B4-4 — Mediated Wiki

{{Short description|Canadian band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = B4-4 | image = B4-4 in Get Down.png | caption = B4-4 in their music video for "[[Get Down (B4-4 song)|Get Down]]" (left to right: Ryan Kowarsky, Ohad Einbinder, and Dan Kowarsky) | image_size = | alias = Before Four | origin = [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]], Canada | genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[teen pop]] | years_active = 1999{{ndash}}2004 | label = Sony Records | website = | current_members = | past_members = {{ulist|[[Ryan Kowarsky]]|[[Dan Kowarsky]]|Ohad Einbinder}} }} '''B4-4''', later known as '''Before Four''' (both stylized in lowercase), was a Canadian [[boy band]] from [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]]. The band was composed of twins [[RyanDan|Ryan and Dan Kowarsky]],<ref>[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"]. by Bruce Hain ''Innisfil Journal'', Jul 24, 2013 </ref> along with Ohad Einbinder.<ref>[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"]. ''Global News'', By John R. Kennedy March 9, 2015</ref> They were signed to [[Sony Records]] and achieved commercial success in Canada and later toured as Before Four in Germany.<ref name=post>[https://www.pressreader.com/canada/regina-leader-post/20080621/281792804784331 "RyanDan grew up through B4-4 experiences"]. ''Regina Leader-Post'', Jun 21, 2008 . Mile Devlin</ref>

==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.<ref name=renz>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/twins-peak/article18147435/?page=all " TWINS PEAK"]. Elizabeth Renzetti, LONDON — ''Globe and Mail'', Oct. 13, 2007</ref>

In 2000, they released their [[B4-4 (album)|self-titled debut album]]. B4-4 achieved success in Canada with the single "[[Get Down (B4-4 song)|Get Down]]" and its accompanying video,<ref>[https://consequence.net/2010/08/break-yo-tv-b4-4s-get-down/ "Break Yo’ TV: B4-4’s “Get Down”"]. ''Consequences of Sound'', by Alex Young on August 12, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.andpop.com/2014/08/06/5-forgotten-canadian-one-hit-wonders-we-love/ "5 Forgotten Canadian One Hit Wonders We Love"]. ''andPop'', August 6, 2014 by Merna Jibrail {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115012905/http://www.andpop.com/2014/08/06/5-forgotten-canadian-one-hit-wonders-we-love/ |date=November 15, 2015 }}</ref><ref>[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"]. ''Entertainment Weekly'', Hillary Busis April 3, 2014</ref> and later "Go Go".<ref name=renz /> Other releases included "Everyday", and "Ball and Chain". The album was certified Platinum in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cria.ca/gold/0401_g.php |title=Gold & Platinum Certification – April 2001 |publisher=[[Canadian Recording Industry Association]] |access-date=2010-08-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019173223/http://cria.ca/gold/0401_g.php |archive-date=2010-10-19 }}</ref><ref name=post />

In the summer of 2001, B4-4 joined [[Snow (musician)|Snow]], [[Wave (band)|Wave]] and [[soulDecision]] on the [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV]] PsykoBlast Tour<ref>{{cite web |title=Marketers don't go crazy at PsykoBlast, July 2001 |url=https://strategyonline.ca/2001/07/02/fly-20010702/ |website=strategyonline.ca |date=30 November 2001 |publisher=Strategy Magazine |access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref> and opened for [[Destiny's Child]] on [[MTV]]'s [[Total Request Live Tour]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Billboard, Sept 15, 2001, pp 76 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EhEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=destiny%27s+child+B4-4+2001&pg=PA76 |date = 15 September 2001|access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref> They were also nominated for Best New Group at the [[Juno Awards of 2001|2001 Juno Awards]].<ref name=renz /> Also in 2001, they starred in the episode ''Howlin' with B4-4'' in the TV series ''Eddy the Eco-Dog Unleashed''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eddy the Eco-Dog Unleashed. And also appeared on nickelodeon with their single "Get Down".|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-s3exl0/eddy-the-ecodog-unleashed/episodes/ |website=radiotimes.com |publisher=Radio Times |access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref>

==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.<ref>[http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/R/RyanDan/2007/11/10/pf-4645151.html "RyanDan cuts boy band roots"]{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. By JASON MacNEIL ''Sun Media'', 2007-11-10</ref> In 2003, they released their second album, ''In Your Face''. 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 (season 2)|Canada's Drag Race second season]], with which [[Gia Metric]] won her [[Lip sync]] competition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alter |first=Rebecca |date=2021-12-03 |title=Canada's Drag Race Recap: So About That Lip Sync … |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/canadas-drag-race-recap-season-2-episode-7-the-roast-of-brooke-lynn-heights.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref>

==Discography==

=== Albums === {| class="wikitable" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album details ! colspan="2"| Peak ! rowspan="2"| Notes |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="40"| [[Canadian Albums Chart|CA]] ! width="40"| [[German Albums Chart|GER]] |- | 2000 |''[[B4-4 (album)|B4-4]]'' * Released: CA: 2000 * Label: [[Sony Music]] * Format: [[Compact Disc|CD]] |align="center"| |align="center"| | [[Canadian Recording Industry Association|CAN]]: Platinum |- | 2003 |''[[In Your Face (b4-4 album)|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 |align="center"| |align="center"| | Limited Edition released only in [[Germany]] |}

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="4"| Peak positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |- ! width="60"| [[Canadian Singles Chart|CAN]] <ref>Peak positions for b4-4 on Canada's Singles Chart: *For "Get Down": {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7187&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=lbbjsji7ber76lcig219kbfe50|archive-url=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|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 14, 2012|title=Top Singles - Volume 71, No. 12, July 24, 2000 |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |access-date=2010-05-14}} *For "Go Go": {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7094&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|archive-url=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|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2012|title=Top Singles - Volume 71, No. 22, October 02 2000|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2011-02-01 }} *For "Everyday": {{cite web|url=http://www.londonfreepress.com/AllPop/chart.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010216220817/http://www.londonfreepress.com/AllPop/chart.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2001-02-16|title=Canada Airplay Chart: 1 - 50|accessdate=January 3, 2025}} *For "Ball and Chain": {{cite web|url=http://www.londonfreepress.com:80/AllPop/chart.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031130064721/http://www.londonfreepress.com:80/AllPop/chart.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-11-30|title=Canada Airplay Chart: 1 - 50|accessdate=January 3, 2025}}</ref> ! style="width: 55px;" | [[GfK Entertainment|GER]] ! style="width: 55px;" | [[Ö3 Austria Top 40|AUT]] ! style="width: 55px;" | [[Schweizer Hitparade|SUI]] |- | rowspan="3"| 2000 | "[[Get Down (B4-4 song)|Get Down]]" | align="center"| 4 | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | rowspan="5"| ''[[B4-4 (album)|b4-4]]'' |- | "Go Go" | align="center"| 21{{Efn|"Go Go" reached number 21 when ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' ceased publication in November 2000.}} | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| — |- | "Everyday" | align="center"| 42 | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| — |- | rowspan="2"| 2001 | "Ball and Chain" | align="center"| 47 | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| — |- | "Endlessly" | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| — |- | rowspan="3"| 2003 | "Player" | align="center"| — | align="center"| 29 | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | rowspan="3"| ''[[In Your Face (b4-4 album)|In Your Face]]'' |- | "I'll Be There" | align="center"| — | align="center"| 11 | align="center"| — | align="center"| 57 |- | "Feel Free (To Say No)" | align="center"| — | align="center"| 8 | align="center"| 50 | align="center"| — |- |}

== Music videos == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Single !Album |- | rowspan=3 | 2000 |Get Down | rowspan=3 | ''b4-4'' |- |Go Go |- |Everyday |- | rowspan=2 | 2003 |Player | rowspan=2 | ''In Your Face'' |- |Feel Free (To Say No) |}

==See also== *[[RyanDan]]

==References== {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.myspace.com/Ohadmusic Ohad Einbinder] at [[MySpace]] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070601182136/http://www.ryandan.com/ RyanDan.com]

{{DEFAULTSORT:B4-4}} [[Category:Canadian boy bands]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1999]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2004]] [[Category:Canadian pop music groups]] [[Category:Sibling musical groups]] [[Category:1999 establishments in Ontario]]