Chara earned her nickname as a schoolchild from her teacher (charachara means "scatterbrained") and has been called such ever since. She has always been musically involved, she began composing music in her later years of elementary school and played keyboard in a band from her second year of high school.
One of the things that defines Chara's music is her singing voice. It is often described as sweet and whispering like a child's, yet forceful and sincere. Despite her very distinctive singing voice, Chara considers herself a musician first and foremost; proficient with instruments such as the piano, drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, synthesizer and tambourine. There are common themes to a lot of her music, including motherhood, innocence, love, beauty, and cheerfulness.
She has appeared as one of the main characters in 'Swallowtail Butterfly' movie and sang all the songs. The album 'Montage' is actually a vocal collection from this movie, that's why it was released under the name of Yen Town Band - which is a fictional band from the story. She has also starred in 'PiCNiC' where she played the mental patient Coco. She would go on to marry her co-star Asano Tadanobu (浅野忠信) in 1995. Currently, the pair have two children, a daughter Sumire (born 1995) and later a son Himi (born 1999).
ハロー
Chara Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
あいは何でいかせたの?
糸が切れた
二人は凍ったままで
ゆううつな海に放して
その手と手に
かかえこむゆめを
うたにして うたに うたにひめた
夢ははてしないけれど
深いわ 深いわ 宇宙におちた
しずくをながめていく旅に
マーメイド「ねぇ、ひまわりを海に
かえられないの?」
小さな体の火をひろいあつめて
途切れた糸で花をあんで
うた
うた うた うた ひろがる蝶よ
In Chara's song ハロー, the lyrics describe a bittersweet and melancholic story about a lost love. The song begins with the line "Shizuku ga hello negainasai" meaning "A droplet says hello, make a wish." It seems like a peaceful opening to a song, but as the next line begins, it's clear that the relationship Chara is singing about has ended, and she asks "Why did love make us like this?"
The next lines "Ito ga kireta futari wa korotta mama de" reveal that the thread (ito) of their relationship is broken, and they are left lying down unable to move forward. They let go of their dreams together into the sad and depressing sea before Chara sings about turning those dreams into songs that hold them together in memory.
As the song progresses, Chara sings about the infinite potential of dreams, even if they'll never come true. The line "Yume wa hateshinai keredo" means "Dreams are endless" and Chara asks "Even if love won't reach us, let's keep dreaming." The song concludes with "Utatte utatte hirougaru chou yo," meaning "Sing, sing, butterflies spread out," representing the hope that they'll be able to move on from the broken relationship.
Interestingly, the song is not only about lost love but also mentions mermaids and collecting small flames to light up a flower using a broken thread. Chara's unique and poetic songwriting has given fans plenty to interpret from her songs!
Line by Line Meaning
しずくが ハロー『願いなさい』
A drop says, 'Make a wish'
あいは何でいかせたの?
What led to the separation?
糸が切れた
The thread was cut
二人は凍ったままで
The two remain frozen
ゆううつな海に放して
Release into a gloomy sea
その手と手にかかえこむゆめを
Embrace a dream held between those hands
うたにして うたに うたにひめた
Turn it into a song and sing it
届かぬ恋ならば夢ははてしないけれど
If it's an unrequited love, the dream goes on forever
深いわ 深いわ 宇宙におちたしずくをながめていく旅に
It's deep, deep into the journey of gazing upon a drop that fell into space
マーメイド「ねぇ、ひまわりを海にかえられないの?」
Mermaid: 'Hey, can't you bring the sunflower back to the sea?'
小さな体の火をひろいあつめて
Gather the small flames of the body
途切れた糸で花をあんで
Weave flowers with interrupted threads
うた うた うた ひろがる蝶よ
Sing, sing, sing, butterfly that spreads its wings
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Chara
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind