It’s finally happening. Crystal Kay is releasing a Best album

A promotional shot for Crystal Kay’s All Time Best 25th Anniversary — featuring Kay in front of a grey backdrop, in a black tank top and her hair in braids.

Y’all. It’s actually happening. Crystal Kay is releasing an album.

Okay. So it’s a Best album. But it’s still an album release and it’s better than nothing. And it’s an album release which JUST about makes sense for now. It woulda made more sense in 2024 — when Kay’s 25th anniversary was. I even went as far as to take it into my own hands and make a makeshift 25th anniversary Best album for her. But it’s better late than never. It’s absolutely crazy that Kay hasn’t released a physical album since I Sing in 2021.

One thing about Best albums is that the tracklists are always controversial, and the tracklist for All Time Best 25th Anniversary is certainly that. Not massively. But still controversial, because of the glaring omission of one song. And I’m sure y’all know which song before even looking at the tracklist.

Eternal Memories
Let’s Suika Dorobo
Lost Child (Original Version) Fujiwara Hiroshi + Osawa Shinichi featuring Crystal Kay
Ex-Boyfriend
Tsuki no Nai Yoru, Michi no Nai Basho (Re-recording)
Think of U
Hard to Say (MSG Version)
Boyfriend -Part II- (Re-recording)
I Like It Crystal Kay ❤ M-Flo
What Time Is It?
Kataomoi
Motherland
Kiss
Two as One Crystal Kay x Chemistry
Koi ni Ochitara (Re-recording)
Kitto Eien ni
Konna ni Chikaku de...
One (Re-recording)
Girlfriend Crystal Kay featuring BoA
Superman
Delicious na Kinyoubi
Forever
Kimi ga Ita kara
Revolution Crystal Kay featuring Namie Amuro
Nando demo
Lovin’ You
Play That
Shiawase tte
Watashitachi
I Love
Love Myself
Best Version of Me

What is it about “Kirakuni” which is making it so difficult to get it released worldwide? Kay’s non Japanese fans have been consistently asking about the availability of “Kirakuni” on streaming ever since her music hit Spotify and Apple Music in 2022 and many saw the song wasn’t available. And Kay herself has even acknowledged that “Kirakuni” isn’t available everywhere, interacting with comments on her Insta account which ask about it. She had even mentioned it to one of the writers and producers of the song on an Instagram Live — Mr. Jimmy Jam himself. If releasing the original recording of “Kirakuni” is such a legal nightmare, then why did Kay not just re-record it for this best album?

I can’t say I’m surprised that we are here in 2025 with a Best album which doesn’t feature one of Kay’s beloved songs. Not with that raggedy team she has. She needs to quote them a Janet, Jam & Lewis classic — ‘What have you done for me lately?’

Girl. Fire the whole management and marketing team.

A missing classic aside, All Time Best 25th Anniversary has a pretty decent tracklist. It’s a solid retrospective of Kay’s career, featuring enough of the classics and something from each album. I am tired of that damn MSG Remix of “Hard to Say”, but whatever. The only glaring omissions for me is the aforementioned “Kirakuni”, alongside “Candy”, “Can’t Be Stopped” and “Girl U Love”. It’s wild to me “Play That” was included over these songs. And that “Teenage Universe ~Chewing Gum Baby” was not included from Kay’s debut album, but “Tsuki no Nai Yoru, Michi no Nai Basho” and “Let’s Suika Dorobo” were — but at least the latter is a re-recording. And “Let’s Suika Dorobo” is one of my favourite songs from her debut, so I’m really keen to hear Kay sing it now. Especially with it not being a song she’s frequently performed.

The fact we’re getting re-recordings is really cool. I have been bangin’ on for years about how much I want Kay to release an album of self covers, because not only does her voice get so much better with time, but her relationship with her older songs also changes — both of which change how she sings them. Her recent performance of “Koi ni Ochitara” on Hanil Top Ten Show was so good, because of the vocal choices she made, which resulted in a very overplayed song feeling fresh. It’s a shame we didn’t get more re-recordings. I really coulda done with a re-recording of “Shorty and the EZ Mouse”. But at least we’re getting re-recordings at all, and of older songs from Kay’s Sony days. And I will still hold out for Kay releasing an album of self covers sooner than later, so we can hear more newer versions of older songs.

“Best Version of Me” is a brand new song. It really should be released as a promotional single with a tie-in within the next 4 weeks, but it probably won’t be. Some fans may be pissed at the lack of new songs on this Best album, but I’m fine with it. Unfortunately, Kay’s music over the past few years has been really patchy — so I’m fine to just revel in the nostalgia. And I think having four re-recordings offsets the lack of new songs.

All Time Best 25th Anniversary will also have DVD and Blu-ray limited edition variants, featuring Kay’s 25th anniversary show at KT Zepp Yokohama which was held in December of last year — a benefit of this album releasing this year instead of last. The show looked great from what I’ve seen of it and the inclusion of this alone makes All Time Best 25th Anniversary a sure fire purchase for me.

All Time Best 25th Anniversary releases physically and digitial on the 25th of June. Unfortunately my Crystal Kay x Janet Jackson and Crystal Kay x Miki Matsubara x Ariana Grande mashups will not be included.