The album debuted at number one on the Circle Album Chart with over one million copies sold in its first week of release, becoming Ive's third number-one album. It has since been certified million by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for selling 1,000,000 units. For the album, Ive was awarded New Artist of the Year in the physical category at the 12th Circle Chart Music Awards.
On July 24, 2022, Starship Entertainment announced that Ive would be releasing their third single album, After Like, on August 22.[1] On August 1, a promotional video titled "I've Summer Film" was released.[2] Six days later, the promotional scheduled was released.[3] On August 7, the track listing was released, with "After Like" confirmed as the lead single.[4] The music video teaser for "After Like" was released on August 19,[5] followed by the album's highlight medley video on August 21.[6]After Like was released alongside the lead single's music video on August 22.[7]
After Like consists of two tracks that incorporate elements of nu-disco.[8] Lead single "After Like" is a pop and house song that samples "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor with lyrics about "showing your love methods with actions rather than your heart".[9][10] The second track, "My Satisfaction", was described as a dance-pop song with a "heavy beat".[8]
After Like debuted at number one on South Korea's Circle Album Chart in the chart issue dated August 21–27, 2022, with over 1 million copies sold.[11] On the year-end Circle Album Chart, it was the 10th best-selling album of 2022, having sold 1,652,402 album copies overall and the third best-selling album by a female artist in the chart on 2022.[12]
Carmen Chin from NME gave After Like a 4 out of 5 star rating, describing the single album as a "fitting third chapter" in Ive's musical journey that sees them "blossom as young women well-accustomed to the nuances of love, all while developing their own signature sounds and visual concepts." She praised the single "After Like" as a "powerful, elegant confessional anthem" that combines a nu-disco sound with the group's "dulcet harmonies". Chin found that the B-side track "My Satisfaction" deviated from the group's usual sound with a "gruffer, richer cadence" that did not threaten their "chic brand" but rather added "new depth" to their image.[8]
^Lee, Seung-hoon (July 25, 2022). "'하이틴 퀸' 아이브, 8월 22일 컴백..'애프터 라이크'로 3연타 도전[공식]" ['Teen Queen' Ive, comeback on August 22nd.. 3rd consecutive hit challenge with 'After Like' [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Soo-jin (August 1, 2022). "아이브X정세랑 이색 콜라보 'I'VE SUMMER' [공식]" [Ive X Jeong Se-rang's Unique Collaboration 'I'VE SUMMER' [Official]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Ji-hye (August 6, 2022). "아이브, '러브 다이브' 역주행 속 스케줄러 공개..컴백 초일기" [Ive's 'Love Dive' scheduler revealed while running in reverse..First diary of comeback]. Herald Pop. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee, Min-ji (August 8, 2022). "아이브, 신보 '애프터 라이크' 트랙리스트 공개...서지음과 또 한 번" [Ive's new album 'After Like' tracklist released...Seo Ji-eum and once more] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Moon, Wan-sik (August 22, 2022). "아이브, 오늘(22일) 컴백..'MZ 워너비 아이콘' 굳히기" [Ive, comeback today (22nd)..solidifying 'MZ Wannabe icon'] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Soo-jin (August 22, 2022). "'컴백' 아이브, 'After LIKE' 광풍 어게인! 아이브가 아이브했다" ['Comeback' Ive, 'After LIKE' Craze Again! Ive was Ive] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Oh, Yoon-joo (August 19, 2022). "아이브, 쿨하고 섹시하게...장원영 핑크 헤어 '파격 비주얼'" [Ive, cool and sexy...Jang Won-young's pink hair 'extraordinary visual'] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Sang-geun (August 21, 2022). "'컴백' 아이브 '애프터 라이크' 틱톡 선공개 '챌린지 열풍 기대'" ['Comeback' Ive's 'After Like' TikTok pre-release 'Expect the challenge craze'] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seul (February 18, 2023). "뉴진스·아이브, 신인상..."꿈만 같은 한 해" [써클차트 뮤직 어워즈]" [New Jeans·Ive, Rookie of the Year..."A year like a dream" [Circle Chart Music Awards]] (in Korean). X-port News. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^"After Like" (in Korean). Kakao Entertainment. Starship Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Melon.
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