During his career, Hirai has released 32 singles and 11 albums until October 2010. According to Oricon, his single Hitomi wo Tojite (Close Your Eyes) became the best-selling single of 2004 in Japan, while his compilation album Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95–'05 "Utabaka" became the best-selling album of 2006 in Japan.
Signing with Sony, he released his first single in 1995, but to no great success. Hirai used the next four years to consolidate his style and take time out - he only released one single each in 1997 and 1998 and did not produce any new music during 1999. Fans waited until 2000 for a third album from Hirai, The Changing Same. It was the first single, "Rakuen" (楽園, Paradise), that established him as a major player in the Japanese sales 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.
片方ずつのイヤフォン
平井堅 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
澄んだ青空に吸い込まれそうさ
遅い朝に乗る下りの電車
ボックスの席で話をしよう
選び抜いたカセットには
J.B, Stevie Wonder, Sothern All Stars
ドライブのデートのように
2人だけに聴こえる 片方ずつの earphone
すごく近くに居ること 実感してうれしい
かすかに伝わる波音のリズム
周りの景色にビル達も消えた
遠足の日の前の夜の様に
始まる直前が一番楽しい
次の曲好きなんだ
Try Me, Whereabouts, Just a Little Bit
君も好きになりますように
さり気なくちょっとだけ ボリューム上げた
2人をつないでいる 片方ずつの earphone
片耳指で塞いでもっともっと近くへ
2人だけに聴こえる 片方ずつの earphone
すごく近くに居ること実感した
2人をつないでいる 片方ずつの earphone
片耳指で塞いで もっともっと近くへ yeah
The lyrics of 平井堅 Ken Hirai's song "片方ずつのイヤフォン" (Katahou Zutsu no Earphone) describe the special connection between two people who are listening to music with earphones.
The first verse talks about how the trivial things that trouble us become insignificant when we are absorbed into the clear blue sky. Riding a slow train on a lazy morning, the two people sit in the box seats and decide to have a conversation. The second verse mentions the carefully selected cassettes they are listening to, featuring artists like J.B, Stevie Wonder, and Sothern All Stars. Although they can't sing along loudly like they would on a road trip, it still feels incomplete.
The pre-chorus expresses the joy of feeling connected to each other by having earphones on, where they can hear the same music. The subtle rhythm of the ocean waves is barely audible, and even the surrounding buildings disappear, creating a magical atmosphere. It is compared to the anticipation and excitement before a field trip, where the moment right before it begins is the most enjoyable.
The bridge talks about the next song they like, mentioning titles like "Try Me," "Whereabouts," and "Just a Little Bit." The singer subtly hopes that the person they are with will also come to like those songs. They raise the volume just a little bit, trying to silently convey their feelings.
The chorus repeats the idea of feeling the connection between them through the earphones, and using one hand to cover one ear, they try to get even closer.
Overall, the lyrics depict the joy of being close to someone and sharing music together through earphones, symbolizing a special connection and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
悩んでること馬鹿らしくなる
The things I worry about seem foolish
澄んだ青空に吸い込まれそうさ
It feels like being pulled into the clear blue sky
遅い朝に乗る下りの電車
Boarding a southbound train on a late morning
ボックスの席で話をしよう
Let's have a conversation in a private booth
選び抜いたカセットには
On the carefully selected cassette
J.B, Stevie Wonder, Sothern All Stars
J.B, Stevie Wonder, Sothern All Stars
ドライブのデートのように
Like a drive-in date
大声で歌えなくて物足りないけど
Though it's unsatisfying not being able to sing loudly
2人だけに聴こえる 片方ずつの earphone
One earphone each that only we can hear
すごく近くに居ること 実感してうれしい
I'm glad to feel that we are very close
かすかに伝わる波音のリズム
The rhythm of the faintly transmitted sound of waves
周りの景色にビル達も消えた
Even the buildings disappear into the surrounding scenery
遠足の日の前の夜の様に
Like the night before a school excursion
始まる直前が一番楽しい
The moments right before it starts are the most exciting
次の曲好きなんだ
I like the next song
Try Me, Whereabouts, Just a Little Bit
Try Me, Whereabouts, Just a Little Bit
君も好きになりますように
I hope you will also come to like them
さり気なくちょっとだけ ボリューム上げた
Casually and just a little bit, I increased the volume
2人をつないでいる 片方ずつの earphone
One earphone each that connects us
片耳指で塞いでもっともっと近くへ
Covering one ear with my finger, getting even closer
2人だけに聴こえる 片方ずつの earphone
One earphone each that only we can hear
すごく近くに居ること実感した
I felt the reality of being very close
2人をつないでいる 片方ずつの earphone
One earphone each that connects us
片耳指で塞いで もっともっと近くへ yeah
Covering one ear with my finger, getting even closer, yeah
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ken Hirai, Shun Yamashita
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mr. Right
歌:平井堅
作詞:平井堅
作曲:山下 俊
悩んでること馬鹿らしくなる
澄んだ青空に吸い込まれそうさ
遅い朝に乗る下りの電車
ボックスの席で話をしよう
選び抜いたカセットには
J.B.Stevie Wonder. Southern All Stars
ドライブのデートのように
大声で歌えなくて物足りないけど
2人だけに聴こえる片方ずつのEarphone
すごく近くに居ること実感してうれしい
かすかに伝わる波音のリズム
周りの景色にビル達も消えた
遠足の日の前の夜の様に
始まる直前が一番楽しい
次の曲好きなんだ
Try Me Where Abouts. Just A Little Bit
君も好きになりますように
さり気なくちょっとだけボリューム上げた
2人をつないでいる片方ずつのEarphone
片耳指で塞いでもっともっと近くへ
2人だけに聴こえる片方ずつのEarphone
すごく近くに居ること実感した
2人をつないでいる片方ずつのEarphone
片耳指で塞いでもっともっと近くへ
ゆちゃん
全然有名な曲じゃないけどこの曲一番好きです
嬉しい!
Jersson Castillo
Una de las que me gusta, excelente sonido para la época.
和田愛冬
セカンドシングルでこのクオリティーはすごい!もっと売れてよかったと思う。平井堅の歌大好き!
Shun Yamashita
♪ありがとうございます😭
自分が書いた中で、すごく大切な1曲です。
低燃費エコドライブ少年
@Shun Yamashita本物?!
こっぺぱんこここ
なんか上手く言えないんだけど凄く好きだなぁ
黒崎美紀子
元気いっぱい歌って、好感が持てます。
nao yana
まじで隠れた名曲なんよこれ!
f f
さり気なくちょっとボリューム上げるところが好きすぎる……………………
かわうそ
神曲なんだよなあ