Bi-2
Encyclopedia
Bi-2 is a Russian
rock band with Belarus
ian origin, formed in the 80's in Minsk
, Belarus
. It was one of the most successful with many sales and chart-hits in Russia
. Bi-2 was awarded MTV Russian Music Awards
for Best Rock Act in 2007.
, Belarus
by two teenagers, Aleksandr "Shura" Uman and Yegor "Lyova" Bortnik, who were amateur actors. Initially the band's name was "Bratya po Oruzhiyu" (Brothers in Arms), which was formed in 1988, then "Bereg Istini" (Shore of Truth), which resulted in abbreviation BI-2. This word Lyova and Shura begun to use as their scenic names, and Shura eventually changed his passport surname to Bi-II.
In the beginning of the 90s the two moved to Israel
and as Jews
received citizenship, but in 1993 Shura moved to Australia
while Lyova remained and served in the Israel Defense Forces
. During this time, Lyova and Shura continued to compose music together, exchanging their records and tabs via Internet
and phone. In Australia Shura, together with Dino Molinaro of Ikon
, and Michael Aliani, former member of Ikon
, formed the darkwave
band Chiron. In 1998 Leva moved to Australia and joined Chiron as well, but the two left the project in less than two years to continue with their own band.
. Several score songs, included in Bi-2 eponymous debut album, shook rock radio charts, including the influential Nashe Radio
chart.
Bi-2 continued with "Meow Kiss Me" (2001) and "Inomarki" (2004), both sold gold in Russia. Each of their albums included duet records with other rock musicians from such bands as Splean
, ChayF, Nochniye Snaiperi
, Zemfira
, and others. Videos for Bi-2 songs often appear at MTV Russia
. In 2005 the double CD "Nechetny Voin" was released, which consisted completely of duets and collaborations.
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
rock band with Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
ian origin, formed in the 80's in Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
. It was one of the most successful with many sales and chart-hits in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Bi-2 was awarded MTV Russian Music Awards
MTV Russian Music Awards
The MTV Russia Music Awards made its debut in 2004 and have celebrated local Russian talent as well as International. The MTV Russia Music Awards features local and international acts and music celebrities being honoured by Russian viewers.-Host Cities:...
for Best Rock Act in 2007.
Pre-history
The band was formed in 1985 in MinskMinsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
by two teenagers, Aleksandr "Shura" Uman and Yegor "Lyova" Bortnik, who were amateur actors. Initially the band's name was "Bratya po Oruzhiyu" (Brothers in Arms), which was formed in 1988, then "Bereg Istini" (Shore of Truth), which resulted in abbreviation BI-2. This word Lyova and Shura begun to use as their scenic names, and Shura eventually changed his passport surname to Bi-II.
In the beginning of the 90s the two moved to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and as Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
received citizenship, but in 1993 Shura moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
while Lyova remained and served in the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. During this time, Lyova and Shura continued to compose music together, exchanging their records and tabs via Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and phone. In Australia Shura, together with Dino Molinaro of Ikon
Ikon (band)
Ikon is a band from Melbourne, Australia. Ikon blends darkwave and post-punk music, following the footsteps of influences such as Joy Division and early New Order.-History:...
, and Michael Aliani, former member of Ikon
Ikon (band)
Ikon is a band from Melbourne, Australia. Ikon blends darkwave and post-punk music, following the footsteps of influences such as Joy Division and early New Order.-History:...
, formed the darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
band Chiron. In 1998 Leva moved to Australia and joined Chiron as well, but the two left the project in less than two years to continue with their own band.
Modern history
In 1999 Bi-2 moved to Russia, where they previously tried to release their already recorded album "Bespolaya i Grustnaya Lubov" (Genderless and Sad Love, 1998), but their plans were ruined by Russian financial crisis of 1998, which affected the record business. As of 1999, the band consisted only of two men, but the lineup soon was increased by sessional musicians. The band went up to popularity only in 2000, recording the score for popular Brother 2 movie by Aleksei BalabanovAleksei Balabanov
Aleksei Balabanov is a popular Russian filmmaker. Balabanov is best known for the 1997 crime film Brat , and its more action-oriented sequel, Brat-2 , both of which starred the late Sergei Bodrov Jr. as a novice hit man...
. Several score songs, included in Bi-2 eponymous debut album, shook rock radio charts, including the influential Nashe Radio
Nashe Radio
Nashe Radio is a rock music station designed to promote Russian rock bands . It is broadcast in every major Russian city as well as having an internet stream...
chart.
Bi-2 continued with "Meow Kiss Me" (2001) and "Inomarki" (2004), both sold gold in Russia. Each of their albums included duet records with other rock musicians from such bands as Splean
Splean
Splean is a popular Russian rock band. They were formed and released their first album in 1994. Since then, they have remained one of the most popular rock bands in Russia and the former Soviet Union. The band's name is derived from "spleen" , and the "ea" spelling in English is a pun on the...
, ChayF, Nochniye Snaiperi
Nochniye Snaiperi
Nochnyie Snaipery is a Russian rock group. It was founded in 1993 as an acoustic female duo of Diana Arbenina and Svetlana Surganova . The ladies played guitar and violin respectively, sharing the vocal and songwriting duties evenly, eventually adding amplification to the band...
, Zemfira
Zemfira
Zemfira, officially Zemfira Talgatovna Ramazanova ; born 26 August 1976 in Ufa, Bashkortostan) is a Russian rock artist of Bashkir descent...
, and others. Videos for Bi-2 songs often appear at MTV Russia
MTV Russia
MTV Russia is a Russian language free-to-air 24 hour entertainment and music service seen in 22 million households in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Omsk, Voronezh, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, among other cities.-History:...
. In 2005 the double CD "Nechetny Voin" was released, which consisted completely of duets and collaborations.
Unrealised albums
- "Izmenniki Rodini" (Изменники Родины; Traitors Of Motherland) (1988–1991)
Studio albums
- "Bespolaya I Grustnaya Lubov'" (Бесполая И Грустная Любовь; Genderless and sad love) (1998).
- "Bi-2" (2000).
- "Meow Kiss Me" (Мяу Кисс Ми) (2001).
- "Inomarki" (Иномарки; Cars Of Foreign Make) (2004).
- "Moloko" (Молоко; Milk) (2006).
- "Luna-park" (Луна-парк; Amusement Park) (2009).
- "O Chem Govoryat Muzchini" (О Чём Говорят Мужчины; It Is What Men Are Talking About; the soundtrack of the film of the same name) (2010)
- "Spirit" (Спирит) (2011)
Re-realised albums
- "Bi-2" (+2 tracks) (2000)
- "Bespolaya I Grustnaya Lubov'" (+ Bonus CD)(2004).
- "Moloko" (+2 tracks) (2007)
Singles
- "Serebro" (Серебро; Silver) (2000)
- "Volki" (Волки; Wolves) (2001)
- "Moya Lubov'" (Моя Любвоь; My Love) (2001)
- "Pesok" (Песок; Sand) (2003)
- "Medlennaya Zvezda" (Медленная Звезда; Slow Star) (feat. Diana ArbeninaNochniye SnaiperiNochnyie Snaipery is a Russian rock group. It was founded in 1993 as an acoustic female duo of Diana Arbenina and Svetlana Surganova . The ladies played guitar and violin respectively, sharing the vocal and songwriting duties evenly, eventually adding amplification to the band...
) (2005) - "Muza" (Муза; Muse) (2008)
- "Bowie" (Digital Single)(2009)
- "Christmas" (Digital Single) (2009)
- "Optimist" (Оптимист) (Digital Single)(2011)
Compilations
- "Fellini tour" (live album recorded with SpleanSpleanSplean is a popular Russian rock band. They were formed and released their first album in 1994. Since then, they have remained one of the most popular rock bands in Russia and the former Soviet Union. The band's name is derived from "spleen" , and the "ea" spelling in English is a pun on the...
and Thomas) (2001). - "Bi-2. Collection" (2CD) (2005)
- "Bi-2 I Simphonicheskiy Orkestr MVD Rossii" (Би-2 И Симфонический Оркестр МВД России; Bi-2 Feat. Symphony Orchestra of Ministry of Internal Affairs Of Russia) (2010)
Internet-realises
- "Bi-2. Live" (2000)
- "Unplugged@16tons" (2003)
- "Partiya Dudok" (Партия Дудок; Part Of Pipes) (2004)
- "Mogilevskiy Rok-Siezd 1989" (Могилёвский Рок-Съезд; Rock Festival In Mogilevsk) (2005)
- "Sed'moy Den'" (Седьмой День; Seventh Day) (Soundtrack) (2006)
- "Raritetniy" (Раритетный; Rare Album) (2006)
- "Bez Slov I" (Без Слов; Without Words) (2008)
- "Bez Slov II" (2008)
- "Prevratnosti Sud'bi" (Преватности Судьбы; Fools of Fortune) (Soundtrack) (2009)
- "S Gastroley Po Pesne" (C Гастролей По Песне; One Song By One Tour) (Bootleg) (2010)
- "Unplugged@16tons" (Re-Realised) (2010)
- "I Korabl' Plivet" (И Корабль Плывёт; And Ship Is Sailing) (2010)
Other projects' realises
- "Nechetniy Voin" (Нечётный Воин; Odd warrior;) (2005).
- "Nechetniy Voin 2" (2007).
- "Nechetniy Voin 2,5" (2011)
External links
- Official Website (Russian)
- History of the band on another web-site (Russian)
- Russmus info on Bi-2, including English translations (English)
- About the band at last.fm (English)