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.
L'Amant
平井堅 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anata ga sashidasu RABUSUTOORII ni boku wa BUKKUKABAA wo kaketeru
TAITORU wo nusumimiru
"Aka to Kuro" "RURU ON ZA BURIJII" sono tsugi ni wa "RA.MAN"
Kusuriyubi ni kagayaku sokubaku wa kono mune mo shibaru
Namae sae shiranai sono me mo mirenai
Nani wo motome nani wo osoreru no oshiete
Kotoba kawasenai fureru koto mo nai
Sore demo anata wo omoitai
Hontou no RABUSUTOORII oshietai
Kimagure na anata no shumi wo boku wa dare yori shitteru kara
Kyou mo ashita mo itsumademo kono mise de zutto matteru
Kageriaru yokogao sono shiroi yubisaki de mokuji wo tadoreba
Shiawase ni naru kagi wo mitsukedasu koto ga dekiru no?
* Mirai sae mienai sono kata dakenai
Sore demo anata wo ai shitai
Nani wo nozomi nani wo urayamu no oshiete
Kokoro todokanai kizuku koto mo nai
Sore demo anata wo ubaitai
Itsuka RABU SUTOORII tsutaetai
Namae sae shiranai sono me mo mirenai
Sore demo ubaitai
Nani wo motome nani wo osoreru no oshiete
* repeat
The lyrics of "L'Amant" by 平井堅 are a story of unrequited love and longing. The singer describes a moment in time where the wind is blowing and turning the pages of a book. In that moment, they see the person they love opening a locket and can feel their heart racing. The singer wonders what they can do to protect the person they love, without knowing their name or even being able to look into their eyes.
The chorus repeats a desire to be with this person, despite not knowing their name or future. The singer is deeply in love but unable to express their feelings, and struggles with not being able to find a way to connect with the person they love. In the end, the singer echoes the desire to share their story and their love, even if the object of their affection remains a mystery.
Overall, "L'Amant" is a melancholic yet beautiful song about the yearning for love and the desire to connect with someone even without fully knowing them. The lyrics capture the feeling of being drawn to someone and struggling with the fear of rejection and the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Itazura na mahiru no kaze ga kohaku'iro no PEEJI wo mekuru to
When the mischievous midday wind turns the amber page
Anata ga sashidasu RABUSUTOORII ni boku wa BUKKUKABAA wo kaketeru
I'm holding my breath waiting for the bouquet you're about to throw
TAITORU wo nusumimiru
Stealing glances at the title
"Aka to Kuro" "RURU ON ZA BURIJII" sono tsugi ni wa "RA.MAN"
"Red and Black", "Rule on the Boulevard", and then comes "L'Amant"
Kusuriyubi ni kagayaku sokubaku wa kono mune mo shibaru
The shining restraint of my ring finger even binds my heart
Namae sae shiranai sono me mo mirenai
I don't even know your name, and I can't even see your eyes
Sore demo anata wo mamoritai
But still, I want to protect you
Nani wo motome nani wo osoreru no oshiete
Tell me, what do you desire and what do you fear?
Kotoba kawasenai fureru koto mo nai
We don't exchange words, we don't even touch
Sore demo anata wo omoitai
But still, I think of you
Hontou no RABUSUTOORII oshietai
I want to tell you my true story
Kimagure na anata no shumi wo boku wa dare yori shitteru kara
Because I know your whims better than anyone
Kyou mo ashita mo itsumademo kono mise de zutto matteru
I'll be waiting forever in this shop, today and tomorrow
Kageriaru yokogao sono shiroi yubisaki de mokuji wo tadoreba
If I follow the goal with your shadow that's fading, with your white fingertips
Shiawase ni naru kagi wo mitsukedasu koto ga dekiru no?
Will I be able to find the key to happiness?
Mirai sae mienai sono kata dakenai
I can't even see your future, I can't even hold your shoulders
Sore demo anata wo ai shitai
But still, I want to love you
Nani wo nozomi nani wo urayamu no oshiete
Tell me, what do you wish for and what do you envy?
Kokoro todokanai kizuku koto mo nai
I can't even reach your heart, I can't even notice
Sore demo anata wo ubaitai
But still, I want to steal you
Itsuka RABU SUTOORII tsutaetai
Someday, I want to tell you my love story
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind