b4-4
(Before Four)
b4-4 in their music video for "Get Down" (left to right: Ryan Kowarsky, Ohad Einbinder, and Dan Kowarsky)
b4-4 in their music video for "Get Down" (left to right: Ryan Kowarsky, Ohad Einbinder, and Dan Kowarsky)
Background information
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresPop, teen pop
Years active1999–2004
LabelsSony Records
Past membersRyan Kowarsky (b. Dec.5, 1979)

Dan Kowarsky (b. Dec.5, 1979)

Ohad Einbinder (b. Mar.14, 1982)

b4-4, later known as Before Four (stylized as before four), 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 debut album b4-4.[5] b4-4 achieved success in Canada with the single "Get Down" and its accompanying video,[6][7][8] and later "Go Go".[4] Other releases included "Everyday", and "Ball and Chain". The album was certified Platinum in Canada.[9][3]

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.[4] 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[lower-alpha 1] — — —
"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

References

  1. ↑ "Go Go" reached number 21 when RPM ceased publication in November 2000.
  1. ↑ "Twins lead a double life in Cookstown and Las Vegas". by Bruce Hain Innisfil Journal, Jul 24, 2013
  2. ↑ "Still the one: 21 things to know about Shania Twain". Global News, By John R. Kennedy March 9, 2015
  3. 1 2 "RyanDan grew up through B4-4 experiences". Regina Leader-Post, Jun 21, 2008 . Mile Devlin
  4. 1 2 3 " TWINS PEAK". Elizabeth Renzetti, LONDON — Globe and Mail, Oct. 13, 2007
  5. ↑ "B4-4 – B4-4". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Break Yo’ TV: B4-4’s “Get Down”". Consequences of Sound, by Alex Young on August 12, 2010
  7. ↑ "5 Forgotten Canadian One Hit Wonders We Love". andPop, August 6, 2014 by Merna Jibrail Archived November 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "TBT: O-Town's reunion and the 7 dirtiest boy band songs". Entertainment Weekly, Hillary Busis April 3, 2014
  9. ↑ "Gold & Platinum Certification – April 2001". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  10. ↑ "Marketers don't go crazy at PsykoBlast, July 2001". strategyonline.ca. Strategy Magazine. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Billboard, Sept 15, 2001, pp 76". 15 September 2001. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  12. ↑ "Eddy the Eco-Dog Unleashed. And also appeared on nickelodeon with their single "Get Down"". radiotimes.com. Radio Times. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "RyanDan cuts boy band roots". By JASON MacNEIL Sun Media, 2007-11-10
  14. ↑ "Before Four – In Your Face". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  15. ↑ Alter, Rebecca (2021-12-03). "Canada's Drag Race Recap: So About That Lip Sync …". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  16. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 71, No. 12, July 24, 2000". RPM. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  17. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 71, No. 22, October 02 2000". RPM. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
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