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[[Image:Hirai Ken - Grotesque feat. Amuro Namie promo.jpg|400px|thumb|[[Amuro Namie]] and Hirai Ken promoting "[[Grotesque]]" (2014)]]
[[File:HiraiKen Anataninaritakattapromo.jpg|700px|thumb|Hirai Ken promoting "[[Anata ni Naritakatta]]" (2021)]]


<div align="justify">
<div align="justify">
'''Hirai Ken''' (平井堅) is a [[:Category:J-R&B|Japanese R&B]]-[[J-Pop|pop]] singer under the [[Sony Music Japan|DefSTAR Records]] label.
'''Hirai Ken''' (平井堅) is a [[:Category:J-R&B|Japanese R&B]]-[[J-Pop|pop]] singer-songwriter under the [[Sony Music Japan|Ariola Japan]] label.


==Profile==
==Profile==
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==Information==
==Information==
Hirai Ken was spotted at a [[Sony Music Entertainment|SMEJ]] audition in '92 where he became an award winner. In 1995 he debuted with the single "[[Precious Junk]]", which was the theme to a TV Drama earning it some moderate success. 1998 was a real turning point in his career when, with his 7th single "[[Love Love Love (Hirai Ken)|Love Love Love]]", Ken went from singing what he had to sing, to what he really wanted to sing. The next single, "[[Lakuen (Hirai Ken)|LAKuEN]]", did well in the [[Oricon]] charts and earned him a fair amount of attention. To date he has released 8 albums and two 'concept albums', ''[[Ken's Bar]]'' and ''[[Ken's Bar II]]'', albums of covers done in Ken's own style. His music incorporates influences from a soulful gospel sound, based on 70's soul, to contemporary [[R&B]], [[Jazz|jazz]], [[Funk|funk]], and [[Hip-hop|hip-hop]]. His musical style and unique voice has won scores of fans all across Asia (his 4th album '''[[Gaining Through Losing|gaining through losing]]''', released in 2001, reached 1.5 million sales all over Asia).
Hirai Ken was discovered at a [[Sony Music Entertainment|SMEJ]] audition in 1992 where he became an award winner. In 1995 he debuted with the single "[[Precious Junk]]", which was the theme to a TV Drama earning it some moderate success. 1998 was a real turning point in his career when, with his 7th single "[[Love Love Love (Hirai Ken)|Love Love Love]]", Ken went from singing what he had to sing, to what he really wanted to sing. The next single, "[[Lakuen (Hirai Ken)|LAKuEN]]", did well in the [[Oricon]] charts and earned him a fair amount of attention. To date he has released 8 albums and two 'concept albums', ''[[Ken's Bar]]'' and ''[[Ken's Bar II]]'', albums of covers done in Ken's own style. His music incorporates influences from a soulful gospel sound, based on 70's soul, to contemporary [[R&B]], [[Jazz|jazz]], [[Funk|funk]], and [[Hip-hop|hip-hop]]. His musical style and unique voice has won scores of fans all across Asia (his 4th album ''[[Gaining Through Losing|gaining through losing]]'', released in 2001, reached 1.5 million sales all over Asia).
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[[Image:Aishiteru_promo.jpg|220px|thumb|Hirai Ken promoting "[[Aishiteru (Hirai Ken)|Aishiteru]]" (2010)]]
[[Image:Aishiteru_promo.jpg|220px|thumb|Hirai Ken promoting "[[Aishiteru (Hirai Ken)|Aishiteru]]" (2010)]]
[[Image:JAPANESESINGERpromo.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Hirai Ken promoting ''[[Japanese Singer|JAPANESE SINGER]]'' (2011)]]
[[Image:JAPANESESINGERpromo.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Hirai Ken promoting ''[[Japanese Singer|JAPANESE SINGER]]'' (2011)]]
[[Image:Hirai Ken - Plus One TIME promo.jpg|220px|thumb|Hirai Ken promoting "[[Plus One / Time|Plus One / TIME]]" (2016)]]
[[File:Hirai Ken Nonfiction promo.jpg|220px|thumb|Hirai Ken promoting "[[Nonfiction (Hirai Ken)|Nonfiction]]" (2017)]]


===Studio Albums===
===Studio Albums===
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* [2008.03.12] [[Fakin' Pop|FAKIN' POP]]
* [2008.03.12] [[Fakin' Pop|FAKIN' POP]]
* [2011.06.08] [[Japanese Singer|JAPANESE SINGER]]
* [2011.06.08] [[Japanese Singer|JAPANESE SINGER]]
* [2016.07.06] [[The Still Life|THE STILL LIFE]]
* [2021.05.12] [[Anata ni Naritakatta]] (あなたになりたかった; ''I Wish I Were You'')


===Best Albums===
===Best Albums===
* [2005.11.23] [[Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95-'05 "Utabaka"]] (歌バカ; ''Musical Idiot'')
* [2005.11.23] [[Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95-'05 "Utabaka"]] (歌バカ; ''Musical Idiot'')
* [2010.11.10] [[Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary c/w Collection '95-'10 "Ura Utabaka"]] (裏歌バカ; ''B-side Musical Idiot'')
* [2010.11.10] [[Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary c/w Collection '95-'10 "Ura Utabaka"]] (裏歌バカ; ''B-side Musical Idiot'')
* [2017.07.12] [[Ken Hirai Singles Best Collection Utabaka 2]] (歌バカ; ''Musical Idiot'')


===Cover Albums===
===Cover Albums===
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===Singles===
===Singles===
* [1995.05.13] [[Precious Junk]]
* [1995.05.13] [[Precious Junk]]
* [1995.06.21] [[Katahou Zutsu no Earphone]] (片方ずつのイヤフォン; ''One-sided Earphone'')
* [1995.06.21] [[Katahou Zutsu no Earphone|Katahō Zutsu no Earphone]] (片方ずつのイヤフォン; ''One-sided Earphone'')
* [1995.11.22] [[Yokogao (Hirai Ken)|Yokogao]] (横顔; ''Face in Profile'')
* [1995.11.22] [[Yokogao (Hirai Ken)|Yokogao]] (横顔; ''Face in Profile'')
* [1996.08.21] [[Doshaburi]] (ドシャブリ; ''Downpour'')
* [1996.08.21] [[Doshaburi]] (ドシャブリ; ''Downpour'')
* [1996.11.01] [[Stay With Me (Hirai Ken)|Stay With Me]]
* [1996.11.01] [[Stay with Me (Hirai Ken)|Stay With Me]]
* [1997.07.21] [[Heat Up|HEAT UP]]
* [1997.07.21] [[Heat Up|HEAT UP]]
* [1998.05.30] [[Love Love Love (Hirai Ken)|Love Love Love]]
* [1998.05.30] [[Love Love Love (Hirai Ken)|Love Love Love]]
* [2000.01.09] [[Lakuen (Hirai Ken)|LAKuEN]] (楽園; ''Paradise'')
* [2000.01.09] [[Lakuen (Hirai Ken)|LAKuEN]] (楽園; ''Paradise'')
* [2000.05.10] [[Why (Hirai Ken)|why]]
* [2000.05.10] [[Why (Hirai Ken)|why]]
* [2000.10.18] [[Love or Lust|LOVE OR LUST]]
* [2000.10.18] [[Love or Lust (Hirai Ken)|LOVE OR LUST]]
* [2000.12.06] [[Even If|even if]]
* [2000.12.06] [[Even If|even if]]
* [2001.02.15] [[Miracles (Hirai Ken)|Miracles]]
* [2001.02.15] [[Miracles (Hirai Ken)|Miracles]]
* [2001.05.16] [[Kiss of Life|KISS OF LIFE]]
* [2001.05.16] [[Kiss of Life (Hirai Ken)|KISS OF LIFE]]
* [2002.01.30] [[Missin' You ~It Will Break My Heart~|Missin' you ~It will break my heart~]]
* [2002.01.30] [[Missin' You ~It Will Break My Heart~|Missin' you ~It will break my heart~]]
* [2002.05.22] [[Strawberry Sex]]
* [2002.05.22] [[Strawberry Sex]]
* [2002.08.28] [[Ooki na Furudokei]] (大きな古時計; ''A Big Old Clock'')
* [2002.08.28] [[Ooki na Furudokei|Ōki na Furudokei]] (大きな古時計; ''A Big Old Clock'')
* [2002.11.07] [[Ring (Hirai Ken)|Ring]]
* [2002.11.07] [[Ring (Hirai Ken)|Ring]]
* [2003.05.08] [[Life Is... ~Another Story~|LIFE is... ~another story~]]
* [2003.05.08] [[Life Is... ~Another Story~|LIFE is... ~another story~]]
* [2003.07.30] [[Style (Hirai Ken)|style]]
* [2003.07.30] [[Style (Hirai Ken)|style]]
* [2004.04.28] [[Hitomi wo Tojite (Hirai Ken)|Hitomi wo Tojite]] (瞳をとじて; ''Close Your Eyes'')
* [2004.04.28] [[Hitomi wo Tojite (Hirai Ken)|Hitomi wo Tojite]] (瞳をとじて; ''Close Your Eyes'')
* [2004.05.29] [[Kimi wa Tomodachi]] (キミはともだち; ''You're My Friend'')
* [2004.05.19] [[Kimi wa Tomodachi]] (キミはともだち; ''You're My Friend'')
* [2004.08.06] [[Omoi ga Kasanaru Sono Mae ni...]] (思いがかさなるその前に...; ''The Memories Pile Up Before Me'')
* [2004.10.06] [[Omoi ga Kasanaru Sono Mae ni...]] (思いがかさなるその前に...; ''The Memories Pile Up Before Me'')
* [2005.10.26] [[Pop Star|POP STAR]]
* [2005.10.26] [[Pop Star|POP STAR]]
* [2006.06.04] [[Bye My Melody]] (バイマイメロディー)
* [2006.06.14] [[Bye My Melody]] (バイマイメロディー)
* [2007.01.17] [[Elegy]] (哀歌(エレジー))
* [2007.01.17] [[Elegy]] (哀歌(エレジー))
* [2007.02.28] [[Kimi no Suki na Toko]] (君の好きなとこ; ''The Place You Like'')
* [2007.02.28] [[Kimi no Suki na Toko]] (君の好きなとこ; ''The Place You Like'')
* [2007.09.12] [[Fake Star (Hirai Ken)|fake star]]
* [2007.09.12] [[Fake Star (Hirai Ken)|fake star]]
* [2008.02.20] [[Canvas / Kimi wa Suteki|Canvas / Kimi wa Su・Te・Ki♥]] (キャンバス / 君はス・テ・キ♥; ''Canvas / You are Beau・ti・ful♥)
* [2008.02.20] [[Canvas / Kimi wa Suteki|Canvas / Kimi wa Su・te・ki♥]] (キャンバス / 君はス・テ・キ♥; ''Canvas / You are Beau・ti・ful♥)
* [2008.04.23] [[Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo]] (いつか離れる日が来ても; ''The Day May Come When Someday We Shall Part'')
* [2008.04.23] [[Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo]] (いつか離れる日が来ても; ''The Day May Come When Someday We Shall Part'')
* [2009.09.23] [[Candy (Hirai Ken)|CANDY]]
* [2009.09.23] [[Candy (Hirai Ken)|CANDY]]
* [2009.10.21] [[Boku wa Kimi ni Koi wo Suru]] (僕は君に恋をする; ''I Fall in Love With You'')
* [2009.10.21] [[Boku wa Kimi ni Koi wo Suru]] (僕は君に恋をする; ''I Fall in Love With You'')
* [2010.10.06] [[Sing Forever]]
* [2010.10.13] [[Sing Forever]]
* [2010.11.10] [[Aishiteru (Hirai Ken)|Aishiteru]] (アイシテル; ''I Love You'')
* [2010.11.10] [[Aishiteru (Hirai Ken)|Aishiteru]] (アイシテル; ''I Love You'')
* [2011.05.04] [[Itoshiki Hibi yo]] (いとしき日々よ; ''Oh Endearing Days'')
* [2011.05.04] [[Itoshiki Hibi yo]] (いとしき日々よ; ''Oh Endearing Days'')
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* [2014.04.02] [[Grotesque]] feat. [[Amuro Namie]] (グロテスク)
* [2014.04.02] [[Grotesque]] feat. [[Amuro Namie]] (グロテスク)
* [2014.12.10] [[Soredemo Shitai / Onnaji Samishisa]]  (ソレデモシタイ/おんなじさみしさ; ''I Still Wanna Do It / Same Loneliness'')
* [2014.12.10] [[Soredemo Shitai / Onnaji Samishisa]]  (ソレデモシタイ/おんなじさみしさ; ''I Still Wanna Do It / Same Loneliness'')
* [2015.08.05] [[Kimi no Kodou wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai]] (君の鼓動は君にしか鳴らせない; ''Only You Can Hear Your Heartbeat'')
* [2015.08.05] [[Kimi no Kodou wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai|Kimi no Kodō wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai]] (君の鼓動は君にしか鳴らせない; ''Only You Can Hear Your Heartbeat'')
* [2016.05.25] [[Plus One / Time)|Plus One / TIME]]
* [2016.05.25] [[Plus One / Time|Plus One / TIME]]
* [2016.06.22] [[Mahotte Itte Ii Kana|Mahotte Itte Ii Kana?]] (魔法って言っていいかな?)
* [2016.06.22] [[Mahoutte Itte Ii Kana|Mahoutte Itte Ii Kana?]] (魔法って言っていいかな?; ''It's Nice to Talk About Magic, Isn't It?'')
* [2017.03.01] [[Boku no Kokoro wo Tsukutte yo]] (僕の心をつくってよ; ''Make My Heart'')
* [2017.06.07] [[Nonfiction (Hirai Ken)|Nonfiction]] (ノンフィクション)
* [2018.05.30] [[Todokanai Kara]] (トドカナイカラ; ''I Can't Reach You'')
* [2018.05.30] [[Shiranai Ne Desho|Shiranaindesho?]] (知らないんでしょ?; ''You Don't Know, Right?'')
* [2018.11.28] [[Half Of Me (Hirai Ken)|half of me]]
* [2019.12.04] [[302|#302]]


===Digital Singles===
===Digital Singles===
* [2013.10.23] [[Kikyougaoka]] (桔梗が丘)
* [2013.10.23] [[Kikyou ga Oka|Kikyōgaoka]] (桔梗が丘; ''Bellflower Hill'')
* [2014.10.29] [[Onnaji Samishisa]] (おんなじさみしさ)
* [2014.10.29] [[Onnaji Samishisa]] (おんなじさみしさ; ''Same Loneliness'')
* [2015.07.19] [[Kimi no Kodou wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai|Kimi no Kodō wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai (Drama ver.)]] (君の鼓動は君にしか鳴らせない (ドラマver.); ''Only You Can Hear Your Heartbeat'')
* [2019.05.29] [[Ite mo Tatte mo|Itemo Tattemo]] (いてもたっても; ''Can't Control Myself'')
* [2020.03.26] [[Kaibutsu-san]] feat. [[Aimyon]] (怪物さん; ''Mr./Ms. Monster'')


===Video Releases===
===Video Releases===
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* [2005.12.07] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.8 "Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour Final at Saitama Super Arena"|Ken Hirai Films Vol.8 "Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour Final at Saitama Super Arena"]]
* [2005.12.07] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.8 "Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour Final at Saitama Super Arena"|Ken Hirai Films Vol.8 "Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour Final at Saitama Super Arena"]]
* [2008.04.23] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.9]]
* [2008.04.23] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.9]]
* [2008.12.17] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.10 "Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 Fakin' Pop"|Ken Hirai Films Vol.10 "Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 FAKIN' POP"]]
* [2008.12.17] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.10 Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 Fakin' Pop|Ken Hirai Films Vol.10 Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 FAKIN' POP]]
* [2009.06.10] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.11 "Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary"]]
* [2009.06.10] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.11 Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary]]
* [2012.05.30] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.12]]
* [2012.05.30] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.12]]
* [2016.03.23] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.13『Ken Hirai 20th Anniversary Opening Special!! at Zepp Tokyo』]]
* [2016.03.23] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.13 『Ken Hirai 20th Anniversary Opening Special !! at Zepp Tokyo』]]
* [2018.12.05] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.14 Ken’s Bar 20th Anniversary Special !!]]
* [2021.05.12] [[Ken Hirai Films Vol.15]]


===Compilations / Other===
===Compilations / Other===
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* [2013.02.06] [[Furuuchi Toko]] - [[Sayonara Restaurant]] feat. '''Hirai Ken'''
* [2013.02.06] [[Furuuchi Toko]] - [[Sayonara Restaurant]] feat. '''Hirai Ken'''
* [2013.02.20] [[Furuuchi Toko]] - [[and then... ~20th anniversary BEST~]] (Disc 1 #2 ''Sayonara Restaurant'' feat. '''Hirai Ken''')
* [2013.02.20] [[Furuuchi Toko]] - [[and then... ~20th anniversary BEST~]] (Disc 1 #2 ''Sayonara Restaurant'' feat. '''Hirai Ken''')
* [2019.01.19] [[Teshima Aoi]] - [[Cheek to Cheek ~I Love Cinemas~]]
* [2020.10.14] [[Sing for One ~Minna to Tsunagaru. Ashita e Tsunagaru.~|SING for ONE ~Minna to Tsunagaru. Ashita e Tsunagaru.~]] (#5 '''''Hirai Ken''' / Mahoutte Itte Ii Kana?'')


==Lives==
==Lives==
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==External Links==
==External Links==
* [http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/KenHirai/ Sony Music Profile]
* [http://www.pinups.co.jp/hirai/ Hirai Ken Official Website]
* [http://www.pinups.co.jp/hirai/ Hirai Ken's Official Website]
* [http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/KenHirai/ Sony Music Official Profile]
* [http://www.facebook.com/KenHiraiOfficialFanClubKhplace Fanclub Official Facebook]
* [http://twitter.com/info_khplace Fanclub Official Twitter]
* [http://twitter.com/khplaceSTAFF Staff Official Twitter]
* [http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtwtMDxG0n0Yd0qds38ff0Q/ Official Youtube]


{{Hirai Ken}}
{{Hirai Ken}}
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:J-Pop]]
[[Category:J-Pop]]
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[[Category:1972 Births]]
[[Category:1972 Births]]
[[Category:Osaka Artists]]
[[Category:Osaka Artists]]
[[Category:Songwriter]]
[[Category:1995 Debut]]

Latest revision as of 06:52, 25 May 2021

Hirai Ken promoting "Anata ni Naritakatta" (2021)

Hirai Ken (平井堅) is a Japanese R&B-pop singer-songwriter under the Ariola Japan label.

Profile

Information

Hirai Ken was discovered at a SMEJ audition in 1992 where he became an award winner. In 1995 he debuted with the single "Precious Junk", which was the theme to a TV Drama earning it some moderate success. 1998 was a real turning point in his career when, with his 7th single "Love Love Love", Ken went from singing what he had to sing, to what he really wanted to sing. The next single, "LAKuEN", did well in the Oricon charts and earned him a fair amount of attention. To date he has released 8 albums and two 'concept albums', Ken's Bar and Ken's Bar II, albums of covers done in Ken's own style. His music incorporates influences from a soulful gospel sound, based on 70's soul, to contemporary R&B, jazz, funk, and hip-hop. His musical style and unique voice has won scores of fans all across Asia (his 4th album gaining through losing, released in 2001, reached 1.5 million sales all over Asia).

Discography

Hirai Ken promoting "POP STAR" (2005)
Hirai Ken promoting "Bye My Melody" (2006)
Hirai Ken promoting "fake star" (2007)
Hirai Ken promoting "Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo" (2008)
Hirai Ken promoting "CANDY" (2009)
Hirai Ken promoting "Aishiteru" (2010)
Hirai Ken promoting JAPANESE SINGER (2011)
Hirai Ken promoting "Plus One / TIME" (2016)
Hirai Ken promoting "Nonfiction" (2017)

Studio Albums

Best Albums

Cover Albums

Remix Album

Singles

Digital Singles

Video Releases

Compilations / Other

Lives

Tours

Ken's Bar

External Links