Ken Hirai

Ken Hirai (平井堅, ひらいけん, Hirai Ken, January 17, 1972), a Japanese R&B singer, was born in Osaka prefecture, and grew up in Nabari, Mie Prefecture. Some musical artists whom he respects are Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye etc. Hirai once participated in a music session with Babyface, who admired Hirai's singing ability. He said, "I think that Hirai can be popular in the world if he releases CDs in English words".

Discography

Singles

• Precious Junk (lyrics Ken Hirai, music Ken Hirai/Shun Yamashita) (May 13 1995)
• Kataho zutsu no earphone (片方ずつのイヤフォン, Literal Translation: A earphone by one) (lyrics Ken Hirai, music Ken Hirai/Shun Yamashita) (June 21, 1995)
• Yokogao (横顔, Profile) (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (November 22, 1995)
• Doshaburi (ドシャブリ, Downpour) (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (August 21, 1996)
• Stay With Me (lyrics Ken Hirai, music Joe Rinoie) (November 1, 1996)
• HEAT UP (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (July 21, 1997)
• Love Love Love (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (May 30, 1998)
• Rakuen (楽園, Paradise) (lyrics Makoto Atozi music Masahito Nakano) (January 19, 2000)
• why (lyrics Ken Hirai music Ken Matsubara) (May 10, 2000)
• LOVE OR LUST (lyrics Ken Hirai music Ken Hirai/Ken Matsubara) (October 18, 2000)
• even if (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (December 6, 2000)
• Miracles (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (February 15, 2001)
• KISS OF LIFE (lyrics Ken Hirai music Ken Hirai/Masahito Nakano) (May 16, 2001)
• Missin' you ~It will break my heart~ (lyrics Ken Hirai music Babyface) (January 30, 2002)
• Strawberry Sex (lyrics Ken Hirai/Taku Tada music Ken Hirai/Masahito Nakano) (May 22, 2002)
• Okina Furudokei (大きな古時計, Cover version of "Grandfather's Clock" ) (lyrics & music Henry Clay Work Japanese lyrics Kogo Hotomi) (August 28, 2002)
• Ring (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (November 7, 2002)
• LIFE is ... ~another story~ (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (May 8, 2003)
• style (lyrics Ken Hirai music Yasuhiro Minami) (July 30,2003)
• Hitomi wo Tojite (瞳をとじて, Close my eyes) (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (April 28, 2004)
• Kimi wa Tomodachi (キミはともだち, You're my friend) (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (May 29, 2004)
• Omoi ga Kasanaru Sonomae ni (思いがかさなるその前に?, Before the memories pile up) (lyrics & music Ken Hirai) (October 6, 2004)

Albums

• un-balanced (July 7, 1995)
• Stare At (December 1, 1996)
• THE CHANGING SAME (June 21, 2000)
• gaining through losing (July 4, 2001)
• Kh re-mixed up 1 (Remix album) (November 28, 2001)
• Life is... (January 22, 2003)
• Ken's Bar (Cover album) (December 10, 2003)
• SENTIMENTALovers (November 24, 2004)