[DISCUSSION] After School's "Diva" -- Korean vs. Japanese versions

Hi everyone!

In anticipation for the next #SONGDAZE (which is coming, but not so soon -- we want to give everyone time for one hype at a time, and right now, that's the Valentine's Giveaway), I wanted to open up a discussion about the two very different styles of Diva After School showcased for the Korean and Japanese markets.

What are the key differences you observe? How much of it do you think has to do with the tailoring it to fit the Japanese market, and how much of it could be dependent on member changes?

And just an extra question -- which do you personally prefer?

I'm going to start off talking about the key differences between the music videos first.

The Japanese Diva MV has a dark atmosphere while the Korean MV is colourful and bright. I don't think the Japanese music video cares too much about fashion as I think those pink skirts look horrible especially with those black latex tops. Apart from their poor fashion sense, Avex's fashion stylists seem to lack creativity as well since all the costumes in the Japanese Diva are the same. In the Korean Diva they wore different clothes form each other and I think those bright colours looks great on them. The concept of the Korean Diva MV seems to be about a group of girls going to different places around town laughing, acting goofy, playing and having fun. The concept of the Japanese Diva music video seems to be....I have no idea. I don't think there is really a concept, the MV for the Japanese Diva seems like a low budget, poorly conceive video put together to make some quick bucks.

I don't think any of what I just said has anything to do with Avex tailoring the MV to fit the Japanese market or member changes. What I think is going on is the Avex guys are just bad at their jobs(or don't care) and being too cheap to create a quality MV for the fans because most of the money will come from their album sales.

The choreography in the Japanese MV is very different to that of Korean performances. A key difference I noticed between the two choreographies is that the hand swinging move in the Korean version is replaced with a hand twisting move in the Japanese version. Also during Bekah's rap in the Korean version she does some chest popping and hip twisting but when Lizzy does it in the Japanese version all she does is walk to the front and weakly shakes her hips. I think Korean Diva choreography looks more fun.

As for the song. One of the main difference I noticed straight away about the Japanese Diva is that overall the song seems to be higher pitched than the Korean Diva. Their voices in the Japanese Diva were more girly/cuter while the voice in the Korean version sounds more mature and natural. The synth "diva diva di di di diva" in the Japanese version is another key difference and really irritates me. Bekah's rapping being replaced by Lizzy and Kahi is another key difference between the two versions. With Bekah gone, the Japanese version doesn't have the fierceness and sass to it the Korean version had. Another key difference between the Japanese and Korean versions is the synth overlay during the dance break in the Japanese version. Also in the Japanese version Raina performs the high notes that Jung Ah performs in the Korean versions.

I think a majority of it was tailored to fit the Japanese market. I think Avex wanted After School to have a more of a girly/cuter image. The fact that the song sounds cuter and more girly may have something to do with the addition of Raina, Nana, Lizzy and E-young. Although I think if Avex really cared even with the addition of these newer members they could have made the songs sound less girly/cute. If Pledis can do it I don't see why Avex can't.


I personally prefer the Korean one. I like the music video better, I like the choreography better and I like the song better. I like almost nothing about the Japanese Diva. The only thing I like about the Japanese Diva is a couple of things I thought was funny. In the Japanese MV Jung Ah's hair is in her mouth at 1:28 and a during 1:15 to 1:17 Jung Ah start of smiling until she nearly knocks into kahi while transitioning behind Kahi and Jung Ah has a "Watch it!" expression on her face.

You want to know a secret? I like this version the best!   



I really do, but honestly I listen to all three versions of Diva just as much. Both KOR versions and the Jap version are songs I listen to at least once a week. This little mix is just a really nice piece and I think it was made really well.  

The Korean version. Bekah's rapping and Jung-Ah's bridge made it for me.

I always prefer the original Korean version, but I still enjoy the Japanese version as well

I personally don't like the differenent dance move they put in the Japanese version when they sing "Diva, Diva, Diva"

I like the Japanese version best.

Korean Version for sure! It has a unique sound than the robotic Japanese Version.
And it has Bekah in it.

I like the Korean version better, is one of the BB's songs I trully like.

The Japanese version:

I love the pink tu-tus, I know everyone else hates those, but I loved those back in the day and I still do. The thing is I don't like the rest of the outfit. At all.

The PV is too plain.

The music isn't bad, but the robotic voice coder saying "Diva" all the time is annoying.

They could've have tried a more dance/euro-dance version for the Japanese market, as they're more used to that than what BB's did with the original, but they went with a softer version. However, I know they needed to change the rhythm a little like they did with Bang! so the language would fit the instrumental better.