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" (left to right: Ryan Kowarsky, Ohad Einbinder, and Dan Kowarsky) | image_size = | alias = Before Four | origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | genre = 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, Ontario. The band was composed of twins 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 self-titled debut album. B4-4 achieved success in Canada with the single "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, Wave and soulDecision on the 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 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 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"| CA ! width="40"| GER |- | 2000 |''B4-4'' * Released: CA: 2000 * Label: Sony Music * Format: CD |align="center"| |align="center"| | 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 |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"| 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 |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|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;" | GER ! style="width: 55px;" | AUT ! style="width: 55px;" | SUI |- | rowspan="3"| 2000 | "Get Down" | align="center"| 4 | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | align="center"| — | rowspan="5"| ''b4-4'' |- | "Go Go" | align="center"| 21{{Efn|"Go Go" reached number 21 when ''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'' |- | "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