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Encyclopedia > Chara (singer)
Chara

Chara is a Japanese singer, songwriter, musician and actress born on January 13, 1968. Her real name is Miwa Satō (佐藤美和 Satō Miwa?). Image File history File links Charaguitar. ... Image File history File links Charaguitar. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... “Instrumentalist” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Contents

Early life

Miwa Satō was born and grew up in Kawaguchi, Saitama during the 1980s where the metal factories and industrial artists would provide a creative backdrop through her career. Her pseudonym Chara came from a quirky nickname from her elementary school teacher ('chara chara,' meaning scatter-brained in Japanese). Kawaguchi (川口市 Kawaguchi-shi) is a city located in Saitama, Japan. ... Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県; Saitama-ken) is located on Honshu island, Japan. ...


Her appreciation for music came from fighting through piano lessons, which were forced on her from an early age by her mother. However, before long, Chara would be writing her own songs of longing for love and the good life while studying foreign funk musicians such as Prince and movie stars like Brigitte Bardot. For another person sometimes known as The Artist, see Michael Haynes III. Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American musician. ... Brigitte Bardot (French IPA: ) (born September 28, 1934) is a BAFTA Awards-nominated French actress, former fashion model, singer, known nationalist, animal rights activist, and considered the embodiment of the 1950s and 1960s sex kitten. ...


Chara continued with music sessions with friends like Yusuke Asada (who eventually went on to work with Crystal Kay and others) and working part time jobs in Tokyo until 1990 when she finally broke into the music industry. This does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...


Career

In 1990, Chara (at this time, she was only known by this nickname) sent a demo to CBS/Sony which caught the attention of Masahiro Ohara and landed her a deal with EPIC Records and a year later she debuted with a show at Club Quattro in Tokyo. At this time the Japanese music scene, tired of straight and narrow artists, was looking for something new and exciting. Chara fit the bill perfectly, breaking common conventions by not using her full Japanese name and becoming a pioneer for the J-Pop phenomenon. J-pop (or Jpop) is an abbreviation of Japanese pop. ...


Chara's first single was released in 1991, entitled Heaven. Around the same time, she also became the host of a midnight music television show, where her eccentric personality formed her a reputation. Her first album entitled Sweet debuted later that year. The album had deep roots in African-American funk which gained Chara a cult following. The following year, she released her second album Soul Kiss. Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...


1994 would be a significant year for Chara. At this point her fan base was swelling and the success of her first three albums translated over to her appearing in high profile television advertisements for Suntory and cosmetic giant Shiseido. However, the pinch of the industry started to take its toll on Chara and during a trip to New York, she had an epiphany in a gospel church, where she decided to take more control of her music and image and look more deeply at her roots in Kawaguchi and the elements that defined her music. This led to her fourth album, released during that year, entitled Happy Toy. This year would also mark the year that she made her debut as an actress in the Shunji Iwai directed movie Picnic. Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Suntory Limited ) is a Japanese brewing and distilling company. ... Shiseido Company, Ltd. ... This article is about the state. ... Shunji Iwai (岩井俊二 Iwai Shunji, born January 24, 1963 in Sendai, Japan, Miyagi prefecture). ...


Finally, 1994 would also mark the year that she married actor Asano Tadanobu, whom she met during the filming of Picnic. A short hiatus followed this as she was expecting a child. Tadanobu Asano (浅野忠信 Asano Tadanobu) (born Tadanobu Sato on November 27, 1973 in Yokohama) is a charismatic and versatile Japanese actor who has been described by critics as that countrys answer to Johnny Depp. ...


In 1996, Chara returned with a whole new direction for her music due to the huge changes in her life. Her second movie with Iwai was released this year, earning her a Best Actress award at the Japanese Academy. The movie featured Chara fronting a fictional band called Yen-Town Band with whom she released an album entitled Montage. The Album featured songs performed in the movie and used a mixture of both Japanese and English, proving that her singing and songwriting could transcend language barriers. Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...


In 1999, she released her follow-up, Strange Fruits, and gave birth to her second child, a boy she named Himi.


Madrigal was released in 2001 with two tracks co-written by Japanese American James Iha of The Smashing Pumpkins. Single Sukaato (Skirt) was accompanied by a music video featuring both Chara and Iha, the latter impersonating a hunter in a forest. James Yoshinobu Iha (Japanese: 井葉吉伸, Iha Yoshinobu or ジェームス・イハ, Jēmusu Iha) born March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, USA) is an American rock musician. ... The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago in 1988. ...


Chara left EPIC/Sony Records, after producing 13 successful full length albums with them, to become an independent artist in 2005. She continued to produce music with Starchild Productions for a time being, however she's only released one album during that time, and decided to go back to the world of major labels by signing a contract with Universal Music. She has since released three singles, which culminated in the release of a studio album entitled UNION on February 28th, 2007. The album debuted at #4 on the Weekly Oricon Sales Charts the following week. Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...


The Music

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, melancholy,and cheerfulness.


It is hard to define Chara's music as any one genre; Chara often incorporates a number of different styles into her music, resulting in music that ranges from light pop numbers to more dark and stirring pieces. In her early career the African-American funk element was quite apparent, but after the birth of her children, her life and music took a new focus, allowing her to write what is considered some of her best music in the years to come.


Discography

Cover of album Strange Fruits

Image File history File links Strangefruit. ... Image File history File links Strangefruit. ...

Albums

  • Sweet (1991)
  • Soul Kiss (1992)
  • Violet Blue (1993)
  • Happy Toy (1994)
  • Baby Baby Baby (Chara the Best) (1995)
  • Montage (1996) (Yen Town Band)
  • Junior Sweet (1997)
  • Strange Fruits (1999)
  • Live 97-99 MOOD (2000)
  • Caramel Milk (The Best of Chara) (2000)
  • マドリガル (Madrigal) (2001)
  • 夜明けまえ (Yoake Mae) Before Dawn (2003)
  • A Scenery Like Me (2004)
  • Something Blue (2005)*Limited 2000 copies for fan club members
  • UNION (2007)
  • Sugar Hunter:Collection Of Love Songs (2007)

Singles

  • Heaven (1991)
  • Sweet (1991)
  • No Toy (Re-Mix) (1992)
  • 大きな地震がきたって (Ooki na Jishin ga Kitatte) (1992)
  • 愛の自爆装置 (Ai no Jibakusouchi) (1992)
  • 無人島に私をもっていって・・・ (Mujintou ni Watashi wo Motte Itte...) (1993)
  • シャーロットの贈り物(Charlotte no Okurimono)/PRIVATE BEACH (1993)
  • 恋をした (Koi wo Shita) (1993)
  • Gifted Child (1993)
  • 罪深く愛してよ (Tsumi Fukaku Aishite Yo) (1994)
  • あたしなんで抱きしめたいんだろう? (Atashi Nande Dakishimetai n Darou?) (1994)
  • Tiny Tiny Tiny (1995)
  • The Singles Re-Mixed (1995)
  • Swallowtail Butterfly ~あいのうた~ (1996) (Yen Town Band)
  • チャラのブギーシューズ (Chara no Boogie Shoes) (1996)
  • やさしい気持ち (Yasashii Kimochi) (1997)
  • タイムマシーン (Time Machine) (1997)
  • ミルク (Milk) (1997)
  • DUCA (1998)
  • 光と私 (Hikari to Watashi) (1998)
  • 70%-夕暮れのうた (70%--Yuugure no Uta) (1999)
  • 愛の火 3つ オレンジ (Ai no hi 3tsu orange) (1999) (Chara + Yuki)
  • 月と甘い涙 (Tsuki to Amai Namida) (2000)
  • 大切をきずくもの (Taisetsu wo Kizukumono) (2000)
  • レモンキャンディ (Lemon Candy) (2001)
  • スカート (Skirt) (2001) (featuring James Iha)
  • ボクにうつして Boku ni Utsushite (2001)
  • 初恋 (Hatsukoi) (2002)
  • みえるわ (Mieru Wa) (2003)
  • 世界 (Sekai) (2006)
  • Crazy for you (2006)
  • FANTASY (2007)
  • Cherry Cherry (2007)

James Yoshinobu Iha (Japanese: 井葉吉伸, Iha Yoshinobu or ジェームス・イハ, Jēmusu Iha) born March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, USA) is an American rock musician. ...

Video/DVD

  • Kiss (1993)
  • Chara's Clip 1991-1997 (1997)
  • Chara (1997)
  • Chara's Clips 1997-2001 (2001)
  • Skirt (Short Film) (2001)

Filmography

Swallowtail Butterfly, also known by its original Japanese title, Yentown, is a 1996 movie by Japanese film director Shunji Iwai, starring Hiroshi Mikami, Chara and Ayumi Ito. ...

External links

  • Official Site | CHARAWEB
  • Chara at the Internet Movie Database
  • Chara (Japanese) at the Japanese Movie Database
  • Nippop Profile | Chara
  • Project J Profile | Chara


 
 

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