Overview
シャルル (Charles) is a VOCALOID-origin song by balloon (バルーン), the musical alias of Japanese singer-songwriter Keina Suda. Originally released in 2017 using the VOCALOID voicebank flower, the track became a breakout hit on NicoNico Douga and YouTube, eventually accumulating over 100 million views. balloon later recorded a self-cover version, singing the lyrics himself rather than using the synthesized voice, and it is this human-vocal version that appears in maimai. The accompanying music video, animated by the acclaimed illustrator アボガド6 (avogado6), underscores the song's melancholic meditation on parting ways, regret, and the inertia of personal change.
シャルル joined the maimai song list on June 5, 2018, as part of the MiLK edition. With the launch of maimai でらっくす (maimai DX) on July 11, 2019, the song received a new set of DX-style charts incorporating Slide and Touch notes, while the original Standard charts remained available. The song is playable across all major regions (Japan, International, USA, and China) and appears in two other SEGA rhythm franchises: CHUNITHM AMAZON and オンゲキ PLUS. The maimai version is a shorter edit of the full track, clocking in at 2:14.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
3(3)
162 notesDesigner: -|Tap 131Hold 2Slide 5Touch 22Break 2
ADVANCED
6(6)
310 notesDesigner: -|Tap 240Hold 30Slide 19Touch 11Break 10
EXPERT
9(9)
385 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 285Hold 50Slide 14Touch 28Break 8
MASTER
11(11)
524 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 361Hold 15Slide 60Touch 82Break 6
Trivia
- シャルル was originally released as a VOCALOID song using the flower voicebank; balloon later recorded a self-cover version in his own voice, which is the version used in maimai.
- The music video was created by アボガド6 (avogado6), a Japanese illustrator and manga artist known for their distinctive monochrome style and frequent collaborations with balloon.
- シャルル appears in balloon's debut album 'Corridor,' released in 2017.
- The song was added to maimai MiLK on June 5, 2018, and later received DX charts at the launch of maimai でらっくす on July 11, 2019.
- The maimai version is an edited cut of the full song, with a length of 2:14 compared to the original's 2:20.
- シャルル also appears in CHUNITHM AMAZON and オンゲキ PLUS, making it one of the few VOCALOID songs shared across all three SEGA rhythm-game platforms.
- The Standard Master chart (level 12+, constant 12.9) was designed by すきやき奉行 (Sukiyaki Bugyou), and features 589 total notes including 39 Break notes, one of the higher Break counts among Standard charts at this level.
- The DX Master chart was designed by はっぴー (Happy), who also designed the DX Expert chart; はっぴー is known for crafting dense Touch-and-Slide patterns that fit the DX system.
- The Standard Expert chart, designed by LabiLabi, originally debuted at level 8 in MiLK and was upgraded through multiple versions, reaching 9+ by UNiVERSE PLUS.
- The DX chart levels have been revised once: Expert rose from 8+ to 9 and Master from 10+ to 11 after でらっくす PLUS.
FAQ
- Who composed シャルル (Charles)?
- シャルル was composed, arranged, and written by balloon (バルーン), the musical project of Japanese singer-songwriter Keina Suda. balloon also performs the self-cover vocal version used in maimai.
- When was シャルル added to maimai?
- シャルル was added to maimai on June 5, 2018, as part of the maimai MiLK edition. Its DX charts were added later at the launch of maimai でらっくす on July 11, 2019.
- What is the BPM of シャルル?
- The BPM of シャルル is 145.
- Is シャルル a VOCALOID song?
- Yes. The original version of シャルル uses the VOCALOID voicebank flower. The maimai version, however, uses balloon's self-cover recording sung in his own voice.
- Who designed the charts for シャルル in maimai?
- The Standard Expert chart was designed by LabiLabi, the Standard Master chart by すきやき奉行 (Sukiyaki Bugyou), and both the DX Expert and DX Master charts by はっぴー (Happy). The Basic and Advanced charts across both chart types do not have named designers.
- What difficulty levels are the Master charts for シャルル?
- The DX Master chart is level 11, and the Standard Master chart is level 12+ with a constant of 12.9.
- What album is シャルル from?
- シャルル was released on balloon's debut album 'Corridor' in 2017.
- Does シャルル appear in other rhythm games?
- Yes. Beyond maimai, シャルル appears in CHUNITHM AMAZON and オンゲキ PLUS, both published by SEGA.
