Crystal Kay (クリスタル・ケイ, Crystal Kay?), is a JPop 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 collaborated with M-Flo, Chemistry and other well-known recording artists. She was born and raised in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
Biography
Crystal Kay was born to an African American father who was a bassist from New Jersey and a third-generation Zainichi mother who was a professional singer. Growing up with musicians as parents she first sang some songs for TV CF, thanks in no small part to her mother's contacts, at the age of 6. This young start got her noticed early on and by 1998 she had signed to Epic Records at only 12 years old. The following year she debuted with the single "Eternal Memories".
Crystal Kay was born and raised in Japan and she attended Kinnick High School when her father was stationed in Yokosuka. She later attended Sophia University, which is the same college Beni Arashiro currently attends, the two are reported to be good friends. She is fluent in both English and Japanese, the former making a regular appearance in her songs which exhibit a distinctly western influenced R&B sound. She has also studied French.[4]
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. 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", which means 'beyond the tears'. [8] The single produced a new pop-rock sound for Crystal. About a month later the 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, which is to be released on August 6th, 2008. [9] The title "Color Change!" reflects from her graduation this year.[10]
Trivia
- Although her mother is Korean, Crystal Kay does not speak Korean.
- As a native speaker of English and Japanese, Crystal Kay is often compared to Utada Hikaru.
- She is also compared to Amerie due to their similar descent.
- American pop star Janet Jackson is Crystal Kay's most influential musical artist.
- She was once pushed roughly by Ueda Tatsuya of KAT-TUN while playing a strength game on their show, CARTOON KAT-TUN because he didn't know the rules of the game.
Discography
For more information, see Crystal Kay discography.
Studio Albums
|
Other Albums
- 2003: "Natural"
- 2004: "CK5"
- 2007: "Shining"
|
References
External links
|
