Crystal Kay drops her music video for “Only One”. Her first video in a decade with some coin and production value behind it.

When Crystal Kay announced her new single and that it would come with a music video, I expected the worst. Because I cannot remember the last time Crystal Kay released a good music video. Maybe “Revolution”? Because she actually managed to have Namie Amuro agree to show up to the set and learn some choreo. That’s how you KNOW Namie actually liked Crystal. Because Namie wasn’t the type of bitch to just pull up for anybody. If I were Crystal, you wouldn’t be able to tell me shit.

HENNYWAY.

Crystal Kay’s music video for “Only One” is not only really, really good. It actually might be one of her best music videos.

In a nut shell, this video was just Crystal Kay walking around the streets of Seoul. And yet it felt so fun and vibrant. There was never a dull moment, because of how cool the shots were, the variation of locations and the editing. By comparison, Crystal Kay’s music video for “Nando Demo” had her walking through Tokyo, and that shit was very dull. A good creative team really does make all the difference.

I say this so often when it comes to music videos, but I will keep saying it because it’s true. And people who shy away from music videos because they feel they need early 2000s Hip-Hop Hype Williams budgets need to hear it. You do not need astronomical budgets for a good music video. You need a team of people with a great eye. A director who knows what they’re doing and a great creative director will go a really long way. Of course, some extra coin helps. But huge budgets are not the be all and end all of making a good music video.

Crystal Kay featuring Yoonmirae - Only One | Universal Music

This video was created by the music video company Zanybros. A South Korean studio who has produced / directed so many K-pop music videos. They’ve done videos for Kara, Super Junior, Mamammoo, Loona, Billlie, Blackswan, Ateez, T-ara, Weki Meki, Shinhwa, the group formerly known as (G)I-dle, F.T. Island, 4Minute, Monsta X, Crayon Pop, Shinee, Girls’ Generation. And that’s just to name a few. The client list is LONG and spans just about every K-pop entertainment company — big and small.

Despite working on music videos with big budgets, with SM and JYP having them on speed dial — they do work with smaller agencies and indie talent too. So, their production capacity seems pretty scalable, depending on the budget. But them having so much experience in music video production and their bread and butter being K-pop music videos definitely explains the sauce in this Crystal Kay music video.

There was no choreographed dance routine in this video — for a song which probably deserved one. And yet, I don’t feel that the music video was missing anything by not featuring one.

Crystal Kay cannot go back from this. She cannot. And if her team tells her anything different? Girl. Fire the whole management and marketing team.

Crystal Kay featuring Yoonmirae - Only One | Universal Music

Crystal Gay Kay really made this one for the lesbians. Because the way she was looking at Yoonmirae? And for Crystal to have been walking all that way looking for her boo, for us to discover that boo is a stud version of herself!?

This one was really for the LGBTC2DAKAY+.

Crystal Kay featuring Yoonmirae - Only One | Universal Music

But in all seriousness, I really do like the video ending with Crystal Kay having found herself, because that’s also how I feel about the song. It’s so nice to finally have a single from Crystal Kay which feels like HER and not the tepid bullshit that Universal was having her put out, which felt so unlike her.

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🎛️ CK mashups: Crystal Kay x Janet Jackson | Crystal Kay x Jordan Knight | Crystal Kay x Janet Jackson, AGAIN

💿 CK album reviews: C.L.L. ~Crystal Lover Light | 637 -Always & Forever- | Almost Seventeen | Crystal Style | 4Real | Call Me Miss... | All Yours | Color Change! | Spin the Music | Shine | Vivid | For You | I Sing | All Time Best 25th Anniversary

☕ CK tea: The ways Crystal Kay influenced and impacted J-R&B AND Japanese music that not enough people talk about