Bearforce 1
Bearforce 1 in 2015 during their campaign to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Bearforce 1 in 2015 during their campaign to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Background information
OriginNetherlands and Northern Ireland
GenresPop, Dance
Years active2006–Present
LabelsC+R Records
MembersRobert Brown (2006–present)
Paul Bloomer (2014-Present)
Brian McBride (2019-present)
Ambrose Donnelly (2019-present)
Yuri (2006–2009)
Ian Turnel (2006–2008)
Peter Johansson (2006–2008)
Konstantinos Zouganelis (2008–2009)
Peter Gerrist (2008–2009)
Eddi (2007–2008)
Ryan Wilkinson (2014–2018)
Simon Crawford (2014–2019)
Alan Gordon (2019-2022)

Bearforce 1 is a gay dance music band from the Netherlands, known mainly for a YouTube hit video, "Bearforce 1". Founded in 2006 and promoting their image as bears,[1] they released three singles accompanied by YouTube videos, and scored hits in the Netherlands before breaking up in 2009. The band reformed in 2014 with 3 new members, with only the lead singer, Robert Brown returning.

History

Bearforce 1 was founded by three Dutchmen (Ian Turnel, Peter Johansson, and Yuri) and an Irishman (Robert Brown),[2] led by actor and producer Roeland Fernhout.[3] Their eponymous single "Bearforce 1", a medley of popular dance songs including Sabrina Salerno's Boys and Dead or Alive's You Spin Me Round, accompanied by a video clip in which the four bears dance and lip-sync, was a YouTube phenomenon[2][4] and ended as #20 on LOGO TV's Ultimate Queer Videos Countdown.[5] Praise by Perez Hilton[2] led to a tour in the United States[2][3] and attention in the US media--The Washington Post wrote of the band, "Finally, there's a boy band for older, hairy gay men."[6]

They released a second single, "Christmas is here," in 2007, also accompanied by a popular YouTube video (shot in the snow in Austria, in which the four men danced in red boxers, tank tops, ski outfits, and Santa Claus suits),[7] The song entered the Single Top 100 at #7.[8] In December 2007 they played a series of concerts in Rotterdam Ahoy with Gerard Joling,[9] and in 2008 they played at the first same-sex marriage ceremony to take place at the Tilburg Pink Monday fair.[10] A third single, "Shake That Thing," was again praised by Perez Hilton.[11]

The same year, Johansson was replaced by Peter Gerrist. On Saturday 3 January 2009, Andrew Lloyd Webber and record company executive Colin Barlow dismissed an attempt by Bearforce 1 to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 on BBC1's Eurovision: Your Country Needs You as "hopeless". The band broke up in late 2009.[12] In 2014 Bearforce 1 reformed with three new members, Robert Brown being the only returning member.[13] The band's comeback single 'Action Man'[14] has been entered into the competition to be selected as Switzerland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.

In 2020 a new line up of Bearforce1 auditioned for Britain's Got Talent.[15]

Discography

Singles

  • 2007: "Bearforce 1"
  • 2007: "Christmas Is Here" (reached #28 in Dutch Singles Chart)
  • 2008: "Shake That Thing"
  • 2014: "Action Man"

References

  1. ↑ "Muzikale hoogte- en dieptepunten van 2007". Trouw. 6 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Bearforce 1 vindt reservebeer". De Pers. 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Bearforce 1 heeft grootse plannen voor 2008". RTL Nederland. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Bearforce 1: Una Banda de Gais 'Osos' triunfa con un video en Internet". Diario Cordoba. 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  5. ↑ The Click List: Ultimate Queer Videos: Videos | Logo Online
  6. ↑ "Five Click-Worthy Videos on the Web". The Washington Post. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Bearforce 1 is klaar voor een harige kerst". Spits. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Bearforce 1 scoort kersthit van het jaar". Nu.nl. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  9. ↑ "Bearforce1 met Gerard Joling in Ahoy". Trouw. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "Allereerste homohuwelijk op de kermis". Blik op Nieuws. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  11. ↑ "Perez Hilton looft nieuwe clip Bearforce 1". NU.nl. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  12. ↑ James, Andrea. "Gone but not forgotten: Bearforce 1", Boingboing.net. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  13. ↑ "Bearforce1 announce Comeback". essentially pop. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "Bearforce1 Comeback Single". YouTube. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Eurovision Entry For Switzerland". Archived from the original on 2014-11-07.
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