page_title: After School (group)
section_title: 2011: Virgin, line-up changes, Japanese debut and A.S. Red & Blue
hierarchical_section_title: After School (group) / History / 2011: Virgin, line-up changes, Japanese debut and A.S. Red & Blue
caption_attribution_description: English: After School at a concert in 2011. From left to right: Nana, E-Young, Lizzy, Raina, Kahi, Jungah, Juyeon.
context_page_description: After School, stylized as AFTERSCHOOL in Japan, is a South Korean girl group with an admissions and graduation concept formed by Pledis Entertainment. As of December 2019, After School only has one member under the label. According to the group's website however, Lizzy, Raina, E-Young and Kaeun are still members of the group.
  After School officially debuted in January 2009 with "AH!" from the single album New Schoolgirl. Following the addition of Uee in April of that year, they released "Diva", which won the "Rookie of the Month" award at the Cyworld Digital Music Awards. Pledis Entertainment then announced the graduation of Soyoung, before adding Raina and Nana for the release of "Because of You" in November 2009, which was an instant hit and became a commercial and critical success for the group, with the song winning a "triple crown" on Inkigayo and was the best selling song of December 2009, eventually becoming one of the best selling K-Pop singles of all time.
context_section_description: On January 27, Pledis Entertainment announced that they had signed a contract with Japanese record label AVEX TRAX for After School to begin activities in Japan by the end of March. After School started their Japanese activities by collaborating with Japanese R&B superstar Namie Amuro; featuring in the song "Make It Happen" for her collaboration album. This was the first release to include new member E-Young, who was previously revealed to the public during the group's performance of "Bang!" at SBS' Gayo Daejun on December 31, 2010. In March 2012, the song won Best Collaboration at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2012.
  After School's first studio album, Virgin, was released on April 29 with new member E-Young. The title track, "Shampoo", was composed by Japanese producer Daishi Dance, and the music video was released later that day. The music video for "Let's Step Up", the intro track on the album, featured After School performing a tap-dance routine, which was praised internationally by tap dancers such as Joseph Wiggan. After School began promotions for the "Shampoo" starting with KBS's Music Bank. Virgin was released in the Philippines on July 23, 2011, along with Bang! and Happy Pledis 1st Album, and it debuted at number one on the Philippines AstroChart, while Bang! debuted at number two and Happy Pledis 1st Album at number three.
  In June 2011, After School made a cameo as a female idol group, Pure, in the Korean horror film White: The Melody of the Curse. They performed segments of their hit song, "Bang!". On June 17, 2011, Pledis Entertainment announced that original member Bekah was to 'graduate' from After School after concluding promotions for Virgin. Bekah released her 'graduation' song "Take Me to the Place" on July 11. In July, Pledis Entertainment announced that After School would separate into two sub-units, A.S. Red & Blue as part of the group's second comeback project for the year, with the units releasing "In the Night Sky" and "Wonder Boy" respectively. On July 9, After School held their second official Korean fan meeting at Sookmyung Women's University. 'Graduate' Bekah joined the fan meeting.
  Prior to their official debut in Japan, After School held a showcase in Japan at Akasaka BLITZ in Tokyo on July 17, 2011, selling out tickets within one minute. After School officially debuted in Japan on August 17 with the release of their first Japanese single, "Bang!", which peaked at number seven on the Oricon Weekly Chart. After School also participated in the prestigious 'a-nation' concert tour as part of their Japanese promotions. After School's second Japanese single, "Diva", was released on November 23. The single was accompanied with a new Japanese song called "Ready to Love".
  Happy Pledis 2011 was released on December 1 and featured all Pledis artists, including Son Dam-bi and pre-debut NU'EST (then called Pledis Boys). A portion of the "Happy Pledis" earnings were donated to UNICEF, and the album was also a gift to the fans. The group also partnered with Shibuya 109 for a Christmas advertising campaign. After School ended the year by headlining the MTV EXIT live concert along with American band The Click Five on December 17, 2011 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
caption: After School in December 2011
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