"Stem"
A woman wearing a red kimono plays the koto illustrates the bottom half. Her face is obscured by the top, which is a faded yellow and green slip that gives information about the single.
Single by Ringo Sheena
from the album Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2003 (2003-01-22)
Length11:44
LabelToshiba EMI / Virgin Music
Songwriter(s)Ringo Sheena
Producer(s)Uni Inoue
Ringo Sheena singles chronology
"Mayonaka wa Junketsu"
(2001)		 "Stem"
(2003)		 "Ringo no Uta"
(2003)

"Stem", also known by its Japanese translated title "Kuki" (茎) is a song written by Japanese singer Ringo Sheena and released in several versions.

Background

It was first released as a single in 2003, as "Stem (Daimyō Asobi-hen)" (茎(STEM)～大名遊ビ編～, "The Daimyō's fun version") as her 8th single and it was released on January 22, 2003 by Toshiba EMI / Virgin Music. The single version is sung in English, and was orchestrated by Toshiyuki Mori. The B-sides "Meisai" and "Ishiki" were arranged by Bakeneko Killer, a production team Sheena and Inoue formed. Nobuyoshi Araki, the prominent photographer, took the album cover.

The version featured on the album Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana, "Kuki" (茎), is sung in Japanese and arranged by Bakeneko Killer. A further version found on the vinyl edition of Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana called "Stem" (茎(STEM)), featured the album arrangement with English lyrics. It was also featured on the film Casshern's official album Our Last Day: Casshern Official Album. An English language version of "Stem" also appears on Sheena's 2007 soundtrack Heisei Fūzoku, orchestrated by Neko Saito.

The song was used as the theme song for Sheena's short film Hyakuiro Megane (百色眼鏡, "Kaleidoscope"), released in January 2003. It was also the theme song for the stage play Lens that was based on the film, which was held at the Sunshine Theater from July 5 to July 11 at Tokyo, and at the Theater Drama City from July 24 to July 25 in Osaka.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ringo Sheena. Track 2 is translated into English by Robbie Clark

CD
No.TitleArranger(s)Length
1."Meisai~Sengo Saidai-kyū no Bōfū-u Kennai Kashō~ (迷彩～戦後最大級ノ暴風雨圏内歌唱～, Camouflage~A Song From One of the Greatest Rainstorms of The Post-war Era~)[1]"Bakeneko Killer[2]3:11
2."Kuki (STEM)~Daimyo Asobi hen~ (茎(STEM)〜大名遊ビ編〜, Stem (STEM)~At Play With a Feudal Lord~)"orchestrated by Toshiyuki Mori4:20
3."Ishiki~Sengo Saidai-kyū no Bōfū-u Kennai Kashō~ (意識～戦後最大級ノ暴風雨圏内歌唱～, Consciousness~A Song From One of the Greatest Rainstorms of The Post-war Era~)[1]"Bakeneko Killer[2]3:13
Total length:10:44

Personnel

M2 / Ōoku Kinen Orchestra (大奥記念オーケストラ, Ōoku Memorial Orchestra): orchestra

M1, 3 / Himitsu Butai (秘密部隊, Secret Corps): rock band

Music video cast

Kuki (STEM)

  • Actress - Kaede Katsuragi: Koyuki (actress)
  • Student aspiring novelist - Amagi: Kentaro Kobayashi (actor)
  • Detective - Komagata: Nao Omori (actor)
  • A woman: Ringo Sheena

Meisai

  • Maid & singer: Ringo Sheena
  • Student: Kazuki Yamaguchi (Toshiba-EMI director)
  • Aristocrat: Ryosuke Nagaoka
  • Aristocrat: Ahito Inazawa
  • Aristocrat: Neko Saito
  • Aristocrat: Hitoshi Watanabe
  • Aristocrat: Atsuhide Tsukuda (music planning company BEA)
  • Fake Ringo Sheena: Keiko Yokomachi (actress)

Notes

  1. 1 2 On the day when Shiina recorded this song, she was struck by a huge typhoon.
  2. 1 2 Bakeneko Killer (化猫キラー, Goblin cat Killer) is the name of the produce team which Shiina and Inoue formed.
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