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).
永遠を知らないか
Chara Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
光を見た? それに手をのばす理由? もういや
青い蝶を 逃がしてさ
とめないの?「…夢中に会うとさ」
青を解き放して 落ちてくるように決めた
愛だのは 無知との間 隙をそう、狙って打ったんだ
永遠 永遠 永遠 永遠…
空に返したのさ
逃がしたいよ「君を愛したいよ」
感動したいよ あーあ…
それだけでちゃんと 目にこぼれるのよ 青
そっと 耳に橋も出すよ 青
知りかけた蝶 また走り出すの? 青
忘れたいよ 永遠
素晴らしいのは うた?
でも抑えられないの
間の… 未知との隙を そう…開いちゃう…
無理に仕舞うんだ 永遠
The lyrics to Chara's song 永遠を知らないか (Do You Know Eternal?) convey a sense of internal conflict and confusion. The first line, "Following my instincts, I run away again..." introduces the idea that the singer is torn between following their impulses and fighting against them. The second line, "Did you see the light? Is there a reason to reach out for it? I can't take it anymore" suggests that the singer is struggling with the idea of pursuing something that may not be attainable, or may not be worth the effort.
The next few lines describe a desire to escape from reality and the responsibilities that come with it. The singer asks if they should let the blue butterfly go, but then decides to set it free. They have chosen to embrace the color blue and let it fall around them like rain.
The chorus, "Love is the gap between ignorance and aim... How about that? Just smile at that" suggests that the singer is aware of the challenges that come with pursuing love, but chooses to embrace them anyway.
The lines "Eternal, eternal, eternal, eternal..." repeat throughout the song, emphasizing the idea of endlessness and the possibility of something beyond what exists in the present.
Overall, the song seems to convey a sense of ambivalence about life and love, characterized by a desire to escape mixed with a longing for something more.
Line by Line Meaning
本能に従う声 一人 また逃げちゃう…
My instinctual voice is telling me to flee, yet again, all alone...
光を見た? それに手をのばす理由? もういや
I'm done with reaching for the light, having seen it once before.
青い蝶を 逃がしてさ
I let go of the blue butterfly.
とめないの?「…夢中に会うとさ」
Won't you stop me? 'Cause I'm falling for someone I met in a dream.
青を解き放して 落ちてくるように決めた
I decided to let go of the blue and let myself fall.
愛だのは 無知との間 隙をそう、狙って打ったんだ
Love, it's just the gap between ignorance, and I aimed and struck right into it.
どう? それだけでそっと笑って
Hm? Just that makes me laugh quietly.
永遠 永遠 永遠 永遠…
Eternity, eternity, eternity, eternity...
空に返したのさ
I returned it to the sky.
逃がしたいよ「君を愛したいよ」
I want to let it go, 'cause I want to love you.
感動したいよ あーあ…
I want to feel moved, ah...
それだけでちゃんと 目にこぼれるのよ 青
Just that alone makes blue tears trickle down my face.
そっと 耳に橋も出すよ 青
Gently, blue builds a bridge to my ears.
知りかけた蝶 また走り出すの? 青
Will the butterfly I almost understood start running again? Blue.
忘れたいよ 永遠
I want to forget about eternity.
素晴らしいのは うた?
Is the wonderful thing a song?
でも抑えられないの
But it can't be restrained.
間の… 未知との隙を そう…開いちゃう…
That gap between...I'll let it open wider towards the unknown...
無理に仕舞うんだ 永遠
I'll forcefully pack away eternity.
Writer(s): Hyde, 安島 裕輔, 川根 来音, 清木場 俊介
Contributed by Caleb M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.