Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta)

"Swallowtail Butterfly (Ai no Uta)" (あいのうた) 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.

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)