Chara (ちゃら), born on January 13, 1968 in Kawaguchi, Saitama, is a Japanese… Read Full Bio ↴Chara (ちゃら), born on January 13, 1968 in Kawaguchi, Saitama, is a Japanese singer, songwriter and actress. Her real name is Satou Miwa (佐藤美和). After sending a demo tape to Sony Japan in 1990, she landed a record deal and released her first single, "Heaven", in 1991.

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).

Soul Kiss
Chara Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

「どうせあてのない恋でしょ?」
人はそう会う度に
――他人の幸せ我慢できない

『どっかにいい人いるわ……でも
あの人だったかもしれない――。』
もうキスだけじゃわからない

あたしと同じ気持ちでいて
同じことを考えて
気が利くあたしに許して
あたしの心を開いて

デートの前祈ってた
――神様にもらったりんごを
全て食べてから――

そう新しい名前をもらったその日から
私はレールを走る汽車になる
――運命の上を

神様教えてよ

どうか心からあたしを必要だと
必要だといって会いに行くわ
必要だといって
今があたしの意思とうらはらなんだわ
返してほしい
魂の動くキスで
必要だといって

神様教えてよ

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chara's song "Soul Kiss" convey a sense of longing and uncertainty about love. The opening lines "Douse ate no nai koi desho? Hito wa sou au tabi ni - Tanin no shiawase gaman dekinai" express the idea that people can't help but feel jealous of others' happiness at times. The singer is questioning whether her love is hopeless and wondering if there might be someone better out there for her.

The chorus "Atashi to onaji kimochi de ite, onaji koto wo kangaete - Ki ga kiku atashi ni yurushite, atashi no kokoro wo hiraite" is a plea to the other person to understand her feelings and thoughts, to allow her to be herself, and to open up his heart to her. She feels that just sharing a kiss isn't enough anymore and that there needs to be a deeper emotional connection between them.

The second verse "Deeto no mae inotteta - Kamisama ni moratta ringo wo - Subete tabete kara" describes a moment of anxious prayer before a date when the singer eats an apple received from a God. From that day on, she feels like she is riding on a railroad track towards her destiny. The final lines "Kamisama oshiete yo - Douka kokoro kara atashi wo - Hitsuyou da to itte ai ni yuku wa - Hitsuyou da to itte - Ima ga atashi no ishi to urahara nan da wa - Kaeshite hoshii - Tamashii no ugoku kisu de - Hitsuyou da to itte - Kamisama oshiete yo" suggest a hope that God will provide some sign or guidance on her journey towards finding her true love.

Overall, the lyrics of "Soul Kiss" convey a range of emotions and vulnerability around the subject of love. The singer longs for a deeper connection with her partner and seeks reassurance that she is on the right path towards finding her true love.

Line by Line Meaning

「どうせあてのない恋でしょ?」
People say that every time we meet: "This is just a pointless love, isn't it?" - But what they actually mean is that they can't stand seeing someone else happy.

『どっかにいい人いるわ……でもあの人だったかもしれない――。』もうキスだけじゃわからない
"Maybe there's someone nice out there, but what if it was that person after all?" - Just kissing isn't enough anymore.

あたしと同じ気持ちでいて同じことを考えて気が利くあたしに許してあたしの心を開いて
Stay with me, feel the same way as I do, think the same thoughts as I do, forgive me for my tactlessness, and open up my heart.

デートの前祈ってた ――神様にもらったりんごを全て食べてから――
Before our date, I prayed - I ate all the apples God gave me.

そう新しい名前をもらったその日から私はレールを走る汽車になる ――運命の上を
From the day I received my new name, I became a train running on rails over fate.

神様教えてよどうか心からあたしを必要だと必要だといって会いに行くわ必要だといって今があたしの意思とうらはらなんだわ返してほしい魂の動くキスで必要だといって
God, please tell me - Say that you need me from the bottom of your heart, come see me, tell me you need me, because it feels like now is the opposite of what I want - I want you to return my feelings with a kiss that moves my soul, and say that you need me.

Contributed by Bentley Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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