Pop Star (Ken Hirai song)

"Pop Star"
Single by Ken Hirai
from the album Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Complete Single Collection '95-'05 Utabaka
B-side	"Tameiki Kip"
Released	2005
Genre	J-pop
Length	4:43
Label	Defstar
Songwriter(s)	Ken Hirai
Producer(s)	Ken Hirai
Ken Hirai singles chronology
"Omoi ga Kasanaru Sono Mae ni" (2004) "Pop Star" (2005) "Bye My Melody" (2006)
Music video
"Pop Star" by Ken Hirai on YouTube

"Pop Star" is a song by Japanese singer Ken Hirai. The single went on to top the 2005 Oricon Charts and is known for its remarkable music video, featuring Ken in seven different personas, including a raccoon and his own manager. ^[1] The Video also helped Hirai break into the US and Canadian Markets where stations would play the video despite the fact that it was in Japanese.^{[ citation needed ]}

The song is the theme song of the Japanese drama Kiken na Aneki starring Ito Misaki.

Hip-hop artist KREVA performed a parody of this song, "RAP STAR," at his appearance at COUNTDOWN JAPAN 05/06 in 2005 and during his 2006 tour, KREVA TOUR 2006 Ai Jibun Haku ~Kokuminteki Gyoji~. ^{[2] [3]}

Composition

Pop Star is in the key of F major, a 4/4 time signature, and a tempo of 140 beats per minute.

The melody ranges almost 2 octaves from C3 to B♭4. If including background vocals, the vocal range is 2 octaves and 2 semitones from C3 to D5.

Certifications

Certifications for "Pop Star"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ) [4]	Gold	50,000,000†
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

In video games

The song is featured in the following music and rhythm games:

Games published by Nintendo

• Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 for Nintendo DS (in-house cover)
• Just Dance Wii 2 for Nintendo Wii (Cover version by Ms. OOJA)

Namco games

• Taiko No Tatsujin 8 for arcades (in-house cover)
• Taiko No Tatsujin Portable 2 for the PSP
• Happy Dance Collection for Nintendo Wii

Konami games, under the Bemani brand

• Jubeat Ripple for arcades (in-house cover)
• Dance Dance Revolution Grand Prix for home PCs

References

1. 古屋蔵人 Kurando Furuya 映像作家100人 -- 2007 Page 107 "In 2005 he was the finalist at the Clio Awards for the music video "Umino Nakae" hy Tamio Okuda. The music video he directed for Ken Hirai's song "Pop Star" received Best Pop Video Award at Space Shower TV and Best Pop Video at MTV."
2. "KREVA/BRAHMAN－rockinon.com｜https://rockinon.com/quick/cdj0506/detail/44583". rockinon.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-02.
3. barks (2006-05-04). "仲間と盛り立てたKREVAの"愛・自分博"、武道館で開催！". BARKS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-06-02.
4. "Japanese single streaming certifications – Ken Hirai – Pop Star" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved October 25, 2023.Select 2023年9月 on the drop-down menu