Be First
{{Short description|Japanese boy band}}
{{Correct title|Be:First}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Be:First
| image = BE FIRST logo.jpg
| caption = Logo of Be:First
| origin = Japan
| genre = J-pop
| years_active = 2022–present
| label = {{hlist|BMSG|B-Me}}
| website = {{URL|https://befirst.tokyo/}}
| current_members = * Sota
- Shunto
- Manato
- Ryuhei
- Junon
- Ryoki
- Leo
}}
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.{{Cite web |title=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） |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/398118 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=音楽ナタリー |language=ja}} The group was formed on November 3, 2021, through the reality competition show The First, which is hosted by Sky-Hi and debuted on August 31, 2022 with heir studio album Be:1.{{Cite web|title=BE:FIRST デビューシングル「Gifted.」リリース|url=https://befirst.tokyo/news/|website=befirst.tokyo|accessdate=2021-09-17|language=ja}}{{cite news|title=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】|url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/310295|newspaper=中日新聞|accessdate=2021-08-13|date=2021-08-13|agency=ORICON NEWS|language=ja|archive-date=2021-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813042253/https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/310295|url-status=dead}} The group consists of seven members: Sota, Shunto, Manato, Ryuhei, Junon, Ryoki, and Leo.
The group are BMSG's first act. Sky-Hi created the company after identifying issues in the Japanese music industry, including a lack of options for talent to show themselves, leading talented performers to leave Japan for the wider opportunities offered by the Korean music industry. {{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=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 |url=https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/3998707 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=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 |language=ja}}
Name
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".{{cite news|title=「THE FIRST」デビューメンバー7人が決定！グループ名は『BE:FIRST』|url=https://mdpr.jp/music/detail/2718069|newspaper=モデルプレス|accessdate=2021-08-13|date=2021-08-13|agency=WEBザテレビジョン|language=ja}} 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).{{Cite tweet|author=BE:FIRST|user=BEFIRSTofficial|number=1426076091567919108|title=BE:FIRSTのファンネームが決定! |date=2021-08-13|accessdate=2021-08-25|language=ja}}
History
=2021: Formation and debut=
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.{{Cite web|title=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|url=https://realsound.jp/2021/04/post-734446.html|website=Real Sound|date=2 April 2021 |accessdate=2021-08-15|language=ja}} On August 13, the group name and members were announced on the last episode of the audition program.{{Cite web|url=https://thetv.jp/news/detail/1045809/10427781/|title=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！|accessdate=2021-08-15|language=ja}} On August 16, the group's digital pre-debut track, "Shining One", was released.{{Cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/440951|title=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|accessdate=2021-08-15|language=ja}}
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.{{Cite web|title=【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|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/103314/2|website=Billboard JAPAN|accessdate=2021-09-19|language=ja}} 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.{{Cite web|title=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】|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2204616/full/|website=ORICON MUSIC|accessdate=2021-09-19|language=ja}}
Despite their pre-debut, Be:First performed on several TV programs, including NTV's Sukkiri (August 25) and Buzz Rhythm 02 (September 10), NHK's Shibuya no Oto (September 11), and TV Tokyo's Premiere Melodix! (September 11).{{Cite web|title=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|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/a00bc6c5286c3d77dbce763421cbe9e851eb0cd1|website=Yahoo! JAPAN News|accessdate=2021-09-20|language=ja}}{{Cite web|title=バズリズム０２|url=https://bangumi.org/si/-1?si_type=3&event_id=12053&program_date=20210916&service_id=0x0828&overwrite_area=40|accessdate=2021-09-20|language=ja}}{{Cite web|title=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」|url=https://plus.nhk.jp/watch/st/g1_2021091127285|website=NHK+|accessdate=2021-09-20|language=ja}}{{Cite tweet|author=プレミアMelodiX!|user=tx_melodix|number=1437192633244270592|title=本日のラインナップ⇒ 【ゲスト】BE:FIRST、Panorama Panama Town、acane、甘党男子|date=2021-09-13|accessdate=2021-09-20|language=ja}} The group was also featured in the industry magazine Nikkei Entertainment.{{cite magazine |author= |title=BE:FIRST 日本の音楽界に"革命"を巻き起こす7人|url=https://project.nikkeibp.co.jp/ent/monthly/2021/10/ |magazine=日経エンタテインメント！2021年10月号|pages=112–127|location=Tokyo|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|date=2021-09-03|access-date=2021-09-21|language=ja}} Be:First appeared on September 18 as the opening act at SuperSonic 2021, a music festival held as an alternative event to Summer Sonic Festival, and gave their first performance in front of an audience.{{Cite web|title=SUPERSONIC2021|url=https://supersonic2020.com/?lang=en|accessdate=2021-09-20}}
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.
=2022–present: ''Be:1''=
Be:First collaborated with Jonas Blue to release the Japanese version of "Don't Wake Me Up" on July 13, 2022.{{cite news |title=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」 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2242038/full/ |access-date=August 2, 2022 |work=Oricon |date=July 13, 2022 |language=ja}} 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".{{cite news |title=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 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2244150/full/ |access-date=August 2, 2022 |work=Oricon |date=July 31, 2022 |language=ja}} The album topped the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/befirst-first-album-be1-sales-hopes-1235132638/|title=Hopes are High for Record-Breaking BE:FIRST as They Release Their First Album 'BE:1'|first=Billboard|last=Japan|magazine=Billboard |date=29 August 2022|accessdate=26 March 2024}} Be:1 was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for having sold over 100,000 copies,{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd.html|title=一般社団法人 日本レコード協会|website=www.riaj.or.jp|accessdate=26 March 2024}} 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"{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/befirst-boom-boom-back-japan-hot-100-1235258190/|title=BE:FIRST's 'Boom Boom Back' Bows at No. 1 on Japan Hot 100|first=Billboard|last=Japan|magazine=Billboard |date=22 February 2023|accessdate=26 March 2024}} and "Mainstream".{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2023&month=09&day=25|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 | Charts|website=Billboard JAPAN|accessdate=26 March 2024}} 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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2227961/full/|title=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】|date=17 March 2022|website=ORICON NEWS|accessdate=26 March 2024}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2244416/full/|title=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】|website=ORICON NEWS|accessdate=26 March 2024}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-22 |title=BE:FIRST「Boom Boom Back」が「デジタル2冠」達成【オリコンランキング】 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2268715/full/ |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=Oricon News}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-20 |title=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】 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2295410/full/ |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=ORICON NEWS}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/643011|title=BE:FIRST Starts Nationwide Tour Featuring 29 Shows in 17 Cities, Announces Additional Dates|date=30 September 2022|website=MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON | もしもしにっぽん|accessdate=26 March 2024}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2314081/full/|title=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」|date=10 February 2024|website=ORICON NEWS|accessdate=26 March 2024}}
Members
- {{nihongo|Sota|島雄 壮大|Shimao Sōta}}
- {{nihongo|Shunto|久保 舜斗|Kubo Shunto}}
- {{nihongo|Manato|廣瀨 真人|Hirose Manato}}
- {{nihongo|Ryuhei|黒田 竜平|Kuroda Ryūhei}}
- {{nihongo|Junon|池亀 樹音|Ikegame Junon}}
- {{nihongo|Ryoki|三山 凌輝|Miyama Ryōki}}
- {{nihongo|Leo|上村 礼王|Kamimura Reo}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Singles=
=Promotional singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of promotional singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released, certifications and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peaks ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.75em;font-size:85%;" | JPN Cmb. ! scope="col" style="width:2.75em;font-size:85%;" | JPN |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Shining One"
| rowspan="2" | 2021 | 3 || 2 |
| Be:1 |
| scope="row" | "Kick Start"
| 5 || 7 | | "Gifted." |
| scope="row" | "Brave Generation"
| rowspan="4" | 2022 | 7 || 6 | | rowspan="2" | Be:1 |
| scope="row" | "Betrayal Game"
| 3 || 3 |
|
| scope="row" | "Don't Wake Me Up" {{small|(with Jonas Blue)}} | 26 || 16 | | Together |
| scope="row" | "Scream"
| 3 || 1 | | Be:1 |
| scope="row" | "Boom Boom Back"
| rowspan="2" | 2023 | 2 || 1 |
| rowspan="2" | 2:Be |
| scope="row" | "Glorious"
| 10 || 7 | |
| scope="row" | "Set Sail"
| rowspan="3" | 2024 | 9 || 12 | | "Masterplan" |
| scope="row" | "Gifted" {{small|(orchestra version)}}
| 8 || 13 | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Blissful"
| 2 || 1 | | 2:Be |
| scope="row" | "Muchū"
| 2025 | 16 || 13 | | "Grit" |
| colspan="6" style="font-size:85%" | "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
=Other charted songs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peaks ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.75em;font-size:85%;" | JPN Hot |
|---|
| scope="row" | "BF Is..."
| 2022 | 70 | Be:1 |
| scope="row" | "Great Mistakes"
| 2023 | 80 | "Smile Again" |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center"
|+ Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination ! scope="col" | Award ceremony ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Nominee(s)/work(s) ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" | MTV Video Music Awards Japan
| style="text-align:center" | 2025 | Best Editing | "Masterplan" | {{won}} | style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=ミセス・INI・ME:I「MTV VMAJ」出演決定 各部門の受賞作品も発表【一覧】 |url=https://mdpr.jp/music/4492155 |access-date=February 5, 2025 |work=Modelpress |date=February 5, 2025 |language=ja}} |
|---|
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website| https://befirst.tokyo/}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:First, Be}}
Category:Japanese dance music groups
Category:Japanese pop music groups