Coordinates | 3°8′51″N101°41′36″N |
---|---|
name | Crystal Kay |
background | solo_singer |
birth name | Crystal Kay Williams |
alias | Kuri(-chan), CK |
born | February 26, 1986Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan |
origin | American and Korean |
instrument | Vocals |
genre | Pop, R&B;, rock, urban, dance |
occupation | Singer-songwriter, actress, radio host |
years active | 1999–present |
label | Epic Records |
associated acts | M-Flo, Verbal, BoA, Chemistry, Kaname, Shinichi Osawa, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Jin Akanishi |
website | }} |
Crystal Kay Williams (born February 26, 1986), known by her stage name Crystal Kay, is a singer and songwriter from Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. She debuted aged 13 and is a pioneer for interracial artists in Japan.
After releasing her debut single "Eternal Memories" (1999) Kay gained fame for her third studio album, ''Almost Seventeen'' (2002), which debuted at number 2 on the Japanese Oricon charts. ''Almost Seventeen'' eventually sold over 400,000 copies and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Kay is currently signed to Epic Records, a sub-label of Sony Music Japan.
As of July 2009, Kay has released ten albums. Her seventh studio album, ''All Yours'' (2007) became Kay's first number-one release in her career when it debuted on top of the Oricon chart in June 2007. Kay has sold over two million records in Japan as of 2009. Throughout her career, Kay has collaborated with M-Flo and BoA, Chemistry as well as other well-known recording artists.
Kay previously attended Kinnick High School and Sophia University.
Although her mother is Korean, Crystal does not speak Korean. Kay is fluent in Japanese and English, the latter influencing and making a regular appearance in her songs. She has also studied French. Kay has cited Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson as her biggest influences. In Japan she cites the acts of producer Tetsuya Komuro as her J-Pop influences, particularly SPEED and Namie Amuro.
Kay's debut studio album, ''C.L.L Crystal Lover Light'' was released on March 23, 2000. This album is noted by fans to have a more indie and acoustic feel as opposed to her later albums which mainly come under the genres of pop and R&B;. Kay was only 14 years old when this album was released.
''C.L.L Crystal Lover Light'' debuted at number 60 on the Oricon charts. A fourth single was released on the same day as ''C.L.L Crystal Lover Light'', "Shadows of Desire". Because of its release date it became Kay's first single to fail to chart. "Shadows of Desire" was Kay's first A-side to be sung entirely in English.
After a year-long period of inactivity, Kay returned to the music scene with the single "Lost Child". The single, which was a collaboration with Shinichi Osawa and Hiroshi Fujiwara was released on February 15, 2001 and reached number 55 on its debut week. Despite Kay only being credited as a featured artist on the song, it was still featured on her next album, ''637: Always and Forever''. Her fifth single "Girl's Night" came three months later on May 9, 2001. The single saw the introduction of urban influences in Kay's music. Despite this new style, the single peaked at number 100. One of the b-sides, "Make Me Whole" was a cover of the Amel Larrieux song of the same name. Kay's next single, "Ex-Boyfriend", was released on July 4, 2001. It featured rapper Verbal of M-Flo. The single was a success for Kay, peaking at number 44, and became her best selling single at the time of its release. Kay released her sophomore effort on August 22, 2001, ''637: Always and Forever''. The album became Kay's first album to reach the top twenty of the Oricon chart when it debuted at number 19, and sold 15,640 copies in its first week. Kay finished off 2001 with her seventh single, "Think of U", released on November 28, 2001. The single was Christmas-themed. It debuted and peaked at number 60.
"I Like It" peaked at number 8, becoming Kay's first top ten hit and eventually sold around 50,000 copies. Another single, "Candy" was released a month before her fourth studio album, ''4 Real'', on October 22, 2003. "Candy" debuted inside the top thirty of the Oricon charts at number 21, her fourth single in-a-row to do so. ''4 Real'' was released on November 27, 2003 along with Kay's thirteenth single, "Can't be Stopped". ''4 Real'' debuted at number 6 on the charts behind household names in Japan such as Aiko, Do As Infinity and Mika Nakashima and sold 86,310 copies in its first week.
Kay's debut English-language album, ''Natural: World Premiere Album'', was released about a month after ''4 Real'' on December 17, 2003. The album consists of English versions of some of Kay's tracks from previous albums and covers of a few popular songs, by artists such as Gladys Knight, Cyndi Lauper and Judy Garland. Despite its title, ''Natural: World Premiere Album'' was never released outside Japan. It is currently Kay's lowest selling album.
On May 12, 2004 released her fourteenth single, "Motherland", the first of two that year. "Motherland" was used as the third ending theme for the anime adaption of ''Fullmetal Alchemist''. It was the ending theme from episodes 26 to 41. The single debuted at number 9 on the Oricon chart, her second single to debut in the top ten. Just under two months after "Motherland", Kay released her first compilation album, ''CK5'', which was released on June 30, 2004, featuring a selection of tracks from Kay's four previous studio albums, as well as her latest single, "Motherland". The album celebrates Kay's fifth anniversary since the release of her debut single "Eternal Memories" in 1999, hence the title. ''CK5'' peaked at number 2 on the weekly chart and charted for 49 weeks, eventually being certified platinum by RIAJ. Another single, "Bye My Darling!" was released on November 17, and peaked at number 40 on the Oricon chart. It was Kay's final release of 2004.
The single "Kiss" started off 2005 for Kay. It was released on January 26, 2005 and peaked at number 10 on the Oricon chart. The single had longevity at eventually became her second best-selling single. "Kiss" was the CM song for NTT DoCoMo "Music Porter". "Kiss" was written by the same songwriter of the ballad "Yuki no Hana" by Mika Nakashima. Kay's fifth studio album, "Crystal Style" followed two months later on March 2, 2005. The album debuted at number 2 and sold 296,756 copies. The album became the 44th best-selling album of 2005 in Japan.
Kay released her seventeenth single, "Koi ni Ochitara", on May 18, 2005, which was used as the theme song for the drama ''Koi ni Ochitara: Boku no Seikō no Himitsu''. The single is currently the best-selling single of her career, selling 295,456 copies to date and Kay has stated that it changed the focus of her career away from R&B; and towards J-Pop. In its first week it sold 73,717 copies, in its second week it dropped to number 4 and sold 51,546 copies, and in the third week it fell one place to number 5, selling a further 38,302 copies. Kay's next single was a collaboration with the R&B; duo Chemistry called "Two as One". The single was released on October 5, 2005 and peaked at number 2 on the Oricon charts, much like "Koi ni Ochitara" earlier that year. "Two as One" was released as "Crystal Kay × Chemistry".
On February 8, 2006, Kay released "Kirakuni/Together", her nineteenth single and the second A-side to be sung entirely in English. This single was recorded in the U.S. with producers Jam & Lewis, who are known for working with the likes of Kay's idol Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey. Kay has stated that working with them was the personal highlight of her career and was landed on Kay as a surprise by her management. The recording took place over a hectic 3 nights in LA.
The second A-side "Together" was used as the theme song in Japan for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. The single debuted at number 27. Two weeks later Kay released her sixth studio album ''Call Me Miss...'' on February 22, 2006. In its first week, ''Call Me Miss...'' debuted at number 2 on the Oricon chart as well as number 9 on the World Album Chart, selling 116,050 copies that week. It has since been certified platinum by RIAJ and was the 50th best selling album of 2006 in Japan.
The album's theme was love. The track "Lonely Girl" was featured on the Japanese airings of the American dramatic television series ''Lost'' and featured on the soundtrack to the third series in Japan. The second track on "All Yours", "Dream World" was used to promote the "Barista's Special" for Tully's Coffee. The album debuted at number 1, selling 51,211 copies in its first week. "All Yours" became Kay's first number one release. The album has sold 136,841 copies and charted for nine weeks.
On November 28, 2007, Kay released her first EP, "Shining". The EP had a Christmas theme and featured the title track "Shining" as well as a second new track "Snowflake" and the previously released tracks "Happy 045 Xmas" and "No More Blue Christmas", originally featured on ''Natural: World Premiere Album''. It debuted at number 21 on the Oricon chart. "Shining" was used as the CM song for "PARCO X'MAS 2007" throughout the Christmas period. Kay also starred in the CM, in which she was seen "flying" on a reindeer.
thumb|left|250px|Crystal Kay at a radio station in 2008.On March 3, 2008 it was revealed that Kay was chosen to sing the theme song to the 2008 Pokémon film "Giratina to Sora no Hanataba: Sheimi". She also played the voice of "Nurse Joy's Chansey" in the film. The film's producers had apparently been considering the singer since 2001, when she sang "Lost Child" with Shinichi Osawa and Hiroshi Fujiwara for the soundtrack of the film "Satorare". As expected a single was released. However it was not the recently announced Pokémon theme song, but a different single entitled "Namida no Saki ni". "Namida no Saki ni" was released on June 11, 2008. It was Kay's first single in over a year, since the release of the single "Anata no Soba de" on May 16, 2007. "Namida no Saki" was used as the CM song for Tully's Coffee commercials throughout June 2008. This song exhibited a new, pop-rock sound for the singer. The single debuted at number 29 on the Oricon daily chart and eventually debuted at number 42 on the weekly chart. To date, the single has sold 3,587 copies. One month later on July 16, 2008, the Pokémon single, "One", was finally released. "One" debuted at number 25 on the daily chart and debuted at number 32 on the weekly chart, selling 2,237 copies. To date, "One" has sold 6,522 copies.
Kay graduated in Sociology from Sophia University in 2008, allowing her to concentrate on her career full time.
For her eighth studio album "Color Change!" Kay had songs produced by Bloodshy & Avant and Jam & Lewis. Kay had previously worked with Jam & Lewis in 2006. The album was released on August 6, 2008. The title "Color Change!" reflected from Kay's graduation from Sophia University that year. "Color Change!" peaked at number 6 on the Oricon daily chart and number 8 on the weekly chart, selling 15,519 copies in its first week. The album sold 33,290 copies after seven weeks on the charts. "Color Change!" was eventually certified gold by RIAJ. "Color Change!" was the 289th best selling album of 2008 in Japan.
On August 12, 2009, Kay released her twenty-fourth single, "After Love: First Boyfriend/Girlfriend". The single was announced on Kay's official website on July 1, 2009, which marks the tenth anniversary since the release of Kay's debut single in 1999. "After Love: First Boyfriend" features Kaname from the J-pop duo Chemistry. "After Love: First Boyfriend" is a follow up to Kay's 2003 single "Boyfriend: Part II" and used as the CM song for Tully's Coffee commercials throughout July 2009.
"After Love" was written by Craig McConnell and Canadian artist Shobha, with Japanese lyrics by Crystal Kay. "Girlfriend", featuring the Korean artist BoA with whom Kay is reportedly close friends, was used as the image song for the Japanese dubbed release of the feature film "He's Just Not That into You" starring Jennifer Aniston and Ben Affleck. The single's b-side, "Deaeta Kiseki", was released digitally in December 2008 and was also used as the CM song for Tully's Coffee that month. "After Love: First Boyfriend/Girlfriend" was Kay's second double A-side single, and her first since "Kirakuni/Together" in 2006. The single landed on the Oricon Daily Chart at peak position number 21 and on the Oricon Weekly Chart at number 31.
On September 2, 2009, Kay released her second compilation album, entitled "Best of Crystal Kay". The collection featured over thirty tracks from her discography. "Best of Crystal Kay" was also released with a "limited edition" disc containing four new songs, including "Step by Step", produced by Yasutaka Nakata of Capsule. It was used as the theme song for "Janguru Taitei" which aired from September 5, 2009. Another new song, entitled "Over and Over" will also be in the CD. It is currently used in a commercial for NTT's "Live On FLET'S". Kay did not star in this advert. "Over and Over" was produced by Taku Takahashi of M-Flo. The fourth track "Helpless Night" is a collaboration between Kay and Jin Akanishi of KAT-TUN and is performed almost entirely in English.
The collection debuted at number 2 on the Oricon Daily Chart, and sold almost 30,000 copies that day alone, and ultimately dropped to number 3 on the Weekly Chart, behind Superfly's ''Box Emotions'' and the second week sales of Arashi's ''All the Best! 1999-2009''. It sold 87,669 copies that week. This is Kay's best peak position on the Oricon Chart since since ''All Yours'' in 2007, as well as her best first week sales since ''Call me Miss...'' in 2006. Kay finished off the year by releasing her first remix album "The Best Remixes of CK" on December 16, 2006.
In 2010, Kay starred in her first role in a drama series. She played the character of Kokusho Akira, a genius hacker who has carried out many crimes all over the world in the Nippon Television drama ''Hidarime Tantei Eye'', which stars Hey! Say! JUMP member Ryosuke Yamada. The drama began airing on January 23, 2010.
On February 24, Kay released a brand new song, "Flash" on Recochoku Chaku-Uta. "Flash" was featured in the commercial for Canon IXY Digital cameras, which began airing on February 19. Kay also released a new song called "Victoria". It was being used as the commercial song for Tully's Coffee. Both of these new songs were featured in Kay's second mini album "Flash", which was released on June 16. The mini album also included a tribute to Michael Jackson, and a song written by Kay herself. She also released "Crystal Kay Live In NHK Hall: 10th Anniversary Tour CK10" on the same day. It will be her first concert DVD.
On June 22, it was revealed that Kay would sing both the opening and ending theme songs, "Time of Love" and "Cannonball" respectively, to the NHK drama ''Jūnen Saki mo Kimi ni Koishite'', starring Aya Ueto. The drama began airing on August 31. Kay will release her next single "Journey (Kimi to Futari de)" on November 24, followed by her ninth studio album on December 8.
In 2009 Kay stated that "There is still some racial thing going on, [but] people are getting used to it. You can see a lot more mixed people on TV, and even (among) models in magazines." At a summer festival that year half-Japanese half-Papua New Guinean singer Emi Maria left Kay a demo and a note saying "You're my idol, I'm sad I couldn't meet you in person."
Nevertheless Kay has commented, "I consider myself a Japanese artist because I was born and raised here, but nationality-wise I look, and am, foreign."
Studio albums
Remix albums
Extended plays
Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Child singers Category:English-language singers Category:Epic Records artists Category:Female singers Category:Japanese-language singers Category:People from Yokohama Category:People of African American descent Category:People of Korean descent Category:Pop singers Category:Rhythm and blues singers Category:Sony Music Japan artists Category:Sophia University alumni
de:Crystal Kay es:Crystal Kay fr:Crystal Kay ko:크리스탈 케이 it:Crystal Kay nl:Crystal Kay ja:Crystal Kay pt:Crystal Kay simple:Crystal Kay fi:Crystal Kay tl:Crystal Kay th:คริสตัล เคย์ zh:克莉絲朵·凱兒This text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.
Coordinates | 3°8′51″N101°41′36″N |
---|---|
name | As One |
background | group_or_band |
origin | South Korea |
genre | K-pop, R&B; |
years active | 1999–present |
label | EMI Korea |
current members | Min Young LeeCrystal Chae |
notable instruments | }} |
As One is a Korean pop duo consisting of Korean Americans Min Young Lee and Crystal Chae. Their first hit was the song "너만은 모르길," released in 1999 on Rock Records Between their fourth and fifth albums, their contract with Rock Records expired and they signed with EMI Korea; a label which also manages other k-pop stars like DJ DOC and Baby VOX. In late 2006, As One released their fifth album ''12 Tears of Farewell'', and started their promotional activities with the lead track "십이야" (''12 Nights'').
!Album # | !Album information | Tracklisting | ||
1st | ''Day By Day'' | *Released: November 25, 1999 | *Label: Rock Records | |
2nd | ''천만에요 (You're Welcome)'' | *Released: August 7, 2001 | *Label: Rock Records | |
3rd | ''Never Too Far...'' | *Released: March 13, 2003 | *Label: Rock Records | |
4th | ''Restoration'' | *Released: November 17, 2004 | *Label: Rock Records | |
5th | ''이별이 남기는 12가지 눈물 (12 Tears of Farewell)'' | *Released: November 17, 2006 | *Label: EMI Korea |
Category:South Korean girl groups Category:South Korean rhythm and blues musical groups
ko:애즈 원This text is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA License. This text was originally published on Wikipedia and was developed by the Wikipedia community.
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