Crystal Kay performs “Jailhouse Rock” for the Japanese release of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis

Crystal Kay made an appearance at an event celebrating the release of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis film.

For those who don’t know, whenever a big movie releases in Japan, we often get these events where the cast and the directors of a film will pull up on stage and do interviews, and there is usually a Japanese celebrity in attendance. We also get shit like this for product tie-ins. Japanese companies will hold a whole ass event for the release of a drink, a new pair of Uniqlo skinny jeans, or some new flavour of Pocky, and they will have a celeb just stand on stage with the shit and smile.

I always find these events for films so bizarre, because you end up with who are seemingly random Japanese celebrities with no real connection to a film or the stars of it, appearing on stage with them. Seeing Kyary Pamyu Pamyu on stage with Keanu Reeves for the release of one of those John Wick films sure was something.

Hey. At least these Japanese celebs be getting paid. Issa gig. And it ain’t like Kyary or Crystal are making yen from album sales.

Even with me knowing how random tie-in’s and celebrity appearances in Japan can be, shit like this still makes me cock my head and ask ‘Why?’.

HENNYWAY.

We got to see Crystal Kay in a suit, with a quiff, performing the Elvis hit “Jailhouse Rock”.

She was giving more Little Richard than Elvis, which made me chuckle. Because...well. If you know, you know.

Another J-pop star stepping out in an ill fitting pink suit.

This was actually a good gig and some exercise for Crystal, given that she will be returning to Broadway to reprise her role as The Leading Player for the second Japanese run of Pippin this Summer. It really is a shame that the Japanese run of Hairspray didn’t happen back in 2020. Although it may have been for the best. Because Naomi Watanabe woulda absolutely been dragged for calling Crystal a negro.

I’m still really baffled by Crystal’s team not making a bigger thing of Crystal covering songs. It’s felt like all Crystal has done since releasing her 2021 cover album is sing other people’s songs. But not once have I seen Universal give it another push. No new music video for a song off the album. No re-release of the album with the songs Crystal has been out and about covering. But watch Universal have Crystal put out the follow-up ‘I Sing Again’ in 10 years time, featuring covers of Ayumi Hamasaki’s “Evolution”, BTS’ “Dynamite” and Elvis’ “Jailhouse Rock”, at a point when nobody wants it.

It’s a shame that Austin ‘Movie Elvis’ Butler wasn’t able to be present for this Elvis movie press stint. I think he and Crystal performing together could have been pretty cute, and woulda caught the attention of folk outside of Japan wondering who that woman was eating up Austin.

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🎤 Some CK Performances: Halftime show in Washington, D.C (2022) | Crystal Kay as Miss Television on The Masked Singer Japan (2021) | Singing a little BTS and Hikaru Utada on Sukatto Japan (2021) | Bits of Crystal Xmas (2020) | A living room performance (2020) | CK10 tour (2009)