Be First

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Be:First
Logo of Be:First
Logo of Be:First
Background information
OriginJapan
GenresJ-pop
Years active2021–present
LabelsBMSG, B-ME
Members
  • Sota
  • Shunto
  • Manato
  • Ryuhei
  • Junon
  • Ryoki
  • Leo
Websitebefirst.tokyo

Be:First (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese dance and vocal boy band formed and managed by BMSG and signed to B-ME, a joint record label with Avex.[1] The group was formed on August 13, 2021 and debuted on November 3, 2021, through the reality competition show The First, which is hosted by Sky-Hi.[2][3] The group consists of seven members: Sota, Shunto, Manato, Ryuhei, Junon, Ryoki, and Leo.

The group are BMSG's first act, after Sky-Hi created the company feeling there were many problems in the Japanese music industry including talent having only a few places to show themselves in Japan, and instead would opt to go to Korean companies, hereby creating an outflow of Japanese talent to Korea.[4]

Name[edit]

The group's name, Be:First, was chosen with the intention of "always aiming for the top", and Sky-Hi hopes that the group will "continue to respect and love the fact that others are number one at the same time as they continue to be number one themselves".[5] Their official fandom name is Besty (stylized in all caps), which was coined by combining the first and last two letters of the group's name to mean bestie (best friend).[6]

History[edit]

2021: Formation and debut[edit]

On April 2, the audition of The First (stylized in all caps) started airing on Nippon Television Network's information program Sukkiri and online streaming service Hulu.[7] On August 13, the group name and members were announced on the last episode of the audition program.[8] On August 16, the group's digital pre-debut track, "Shining One", was released.[9]

On the Billboard Japan chart released on August 25, their digital pre-debut track, "Shining One", made its first appearance at number one on the Download Songs, number two on the Streaming Songs, and number two on the overall Japan Hot 100.[10] The song was also ranked number one on the Oricon Weekly Digital Single ranking on the same day, and ranked first on the Oricon Weekly Streaming ranking. Be:First became the second artists in history to achieve this double crown that the same work has reached number one in both the weekly digital single and streaming rankings simultaneously.[11]

Despite their pre-debut, Be:First performed on several TV programs, including NTV's Sukkiri (August 25) and Buzzrhythm 02 (September 10), NHK's Shibuya no Oto (September 11), and TV Tokyo's Premiere Melodix! (September 11).[12][13][14][15] The group was also featured in the industry magazine Nikkei Entertainment.[16] Be:First appeared on September 18 as the opening act at SuperSonic2021, a music festival held as an alternative event to Summer Sonic Festival, and gave their first performance in front of an audience.[17]

On 3rd November, they made their major debut with the release of their first single "Gifted", which topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100. Within a week of the release, it had more than 14 million streams, the third-highest number of weekly streams in Oricon history behind BTS and LiSA.[citation needed]

2022–present: Be:1[edit]

Be:First collaborated with Jonas Blue to release the Japanese version of "Don't Wake Me Up" on July 13, 2022.[18] The group released their debut studio album Be:1 (stylized in all caps) on August 31, preceded by their first two singles, "Gifted.", and "Bye-Good-Bye".[19] The album topped the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.[20] Be:1 was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for having sold over 100,000 copies,[21] with them later embarking on their first national tour, Be:First 1st One Man Tour "Be:1" 2022–2023

They released a number of charting songs in 2022 and 2023, including the number-one songs "Bye-Good-Bye", "Scream", "Boom Boom Back"[22] and "Mainstream".[23] Following the digital release of "Bye-Good-Bye", Be:First became the first artist in Oricon history to achieve number one rankings in both downloads and streams in same week for a single work three times – the previous two being "Shining One" and "Gifted".[24] In another achievement, with the release of "Scream" Be:First became the first artist to have five songs win two number-one Oricon digital-ranking titles for a single work within the same week.[25] With "Boom Boom Back", Be:First achieved their seventh number one on Oricon's Weekly Digital Song chart. The song also was number one on the Streaming chart giving them a digital "double crown", thus breaking their own record and making them artist with the most digital double crowns for a single work in history.[26] They continued break records when Mainstream topped both the Oricon Digital Song Ranking and Streaming Ranking bringing their total number of digital "double crowns" to seven, the most for any artist in Oricon history.[27]

They embarked on their Be:First Arena Tour 2023–2024 "Mainstream", their first national arena tour. It was held from November 1, 2023, through February 24, 2024, in nine cities with a total of 22 shows.[28] They further added four more shows for March and April, Be:First Live in Dome 2024 "Mainstream" – Masterplan, with two shows each at the Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome.[29]

Members[edit]

  • Sota (島雄 壮大, Shimao Sōta)
  • Shunto (久保 舜斗, Kubo Shunto)
  • Manato (廣瀨 真人, Hirose Manato)
  • Ryuhei (黒田 竜平, Kuroda Ryūhei)
  • Junon (池亀 樹音, Ikegame Junon)
  • Ryoki (三山 凌輝, Miyama Ryōki)
  • Leo (上村 礼王, Kamimura Reo)

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions, sales and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
JPN
[30]
JPN
Cmb.

[31]
JPN
Hot

[32]
Be:1 1 1 1

Singles[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released, certifications and album name
Title Year Peaks Sales Certifications Album
JPN
[35]
JPN
Cmb.

[36]
JPN
Hot

[37]
"Gifted." 2021 2 2 1
  • RIAJ:
Be:1
"Bye-Good-Bye" 2022 3 2 1
  • RIAJ:
"Smile Again" 2023 2 2 2 Non-album singles
"Salvia" 8 8 41
"Mainstream" 2 2 1
"Masterplan" 2024 TBA

Promotional singles[edit]

List of promotional singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released, certifications and album name
Title Year Peaks Certifications Album
JPN
Cmb.

[36]
JPN
Hot

[37]
"Shining One" 2021 3 2
  • RIAJ: Gold (st.)[48]
Be:1
"Kick Start" 5 7 "Gifted."
"Brave Generation" 2022 7 6 Be:1
"Betrayal Game" 3 3
"Don't Wake Me Up"
(with Jonas Blue)
26 16 Together
"Scream" 3 1 Be:1
"Boom Boom Back" 2023 2 1
  • RIAJ: Gold (st.)[49]
"Smile Again"
"Glorious" 10 7 "Masterplan"
"Set Sail" 2024 9 12
"Gifted" (orchestra version) 8 13 Non-album single

Other charted songs[edit]

List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peaks Album
JPN
Hot

[37]
"BF Is..." 2022 70 Be:1
"Great Mistakes" 2023 80 "Smile Again"

References[edit]

  1. ^ "SKY-HI「才能を殺さない為に。」新会社BMSG設立、Novel Coreが移籍してメジャーデビュー(コメントあり)". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  2. ^ "BE:FIRST デビューシングル「Gifted.」リリース". befirst.tokyo (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  3. ^ "SKY-HIプロデュース7人組「BE:FIRST」誕生 メンバーに覚悟を問う一幕も【全員コメント】". 中日新聞 (in Japanese). ORICON NEWS. 13 August 2021. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  4. ^ "SKY-HI、"奇跡の同世代"三代目JSB・OMI(登坂広臣)に"突発的な"提案 会場の歓声止まず<イノフェス2023> - モデルプレス". モデルプレス - ライフスタイル・ファッションエンタメニュース (in Japanese). 3 October 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  5. ^ "「THE FIRST」デビューメンバー7人が決定!グループ名は『BE:FIRST』". モデルプレス (in Japanese). WEBザテレビジョン. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  6. ^ BE:FIRST [@BEFIRSTofficial] (13 August 2021). "BE:FIRSTのファンネームが決定!" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 August 2021 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "SKY-HIによるボーイズグループ発掘オーディション 『THE FIRST』、『スッキリ』放送同日にHuluにて完全版配信". Real Sound (in Japanese). 2 April 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  8. ^ "ボーイズグループオーディション「THE FIRST」いよいよ最終回!デビューメンバーとSKY-HIが『スッキリ』に生出演!" (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  9. ^ "SKY-HI主催オーディションから生まれたBE:FIRST、プレデビュー曲MVのプレミア公開決定" (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  10. ^ "【ビルボード】BE:FIRST「Shining One」堂々のDLソング1位、MISIA/ヨルシカがトップ10デビュー". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  11. ^ "SKY-HI主催オーディションで誕生のBE:FIRST、「Shining One」がデジタルランキング2冠【オリコンランキング】". ORICON MUSIC (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  12. ^ "BE:FIRST、プレデビュー曲「Shining One」を日テレ系『スッキリ』で初の生パフォーマンス". Yahoo! JAPAN News (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  13. ^ "バズリズム02" (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  14. ^ "シブヤノオト「マンウィズ・BE:FIRST・フランシュシュ・さとうもか」". NHK+ (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  15. ^ プレミアMelodiX! [@tx_melodix] (12 September 2021). "本日のラインナップ⇒ 【ゲスト】BE:FIRST、Panorama Panama Town、acane、甘党男子" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "BE:FIRST 日本の音楽界に"革命"を巻き起こす7人". 日経エンタテインメント!2021年10月号 (in Japanese). Tokyo: Nikkei Business Publications. 3 September 2021. pp. 112–127. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  17. ^ "SUPERSONIC2021". Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  18. ^ "ジョナス・ブルー×BE:FIRSTコラボ曲リリース「新しい『Don't Wake Me Up』を届けられたら」". Oricon (in Japanese). 13 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  19. ^ "BE:FIRST、新録「Be Free」8・1先行配信 初アルバム『BE:1』全曲クレジット公開". Oricon (in Japanese). 31 July 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  20. ^ Japan, Billboard (29 August 2022). "Hopes are High for Record-Breaking BE:FIRST as They Release Their First Album 'BE:1'". Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  21. ^ "一般社団法人 日本レコード協会". www.riaj.or.jp. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  22. ^ Japan, Billboard (22 February 2023). "BE:FIRST's 'Boom Boom Back' Bows at No. 1 on Japan Hot 100". Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 | Charts". Billboard JAPAN. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  24. ^ "BE:FIRST、最新作「Bye-Good-Bye」で、史上初通算3作の「同一アーティスト・作品の週間デジタルランキング2冠」【オリコンランキング】". ORICON NEWS. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  25. ^ "BE:FIRST、通算5作目の「デジタルランキング」2冠達成【オリコンランキング】". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  26. ^ "BE:FIRST「Boom Boom Back」が「デジタル2冠」達成【オリコンランキング】". Oricon News. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  27. ^ "BE:FIRST「Mainstream」、通算7作目のデジタル2冠達成【オリコンランキング】". ORICON NEWS. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  28. ^ "BE:FIRST Starts Nationwide Tour Featuring 29 Shows in 17 Cities, Announces Additional Dates". MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON | もしもしにっぽん. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  29. ^ "BE:FIRST、初の東京ドーム&京セラドーム大阪公演が3分で即完売「一人一人に届くパフォーマンスを」". ORICON NEWS. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  30. ^ "BE:FIRSTのアルバム売上ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  31. ^ "BE:FIRSTの合算アルバム売上ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  32. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2022/09/07 公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  33. ^ "【オリコン年間ランキング2022】King & Prince、今年度唯一のミリオン達成で自身初の「シングル」首位 Snow Man初の「アルバム」1位 / アルバムランキング 1位~25位". Oricon (in Japanese). 22 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  34. ^ "Japanese album certifications – BE:FIRST – BE:1" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 26 December 2022. Select 2022年8月 on the drop-down menu
  35. ^ "BE:FIRSTのシングル売上ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  36. ^ a b "BE:FIRSTの合算シングル売上ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
    Chart positions not listed in the main source:
  37. ^ a b c Peaks on the Billboard Japan Hot 100:
  38. ^ "Japanese single certifications – BE:FIRST – Gifted" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 15 May 2022. Select 2021年11月 on the drop-down menu
  39. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – BE:FIRST – Gifted" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 15 May 2022. Select 2022年1月 on the drop-down menu
  40. ^ "Japanese single certifications – BE:FIRST – Bye-Good-Bye" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 10 June 2022. Select 2022年5月 on the drop-down menu
  41. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – BE:FIRST – Bye-Good-Bye" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 29 November 2022. Select 2022年10月 on the drop-down menu
  42. ^ 週間 シングルランキング 2023年05月08日付 [Weekly Single Ranking for May 8, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  43. ^ "Japanese single certifications – BE:FIRST – Smile Again" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 12 May 2023. Select 2023年4月 on the drop-down menu
  44. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – BE:FIRST – Smile Again" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 23 April 2024. Select 2024年3月 on the drop-down menu
  45. ^ 週間 シングルランキング 2023年09月25日付 [Weekly Single Ranking for September 25, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  46. ^ "Japanese single certifications – BE:FIRST – Mainstream" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 19 March 2024. Select 2023年9月 on the drop-down menu
  47. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – BE:FIRST – Mainstream" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 28 March 2024. Select 2024年2月 on the drop-down menu
  48. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – BE:FIRST – Shining One" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 27 June 2022. Select 2022年5月 on the drop-down menu
  49. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – BE:FIRST – Boom Boom Back" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 26 October 2023. Select 2023年9月 on the drop-down menu

External links[edit]