Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai No Uta)

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.

Music video

The music video begins with a 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 interspersed with scenes from the movie.

Track listing

Chart rankings

Sales

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 Koda (2010, album '' Eternity: Love & Songs'')
* Scott Murphy (from Allister) (2008, album ''Guilty Pleasures II'')
* Moumoon (2010, EP ''Spark'')
* My Little Lover (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 Tsuji (2004, album ''Cover Girl'')
* Nagi Yanagi (2013, album ''Euaru'')
* Kana Hanazawa (2019, anime '' Afterlost'')

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai No Uta)
Chara (singer) songs
1996 singles
Songs written for films
Pop ballads
Oricon Weekly number-one singles
Japanese-language songs
Songs written by Chara (singer)
1996 songs
Japanese film songs
Songs written by Takeshi Kobayashi
Song recordings produced by Takeshi Kobayashi