"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. 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 group's 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.
Music video The music video for "Heaven", directed by Tanabe Hidenobu, 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
Chart performance
Oricon chart ReleasedOricon ChartPeakDebut salesSales totalOctober 2, 2013Daily Singles Chart6 18,596 (weekly) 19,884+Weekly Singles Chart7Monthly Singles Chart32Yearly Singles Chart364
Billboard charts ChartPeakpositionBillboard Japan Hot 100 28Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales 13Billboard Japan Hot Top Airplay 40Billboard 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