Crystal Kay
Crystal Kay |
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Crystal Kay (クリスタル・ケイ, Kurisutaru Kei) is a J-pop singer signed to the Sony Music Entertainment Japan records label.[1][2][3] As of September 2008[update], she has released eight albums, one of which ("All Yours") reached #1 on the Oricon charts. She has total sales (album and single) of 2.5 million in Japan. She has collaborated with M-Flo, BoA, Chemistry and other well-known recording artists. She was born and raised in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
Early life
Born and raised in Japan to an African American father who was a bassist from New Jersey and a third-generation Zainichi Korean mother who was a professional singer, Crystal Kay attended Kinnick High School and Sophia University, which is the same college Beni Arashiro currently attends: the two are reported to be good friends. Although her mother is Korean, Crystal is only fluent in Japanese and English, the latter making a regular appearance in her songs which exhibit a distinct R&B sound. She has also studied French.[4]
By 1998, she had signed to Epic Records at the age of 13. The following year, she debuted with the single "Eternal Memories".
She cites Janet Jackson as her biggest influence.
Career
Her best-selling single in her career so far is 2005's "Koi ni Ochitara" which was used in the drama Koi ni Ochitara: Boku no Seikō no Himitsu and peaked at #2 on the weekly charts, and became the 30th best selling single of 2005 with an estimated 288,629 copies sold. In 2006 Crystal released "Kirakuni" which was her second single with a lead song that is sung in full English, the first being "Shadows of Desire". Soon after that Crystal Kay released a new album called Call me Miss... that peaked at #2 on the Weekly Oricon Album Charts. [5]
"Kitto Eien ni" was released January 17, 2007. It was to be used as the theme song for the 2007 live-action movie of Boku wa Imouto ni Koi wo Suru. Another single called "Konna ni Chikaku de..." was released just a month later on February 28, 2007. It was used as the ending to the anime Nodame Cantabile. [6] This was later followed by a third single "Anata no Soba de" in May and Crystal's seventh studio album "All Yours" a month later. The album became her first ever release to reach #1.
About a month before Christmas 2007, Crystal released her first EP entitled "Shining". The mini album had a Christmas theme and featured two new tracks. [7]
In late March 2008 it was revealed that Crystal was chosen to sing the theme song to the 2008 Pokémon movie Giratina to Sora no Hanataba: Sheimi. (She also played the voice of "Nurse Joy's Chansey" in the film.) According to the Yahoo news, the movie producers liked Crystal’s voice since 2001, when she sang "Lost Child" for the soundtrack of the movie "Satorare -Tribute to a Sad Genius-".
As expected a single was announced for a June 11, 2008 release. However to fan's surprise it was not the Pokémon theme song, but a completely different single entitled "Namida no Saki ni." [8] The single produced a new pop-rock sound for Crystal. About a month later, the long-awaited Pokémon single, "One" was finally released in July.
For her eighth album "Color Change!" Crystal reportedly has some songs produced by Bloodshy & Avant and Jam & Lewis for the album. It was released on August 6, 2008. [9] The title "Color Change!" reflects from her graduation this year.[10]
In early 2009, Kay was a featured artist along with Verbal of M-Flo fame on the song "Universe" with South Korean singer BoA.
She was ask to sing a theme song for “Dolan’s Cadillac”, a new American film coming out in 2009. Dolan’s Cadillac is an adaption of a Stephen King short story.The song is called “HOLD ON”, which is rock-influenced number with entirely English Lyrics.
On May 15 2009 it was revealed that she and Akanishi Jin from the Johnny & Associates boyband KAT-TUN, wrote a duet together called "Wonder". The song was first performed by Akanishi Jin on the 2009 KAT-TUN concert tour. This was the seccond time that Kay sang with Jin, the first time was on her second appearance on KAT-TUN's variety show called Cartoon KAT-TUN. Both Akanishi Jin and Kuri have decided that their unit name will be "Crystal Red," which is a kind of shrimp. Kuri also has a new single out entitled "Over and Over" which was written by m-flo.
On Kay's 10th anniversary of being in the music industry and especially with Sony Music Entertainment Japan: July 1, It was revealed on Kay's official Sony Music Entertainment Japan website that on August 12 2009, there will be the release of a double A side single.[11] This single will contain on the first side, After Love -First Boyfriend- featuring Kaname from the J-Pop duo Chemistry. The second side will contain the much awaited Girlfriend featuring the Korean artist BoA. This song is to be used as the image song for the Japanese dub of "He's Just Not That into You" starring Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck. [12]
In other media
Kay is well-known for starring in Japanese commercials for the franchise ITOEN Tully's Coffee advertising their brand. Her songs have been used in the commercial over the years such as Dream World (from the album ALL YOURS)[13], Namida no Saki ni (from the single Namida no Saki ni and the album Color Change! )[14] and Deaeta Kiseki (from the single After Love -First Boyfriend-/Girlfriend)[15].
On July 1 2009 (synonymous to Kay's 10th anniversay in the music industry), she revealed on her official website that the song After Love -First Boyfriend-/Girlfriend (from the single After Love -First Boyfriend-/Girlfriend)[16] will used for other ITOEN Tully's Coffee commercials all through July.
She has also starred for the PARCO X'MAS 2007 advert in where she was flying on a reindeer similar to Santa Claus symbolising Christmas. The song Shining (from the EP Shining and the album Color Change!)[17] was used for this advert.
Another of her songs "Over and Over" was used in a commercial for "Live On FLET'S" where a lady is singing in Japanese and a man is on his computer[18]. Kay did not star in this advert.
Discography
Japanese studio albums
English studio albums
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Japanese compilation albums
Japanese extended plays
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References
- ^ "Crystal Kay juggles three cultures". Japan Today. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
- ^ Nippop | Crystal Kay | Profile
- ^ Crystal Kay@Oricon Style Online(2006)
- ^ ""Black Life in Japan: Crystal Kay interview", January 24, 2006". ACTV Japan. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Kay @ thePPN
- ^ NEW SINGLE "Konna ni Chikaku de...
- ^ Crystal Kay's first mini album "Shining"
- ^ 25th single "Namida no Saki ni"
- ^ Crystal Kay's 8th original album "Color Change!"
- ^ Chanto News: Thank you!
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