Elevating the Beat: How After School Leveled Up Performances with a Game-Changing Production

[@CaroVIXX]

After School was such a one-of-a-kind group, going through literal bruises for both Bang and First Love. I have so much respect for them!

[@jayrossxo]

This era in Kpop was iconic. I remember being so shocked to see a kpop group utilize drumming as apart of their choreo and no group has ever done that! It was and is still refreshing! Whew, being able to witness Afterschool while promoting was a time. I always looked forward to their comebacks because you never know what they'll do next. One of my top fav groups honestly & Kahi did a superb job in leading this group!

[@24chibimanga]

I remember the first time I watched Bang. I was thinking that the drummers were probably professional drummers hired for the mv and promotions, but then later found out it was the girls themselves. I was absolutely blown away. The dedication and time it took to master drumming, I'd never seen anything like it in another kpop group. Truly an icon!

[@romuloduarte4631]

Don’t forger Let’s step up.

[@anseatery]

I have so much respect for this group! I thought they were super cool as a child (when they were active), but now that I'm an adult, I respect them even more! They chose to sacrifice popularity for artistic integrity, and I really appreciate that. Bang & First Love were risky projects, but they pulled them off beautifully.

[@Andy-ne5qi]

I have a terrible memory so i didnt think that i knew that many After School songs (like b-sides), till i went through their full discography and realized that their albums were literally the soundtrack to my teenage years. They were probably the 2nd gen group with the most songs that i liked. It was such an odd time to be an international kpop fan, because a lot of the content was inaccessible from the language barrier, so I never figured out what happened to them after i got into college and work and had no time kpop.

[@yinxayame]

Thank you for this. After School will always remain as legends, I'm so mad at Pledis for the poor management, being such amazing performer's not even their own company seemed to appreciate the talent 😢

[@Dervis128]

I miss when groups had a distinct concept like After School. Its rare that a song these days has such a distinct and recognizable sound and style. When you think "After School" you immediately think about those majorette outfits and that chanting chorus in Bang! Its iconic. These days, girls just wear as many name brands as possible and they all end up looking the same. Nobody stands out like After School. The next song you should dissect is Exid's Up and Down. I think it was one of the first songs to be released, flop, get a second chance, and shoot to number one several months later. It was Rollin before Rollin.

[@decide2think]

SA also showed us how they could tap dance (Let's Step Up), dance with canes (Rip Off), and pole dance (First Love). They were an impressive Kahi led group with great talent variety whether as a whole group vs Red, Blue, or Orange!!

[@mangojelly23]

MY QUEEENS FINALLYYYY no but fr, this generation of girl groups boom is amazing, but 2009's girl groups boom was something else 👌it's literally what got me into kpop

[@Thallmador]

I’m so glad I got grow up with this group. Being a Playboyz was the best thing in the world. Went from UEE stan during DIVA then NANA took over my life, also The graduation system was iconic. Also when the mv for shampoo came out it was the best gift playgirlz and playboyz could have gotten. I REMEBR crying my aaahh off when I saw it. Also i think Raina is the most underrated vocals in Kpop. Her range is crazy and she has such an angelic voice.

[@AsmoGhoul]

FINALLY After School!!!

[@dondizm2678]

The release was also untimely with the ferry incident. This was such a gem and I am glad I took part in the relase weeks watching every chart and performance.

[@ninaf813]

Wait this is kinda ironic, I just found out this morning that they announced their official disbandment yesterday (8/29) the day after this video was posted lol

[@AngelaChan97]

WTH i was just watching their reunion performances yesterday and i was jamming to bang only to open the subscription feed and find this new upload i feel like midnight theories lives in my mind

[@simply_woozis]

thank you for giving my girls a space of their own! as a fan myself, I love bang! to the core. we have to thank kahi for pushing her agenda to create AS, she's the real mastermind! i'm so happy this song is finally getting the spotlight it deserves; it has everything, powerful vocals, an amazing yet intricate choreography, so much charisma and the talent of the girls. I'll be waiting patently for a deep dive on AS' career! loved this

[@RosePhantoma]

im actually reallu sad that pledis is leaving after school in limbo, especially since nana is the only member who renewed her contract with them. they could have done so much more (so could orange caramel) if pledis hadn't abandoned them

[@madhattergodess]

I miss this group so much. Thank you for enlightening people on this one of a kind group.

[@zhisu2665]

the talking start of bang! tortures me to this day but the song is still a certified banger

[@vlmschk]

we really need to talk about this era more. like this was PRODUCTION

[@ryzalchung8976]

I think After School is the first group who's introduced & what's sub-unit (After School Red & Blue and who could forget Orange Caramel). When I first watched their performance of Bang in Music Bank it's something fresh in K-pop industry during that era. Then everybody looking forward to their next comeback and figuring what new surprises After School will show the fans. And yes After School did show us by doing tap dance for their comeback song "Shampoo". For their "First Love" comeback, they makes everyone jaws open by doing pole dance as part of their performance. It's really a damn awesome choreography, they had to cover their bruises using fake tattoos from intense training.

[@kpopahjussi]

Always loved this one. Especially Raina's power vocals!!

[@gwenmloveskpopandmore]

Finally it’s here!! My fave songs by them are Ah, Diva, Because of You (DKB’s 2021 Comeback All In is actually a remake of it since it’s a Brave sound song), and ofc Bang (I loved DKB’s cover on it on peak time)

[@dondizm2678]

Thank you for honoring our AS Girls ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ralsie4724]

PLEASE BROWN EYED GIRLS

[@zhisu2665]

second this.

[@Tinykooandmikey]

This song is INTEGRAL TO KPOP? Wow! I can't believe it. It all makes perfect sense that Bang led to this type of performances groups such as BTS do, but with backup dancers. Meanwhile. there are songs that would be in the series that are worth talking about: • How "Seven" by BTS' Jungkook differs from the sound his group makes • How "The Boys" by Girls Generation pave the way for K-Pop • How "Wait 10 Years Baby" by Six Bomb became infamous • Why netizens dispise "Sticker" by NCT 127

[@toyland12]

I'm so glad you covered this in your usual detailed way. I have a love / hate relationship with the song as it was innovative and iconic yet very cringe worthy at the same time. I felt it could have been so much better yet I felt almost privileged to see the girls reunite with Kahi to perform it around 2015, knowing that she was the driving force behind the concept. I'm looking forward to your deeper dive into After School and Orange Caramel. I already learned a lot about their Japanese debut that I didn't know. It kind of explains why the ended their careers there instead of Korea.

[@silque575]

the intro from the bang cb always hits! their overall cb is iconic!!!

[@escritora84]

Thank you for this video! My younger sisters were AS stans and I remember this being played constantly whenever I went home, it was wild. After School will forever be the best performance group by far, they really set the standard for kpop. I wish Pledis had done better by them, they made that company.

[@AzazelCodex]

Awesome essay on "Bang" leading up to your After School Video Midnight 😊 I loved how you went into detail with their cool costumes and merch 😎

[@ozoz3444]

I'm still mad at Pledis for letting After School AND Orange Caramel fall into obscurity.

[@Serra_Sarah]

thank you for mening morning musume with the graduation concept and i love your vids keep it up

[@alien_fairy1973]

Mixing genres were prevelant in 90s and 00s before after school and it's called SMP genre in SM groups: h.o.t - iyah!, TVXQ - triangle ft BoA, TVXQ - Rising Sun, TVXQ - Oh Jung Bap, EXO - MAMA, aespa - Girls, BoA - Girls on Top, Shinhwa - TOP

[@jebipop]

bang is one of my favorite songs of all time!!! it's so good

[@midorijewel9983]

Honestly, After School would have been so big!!! They had everything and the potential! But pledis*t doesn't know how to promote girl groups, they don't learn from their past mistakes, I miss the girls a lot, it makes me sad that one of the members even asked when they are going to do comeback yet they didn't listen to them :( I hate pledis*it sm!! 😢😢😭😭

[@midorijewel9983]

I miss after school sm!!! Love their songs so muchhh ♡

[@soda8665]

the very first girl group i ever fell in love with. thank you for introducing them to a new generation of fans

[@iGotBulletproof-Insomnia]

Do you think you could do a discussion on graduation groups and their success/failure? I don't think there had been too many, I can only think of Afterschool, a second girl group whose name escapes me, and I believe NCT Dream was originally supposed to be one as well. It's an interesting concept imo, but i can also see why it isnt very popular, fans get attached to members kind of quickly, and no one really wants to see their favored members actually leave.

[@ManofSteele221]

After School is one of my all-time favorite groups still to this day!! I can't wait for your next video on them!!❤

[@dondizm2678]

This is my favorite kpop song of all time! Thank you so much!!!! 😭😭💓💓💓💓

[@eDRoaCH]

the "not to exaggerate or anything" line really got me 😆

[@Phuwin-Lover]

Wow bring backs memories I was such a huge fan of Uee

[@KatStawp]

Her new drama starts on the 16th ;)

[@alexia9wice660]

Bang is such a good song

[@Vanilla_Baker44]

I just wanted to compliment you on the music you chose to put in your videos. It is amazing. I wish you would do a tutorial.

[@girlsxinyuism]

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO COVER AFTERSCHOOL OMH

[@riila9231]

I was just listening to Ah then got on YT and saw this on my feed I loved UEE ever since I saw her in High Society

[@juliansbackup2060]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH I BEEN WAITING FOR THISSSSS

[@NyAppyMiku22]

Love your videos so much!~ ❤❤ This song is so iconic!~ You do a great job of breaking down and covering these songs~ Looking forward to you covering orange caramel songs!~ 🧡🧡 I did a cover of bang about 11 years ago~ and this has made me so nostalgic for those old Kpop days~ 💕💕

[@xander6006]

YAZZZ TYSM

[@Cosmic92929]

Omg After School is the best! I miss them!!! 😍

[@Betakitten87]

Yessss I love working out to this song 😂

[@maiamameli]

Yeeeessss!!! I loved them! 💕💕💕

[@hallab3747]

Damn, its always going the be a wonder why bang did not receive all the love in 2010. I was so frustrated that time. They did achieve a lot but i did feel that they should have more

[@Kitchel17]

I miss After School. K-pop today doesn't hit the same.

[@kurzweber3041]

After School Kpop's Pussycat Dolls!

[@rossmolina1638]

Me Gustas Tu please 🥺

[@wjddml]

I am still mad at how Pledis threw these girls under the bus

[@Nesekarakurt9082]

Nana❤

[@jumpdumppyy]

Wa$$up def needs an analysis 😅

[@coquita2601]

after school are amazing!!! i only discovered them since their reunion performances

[@worstpersonwalkingtheearth]

its crazy how people are okay listening to modern kpop when music like this exists

[@worstpersonwalkingtheearth]

im aware its entirely different, people seem to just like shallow raps and noisy instrumentals

[@elmin82]

good video

[@dcrvln264]

Oh man I loved them so much! Too bad they got such an awful timing when releasing bang, it could have been on of their biggest releases ever

[@yellowstar3335]

pixy

[@ogabrielalbar]

Something about GFriend. Maybe Rough.

[@t_t1048]

First

[@CSJAD]

Second