If Michael Jackson is the King of Pop, Ken Hirai may one day warrant the nickname Pharoah of Falsetto based on his preference for singing the upper registers.
The Japanese composer/songwriter/model started singing in 1993, and his unmistakable, soulful voice has kept him selling millions of records ever since. Hirai's Fakin' Pop Live Tour DVD set was recorded in Osaka last year.
As well as a documentary disc, the set includes a two-hour concert featuring material from his latest album, and songs from earlier albums like Sentimentalovers and Life Is ... Openers Pop Star and You're Won.Der.Ful are high octane numbers guaranteed to get pop lovers to their feet.
Pop Star was a huge hit in 2005. On the video, Hirai dressed up as various characters, including a raccoon, which appears here.
Hirai is perhaps best known for his jazzy, blues numbers, and several songs which start out in other styles incorporate these genres. The RnB Fake Star, for example, has a great, bluesy bridge.
The star really proves himself on the ballads, showing his vocal range and emotion on numbers like Life Is ... and Even If.
