Ryūkō (song) explained

Ryūkō
Artist:Ringo Sheena
Album:Sanmon Gossip
Recorded:2009
Genre:Pop, rock, hip hop
Label:EMI Music Japan

is a song by Japanese musician Ringo Sheena, which acted as one of the promotional songs from her fourth album Sanmon Gossip in 2009.[1] The song was produced by Sheena's former Tokyo Jihen bandmate Masayuki Hiizumi, and was a collaboration with Hiizumi's jazz ensemble Pe'z, as well as hip-hop group Maboroshi members Daisuke "Mummy-D" Sakama and Tomoyasu Takeuchi.

Background and development

In 2007, Sheena resumed releasing music under her solo name, after working as a member of Tokyo Jihen since 2004. She released the soundtrack album Heisei Fūzoku in February, a project where she collaborated with composer Neko Saito to create music for the Mika Ninagawa-directed film Sakuran. In September of the same year, Tokyo Jihen released their third album, Variety, a project album featuring members other than vocalist Sheena composing the album's music.[2] After their 2007 Spa & Treatment tour, this began a two-year period of inactivity for the band.[3] In November 2008 to celebrate her 10th as a solo musician, Sheena held a series of three concerts at the Saitama Super Arena, Sheena Ringo (Nama) Ringo-han '80: Jūshūnen kin'en-sai.[4]

Sheena began developing her fourth solo studio album in 2009.[3] Sanmon Gossip was a collection of songs she did not think would work for her releases with Tokyo Jihen for stylistic reasons.[5]

On May 27, Sheena released a single called "Ariamaru Tomi", which was used as the drama Smiles theme song.[6] This song was commercially successful, being certified gold by the RIAJ in three different media.[7] [8] [9]

Three months before the release of Sanmon Gossip, Sheena collaborated with Maboroshi on the song "Amai Yamai" from their third album Maboroshi no Shi.

Writing and production

The song featured an arrangement produced by Masayuki Hiizumi a member of jazz ensemble Pe'z, and the former pianist for Tokyo Jihen from 2004 until 2005. Fellow Pe'z members Kou and Masahiro Nirehara also perform in the song.[10] The two members of hip-hop group Maboroshi feature in the song: rapper Daisuke "Mummy-D" Sakama, and guitarist Tomoyasu Takeuchi.

Sheena wrote the song in order to explore the notion that industry leaders were typically male, noting that fashion industry leaders tended to be male while consumers female. Rapper Daisuke "Mummy-D" Sakama added his rap after Sheena had finished writing her sections. She requested that he write about fashion and sexuality.[11]

Promotion and release

On July 1, 2009, Sheena performed the song with Mummy-D during her second special on NHK's music program Songs.[12]

Music video

A music video for the song was first unveiled on July 6, 2009, directed by Yuichi Kodama.[13] [14] The video features Mummy-D and Sheena walking on a catwalk, surrounded by monitors that display their faces. The video was compiled on her music video collection Seiteki Healing: Sono Yon, which was released on DVD on August 26, 2009.[15]

Critical reception

CDJournal praised the song's "jazzy rock sound", and noted the sensuality in Sheena's voice.[16]

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from Sanmon Gossips liner notes booklet.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Superficial Gossip / SHEENA RINGO . Kronekodow . August 9, 2014.
  2. Web site: http://www.tokyojihen.com/news/index_04.php . ja:【東京事変2007ニュー･リリース速報第2弾！】 . Universal . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20131129162655/http://www.tokyojihen.com/news/index_04.php . June 7, 2007 . November 29, 2013 . July 2, 2014.
  3. Web site: http://www.tokyojihen.com/sp/notes/interview/toct40280/ . ja:「能動的三分間」オフィシャル・インタビュー . Kronekodow . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20140617025420/http://www.tokyojihen.com/sp/notes/interview/toct40280/ . June 17, 2014 . June 22, 2014.
  4. Web site: http://natalie.mu/music/news/11487 . ja:椎名林檎、10周年記念祭で5万5000人をノックアウト . Ringo Sheena knocks out 55,000 people at her 10th anniversary festival . Natalie . Japanese . December 5, 2008 . July 18, 2014.
  5. Web site: MONTHLY PUSH 椎名林檎 INTERVIEW . Vibe-Net . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20130405043623/http://vibe-net.com/musicinfo/push/monthly_push_one.html?mp_id=167&mp_sid=3&target_link=655 . 2009 . April 5, 2013 . August 9, 2014.
  6. Web site: http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000049691 . ja:椎名林檎、「ありあまる富」について語る . Ringo Sheena talks about "Ariamaru Tomi" . Barks . Japanese . May 27, 2009 . July 18, 2014.
  7. Web site: ja:レコード協会調べ 6月度有料音楽配信認定 . Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w090720.html . . Japanese . July 20, 2011 . January 26, 2014.
  8. Web site: ja:ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2009年8月 . Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (August 2009) . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200908.html . . Japanese . September 10, 2009 . January 26, 2014.
  9. Web site: ja:レコード協会調べ 8月度有料音楽配信認定 . Record Association Investigation: August Digital Music Download Certifications . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w090920.html . . Japanese . September 20, 2011 . January 26, 2014.
  10. . . 2009 . Japanese . . Tokyo, Japan.
  11. Web site: http://magazine.music.yahoo.co.jp/pow/20090623_001/interview_003 . ja:今をどう生きるかっていうことにしか関心がないんです . Isamu Onoda . Yahoo . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20090626175402/http://magazine.music.yahoo.co.jp/pow/20090623_001/interview_003 . July 6, 2009 . June 26, 2009 . August 9, 2014.
  12. Songs . NHK. July 1, 2009. Japanese.
  13. Web site: http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo . ja:初登場１位獲得！ニューアルバムから新作クリップ「流行」が完成！！ . EMI Music Japan . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20091213163042/http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo/ . July 6, 2009 . December 13, 2009 . August 9, 2014.
  14. Web site: http://www.spaceshowertv.com/search/detail.cgi?mu=0074721&ch=0 . ja:椎名林檎 流行 . Space Shower . Japanese . August 9, 2014.
  15. Web site: 6年ぶりのソロアルバムに続き、映像作品集DVD「性的ヒーリング～其ノ四～」発売決定！ . EMI Music Japan . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20090727195455/http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo . July 6, 2009 . July 27, 2009 . August 9, 2014.
  16. Web site: http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/supurficial-gossip/4109041492 . ja:椎名林檎 / 三文ゴシップ . CDJournal . Japanese . July 11, 2014.
  17. Japan Billboard Hot 100 2009/07/06 . . Japanese . July 6, 2009 . August 9, 2014.
  18. Web site: ニューアルバム『三文ゴシップ』全曲モバイル＆PC配信、6月24日より開始！ . EMI Music Japan . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20090727195455/http://www.emimusic.jp/artist/ringo . June 22, 2009 . July 27, 2009 . August 9, 2014.

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