Chara (singer)

Chara (singer)
This article is about the musician and actress. For other uses, see Chara (disambiguation).
Chara
Birth name Miwa Watabiki (綿引美和?)[1]
Born January 13, 1968 (1968-01-13) (age 43)
Kawaguchi, Japan
Origin Tokyo, Japan
Genres Pop, Trip hop, Downtempo, Alternative rock
Occupations Singer-songwriter, actress, television presenter
Instruments Vocals, Piano
Years active 1991–present
Labels Epic 1990–2004
Universal Music 2006–present
Associated acts Mean Machine, Yuki, Takeshi Kobayashi, Akino Arai, The 99½, Towa Tei, Satoshi Tomiie, James Iha, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Website charaweb.net

Miwa Watabiki (綿引美和 Watabiki Miwa?) (born January 13, 1968), better known by her stage name Chara, is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actress and video jockey. She debuted in 1991 with the single Heaven. She is most well known for her song "Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta)", the theme song for the 1996 Shunji Iwai film Swallowtail Butterfly (in which she starred), her 1997 hit single "Yasashii Kimochi", and her collaboration with Judy and Mary vocalist Yuki, "Ai no Hi Mittsu Orange".[2] Chara later formed a band with Yuki, called Mean Machine. She is known for her unique whisper voice vocal technique while singing.[3]

Contents

Early life

Chara grew up in Kawaguchi, Saitama. She started learning the piano from age four, and starting composing songs in elementary school.[4] In her first year of elementary school, she performed a song she had written, "Sayonara" (サヨナラ Goodbye?), at a school piano recital.[5]

She originally received her nickname Chara in junior high. Her nickname started as Arabiki (あらびき?), a type of sausage[6] that rhymes with her maiden name, Watabiki. This was later changed to Charabiki, adding in charachara (ちゃらちゃら?) (an onomatopoeic word for someone who doesn't stop talking),[7] before settling on Chara (after a teacher called her this).[8] She was so well known by this name that not even some of her friends knew her real name.[5] She continues to use this name as she believes it brings out the inner child in her.[9]

After finishing high school, Chara went to Tokyo to a vocational school, majoring in music specialising in piano. However, she dropped out one year into her two year degree.[10]

From 1984 onwards, she worked as a keyboardist in several different unsigned bands.[5] During this time, she found part-time work as a roller-skating waitress.[11] In 1988, to get a chance to sing her own compositions, she decided to become a band vocalist instead.[12] Her first live performance was at the Shinjuku Ruido live house in 1990.[11]

Career

(1991–1995) Early releases

Chara sent a demo tape to Sony Music in 1990,[5] which caught the attention of Masahiro Ohara[citation needed] and landed her a deal with Epic Records Japan[13] She recorded her debut album in early 1991 in Tokyo and London,[5] and debuted in September with a performance at the Shibuya Club Quattro and the release of her debut single Heaven. In October, Chara became a personality on the ANN music show Video Jam, [5] and later in November released her debut album Sweet.[4] The album was not very successful, only reaching #64 on Oricon's album charts.[14]

Chara's career gained more momentum after her first tour, Chara Live "Sweet" in May 1992. She became a radio personality for the FM Yokohama, with her own radio show Yokohama Chara Machi 8-4-7 (横浜チャラ町8-4-7?), and her second album, Soul Kiss, won the 1992 Japan Record Award for best rock/pop album from a new artist.[15] The album reached #14 on the album charts.[16]

In 1993, she starred in many different commercials (or had her songs featured in them), including commercials for Suntory, Shiseido, Marui and Snow Brand ice creams.[5] Her single "Mujintō ni Watashi o Motte Itte..." (無人島に私をもっていって・・・ Take Me to a Deserted Island...?), the song used in the Shiseido campaign, was her first top 100 charting single, reaching #66.[17] The resulting album, Violet Blue, debuted at #4 on the charts.[18] Her 1994 album, Happy Toy, riding on the success of her first top 50 single "Atashi Nande Dakishimetain darou?" (あたしなんで抱きしめたいんだろう? Why Do I Wanna Hug Him??), also debuting at #4.[19]

In spring 1994, she filmed the Shunji Iwai film Picnic, in which she played a mental patient.[20] The film would not be released for another two years. She starred aside Tadanobu Asano, who she married in 1995.[21] Chara took a short break from music, releasing Chara the Best Baby Baby Baby XXX and giving birth to her first child, a girl named Sumire (菫?).[5]

(1996–2001) Mainstream success, acting

In February 1996, Chara began filming her second film for Iwai, titled Swallowtail Butterfly.[5] She played Glico (グリコ?), a slum prostitute with musical aspirations. Chara recorded the soundtrack for the movie, collaborating with Mr. Children music producer Takeshi Kobayashi to create a Beatles-esque sound.[22] The music was released under the name Yen Town Band, the name of the band Glico forms in the film.

Before the movie's release, the theme song "Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta)" was released, along with Chara's first film with Iwai, Picnic, finding a proper cinema release. The film was a massive hit,[4] propelling Chara to stardom. Both the concept album, Montage, and the theme song reached #1 on Oricon charts.[23][24] Her performance awarded her a Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role nomination.[5] The film won the Most Popular Film award.

Chara's fame soared, as shown by her next album Junior Sweet. The main single from the album, "Yasashii Kimochi" (the Shiseido 'Tessera J' CM song), was a big hit, selling over 520,000 copies[25] and became her second biggest hit after Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta).[2] The album was certified by the RIAJ as selling over 1,000,000 copies.[26]

Her 1999 album, Strange Fruits, saw some success, debuting at #3[27] and selling over 300,000 copies.[25] Chara teamed up with Judy and Mary vocalist Yuki to release a special single called "Ai no Hi Mittsu Orange". This song is Chara's third biggest hit,[2] selling over 230,000 copies.[25]

In 2000, Chara released her second best-of collection, Caramel Milk: The Best of Chara, and 2001 released her 8th album, Madrigal. Madrigal featured two tracks co-written with American guitarist James Iha.[28]

(2001–2005) Mean Machine

In late 2001, Chara released music as the drummer of the twin-drum all-girl rock band, Mean Machine, alongside Yuki, Swallowtail actress Ayumi Ito, 1980s musician Mayumi Chiwaki and former funk/rock band Jagatara dancer Yukarie.[1] The band was conceived in 1998, when Chiwaki mentioned to Chara that she thought it would be good to start up a girls rock band. One of the tenants of the band was that all members would have to do something they'd never tried before, landing Chara on drums.[29] The band first practiced in 1999, and continued to sporadically practice throughout 2000, despite different members' schedules.[1]

In 2001, the band debuted with the song "Sūhā" (スーハー?), which was written by Chara during her second pregnancy, inspired by the breathing sounds of the Lamaze technique.[30] Soon after, the band released their debut album Cream.

In 2003, Chara released her 9th solo album, Yoake Mae, and in 2004 released an album of re-recordings of songs from her early albums, A Scenery Like Me. This heralded the end of Chara's Sony contract. Chara self-released her music after this point, recording songs from her own home and self-producing her work.[31] These recordings resulted in a limited 2,000 copy album, Something Blue, and a digital single Hikari no Niwa (光の庭 Garden of Light?) (used as the theme song for the Japanese release of the movie March of the Penguins).[32]

During this period, Chara created several bands. One, Cold Sugar was a collaboration with Arai Akino.[31]

(2006–present) Universal

Chara re-debuted as a major label artist in 2006, with the release of the single "Sekai". Her single "Fantasy" (used as the Kanebo T'estimo eye-makeup range, featuring Chara in the commercials) was a minor hit, reaching #13 on Oricon charts.[33] It was written in collaboration with Seiji Kameda, producer for artists such as Do As Infinity and bassist for the band Tokyo Jihen. The following album, Union, also fared well. It reached the top 5 in Oricon's album charts,[34] and outsold her former two Sony released albums.[35]

On the back of Chara's returned success, Sony released the compilation album, Sugar Hunter: The Best Love Songs of Chara.

Chara's Universal singles have fared better on digital charts. "Trophy", a single from Chara's second Universal album Honey, did well digitally,[citation needed] despite the physical release only reaching #37.[36]

Personal life

In 1994, Chara married actor Tadanobu Asano. She met Asano on the set of the 1994 film Picnic, in which they were both starring actors. Chara gave birth to a daughter, Sumire (菫?), on July 4, 1995.[5] Chara had a second child with Asano, giving birth to a son on December 19, 1999, and naming him Himi (緋美?).[5]

The pair attended the 2008 80th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, due to the film Mongol (starring Asano) being nominated for the best foreign film category after the film was submitted as the Kazakhstan entry.

On July 25, 2009, Chara announced her amicable divorce from husband Asano Tadanobu, after fourteen years of marriage.[37]

Chara has two tattoos: a blue bird on her back, and a sumire flower (菫 Fuji Dawn Viola?) on her neck.[38]

Chara's children feature in her music. Sumire features on the cover of her album Honey (which also has a track named after her). Both of her children appear in the music video for "Kataomoi" (片想い Unrequited Love?).[39]

Discography

Main articles: Chara discography and Mean Machine (band)#Discography

Studio albums

  • 1991: Sweet
  • 1992: Soul Kiss
  • 1993: Violet Blue
  • 1994: Happy Toy
  • 1996: Montage (Yen Town Band)
  • 1997: Junior Sweet
  • 1999: Strange Fruits
  • 2001: Madrigal
  • 2003: Yoake Mae
  • 2005: Something Blue
  • 2007: Union
  • 2008: Honey
  • 2009: Carol
  • 2011: Dark Candy

Compilation albums

Other albums

  • 2000: Live 97-99 Mood (2CD live album)
  • 2004: A Scenery Like Me (self-cover album)
  • 2008: Kiss (EP)

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Other notes
1996 Picnic Coco (ココ?) Filmed in 1994
Won - Yokohama Film Festival Best New Talent
1996 Swallowtail Butterfly Glico (グリコ?) Won - Yokohama Film Festival Best New Talent
Nominated — Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

TV music shows

Year Title Role Other notes
1991 Video Jam Co-presenter 1991-?
2008 Ongaku Bāka (音楽ば～か?) Co-presenter 2008–present

References

  1. ^ a b c Tomoji Takeuchi (2001). "Excite エキサイト ミュージック - Mean Machine". Excite. http://www.excite.co.jp/music/feature/2001/meanmachine/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  2. ^ a b c "Chara シングル売り上げランキング". Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/artists/s/4686/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  3. ^ Yahoo!ミュージック - ミュージックマガジン - スカパラ×Chara対談＆映像
  4. ^ a b c "Chara-バイオグラフィー". Barks. http://www.barks.jp/artist/?id=52002009&m=bio. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "CHARA OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE - Biography". Sony Music. 2008-08-07. Archived from the original on 2000-10-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20001009082929/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/chara/biof.html. Retrieved 2000-11-09. , accessed through "Internet Wayback Machine". 2000-11-09. Archived from the original on 2000-11-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20001109192500/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/chara/biof.html. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  6. ^ Tomoji Takeuchi. "新鮮生活　あらびきフランクフルト". Nippon Ham. http://www.excite.co.jp/music/feature/2001/meanmachine/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  7. ^ "ちゃらちゃら 1 (2)". goo (search engine) Dictionary. http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/jn/125400/m0u/%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%89%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%89/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  8. ^ Chara. Nōmiso Good Happy (のうみそGOODハッピー Brains, Good, Happy?). Tokyo:Kadokawa Bunko, 1995. Print, p. 204.
  9. ^ Shiho, Chara (2007-08-23). "チャーリーとパパの飛行機＜映画　試写会＞Chara＆SHIHO". OZmall. http://www.ozmall.co.jp/entertainment/people/vol19/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  10. ^ Chara 1995, p. 67.
  11. ^ a b Chara 1995, p. 94.
  12. ^ Chara 1995, p. 92.
  13. ^ VIBE=NET.COM CHARA Jouhou
  14. ^ "Sweet/Chara". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/106707/1/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  15. ^ "Who is Chara?". Chara Official Site. http://www.charaweb.net/honey/about.html. Retrieved 2009-11-08. 
  16. ^ "Soul Kiss/Chara". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/106782/1/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  17. ^ "無人島に私をもっていって・・・/Chara". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/108153/1/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  18. ^ "Violet Blue/Chara". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/106877/1/. Retrieved 2009-10-27. 
  19. ^ "Happy Toy/Chara". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/106968/1/. Retrieved 2009-10-28. 
  20. ^ Chara 1995, p. 152.
  21. ^ "浅野忠信とCharaが離婚。「PiCNiC」共演の仲良し夫婦が14年で破局". eiga.com. 2009-07-27. http://eiga.com/buzz/20090727/2. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  22. ^ "YEN TOWN BAND アーティストページ - TSUTAYA online". http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/artist/00057737.html. Retrieved 2009-10-27. 
  23. ^ "Montage/Yen Town Band". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/108710/2/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  24. ^ "Swallowtail Butterfly~あいのうた~". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/108420/1/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  25. ^ a b c "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. http://ranking.oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-11-12.  (subscription only)
  26. ^ "年度別ミリオンセラー一覧　1997年". Recording Industry Association of Japan. 1997. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/million_list/1997.html. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  27. ^ "Strange Fruits/Chara". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/107354/1/. Retrieved 2009-10-27. 
  28. ^ "Sony Music Online Japan : マドリガル". http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/ES/Chara/ESCB-2247/index.html. Retrieved 2009-10-29. 
  29. ^ "Mean Meachine アーティストページ - TSUTAYA online". http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/artist/00010051.html. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  30. ^ "Sony Music Online Japan : Mean Machine : スーハー". http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/ES/MeanMachine/ESCL-2269/index.html. Retrieved 2009-10-29. 
  31. ^ a b "Ask Chara Q+A! SOMETHING BLUE また、発売されることはありますでしょうか？". http://charaweb.net/archives/106/. Retrieved 2009-10-29. 
  32. ^ "Chara「光の庭」 ｜ 試聴／ダウンロード ｜ 音楽ダウンロード【OnGen】". http://www.ongen.net/search_detail_track/track_id/tr0000104100/. Retrieved 2009-10-29. 
  33. ^ "Fantasy/Chara". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/688975/1/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  34. ^ "Union/Chara". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/694153/1/. Retrieved 2009-10-29. 
  35. ^ "Chara アルバム売り上げランキング". Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/artists/a/4686/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  36. ^ "TROPHY/Chara". http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/744435/1/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  37. ^ "Asano Tadanobu Divorces" (in Japanese). 25 July 2009. http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/shakai/20090725AT1G2501225072009.html. Retrieved 28 July 2009. 
  38. ^ Atsuki Nagahori (2008-06-27). "エキサイトミュージック クローズアップ『Chara』". Excite. http://www.excite.co.jp/music/close_up/0806_chara?c=interview. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  39. ^ "片想い / Chara". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt_IvtMXFNw. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  40. ^ "[CD] Very Special [DVD付初回限定盤] / Chara" (in Japanese). Neowing. http://www.neowing.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=UMCK-9408. Retrieved November 30, 2010. 

External links

v · Albums
Sweet · Soul Kiss · Violet Blue · Happy Toy · Montage · Junior Sweet · Strange Fruits · Madrigal · Yoake Mae · Something Blue · Union · Honey · Carol
Compilations
Baby Baby Baby XXX · Live 97-99 Mood · Caramel Milk · A Scenery Like Me · Sugar Hunter
Other related articles
Discography · Mean Machine · Chara albums · Chara songs



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