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KEN HIRAI 
even if Elegy POP STAR Ooki na Furudokei (yep...it's that song!) Info: Ken Hirai (平井 堅, Hirai Ken?, born on January 17, 1972) is a Japanese R&B and pop singer. His soulful voice and unconventional looks won him fans following his debut in 1992. Since his debut, Hirai has worked as a model, actor, composer, lyricist, singer, spokesperson. During his career, Hirai has sold close to 14 million copies of his albums and singles. His Oricon achievements include a #1 Yearly 2004 (for a single) and one #1 Yearly 2006 (for an album) Early Life Born January 17, 1972 in Higashiosaka, Osaka prefecture, Ken Hirai grew up in Nabari, Mie Prefecture. He began his music career back in 1993 when he signed with Sony Music following an audition in Yokohama the previous year while he was a student. His debut single "Precious Junk" and album were recorded the following year and released in 1995. The first single, used as the theme to a TV drama, immediately garnered Hirai attention and his second single, "Katahou Zutsu no Earphone"「片方ずつのイヤホン」also used for a drama, further capitalized on his unique sound. Hirai's debut album, "un-balanced", went on sale the same year and was followed by a second, "Stare At", in December of the following year. [edit] 1997 - 2000 Taking things more slowly, Hirai used the next four years to consolidate his style and take time out - he only released one single each in 1997 and '98 and didn't produce any new music during 1999. Fans had to wait until 2000 for a third album from Hirai, "THE CHANGING SAME", and it was the first single, "LAKuEN"(楽園, lit. Paradise), that established him as a major player in the domestic charts and overseas. He was the first Japanese artist to take the classic test of a true R&B performer - playing at the Apollo Theater in New York, where he got a warm reception. Capitalizing on a strong fan base in Asia, Hirai appeared at the MTV Music Summit in Taiwan in August 2000. Hirai was voted "Best New Japanese Act" in a pop poll organized by the RTHK radio station in Hong Kong. [edit] 2001 - 2003 2001 saw Hirai's single, "KISS OF LIFE", used as the theme for the popular "Love Revolution" TV drama series. His fourth album "Gaining Through Losing" (which went to sell 1.5 million all over Asia, including Japan), and a national tour of the same name, built on his solid reputation. Hirai's 1st remix album, "Kh re-mixed up 1" was released in November, 2001. Through the album, the artist showed a new part of himself to the audience, which appealed to club-goers and DJs for the first time. Hirai had already shown that he had the urge to perform abroad, so his live appearance on the Music Fair show in March 2002 with producer/singer Babyface from an LA studio was very much part of the plan. In the summer, recognition like winning the Best Male Artist at the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards Japan and appearing in the official FIFA World Cup concert with Chemistry and Lauryn Hill seemed like they were just par for the course. Already an established star, Hirai went one step further when he released a cover of "Ooki na Furudokei"「大きな古時計」(A Big Old Clock) in 2002. A popular nursery rhyme, it was expected to be a minor success, but went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year. In 2003, Ken performed for MTV Unplugged Live in New York, as the 1st Japanese male solo vocalist. He was also interviewed by CNN "The Music Room", which was televised in 210 countries, and watched by 230 million viewers. His 5th album "LIFE is...", which contains "Strawberry Sex", "Ring", and his super-hit single "Ooki na Furudokei", was released on January 22, 2003. In December 10, 2003, the conceptual album, "Ken's Bar", was released. In the album, Hirai selected his favorite songs and covered in his own style. The music was primarily jazz oriented, but covers of many blues numbers were present as well. [edit] 2004 - 2006 In May 2004, "SENTIMENTALovers" was made public. The album spawned 4 singles, with "Hitomi wo Tojite" (瞳をとじて, Close Your Eyes) being the most successful, also becoming the highest-selling single of that year. Ken's 2005 single, POP STAR, was one of his career's biggest hits, spawning multiple imitations and reaching No. 1 on the Oricon Charts. The video for the song, which featured Ken playing 7 different characters and animals, became an instant household hit. It features heavily on YouTube rotation. A cover of the song was featured on the rhythm game Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 for the Nintendo DS. [edit] 2007 - 2008 In 2007, Hirai released 2 singles. Both singles peaked at #5 on the Oricon charts and also sold around 100,000 copies. The first of these was "Elegy", followed by "Kimi no Suki na Toko". "Elegy" is considered by Hirai's fan community to be his finest single, and it was a major radio success in Japan. In August 2007, Hirai released his 27th single, entitled "fake star", along with a music video that was considered a huge departure for the star due to its' risque subject matter. On 20th February 2008 , Hirai released his 28th and 1st double A side single titled Canvas / Kimi wa Su.te.ki♡ (You're Won.der.ful) . The singles debuted at #6 on the Oricon charts . Canvas is used as the insert and ending theme song to Fuji TV's Hachimitsu to Clover dorama which is based in a popular manga. It has been decribed as a pop-ballad and was written and composed by Hirai and arranged by Tomita Keichi, just like Hirai's 17th single Ring . On March 12, 2008, Hirai released his highly anticipating 7th studio album fakin' pop . fakin' pop is Hirai's 1st studio offering since 2004's SENTIMENTALovers . Influences Some of Hirai's musical influences are Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, amongst others.[/list] [Edited 3/17/08 5:06am] | |
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Okay, first!!!
1.I love Ken Hirai too! I've heard quite a few of his songs ever since I got into J-Pop and J-R&B back in 2003, but I haven't heard a huge portion of his songs 2.He ain't better George! 
3.Ken's gay but many Japanese pop stars are gay or bisexual, so it ain't a really big deal, or it's not publicized much [Edited 3/16/08 11:26am] "We may deify or demonize them but not ignore them. And we call them genius, because they are the people who change the world." |
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bboy87 said: Okay, first!!!
1.I love Ken Hirai too! I've heard quite a few of his songs ever since I got into J-Pop and J-R&B back in 2003, but I haven't heard a huge portion of his songs 2.He ain't better George!
3.Ken's gay but many Japanese pop stars are gay or bisexual, so it ain't a really big deal, or it's not publicized much [Edited 3/16/08 11:26am] No Crystal Kay?  | |
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MikeMatronik said: bboy87 said: Okay, first!!!
1.I love Ken Hirai too! I've heard quite a few of his songs ever since I got into J-Pop and J-R&B back in 2003, but I haven't heard a huge portion of his songs 2.He ain't better George!
3.Ken's gay but many Japanese pop stars are gay or bisexual, so it ain't a really big deal, or it's not publicized much [Edited 3/16/08 11:26am] No Crystal Kay? We're talking about Ken, not my future wife 
I still have to buy her new album. Mike, what do you think of M-Flo? "We may deify or demonize them but not ignore them. And we call them genius, because they are the people who change the world." |
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bboy87 said: MikeMatronik said: No Crystal Kay? We're talking about Ken, not my future wife
I still have to buy her new album. Mike, what do you think of M-Flo? I've download this yesteday and LISA's mini-album: [img] 
But haven't got time to listen to it. The only stuff I know from them is the remix they did of Hikaru Utada's "DISTANCE" and the project called SUITE CHIC that they did with Namie Amuro. | |
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this doesn't do it for me. Somehow I just can't stand the Japanse pronounciation when they speak in English. Sorry! | |
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MikeMatronik said: bboy87 said: We're talking about Ken, not my future wife
I still have to buy her new album. Mike, what do you think of M-Flo? I've download this yesteday and LISA's mini-album: [img]
But haven't got time to listen to it. The only stuff I know from them is the remix they did of Hikaru Utada's "DISTANCE" and the project called SUITE CHIC that they did with Namie Amuro.  I didn't know that was out! I have to go download it now!  "We may deify or demonize them but not ignore them. And we call them genius, because they are the people who change the world." |
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