles of a woman, and from that position making covert critiques of society. She still has an indomitable spirit, but it seems like she cares much less about the bigger picture than she once did.
I'd like to see her with giant, wild hair tearing up the stage like she once did, but I enjoy the 'proper lady' side of her as well. Her music seems to me to have gotten less personal over the years, despite its immense creative power. And yet, she claimed in an interview last year that recording Sports was one of the loneliest, darkest points in her personal life. The music didn't reflect that. It's high time she reclaimed her misery.

[TurtleFu]

@kuro_neko
What is experimental music other than a big "fuck you!" to everyone who thinks music should be a certain way? That's what innovative music is, it always starts as a counter-movement.

I recognize that the Shiina we see on stage, whether in the past, or in the present, is always going to be a persona. All performers are personas. She is just as honest to herself now as she was before, because she was never truly honest before. When you're a part of a subculture, you lose part of your identity because you become part of the group. When Shiina was a punk-rock chick, she wasn't "brave" or "rebellious", she was just part of the group.

[ShadyNook]

Fickle is woman.

*shields up, Scotty*

[so_cold]

Originally Posted by Tokyo Jihad

I dont know, this also sounds pretty revisionist. "I must have known/felt then what I know now, and I don't agree with my old self, thus I wasn't acting like myself." I call bullshit.

^ Yep.

[kuro_neko]

Originally Posted by TurtleFu

@kuro_neko
What is experimental music other than a big "fuck you!" to everyone who thinks music should be a certain way? That's what innovative music is, it always starts as a counter-movement.

I disagree. Experimental music is experimental when compared to mainstream, yes, but that is what separates trash like Lady Gaga from artists like Sia. You can be genuine and still be quirky, its the difference between initially setting out to be "different," and just following your heart.

YUKI is a good example IMO. She made much more rebellious music when she was younger, part of JAM, and then even into her solo albums, like Prismic and Commune. But she has reached a maturity and her music nowadays is what might be considered adult contemporary pop, but its just so genuine its infectious. I am not a middle-aged woman (that I know of...) but I can't help but connect to it because it is genuine and coming from the honest and true joy within her, she just is living and breathing through her music.

ringo's music has felt contrived and overly thought-out for quite some time. every now and then gems like Ariamaru Tomi slip through, but I think ringo needs to return to the drawing board and really consider why she is making music to begin with. Is it because she wants to disprove all those things that were said and continue to be said about her based on a few years of rebellious youth? or is it because she still has something left to say.

I don't know who the current "ringo" is, she has always been a persona, and she remains even more mysterious these days. I don't know who she is or what she wants, and I don't think she knows either, hence why her music is all over the place.

[W3iHong]

"I don't like my former self." - Shiina Ringo

EMF still brags about KZK, MM, SS while dissing Sports, Variety and new singles.

[deadgrandma]

I like that her music is all over the place.

Consistency is for sissies.

[Scribble R]

I personally think it's impossible to do a psychoanalysis of SR using a few drips of translated interview.

[baruga]

Originally Posted by deadgrandma

I like that her music is all over the place.

Consistency is for sissies.

Brofist! All of my favorite artists throw consistency out the window.

[Tokyo Jihad]

Originally Posted by deadgrandma

I like that her music is all over the place.

Consistency is for sissies.

But this isn't what were talking about. We're talking about old more personal, powerful work to newer less personal, more contrived work and the disownment of old.

I think a lot of us here like artists that evolve over time, but the good ones rarely say "oh I used to act like a moron and sing songs I didn't agree with." even for artists that have changed for the better over time.