Joined: 07 Feb 2007 {Posts: 1829 } Location: Lookin DC Metro, Feelin Geneva
Posted: Thu 23 Apr 2009 12:49 Post subject: Crystal Kay
Quote:
Born and raised in Japan to an African American father who was a bassist from New Jersey and a third-generation Zainichi (born in Japan) 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.
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.
My favorite song by her, "I like It" M-Flow Remix:
In Japan she is referred to racially as "hafu" (Half) as mixed race people are called and I have never heard her object to this. She has spoke about being mixed race and said although she is half Korean/American she feels mostly Japanese although she thinks her personality changes when she is speaking English with Americans or when she is in America (her parents are still married and she often travels to America to see family). She does not speak Korean to my knowledge (likely her mother doesn't either). I would say most Japanese people would not treat her as Japanese, due to appearance and when they found out she is half Korean, definitely not, however she is quite popular in Japan with people about 30 and under.
In Japan it is odd, if your father is Japanese and you can "pass" for Japanese (roughly) in appearance and action then you will be treated as such. If you look different, if you act different or your mother is Japanese how you will be treated varies a lot. I'm not saying you will automatically be treated poorly, most people will be polite to you, but they will view you as an "outsider" and you will be discriminated against at times, but not out of hatred, more out of the fact that people feel "you don't belong".
Joined: 07 Feb 2007 {Posts: 1829 } Location: Lookin DC Metro, Feelin Geneva
Posted: Thu 23 Apr 2009 20:06 Post subject:
G-Man wrote:
She's very easy on the eyes....And speaks good English too.
Yeah, my wife said she speaks better Japanese than she does. Well my wife is from a rural province so they have a dialect. I call her a "brown neck" (Asians turn brown when they tan). Anyway, Too young for you G-man.
That's good enough for me....If the current president of Turkey could marry a teenager when he was well into his 30s, I can "swoop" and young blackanese like Crystal Kay.
'
FAQ
Search
Register
Log in
Well my wife is from a rural province so they have a dialect. 
I call her a "brown neck" (Asians turn brown when they tan). Anyway, Too young for you G-man.