Lakuen (Hirai Ken)

Single Cover

Artist

Hirai Ken

Single

LAKuEN (楽園)

Released

2000.01.19

2000.10.01 (DefSTAR Records Reissue)

Catalog Number

SRCL-4720

DFCZ-1014 (DefSTAR Records Reissue)

Price

¥1,223

Tracklist

1. LAKuEN (楽園; Paradise)
2. affair
3. What's Going On?
4. LAKuEN [BIRTHDAY MIX]

Information

"LAKuEN" or "Rakuen" is the eighth single released by Hirai Ken. The song was Hirai's breakthrough single, it was also his first single to be composed by other artist instead of him. Due to it success, Ken was invited to his first appearance at Kouhaku Uta Gassen, also he appeared at MUSIC STATION. After he was transferred to DefSTAR Records, the single was reissued along with his albums. Tamaki Nami later covered the song, it was released as the b-side of her "Omoide ni Naru no?" single. BENI also covered the title track and included it in her 2012 cover album, COVERS 2.

It reached #7 on the Oricon charts and charted for twenty-eight weeks. The reissue reached #62 on the Oricon charts, and charted for four weeks. As it sold 537,810 copies in 2000, it was the 39th best-selling single of the year. In the end, it sold around 600,000 copies and was his 4th highest selling singles in his career.

The single was certified Platinum by RIAJ for physical shipments and the title track was certified Gold by RIAJ for full song downloads.

Live Performances

• [2000.01.xx] m.m.m!
• [2000.01.21] JP
• [2000.02.xx] Beat Bangs!
• [2000.03.10] MUSIC STATION
• [2000.05.xx] Minami Gokurakudou ("LAKuEN", "why")
• [2000.12.29] MUSIC STATION SUPER LIVE 2000
• [2000.12.31] 51st Kouhaku Uta Gassen
• [2001.06.18] SMAPxSMAP ("LAKuEN", "KISS OF LIFE", "Lion Heart")
• [2002.07.13] LOVE MUSIC ("Strawberry Sex", "LAKuEN", "even if")
• [2004.11.19] MUSIC STATION ("LAKuEN", "Omoi ga Kasanaru Sono Mae ni...")

Song Information

Lyrics

Atozi Makoto

Music

Nakano Masahito

Other Information

Arrangement: Nakano Masahito

External Links

• Oricon Profile: Original release | Sony Reissue
• DefSTAR Records Profile