Chara (singer)
Chara | |
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ちゃら | |
Born | Miwa Watabiki[1] January 13, 1968 Kawaguchi, Japan |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1990–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instrument(s) |
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Labels |
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Website | charaweb |
Miwa Watabiki (綿引 美和, Watabiki Miwa, born January 13, 1968), better known by her stage name Chara (ちゃら), is a Japanese singer, actress and
.Early life
Chara grew up in Kawaguchi, Saitama. She started learning the piano from age four, and starting composing songs in elementary school.[5] 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.[6]
She originally received her nickname Chara in junior high school, after a teacher called her this.[7] She was so well known by this name that even some of her friends did not know her real name.[6] She continues to use this name as she believes it brings out her inner child.[8] After finishing high school, Chara went to Tokyo to a vocational school, majoring in music and specialising in piano. However, she dropped out one year into her two-year degree.[9]
From 1984 onward, she worked as a keyboardist in several different unsigned bands.[6] During this time, she found part-time work as a roller-skating waitress.[10] In 1988, to get a chance to sing her own compositions, she decided to become a band vocalist instead.[11] Her first live performance was at the Shinjuku Ruido live house in 1990.[10]
Career
1991–1995: Early releases
Chara sent a demo tape to
Chara's career gained more momentum after her first tour, Chara Live "Sweet" in May 1992. She became a radio personality for the
In 1993, she starred in many different commercials (or had her songs featured in them), including commercials for
In spring 1994, she filmed the
1996–2001: Mainstream success
In February 1996, Chara began filming her second film for Iwai, titled Swallowtail Butterfly.[6] 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.[21] 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 "
Chara's fame soared, as shown by her next album
Her 1999 album,
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.[27]
2001–2005: Mean Machine
In late 2001, Chara released music as the drummer of the twin-drum all-girl rock band,
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.[29] 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.[30] 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).[31]
During this period, Chara created several bands. One, Cold Sugar was a collaboration with
2006–present
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2015) |
Chara re-debuted as a major label artist in 2006, with the release of the single "
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 No. 37.[35]
After the end of her contract with Universal, Chara released a new mini-album,
On December 14, 2011, Chara announced in a concert at
Chara collaborated with Basement Jaxx for the song "Wherever You Go" on the album Junto in 2014.
Personal life
In 1994, Chara married actor
Discography
- Sweet (1991)
- Soul Kiss (1992)
- Violet Blue (1993)
- Happy Toy (1994)
- Montage (1996)
- Junior Sweet (1997)
- Strange Fruits (1999)
- Madrigal (2001)
- Yoake Mae (2003)
- A Scenery Like Me (2004)
- Something Blue (2005)
- Union (2007)
- Honey (2008)
- Carol (2009)
- Dark Candy(2011)
- Cocoon (2012)
- Jewel (2013)
- Secret Garden(2015)
- Diverse Journey (2016)
- Sympathy (2017)
- Baby Bump (2018)
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 – Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
|
Series
Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Because We Forget Everything | [40] |
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
- ^ a b c Takeuchi, Tomoji (2001). "Excite エキサイト ミュージック – Mean Machine". Excite. Archived from the original on December 28, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "Chara to transfer to Ki/oon Records".
- ^ "Chara's Nippon Columbia page".
- ^ a b c "Chara シングル売り上げランキング". Oricon. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Chara-バイオグラフィー". Barks. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Chare official home page – Biography". Sony Music. August 7, 2008. Archived from the original on October 9, 2000. Retrieved November 9, 2008., accessed through
- Kadokawa Bunko, 1995. Print, p. 204.
- ^ Shiho, Chara [in Japanese] (August 23, 2007). "チャーリーとパパの飛行機<映画 試写会>Chara&SHIHO". OZmall. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ Chara 1995, p. 67.
- ^ a b Chara 1995, p. 94.
- ^ Chara 1995, p. 92.
- ^ "Chara". vibe.net. Archived from the original on July 29, 2009.
- ^ "Sweet/Chara". Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "Who is Chara?". Chara Official Site. Archived from the original on December 18, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
- ^ "Soul Kiss/Chara". Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "無人島に私をもっていって・・・/Chara". Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "Violet Blue/Chara". Retrieved October 27, 2009.
- ^ "Happy Toy/Chara". Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ^ Chara 1995, p. 152.
- ^ "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. July 27, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "YEN TOWN BAND アーティストページ – TSUTAYA online". Retrieved October 27, 2009.
- ^ "Montage/Yen Town Band". Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "Swallowtail Butterfly~あいのうた~". Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ a b c "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved November 12, 2009. (subscription only)
- ^ "年度別ミリオンセラー一覧 1997年". Recording Industry Association of Japan. 1997. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "Strange Fruits/Chara". Retrieved October 27, 2009.
- ^ "Sony Music Online Japan : マドリガル". Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
- ^ "Mean Meachine アーティストページ – TSUTAYA online". Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "Sony Music Online Japan : Mean Machine : スーハー". Retrieved October 29, 2009.
- ^ 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?". Archived from the original on October 1, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
- ^ "Chara「光の庭」 | 試聴/ダウンロード | 音楽ダウンロード【OnGen】". Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
- ^ "Fantasy/Chara". Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "Union/Chara". Retrieved October 29, 2009.
- ^ "Chara アルバム売り上げランキング". Oricon. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "TROPHY/Chara". Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- Ki/oon Music Inc. Archived from the originalon March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
- ^ "Chara to release first single and live DVD/Blu-ray after transfer to Ki/oon Records".
- ^ "Asano Tadanobu Divorces" (in Japanese). July 25, 2009. Archived from the original on July 28, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
- ^ Atsuki Nagahori (June 27, 2008). "エキサイトミュージック クローズアップ『Chara』". Excite. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "「すべて忘れてしまうから」阿部寛の恋人役は尾野真千子「どんな姿で現れるかな~???」". Oricon. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Official Universal Music Label Site (in Japanese)
- Ongaku Bāka Official Website (in Japanese)
- Chara at IMDb