Heaven (After School song)

"Heaven"

CD only edition cover
Single by After School
from the album Dress to Kill
B-side Crazy Driver
First Love
Released September 25, 2013 (Digital only)
(see release history)
Format Maxi single, digital download
Recorded 2013
Genre Disco, dance
Label Avex Trax
Writer(s) Mutsumi
Producer(s) Shinichi Osawa
After School Japanese singles chronology
"Lady Luck/Dilly Dally"
(2012)		 "Heaven"
(2013)		 "Shh"
(2014)

Heaven is the fifth Japanese single from South Korean girl group After School. The single was released physically on October 2, 2013, but was released digitally on September 25, 2013.[1] The track is produced by Shinichi Osawa. This is the first Japanese release with new member Kaeun, and the first Japanese release without former leader Park Kahi.

Background

After releasing the groups fourth single in June 2012, the group focused on preparing for their Korean comeback in June 2013 with "First Love," which later becomes the second b-side for "Heaven." In August, the group announced it would return to Japan with its fifth single, "Heaven," to be released in October. The single is to be released in three versions: CD only edition (Type C), CD & DVD edition (Type A) and CD & Photobook (Type B) edition. The photobook edition includes photos of After School by the Harajuku-based photographer Yonehara Yasumasa, who also produced the album arts.[2]

Music video

The music video for Heaven, directed by Tanabe Hidenobu,[3] was released on August 24, 2013. The music video opens with members' pole dancing, a skill they learned for their Korean promotions of First Love. The video then transitions into first person perspective of a man who gets up from the floor as if becoming sober. The video transitions into clips of After School, suggesting the man is reminding himself of preceding events. After the dance break, the video returns to the perspective of the man, who is shown to dine and drink. After it shows the choreography once again, the video proceeds into rapid scene changes, which ends with the man falling on the floor in the room, whose lights are turned out.

Track listing

CD+DVD and CD+Photobook edition:
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Heaven"  MutsumiShinichi Osawa 4:41
2. "Crazy Driver"  MutsumiLubo Slavicek 3:27

Chart performance

Oricon chart

Released Oricon Chart Peak Debut sales Sales total
October 2, 2013 Daily Singles Chart 6 18,596 (weekly) 19,884+
Weekly Singles Chart 7
Monthly Singles Chart 32
Yearly Singles Chart 364

Billboard charts

Chart Peak
position
Billboard Japan Hot 100 28
Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales 13
Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay 40
Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay 43

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Japan September 25, 2013 Digital download Avex Trax
October 2, 2013 CD single

References

  1. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/heaven-single/id703394591?l=en
  2. ↑ "AFTERSCHOOL、大沢伸一プロデュース米原康正撮影の新作" [After School's New Work is Produced by Osawa Shinichi and Shot by Yonehara Yasumasa]. Natalie (in Japanese). 19 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "AFTERSCHOOL 大沢伸一プロデュース新曲初披露＆妖艶MV公開" [AFTERSCHOOL's New Song Produced by Osawa Shinichi Debuts and Sexy PV Revealed]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 26 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Discography | AFTERSCHOOL Japan Official Web Site". Avex Marketing. 2013-08-21. Retrieved 2013-08-21.