Violet Blue (album)

Violet Blue
Studio album by Chara
Released September 9, 1993
Recorded 1993
Genre J-pop
Synthpop
Alternative pop
Length 49:11
Label Sony Music Japan
Chara chronology
Soul Kiss
(1992)
Violet Blue
(1993)
Happy Toy
(1994)
Singles from Soul Kiss
  1. "Mujintō ni Watashi o Motte Itte..."
    Released: March 21, 1993
  2. "Charlotte no Okurimono/Private Beach"
    Released: May 21, 1993
  3. "Koi o Shita"
    Released: September 9, 1993
  4. "Gifted Child"
    Released: November 21, 1993

Violet Blue (ヴァイオレット・ブルー Baioretto Burū?) is the third studio album by Chara, which was released on September 9, 1993.[1] It debuted at #4 on the Japanese Oricon album charts, and charted in the top 200 for 8 weeks.[2] It eventually sold 123,000 copies.

After the comparative success of her last album, Soul Kiss, Chara rose in popularity. Her first single from the album, Mujintō ni Watashi o Motte Itte... (無人島に私をもっていって・・・ Take Me to a Deserted Island...?), was used in a Shiseido 'PJ Lapis' commercial campaign. It reached #66 on the singles chart: her first solo charting single.

Charlotte no Okurimono/Private Beach (シャーロットの贈り物 Charlotte's Web?), her next single, was her first double A-side single. Both songs featured commercial tie-ups (Marui Gift Campaign CMs and Snow Brand "Icecream Vintage" CMs respectively). "Charlotte no Okurimono" literally means Charlotte's Present, however this was the Japanese localisation's title of the famous 1952 children's book Charlotte's Web.

Two more singles were released from the album: Koi o Shita (恋をした I'm in Love?) and Gifted Child. Despite Koi o Shita being released on the same day as the album and featuring no new songs, it managed to reach #87. However, Gifted Child, released approximately three months after the album's release, did not chart at all.

The album was recorded in France, and the pictures in the album's booklet/the album cover were shot in Paris.[3]

Contents

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Arranger Length
1. "Koi o Shita (恋をした I'm in Love?)"   Chara, Peter Lorimer Peter Lorimer 5:11
2. "Violet Blue"   Chara U-Ske Asada 6:08
3. "Gifted Child"   Chara David Motion 4:42
4. "Private Beach"   Chara U-Ske Asada 5:46
5. "Mujintō ni Watashi o Motte Itte... (無人島に私をもっていって・・・ Take Me to a Deserted Island...?)"   Chara, U-Ske Asada U-Ske Asada 4:50
6. "19 Lover"   Chara U-Ske Asada 4:16
7. "Charlotte no Okurimono (シャーロットの贈り物 Charlotte's Web?)"   Chara, U-Ske Asada U-Ske Asada 4:27
8. "Ice Cream"   Chara, U-Ske Asada U-Ske Asada 4:48
9. "Anata to (あなたと When I'm with You?)"   Chara, U-Ske Asada Peter Lorimer 3:59
10. "Aoi Tori (青い鳥 L'oiseau Bleu (Blue Bird)?)"   Chara, U-Ske Asada U-Ske Asada 4:59

Singles

Date Title Peak position Weeks Sales
March 21, 1993 "Mujintō ni Watashi o Motte Itte..." 66 (Oricon) 3 14,340
May 21, 1993 "Charlotte no Okurimono/Private Beach" 70 (Oricon) 2 10,490
September 9, 1993 "Koi o Shita" 87 (Oricon) 2 6,630
November 21, 1993 "Gifted Child"

Japan Sales Rankings

Release Chart Peak Position First Week Sales Sales Total Chart Run
September 9, 1993 Oricon Daily Albums Chart
Oricon Weekly Albums Chart 4 43,820 123,000 8 weeks
Oricon Yearly Albums Chart

References