Ken Hirai discography
Discography of Ken Hirai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The discography of Japanese R&B and pop singer Ken Hirai consists of ten studio albums, two compilation albums, one remix album, three cover albums, thirteen video albums and numerous singles and promotional singles. Hirai debuted as a musician under Sony Music Records in 1995 with the single "Precious Junk", but found success five years later with the single "Lakuen" and his third album, The Changing Same.
Studio albums10
Compilation albums2
Tribute albums3
Singles40
| Ken Hirai discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 10 |
| Compilation albums | 2 |
| Tribute albums | 3 |
| Singles | 40 |
| Video albums | 13 |
| Remix album | 1 |
Hirai's success continued through the 2000s, with the single "Ōki na Furudokei" (2002), a Japanese-language version of "My Grandfather's Clock", an 1876 song by American composer Henry Clay Work, "Hitomi o Tojite" (2004), the theme song for the film Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World and "Pop Star" (2005), the theme song of the Misaki Ito-starring drama Kiken na Aneki.
In addition to his studio albums, Hirai has released a series of acoustic cover albums entitled Ken's Bar, named after a series of concept live concerts he performs.
Studio albums
All release dates pertain to their release in Japan, unless stated.
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales (JPN)[1][A] | Certifications | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [2] |
KOR Overseas [3][B][C] |
TWN [7][D] |
TWN East Asian [8][E][F] | ||||||||
| Un-balanced |
|
57 | — | — | — | 18,000 | |||||
| Stare At |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||||
| The Changing Same |
|
1 | — | — | — | 1,265,000 | |||||
| Gaining Through Losing |
|
1 | — | — | — | 1,081,000 | |||||
| Life Is... |
|
1 | — | — | — | 806,000 |
| ||||
| Sentimentalovers |
|
1 | — | — | 1 | 1,661,000 |
| ||||
| Fakin' Pop |
|
2 | — | 6 | 2 | 332,000 |
| ||||
| Japanese Singer |
|
3 | 10 | — | 12 | 141,000 |
| ||||
| The Still Life |
|
4 | — | — | — | 72,000 | |||||
| Anata ni Naritakatta (あなたになりたかった; I Wish I Were You) | 2 | — | — | — | 25,521 (physical) | ||||||
| "—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the G-Music or Gaon Charts, or items that did not chart. | |||||||||||
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales (JPN)[1] | Certifications | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [2] |
KOR Overseas [3][C] |
TWN [7] |
TWN East Asian [8][H] | ||||||||
| Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95-'05 Utabaka (歌バカ; "Song Fool") |
|
1 | — | 3 | 1 | 2,107,000 |
| ||||
| Ken Hirai 15th Anniversary c/w Collection '95-'10 "Ura Utabaka" (裏 歌バカ; "Reverse Song Fool") |
|
5 | 51 | — | 15 | 44,000 | |||||
| Ken Hirai Singles Best Collection Utabaka 2" (歌バカ 2; "Song Fool 2") |
|
2 | — | — | — | 77,000 | |||||
| "—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the G-Music or Gaon Charts, or items that did not chart. | |||||||||||
Remix album
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales (JPN)[1] | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [2] | ||||
| KH Re-mixed Up 1 |
|
6 | 186,000 |
|
Cover albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales (JPN)[1] | Certifications | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [2] |
KOR [18] |
KOR Overseas [3][C] |
TWN East Asian [8][I] | ||||||||
| Ken's Bar |
|
2 | — | — | — | 492,000 |
| ||||
| Ken's Bar II |
|
2 | — | — | 6 | 122,000 |
| ||||
| Ken's Bar III |
|
4 | 22 | 68 | 6 | 58,000 | |||||
| "—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the G-Music or Gaon Charts. | |||||||||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales (JPN)[1] | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Singles Charts [2] |
Billboard Japan Hot 100 [21][J][K] |
TWN [7] |
TWN East Asian [8][L] | |||||
| "Precious Junk" | 1995 | 50 | — | — | — | 44,000 | Un-balanced | |
| "Katahō Zutsu no Earphone" (片方ずつのイヤフォン; "One Side of an Earphone Each") | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Yokogao" (横顔; "Face in Profile") | — | — | — | — | Stare At | |||
| "Doshaburi" (ドシャブリ; "Downpour") | 1996 | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Stay with Me" | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Heat Up" | 1997 | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Love Love Love" | 1998 | — | — | — | — | The Changing Same | ||
| "Lakuen" | 2000 | 7 | — | — | — | 549,000 | ||
| "Why" | 8 | — | — | — | 211,000 |
| ||
| "Love or Lust" | 6 | — | — | — | 264,000 |
|
Gaining Through Losing | |
| "Even If" | 3 | — | — | — | 333,000 |
| ||
| "Miracles" | 2001 | 4 | — | — | — | 240,000 |
| |
| "Kiss of Life" | 2 | — | — | — | 555,000 |
| ||
| "Missin' You (It Will Break My Heart)" | 2002 | 4 | — | — | — | 115,000 |
|
Life Is... |
| "Strawberry Sex" | 13 | — | — | — | 49,000 | |||
| "Ōki na Furudokei" (大きな古時計; "The Large Old Clock") | 1 | — | — | — | 772,000 |
| ||
| "Ring" | 1 | — | — | — | 322,000 |
| ||
| "Life Is..." | 2003 | 3 | — | — | — | 191,000 |
| |
| "Style" | 12 | — | — | — | 44,000 |
|
Sentimentalovers | |
| "Hitomi o Tojite" (瞳をとじて; "Close Your Eyes") | 2004 | 2 | — | — | — | 893,000 | ||
| "Kimi wa Tomodachi" (キミはともだち; "You're My Friend") | 5 | — | — | — | 161,000 |
| ||
| "Omoi ga Kasanaru Sono Mae ni..." (思いがかさなるその前に…; "Before the Thoughts Pile Up...") | 1 | — | — | — | 272,000 | |||
| "Pop Star" | 2005 | 1 | 91[M] | — | — | 244,000 | Utabaka / Fakin' Pop | |
| "Bye My Melody" (バイマイメロディー, Baimaimerodī) | 2006 | 2 | — | — | — | 81,000 |
|
Fakin' Pop |
| "Elegy" (哀歌(エレジー), Erejī) | 2007 | 5 | — | — | — | 119,000 | ||
| "Kimi no Suki na Toko" (君の好きなとこ; "Your Favorite Places") | 5 | — | — | — | 103,000 | |||
| "Fake Star" | 6 | — | — | — | 32,000 |
| ||
| "Canvas" (キャンバス, Kyanbasu) | 2008 | 6 | 5 | — | — | 40,000 |
| |
| "Kimi wa Suteki" (君はス・テ・キ♥; "You're Lovely") | 80 | |||||||
| "Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo" | 19 | 17 | — | — | 19,000 |
| ||
| "Candy" | 2009 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 14,000 | Japanese Singer | |
| "Boku wa Kimi ni Koi o Suru" | 3 | 1 | — | 16 | 70,000 |
| ||
| "Sing Forever" | 2010 | 7 | 5 | — | — | 16,000 | ||
| "Aishiteru" | 9 | 12 | — | — | 34,000 |
| ||
| "Itoshiki Hibi yo" | 2011 | 7 | 6 | — | — | 31,000 |
| |
| "Kokuhaku" (告白; "Love Confession") | 2012 | 5 | 6 | — | — | 44,000 |
|
The Still Life |
| "Kikyō ga Oka" (桔梗が丘; "Bellflower Hill") | 2013 | — | 16 | — | — | |||
| "Grotesque" (グロテスク, Gurotesuku) (featuring Namie Amuro) |
2014 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 51,000 |
| |
| "Onnaji Samishisa" (おんなじさみしさ; "The Same Sadness") | 13 | —[N] | N/a | 12 | 13,000 | |||
| "Soredemo Shitai" (ソレデモシタイ; "Still Want to") | 10 | N/a | ||||||
| "Kimi no Kodō wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai" (君の鼓動は君にしか鳴らせない; "Your Heartbeat Can Only Beat for You") | 2015 | 18 | 18 | N/a | — | 11,000 | ||
| "Plus One" | 2016 | 15 | 20 | N/a | — | 10,000 | ||
| "Time" | 54 | N/a | — | |||||
| "Mahotte Itte Ii Kana?" (魔法って言っていいかな?; "Speaking of Magic, Isn't it Nice?") | 15 | 4 | — | — | 12,000 |
| ||
| "Boku no Kokoro wo Tsukutteyo" (僕の心をつくってよ; "Make My Mind") | 2017 | 7 | 7 | — | — | 17,000 | Ken Hirai Singles Best Collection Utabaka 2 | |
| "Nonfiction" | 10 | 5 | — | — | 18,000 |
| ||
| "Todokanaikara" (トドカナイカラ) | 2018 | 18 | 13 | — | — | 7,000 | Anata ni Naritakatta | |
| "Shiranaindesho?" (知らないんでしょ？, "You Don't Know, Right?") | 16 | 35 | — | — | 7,000 | |||
| "Half of Me" | 15 | 17 | — | — | 13,000 |
| ||
| "Itemotattemo" (いてもたっても, "Can't Stand Still") | 2019 | — | 39 | — | — | |||
| "#302" | 11 | 18 | — | — | 9,000 | |||
| "Kaibutsusan" (怪物さん, "Mr. Monster") (featuring Aimyon) |
2020 | — | 15 | — | — |
| ||
Promotional singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Japan Hot 100 [21][O] | |||
| "K.O.L." | 2000 | — | The Changing Same |
| "Gaining Through Losing" | 2001 | — | Gaining Through Losing |
| "One Love Wonderful World" | — | KH Re-mixed Up 1 | |
| "Come Back" | 2003 | — | Life Is... |
| "Sekai de Ichiban Kimi ga Suki?" (世界で一番君が好き？; "Do I Like You Most in the World?") | — | ||
| "The Rose" | — | Ken's Bar | |
| "Lovin' You" | — | ||
| "Miagete Goran Yoru no Hoshi o" | — | ||
| "You've Got a Friend" | — | ||
| "Faith" | — | ||
| "When You Wish upon a Star" | — | ||
| "ABC" | — | ||
| "Sentimental" (センチメンタル, Senchimentaru) | 2004 | — | Sentimentalovers |
| "Utsukushii Hito" (美しい人; "Beautiful Person") | 2007 | — | Fakin' Pop |
| "Shashin" (写真; "Photograph") | 2008 | 49 | |
| "Stardust" (with Hibari Misora) | 2009 | 54 | Ken's Bar II |
| "Because of You" | 69 | ||
| "Love (Destiny)" | 77 | ||
| "Heart of Mine" | 68 | ||
| "Wakareuta" (with Masamune Kusano) |
91 | ||
| "Yume no Mukō de" (夢のむこうで; "On the Other Side of a Dream") | 2011 | — | Japanese Singer |
| "Girls 3x" | — | ||
| "Virtual Insanity" | 2014 | —[P] | Ken's Bar III |
| "1995" | 2021 | — | Anata ni Naritakatta |
Video albums
Music video collections
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN [2] | ||
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 1 |
|
— |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 2 |
|
— |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 3 |
|
17 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 5 |
|
14 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 7 |
|
5 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 9 |
|
49 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 12 |
|
4 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 12 |
|
TBA |
Live concerts
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN [2] | ||
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 4: Live Tour 2001 Gaining Through Losing at the Budokan |
|
3 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 6: MTV Unplugged Ken Hirai |
|
8 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 8: Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour Final at Saitama Super Arena |
|
9 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 10: Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 Fakin' Pop |
|
18 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 11: Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary |
|
6 |
| Ken's Bar 10th Anniversary Christmas Eve Special! |
|
6 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol. 13: Ken Hirai 20th Anniversary Opening Special at Zepp Tokyo |
|
19 |
| Ken Hirai Films Vol.14 Ken’s Bar 20th Anniversary Special |
|
17 |
Other appearances
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Moonstruck" (Chaka with Ken Hirai) | 1996 | With Friends |
| "Holding On to Promises" (Gerry DeVeaux featuring Ken Hirai) | Back to You | |
| "Kimi ga Warattara" (君が笑ったら; "If You Laugh") | 1998 | Setsunai: Tokyo Heart Break Original Soundtrack |
| "Scent of Woman (Yume no Kaori)" (夢の香り; "Scent of Dreams") (K Dub Shine featuring Ken Hirai) | 2000 | Ikiru |
| "Eyes on You" (Akina Nakamori) | 2002 | Resonancia |
| "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" | 2003 | Conception: Stevie Wonder Tribute |
| "Got Me a Feeling" (Bonnie Pink featuring Ken Hirai) | 2005 | Reminiscence |
| "Tokyo Pierrot" (東京ピエロ; "Tokyo Clown") (Ohashi Trio featuring Ken Hirai) | 2012 | White |
| "Sayonara Restaurant" (さよならレストラン; "Goodbye Restaurant") (Toko Furuuchi featuring Ken Hirai) | 2013 | And Then...: 20th Anniversary Best |
Notes
- Sales provided by Oricon database and are rounded to the nearest thousand copies.
- The Gaon Albums Chart was established in 2010.
- Position was taken from 2005 week 30 for Sentimentalovers, 2008 week 11 for Fakin' Pop, 2011 week 24 for Japanese Singer.
- Gaining Through Losing received a 3× Platinum certification for 1,200,000 copies, however the 3× Platinum threshold was redefined as 750,000 copies in 2003.
- Position was taken from 2005 week 46 for Utabaka, 2010 week 46 for Ura Utabaka.
- Position was taken from 2009 week 25 for Ken's Bar II, 2014 week 45 for Ken's Bar III.
- The Japan Hot 100 was established in February 2008.
- Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Canvas",[22] "Kimi wa Suteki",[23] "Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo",[24] "Candy",[25] "Boku wa Kimi ni Koi o Suru",[26] "Sing Forever",[27] "Aishiteiru",[28] "Itoshiki Hibi yo",[29] "Kokuhaku",[30] "Kikyō ga Oka",[31] "Grotesque",[32] "Soredemo Shitai",[33] "Kimi no Kodō wa Kimi ni Shika Narasenai",[34] "Plus One",[35] "Time".[35]