BeForU

About BeForU
BeForU is an all female J-Pop group who performs music primarily for the Bemani series of rhythm games. BeForU debuted in 2000 with their popular song "Dive," which was notable as being the first J-Pop song in the Dance Dance Revolution series. BeForU is produced by Naoki Maeda, one of the lead Konami musical producers.

"BeForU" is a play on words. For fans of Bemani, a popular song from Dance Dance Revolution 4th Mix was the song "B4U." Both are plays on the words "before you." In another play on words, when BeForU originally formed, they had four members. In 2004, Maehara left the group. BeForU has since added three new members bringing the total to six.

Their first album: BeForUファーストアルバム ("BeForU First Album") was released on November 28, 2003.
Their single: KI・SE・KI was released on September 1, 2004.
Their second album: BeForU II was released on February 14, 2006.
Their third album: BeForU III ~Breaking into the Probaility Changes~ was released on March 14, 2007.

In addition to the songs the group BeForU has done, the members of BeForU have been successful on solo, performing additional popular Bemani songs.

At a secret live event on August 6, 2006, BeForU announced that they had been signed to Avex Records. Both Riyu Kosaka and Noria Shiraishi released solo singles on October 11, in addition to Red Rocket Rising, a single featuring all the members, released on November 1.

In December 2007, It was announced that both Yoma, due to personal reasons, and Miharu Arisawa, due to deteriorating physical condition, would both retire from the music industry, effective immediately. It was also announced that both Noria and Risa Sotohana would graduate from BeForU on December 30, 2007 to pursue solo careers.

On February 15, 2008, it was announced on the official BeForU website that the group would continue with Riyu Kosaka and Sayaka Minami joined by third generation members, Megumi Fukushita, Ayano Tachibana and Hiromi Nishiuchi.

On April 8, 2008, it was announced on Sayaka Minami's blog that she would be retiring from BeForU due to deteriorating physical conditions. · close