CK5 explained

CK5
Type:compilation
Artist:Crystal Kay
Cover:CrystalKayCK5.jpg
Alt:A girl jumping into the air against a pink "5" background.
Recorded:1999–2004
Genre:Pop, R&B
Length:1:03:11
Language:Japanese, English
Label:Epic
Prev Title:4 Real
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:Crystal Style
Next Year:2005

CK5 is a compilation album by Japanese contemporary R&B singer Crystal Kay, released on June 30, 2004. It commemorates the five years since her debut as a musician in 1999.[1] On the same day, CK 99—04 Music Clips, a video album compiling her music videos was released.

Background

In 2001, Crystal Kay started to collaborate with the hip-hop/R&B group M-Flo, with Verbal featured on her single "Ex-boyfriend", and Taku Takahashi producing her singles "Hard to Say" (2002) and "Boyfriend (Part II)" (2003).[2] In 2003, Crystal Kay collaborated on with them on two singles, "Reeewind!" and "I Like It". November saw the release of an Asia-wide English language album Crystal Kay (released as Natural in Japan) and her fourth studio album 4 Real.

In May 2004, Crystal Kay released "Motherland", a ballad written for the anime Fullmetal Alchemist, which became her second top ten single.[3] In June, she announced on her official website that she had graduated high school.[4]

Contents

In April 2004, Crystal Kay's official site ran a poll to find out what the most popular songs of Crystal Kay's were for her fans. The resulting top 10 songs became the basis for the track list of CK5.[5] Three songs that were not on the list made it onto the album: "Motherland", which was the preceding single for the album, "Over the Rainbow", which was used in commercials for Tokyo Mode that featured Crystal Kay personally,[6] and "Lead Me to the End", which had been used as a theme song for a Fuji Television new years drama, Guchi 2.

The album compiles songs from her previously released studio albums, as well the single "Motherland". Half of the album is taken from her fourth studio 4 Real (2003) which had been released seven months ago, as well as two songs from Almost Seventeen (2002) ("Think of U" and "Hard to Say"), three from (2001) ("Ex-Boyfriend", "Tsuki no Nai Yoru, Michi no Nai Basho" and "Lost Child") and one from C.L.L Crystal Lover Light (2000), her debut single "Eternal Memories" (1999).

Promotion and release

The album was announced in early May, 2004.[7] To promote the release, Crystal Kay made appearances on radio stations throughout July, and was featured in magazines such as Nylon Japan, What's In?, CanCam, Blenda, Woofin and Teen Girl. On May 29, Crystal Kay made an appearance on the red carpet for the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2004.[8] On July 6, Crystal Kay performed an in-store acoustic live set at HMV Shibuya for 150 applicants who had purchased both the album and the DVD.[9]

The album's June 30, 2004 release is one day before the five year anniversary of "Eternal Memories", which was originally released on July 1, 1999.

Charts

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[11] 282,000<--281,952-->
RIAJ physical shipping certification[12] Platinum (250,000+)

Release history

RegionDateFormatDistributing LabelCatalogue codes
JapanCD, CD/DVD, digital downloadEpicESCL-2686, ESCL-2578~9
South Korea[13] [14] CD, Digital downloadSony Music2294281
Japan[15] CDEpicESCL-2686

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CK5(初回生産限定盤)(CCCD)(DVD付) . Amazon . September 14, 2014.
  2. Web site: 両者が〈loves〉に至るまで . Tower . June 27, 2003 . September 14, 2014.
  3. Web site: Crystal Kayのリリース一覧 . List of Crystal Kay's Releases . Japanese . . September 12, 2014.
  4. Web site: Message from CK (2004.6.18) . Japanese . Sony Music Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20040812014943/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/EPIC/artist/cry.html . August 12, 2004 . June 18, 2004 . September 14, 2014.
  5. Web site: デビュー5周年企画「Your Choice of CK's best」結果発表 (2004.5.12) . Japanese . Sony Music Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20040528075019/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/C-Kay/main/info.html . May 28, 2004 . May 12, 2004 . September 14, 2014.
  6. Web site: I LIKE IT . Japanese . Sony Music Japan . September 14, 2014.
  7. Web site: Crystal Kayデビュー5周年記念ベスト・アルバムをリリース . Tower . May 12, 2004 . September 14, 2014.
  8. Web site: http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/C-Kay/main/info.html . ja:最新メディア情報 (2004.6.8) . Japanese . Sony Music Japan . https://web.archive.org/web/20040528075019/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/C-Kay/main/info.html . May 28, 2004 . May 12, 2004 . September 14, 2014.
  9. Web site: Crystal Kay インストア・イベント出演 . Japanese . Vibe Net . June 28, 2004 . September 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140913194517/http://www.vibe-net.com/news/?news=0018670 . September 13, 2014 . dead .
  10. Web site: CK5 . Oricon . Japanese . September 14, 2014.
  11. Web site: オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 . Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' . . subscription . September 14, 2014.
  12. Web site: ja:ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2004年7月 . Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (July 2004) . http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200407.html . . Japanese . August 10, 2004 . February 15, 2014.
  13. Web site: CRYSTAL KAY - CK5 . Hot Tracks . Korean . September 14, 2014.
  14. Web site: CK5 . Bugs . Korean . September 14, 2014.
  15. Web site: CK5<通常盤> . . Japanese . September 14, 2014.