Carnation (song) explained

Carnation
Cover:SheenaCarnation.jpg
Alt:The top half of a woman sitting down in a white dress and decorative jewellery, with short, blonde hair. She is holding a red carnation. Her image is distorted and refracted in places, as it is shown through several glass cubes.
Type:single
Artist:Ringo Sheena
Album:Hi Izuru Tokoro
Recorded:2011
Genre:Torch song, waltz, pop
Length:3:00
Label:EMI Music Japan
Producer:Ringo Sheena
Prev Title:Ariamaru Tomi
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:Jiyū e Michizure
Next Year:2012

, also known by its French title L'œillet[1] ("The Carnation" in English), is a song by Japanese musician Ringo Sheena. It was released on November 2, 2011, two years after her previous solo single "Ariamaru Tomi" (2009), during a period where she primarily worked with her band Tokyo Jihen.[2] The song was the eponymous theme song for the morning Asadora drama Carnation, starring Machiko Ono.

Background and development

In 2009, Sheena released the solo single "Ariamaru Tomi" and the album Sanmon Gossip after mostly focusing on her band, Tokyo Jihen. Since then, Tokyo Jihen released their fourth studio album, Sports, the single "Sora ga Natteiru" / "Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo" (2011) and their fifth studio album Dai Hakken (2011).

The project began when Shin Yasui, music supervisor for the film Sakuran that Sheena had worked together with, recommended her for the team working on Carnation.[3]

Writing and production

Originally, Sheena was asked to create an upbeat song for the drama. As the drama was set in Kansai, Sheena decided to similarly give the song a Kansai feel, and created the song "Jinsei wa Omoidōri." However, after reading the script and watching the stop-motion sequence Koichiro Tsujikawa created for the opening, she decided an entirely different song with a universal feel would be better suited. This led to the creation of "Carnation."[3]

When she first created the melody, she added a harp backing to the demo. This lead her to ask her frequent collaborator, conductor Neko Saito to work on the song as well.[3] The song was recorded with a 40-person orchestra, led by Saito and concert master Great Eida. Even though she was asked as a soloist to create the theme song, Sheena wanted to include her band Tokyo Jihen in the process. Hence, Sheena invited the members to perform the backing tracks and instruments for the songs on the single.[3] Sheena had wanted the song to be released as a single by the band, however the staff involved with the drama specifically requested the song be under her solo stage name.[4] The lyrics were completed at the very end of the song creating process, after the song arrangement.[3]

The B-side "Jinsei wa Omoidōri," as it was a candidate song to be used in the drama, was inspired by fashion designer Ayako Koshino, the subject of Carnation. Sheena wrote the song about the strength of a mother.[3] The other B-side, "Watashi no Aisuru Hito," was a song Sheena had already thought of before working on the single. She added it to the single as she wanted "a different hook" to those of "Carnation" and "Jinsei wa Omoidōri."[3] "Watashi no Aisuru Hito" was recorded with a 34-person orchestra, and "Jinsei wa Omoidōri" with a team of 11 other than Tokyo Jihen. The B-sides, like "Carnation," were also given French titles by Sheena. "Watashi no Aisuru Hito" became "Mon Amour" ("My Love"), while "Jinsei wa Omoidōri" became "Le monde est à moi" ("The World Is Mine").[1]

Promotion and release

The song was performed three times on television. The first was at Count Down TV on October 29, followed by Music Station on November 11.[5] At the 62nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31, 2011, Sheena performed "Carnation" in a medley with the Tokyo Jihen song "Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo,"[6] along with the other members of Tokyo Jihen.

The song was performed during Tokyo Jihen's 22 date tour Discovery, which was held between September and December in 2010. An instrumental of "Carnation" was performed during Tokyo Jihen's Bon Voyage farewell tour in 2012. During Sheena's Tōtaikai solo concerts in November 2013, Sheena performed the song again.[7]

Music video

The Yuichi Kodama-directed music video was first released on October 21, 2011.[5] It features a starry night motif, where an orchestra performs the song with Sheena. Her Tokyo Jihen band members also make an appearance in the video.[8]

Critical reception

Reception by critics was positive for "Carnation." Takahashi Tomokita from Rockin' On praised the song for its simple and pure melody.[9] CDJournal reviewers agreed, stating that three aspects, the song's "retro world view," Sheena's "whisper-like mysterious voice" and the "calm strings" came together to create a "beautiful waltz."[10] Haruna Takekawa from Hot Express enjoyed the "magnificent orchestra sound" and Sheena's vocals that had the ability to "change expressions" during the song.[11]

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from "Carnation"'s liner notes booklet.[12]

Tokyo Jihen

Other performers

Technical and production

Charts and sales

Chart (2011)Peak
position
Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay[13] 9
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[14] 5
Japan Oricon weekly singles[15] 5
Japan RIAJ Digital Track Chart[16] 38

Sales and certifications

Release history

RegionDateFormatDistributing LabelCatalogue codes
Japan[18] RingtoneEMI Music Japan
[19] Cellphone download
France[20] [21] [22] Digital download
Germany
United Kingdom
Japan[23] CD, PC downloadTOCT-45045
Taiwan[24] CDGold TyphoonI5245
Japan[25] Rental CDEMI Music JapanTOCT-45045
South Korea[26] Digital downloadUniversal Music Korea

Notes and References

  1. Web site: L' œillet / SHEENA RINGO . Kronekodow . April 21, 2014.
  2. Web site: カーネーション [Single, Maxi] ]. Amazon.co.jp . April 21, 2014.
  3. Web site: http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo/new_win/interview.htm . ja:椎名林檎 『カーネーション』 オフィシャルインタビュー . https://web.archive.org/web/20111206041204/http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo/new_win/interview.htm . EMI Music Japan . December 6, 2011 . Japanese . April 21, 2014.
  4. Book: ja:チャンネルガイド-東京事変オフィシャルブック- . Channel Guide: Tokyo Jihen Official Book . Japanese . Tokyo . Kronekodow . February 29, 2012 . 159–164 . 978-4884182984. February 2012 .
  5. Web site: 事変メンバーも出演、椎名林檎新曲PVは壮大な宇宙演奏会 . Natalie . Japanese . October 21, 2011 . April 21, 2014.
  6. Web site: http://mdpr.jp/021163554 . ja:＜紅白本番＞椎名林檎、初めての紅白に「おじゃましております」 . MDPR . Japanese . December 31, 2011 . April 21, 2014.
  7. Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/237797/products/cinema/1062141/1/ . ja:党大会 平成二十五年神山町大会 . Oricon . Japanese . April 10, 2014.
  8. Web site: 椎名林檎、ドラマ主題歌の新曲「カーネーション」MV視聴開始！. https://web.archive.org/web/20111109154448/http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo/ . EMI Music Japan . November 9, 2011 . Japanese . October 21, 2011 . April 21, 2014.
  9. Web site: http://sp.ro69.jp/disc/detail/59788 . ja:根源的三分間 . Takahashi Tomokita . Rockin' On . Japanese . November 5, 2011 . April 21, 2014.
  10. Web site: http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/-/4111090304 . ja:ミニ・レビュー . CDJournal . Japanese . April 21, 2014.
  11. Web site: http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/review/3297/ . ja:カーネーション . Haruna Takekawa . Hot Express . Japanese . November 5, 2011 . April 21, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140422232145/http://www.hotexpress.co.jp/review/3297/ . April 22, 2014 . dead .
  12. Carnation . . 2011 . Japanese . EMI Music Japan . Tokyo, Japan.
  13. Adult Contemporary Airplay 2011/11/14 . . Japanese . November 14, 2011 . January 27, 2014.
  14. Japan Billboard Hot 100 2011/11/14 . . Japanese . November 14, 2011 . January 27, 2014.
  15. Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/237797/products/music/937232/1/ . ja:「カーネーション」 椎名林檎 . Oricon . Japanese . April 21, 2014.
  16. Web site: レコード協会調べ 2011年10月19日～2011年10月25日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞ . Record Association Investigation: October 19, 2011 to October 25, 2011 (For Short: Recokyō Chart (Chaku-uta Full)) . . Japanese . October 28, 2011 . January 27, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120507034314/http://satsuki.musicdb.gr.jp/all_info/ranking_weekly/WeeklyRankingAction.do?term=2011s&weeklyCd=20111025&rankKbn=50 . May 7, 2012 .
  17. Web site: オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 . Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' . . subscription . April 21, 2014.
  18. Web site: http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo/ . ja:椎名林檎ドラマ主題歌の新曲「カーネーション」着うた®先行配信本日開始！ . https://web.archive.org/web/20111109154448/http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo/ . EMI Music Japan . November 9, 2011 . Japanese . October 3, 2011 . April 21, 2014.
  19. Web site: ドラマ主題歌の新曲「カーネーション」着うたフル(R)先行配信中！. https://web.archive.org/web/20111109154448/http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo/ . EMI Music Japan . November 9, 2011 . Japanese . October 21, 2011 . April 21, 2014.
  20. Web site: carnation -L'?illet- . Amazon.fr . French . April 21, 2014.
  21. Web site: carnation -L'?illet- . https://archive.today/20140421094722/http://www.amazon.de/carnation-L-illet-Sheena-Ringo/dp/B0064ZR2L0/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_2 . dead . April 21, 2014 . Amazon.de . German . April 21, 2014 .
  22. Web site: carnation -L'?illet- . Amazon.co.uk . April 21, 2014.
  23. Web site: ニューシングル『カーネーション』PC配信、モバイル映像配信開始！中！. https://web.archive.org/web/20111109154448/http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo/ . EMI Music Japan . November 9, 2011 . Japanese . November 2, 2011 . April 21, 2014.
  24. Web site: http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicProduct.aspx?ProductID=5099909165427 . zh:椎名林檎/ 康乃馨 . G-Music . Chinese . April 21, 2014.
  25. Web site: http://store.tsutaya.co.jp/item/rental_cd/004418445.html . ja:カーネーション . Tsutaya . Japanese . April 21, 2014.
  26. Web site: Shena Ringo Carnation -Loeillet- . Bugs . Korean. April 21, 2014.

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