B4-4 Explained
| B4-4 |
| Alias: | Before Four |
| Origin: | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genre: | Pop, teen pop |
| Years Active: | 19992004 |
| Label: | Sony Records |
| Associated Acts: | RyanDan |
B4-4, later known as Before Four (both stylized in lowercase), was a Canadian boy band from Toronto, Ontario. The band was composed of twins Ryan and Dan Kowarsky,[1] along with Ohad Einbinder.[2] They were signed to Sony Records and achieved commercial success in Canada and later toured as Before Four in Germany.[3]
As B4-4
The Kowarskys and Einbinder were friends for several years before the group officially formed in 1998. After an audition for Mike Roth of Toronto's Sony Records studios, they were signed to the label. They also signed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV.[4]
In 2000, they released their self-titled debut album.[5] B4-4 achieved success in Canada with the single "Get Down" and its accompanying video,[6] [7] [8] and later "Go Go". Other releases included "Everyday", and "Ball and Chain". The album was certified Platinum in Canada.[9]
In the summer of 2001, B4-4 joined Snow, Wave and soulDecision on the YTV PsykoBlast Tour[10] and opened for Destiny's Child on MTV's Total Request Live Tour.[11] They were also nominated for Best New Group at the 2001 Juno Awards. Also in 2001, they starred in the episode Howlin' with B4-4 in the TV series Eddy the Eco-Dog Unleashed.[12]
As Before Four
Following their success in Canada, the trio B4-4 headed to Germany, signing with Universal Music / Polydor under the name Before Four.[13] In 2003, they released their second album, In Your Face.[14] That album generated three singles: "Player (You're My Ecstasy)", "I'll Be There" and "Feel Free (To Say No)".
B4-4 disbanded in 2004. Ryan and Dan Kowarsky went on to form the vocal, musical, songwriting and producing duo RyanDan.
In 2021, "Get Down" was used as a Lip Sync for Your Life number in episode 7 of Canada's Drag Race second season, with which Gia Metric won her Lip sync competition.[15]
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak | Notes |
|---|
| CA | GER |
|---|
| 2000 | B4-4
| | | CAN: Platinum |
| 2003 | In Your Face- Released:
- 30 June 2003 (General edition)
- 30 June 2003 [Limited German Special "(Tank) Topped Up" Edition]
- 17 Nov 2003 (Special Edition)
- Label: Polydor, Universal Music
- Format: CD
| | | Limited Edition released only in Germany | |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
|---|
CAN
[16] [17] | GER | AUT | SUI |
|---|
| 2000 | "Get Down" | 4 | — | — | — | b4-4 |
| "Go Go" | 21 | — | — | — |
| "Everyday" | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | "Ball and Chain" | — | — | — | — |
| "Endlessly" | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | "Player" | — | 29 | — | — | In Your Face |
| "I'll Be There" | — | 11 | — | 57 |
| "Feel Free (To Say No)" | — | 8 | 50 | — |
|
Music videos
!Year!Single!Album| 2000 | Get Down | b4-4 |
| Go Go |
| Everyday |
| 2003 | Player | In Your Face |
| Feel Free (To Say No) | |
See also
External links
Notes and References
- https://www.simcoe.com/whatson-story/3905891-twins-lead-a-double-life-in-cookstown-and-las-vegas/ "Twins lead a double life in Cookstown and Las Vegas"
- http://globalnews.ca/news/1863702/still-the-one-21-things-to-know-about-shania-twain/ "Still the one: 21 things to know about Shania Twain"
- https://www.pressreader.com/canada/regina-leader-post/20080621/281792804784331 "RyanDan grew up through B4-4 experiences"
- https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/twins-peak/article18147435/?page=all " TWINS PEAK"
- Web site: B4-4 – B4-4 . discogs.com . Discogs . 12 March 2022.
- https://consequenceofsound.net/2010/08/break-yo-tv-b4-4s-get-down/ "Break Yo’ TV: B4-4’s “Get Down”"
- http://www.andpop.com/2014/08/06/5-forgotten-canadian-one-hit-wonders-we-love/ "5 Forgotten Canadian One Hit Wonders We Love"
- http://ew.com/article/2014/04/03/o-town-reunion-dirty-boy-band-songs/ "TBT: O-Town's reunion and the 7 dirtiest boy band songs"
- Web site: Gold & Platinum Certification – April 2001 . . 2010-08-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101019173223/http://cria.ca/gold/0401_g.php . 2010-10-19 .
- Web site: Marketers don't go crazy at PsykoBlast, July 2001 . strategyonline.ca . 30 November 2001 . Strategy Magazine . 12 March 2022.
- Web site: Billboard, Sept 15, 2001, pp 76 . 15 September 2001. 12 March 2022.
- Web site: Eddy the Eco-Dog Unleashed. And also appeared on nickelodeon with their single "Get Down".. radiotimes.com . Radio Times . 12 March 2022.
- http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/R/RyanDan/2007/11/10/pf-4645151.html "RyanDan cuts boy band roots"
- Web site: Before Four – In Your Face . discogs.com . Discogs . 12 March 2022.
- Web site: Alter . Rebecca . 2021-12-03 . Canada's Drag Race Recap: So About That Lip Sync … . 2023-01-14 . Vulture . en-us.
- Top Singles - Volume 71, No. 12, July 24, 2000 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014120014/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7187&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=lbbjsji7ber76lcig219kbfe50. dead. October 14, 2012. . 2010-05-14.
- Top Singles - Volume 71, No. 22, October 02 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20121021100417/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7094&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5. dead. October 21, 2012. RPM. 2011-02-01 .
