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).
Swallowtail Butterfly ~ai no uta~
Chara Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ふるえてるの 躊躇して
この空の 青の青さに心細くなる
信じるものすべて
ポケットにつめこんでから
夏草揺れる線路を 遠くまで歩いた
心に 心に 傷みがあるの
遠くで蜃気楼 揺れて
明日の夢を追いかけてた
私はうわの空で 別れを想った
汚れた世界に 悲しさは響いてない
どこかに通り過ぎてく
ただそれを待つだけ
体は 体で 素直になる
涙が止まらない だけど
ここから何処へいっても
世界は夜を乗り越えていく
そしてあいのうたが
心に響きはじめる
ママのくつで 速く走れなかった
泣かない 裸足になった日も
逆さに見てた地図さえ
もう 捨ててしまった
心に 心に 魔法があるの
嵐に翼ひろげ 飛ぶよ
私はうわの空で
あなたのことを想い出したの
そしてあいのうたが 響きだして…
私はあいのうたで
あなたを探しはじめる
The lyrics of Chara's song Swallowtail Butterfly ~ai no uta~ tell a story of a young woman who is at a crossroads in her life. The opening lines describe her hesitation and uncertainty as she stands with palms sweaty and heart racing under the vast blue sky. She clings to her beliefs and aspirations, tucked away in her pocket, as she embarks on a journey along train tracks that stretch into the distance, true to the symbolism of trains as metaphors for life.
Throughout the song, the young woman reflects on her past experiences, her dreams, and her love for the person who is now absent from her life. She struggles with her emotions as she tries to come to terms with the pain in her heart. However, despite feeling lost and alone, she finds solace in the beauty of the world around her, and in the hope that she will eventually find happiness and love once more.
Line by Line Meaning
止まった手のひら
My still hands are shaking as I hesitate
ふるえてるの 躊躇して
Trembling, I feel anxious at the absolute blue of the sky
この空の 青の青さに心細くなる
I place my trust in everything and keep it in my pocket before walking far away on a train track as a summer breeze blows
信じるものすべて-ポケットにつめこんでから-
There is pain deep in my heart while a mirage shimmers in the distance and you chase after your dreams among the shadowy clouds
夏草揺れる線路を 遠くまで歩いた-心に 心に 傷みがあるの-遠くで蜃気楼 揺れて-あなたは雲の影に-明日の夢を追いかけてた-私はうわの空で 別れを想った
The world is filthy, yet grief doesn't resonate through it as it passes by somewhere and I merely wait, trying to come to terms with my own body through tears that won't stop falling. Regardless of where we go from here, the world will overcome the night and 'The Love Song' will begin to resonate in my heart as memories of you flicker in the sky. Winged and stormy, I fly - discarding even the map I once looked at upside down. There is magic in my heart and 'The Love Song' rings out as I begin to search for you.
汚れた世界に 悲しさは響いてない-どこかに通り過ぎてく-ただそれを待つだけ-体は 体で 素直になる-涙が止まらない だけど-ここから何処へいっても-世界は夜を乗り越えていく
そしてあいのうたが
心に響きはじめる
ママのくつで 速く走れなかった-泣かない 裸足になった日も
逆さに見てた地図さえ-もう 捨ててしまった
心に 心に 魔法があるの-嵐に翼ひろげ 飛ぶよ-私はうわの空で-あなたのことを想い出したの-そしてあいのうたが 響きだして…-私はあいのうたで-あなたを探しはじめる
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