Ryūkō

"Ryūkō"
Song by Ringo Sheena from the album Sanmon Gossip
Released June 24, 2009
Format Digital download
Recorded 2009
Genre Pop, rock, hip-hop
Length 4:16
Label EMI Music Japan
Writer
Ringo Sheena

Daisuke "Mummy-D" Sakama

"Ryūkō" (流行, "Vogue") 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 Smile's 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 Masayumi 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 Gossip's liner notes booklet.[10]

  • H Zetto M – arrangement, wutlitzer, claps
  • Kou – drums, claps
  • Masahiro Nirehara – bass, claps
  • Daisuke "Mummy-D" Sakama – rap, songwriting, claps
  • Ringo Sheena – vocals, songwriting, claps
  • Tomoyasu Takeuchi – guitar, claps

Chart rankings

Charts (2009) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[17] 74

Release history

Region Date Format Distributing Label
Japan June 24, 2009[18] Digital download EMI Music Japan

References

  1. ↑ "Superficial Gossip / SHEENA RINGO". Kronekodow. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ 【東京事変2007ニュー･リリース速報第2弾！】 (in Japanese). Universal. June 7, 2007. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 「能動的三分間」オフィシャル・インタビュー (in Japanese). Kronekodow. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ 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] (in Japanese). Natalie. December 5, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  5. ↑ "MONTHLY PUSH 椎名林檎 INTERVIEW" (in Japanese). Vibe-Net. 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ 椎名林檎、「ありあまる富」について語る [Ringo Sheena talks about "Ariamaru Tomi"] (in Japanese). Barks. May 27, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  7. ↑ 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]. RIAJ (in Japanese). July 20, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  8. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年8月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (August 2009)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). September 10, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  9. ↑ 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]. RIAJ (in Japanese). September 20, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sanmon Gossip (Media notes) (in Japanese). Ringo Sheena. Tokyo, Japan: EMI Music Japan. 2009.
  11. ↑ Isamu Onoda (July 6, 2009). 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 (in Japanese). Yahoo. Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Songs". (in Japanese). July 1, 2009. NHK. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ 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！！ (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. July 6, 2009. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  14. ↑ 椎名林檎 流行 (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  15. ↑ "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！" (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. July 6, 2009. Archived from the original on July 27, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  16. ↑ 椎名林檎 / 三文ゴシップ (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100 2009/07/06". Billboard (in Japanese). July 6, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  18. ↑ "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！" (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. June 22, 2009. Archived from the original on July 27, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2014.