Stem ~Daimyou Asobi-hen~
From Wiki.theppn
- Artist
- Shiina Ringo
- Single
- Stem ~Daimyou Asobi Hen~ (茎 (STEM) ~大名遊ビ編~)
- Released
- 2003.01.22
- Catalog Number
- TOCT-4450 (Limited Ed.)
- TOCT-4554 (Regular Ed.)
- Price
- ¥1,200
- Tracklist
- Meisai ~Sengo Saidaikyuu no Boufuuu Kennai Kashou~ (迷彩~戦後最大級ノ暴風雨圏内歌唱~)
- Stem ~Daimyou Asobi Hen~ (茎 (STEM) ~大名遊ビ編~)
((Sample))
- Ishiki ~Sengo Saidaikyuu no Boufuuu Kennai Kashou~ (意識~戦後最大級ノ暴風雨圏内歌唱~)
- Information
Stem is Shiina Ringo's eighth single. The text inside the ~'s for the first and last songs translates to "The Greatest Song After WWII Within the Sphere of the Storm", which is a cultural reference to the extreme style change after WWII because of the new American influence. The 'Daimyou Asobi Hen' translates to 'A Daimyou at Play Version'. Occasionally the title is translated as 'Kuki' (a direct transcript from the title), which means Stem. However, as this song is sung in English, it should be called 'Stem'. This single reached #1 in Oricon charts and charted for 12 weeks. The single sold 187,371 units, becoming the #45 single of 2003. This song was the theme song for the 40-minute movie, Hyakuiro Megane, in which Shiina was featured in a major role. The limited edition contains some CD extra's: Information about the film, (Hyakuiro Megane), including some behind the scenes footage.
Symmetry
It should be noted that the Stem single has the same format as Shiina's directly following album, Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana. This is to mean, symmetry is shown throughout the entire setting of the disk. The A-side is track two, and the two B-sides are tracks one and three.
Another feature on the single is the symmetry of the track lengths, as they are all palindromic numbers (this feature would later also appear on Tokyo Jihen's Kyouiku album). These being:
- 3:13
- 4:23
- 3:13
Yet another interesting symmetrical fact of this single is that both Meisai and Ishiki appear on Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana, but in re-arranged versions. Meisai and Ishiki both retain their order, as Meisai is track 3, and Ishiki is track 9. This means that both songs are three tracks from the start/end and three tracks away from Kuki (Stem as appearing on Kalk).
Oricon Chart Positions
| Date | Week Rank | Week Sales | Total Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003.02.03 | 1 | 116,198 | 116,198 |
| 2003.02.10 | 8 | 33,366 | 149,564 |
| 2003.02.17 | 19 | 14,326 | 163,890 |
| 2003.02.24 | 25 | 7,731 | 171,621 |
| 2003.03.03 | 37 | 5,453 | 177,074 |
| 2003.03.10 | 42 | 4,156 | 181,230 |
| 2003.03.17 | 73 | 2,076 | 183,306 |
| 2003.03.24 | 103 | 1,279 | 184,585 |
| 2003.03.31 | 134 | 842 | 185,427 |
| 2003.04.07 | 137 | 834 | 186,261 |
| 2003.04.14 | 159 | 589 | 186,850 |
| 2003.04.21 | 164 | 521 | 187,371 |
