Male Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Song Ranking [2026]
Around this time of year, acoustic-style singer-songwriters start to draw attention again.
It may also have been around this period that the image of singer-songwriters as refreshing began to take hold.
Here’s a ranking of popular songs by male singer-songwriters from the 2000s.
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Male Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Song Rankings [2026] (51–60)
LIFE is… ～another story～Hirai Ken57rank/position
For those who are worn out by everyday life, I recommend listening to “LIFE is…
~another story~.” This song was specially written by Ken Hirai as the theme for the hit drama “Say Hello to Black Jack.” Its lyrics, which encourage people striving through their daily lives, are sure to resonate with your heart.
The quiet, piano-centered melody also tugs at the heartstrings.
Note that the melodies differ between the album version and the single version, so if you’re curious, try comparing them.
POP STARHirai Ken58rank/position
When it comes to pop tunes that define the 2000s, this song springs to mind.
Written as the theme for Fuji TV’s Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Kiken na Aneki,” it’s a track perfectly suited to mark the 10th anniversary of Ken Hirai’s debut.
Its bright, catchy melody and memorable chorus stand out.
Centered on themes of self-affirmation and love, the lyrics resonate with a sense of connection to someone special.
Released in November 2005, the song became a symbol of Hirai’s musical turning point, shifting from his previously ballad-focused style toward a more pop direction.
True to its title, the pop-leaning melody is a nostalgic dance number that makes you want to move.
I will fall in love with you.Hirai Ken59rank/position
The word “baka” (idiot) appears in the lyrics, but even there you can feel the affection—it’s a song that expresses honest feelings found in everyday life.
Ken Hirai’s voice is so gentle that the song really resonates in your heart.
The lyrics, which straightforwardly say “I love you,” are pure and refreshing.
confessionHirai Ken60rank/position
This is a song by Ken Hirai that explores themes of deep despair and unrequited love.
Released in May 2012 as his 35th single, it poignantly depicts, from a woman’s perspective, the anguish and sorrow of yearning for love that remains out of reach.
Chosen as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “The W’s Tragedy,” it reached No.
5 on the Oricon weekly chart.
It’s a piece we hope will resonate with anyone who has suffered through a love that could not be fulfilled.
Male Singer-Songwriters of the 2000s: Popular Song Rankings [2026] (61–70)
ElegyHirai Ken61rank/position
This is a masterpiece whose poignant love story, told from a woman’s perspective, resonates in the rich vocals of Ken Hirai.
It delicately portrays the feelings of a woman consumed by love, expressing the intense emotions of fixation on her partner and a fierce willingness to embrace even the pain of love.
Released in January 2007 as the theme song for Toho’s film Love’s Crucible, it was also included on the album FAKIN’ POP and performed at the 58th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.
In 2021, it was covered by Fuyumi Sakamoto on her album Love Emotion, continuing to influence many artists.
It’s a song to listen to on nights after heartbreak or when you’re suffering from thoughts of someone you love.
Grandfather’s ClockHirai Ken62rank/position
The children’s song “Grandfather’s Clock” is beloved by people of all ages.
Released in 2002, this version is based on a piece by American composer Henry Clay Work, whose sheet music became a major hit when it was published in 1876.
Ken Hirai’s wonderful vocals stand out, and the interplay between his voice and the pleasant melody makes it feel as if new life has been breathed into this classic song.
As a children’s song at its core, both the lyrics and melody are straightforward, making it easy to sing at karaoke.
It’s a song that anyone—from children to adults—can enjoy taking on.
Before our feelings overlap…Hirai Ken63rank/position
This is Ken Hirai’s 22nd single and his third song to reach number one on the Oricon Singles Chart.
It was used in a Toyota “Corolla Fielder” commercial, and eleven months after its release, it was also chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Tsumiki Kuzushi Shinsō: Ano Kazoku, Sono Ato no Higeki” (The True Story of the Collapse of the Building Blocks: That Family, The Tragedy That Followed).