Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta)
Encyclopedia
is a song by Chara
, released under the name Yen Town Band. It was the lead single from Montage
, a concept album released for the Shunji Iwai
film Swallowtail Butterfly
that also starred Chara. This song was used as the theme song for the film.
The single debuted at #31 on Oricon's singles charts. Two months later, after the release of the film and album, the single managed to reach #1.
The song was written by Takeshi Kobayashi, in collaboration with Chara and film director Shunji Iwai.
Chara (singer)
, better known by her stage name Chara, is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actress and video jockey. She debuted in 1991 with the single Heaven...
, released under the name Yen Town Band. It was the lead single from Montage
Montage (Yen Town Band album)
-Singles:-Japan Sales Rankings:-Chart procession and succession:...
, a concept album released for the Shunji Iwai
Shunji Iwai
is a Japanese film director/video artist, writer and documentarian.-Life and career:Iwai was born in Sendai, Japan, Miyagi prefecture. He attended Yokohama National University, graduating in 1987....
film Swallowtail Butterfly
Swallowtail Butterfly (film)
Swallowtail , also known as Swallowtail Butterfly or Yentown, is a 1996 movie by Japanese film director Shunji Iwai, starring Hiroshi Mikami, pop-singer Chara, and Ayumi Ito....
that also starred Chara. This song was used as the theme song for the film.
The single debuted at #31 on Oricon's singles charts. Two months later, after the release of the film and album, the single managed to reach #1.
The song was written by Takeshi Kobayashi, in collaboration with Chara and film director Shunji Iwai.
Music video
The music video begins with an long panning shot over a cityscape. It then shows Chara against a farm windmill. It then switches to a junkyard, where Chara and several other people are filtering through rubbish. They eventually find a working piano, which they bring back on the back of a pickup truck. Chara plays the piano as the car drives off. This scene is intersperces with scenes from the movie.Single
Chart rankings
| Charts (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... weekly singles |
1 |
| Oricon yearly singles | 26 |
| Charts (2010) | Peak position |
| RIAJ Digital Track Chart RIAJ Digital Track Chart The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads .... Top 100
|
40 |
| RIAJ Digital Track Chart Top 100
Kumi Koda , better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs. Having debuted in 2000 with the single "Take Back", Koda gained fame for her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba", the songs of which were used as themes for the video game... cover |
45 |
Reported sales
| Chart | Amount |
|---|---|
| Oricon physical sales | 878,000 |
Cover versions
- Cinnabom (2007, compilation album Sound of Kula)
- Hiromi Hirata (as Makoto Kikuchi) (2007, album The Idolmaster Master Artist 04)
- Yoshihiko Kai (2007, album 10 Stories)
- Kumi KodaKumi Koda, better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs. Having debuted in 2000 with the single "Take Back", Koda gained fame for her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba", the songs of which were used as themes for the video game...
(2010, album Eternity: Love & SongsEternity: Love & SongsEternity: Love & Songs is the first cover album by Japanese pop star, Kumi Koda. It contains hip-hop and electronic arrangements of mostly older songs from the 1970s to the 1990s, as well as a cover her sister misono's 2010 single "0-ji Mae no Tsunderera"...
) - Scott MurphyAllisterAllister is an American pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The four-piece formed in 1996 and were one of the first bands to sign to Drive-Thru Records...
(from AllisterAllisterAllister is an American pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The four-piece formed in 1996 and were one of the first bands to sign to Drive-Thru Records...
) (2008, album Guilty Pleasures II) - MoumoonMoumoonMoumoon is a Japanese pop duo consisting of two members, vocalist and lyricist Yuka and composer Kōsuke Masaki. Formed in 2005, the duo signed with Gate Records in 2006, and released their debut single "Flowers/Pride", and mini-album Flowers that September...
(2010, EP Spark) - My Little LoverMy Little LoverMy Little Lover is a Japanese pop group belonging to the Avex Trax label as of the single and the album Akko. Previous releases were under Toy's Factory...
(2001, album Singles). Released as a self-cover (Takeshi Kobayashi was, at the time, a member of My Little Lover.) A music video was released. - Ayano TsujiAyano Tsujiis a J-Pop singer famous in her native Japan for her unconventional light singing style and ukulele music. She rose to fame after performing the end-title track for the Studio Ghibli film The Cat Returns in 2002.- Biography :In 1993, Ayano Tsuji attended...
(2004, album Cover Girl)