2Be3

2Be3
Left to right : Adel Kachermi, Filip Nikolic, Frank Delay
Left to right : Adel Kachermi, Filip Nikolic, Frank Delay
Background information
OriginFrance
GenresDance-pop
Europop, pop
Eurodance, dance
Years active1996–2001
Past membersFrank Delay
Adel Kachermi
Filip Nikolic

2Be3 was a French boy band that was active from 1996 to 2001.

History

2Be3 was formed in 1996 and comprised three childhood friends from Longjumeau (a suburb of Paris): Filip Nikolic, Adel Kachermi and Frank Delay. Inspired by English bands like Take That and Worlds Apart, the group produced 3 studio albums and various compilations before disbanding in 2001.

The name 2Be3 was a pun on the English language phrases to be free (in French, "être libre") and to be three ("être trois"). Hence the band's name was pronounced in English ("Two Be Three") rather than French ("Deux Be Trois").

Hugely popular in France, despite attempts to break the American and British markets (via an English-language single, Excuse My French, produced in Miami by Desmond Child), their only significant chart success occurred in their home nation. In 1997 they appeared in their own television series (called Pour être libre) which ran for 40 episodes on TF1, and several videos were released including a live concert from the Bercy arena in Paris. Their song "Toujours là pour toi" is a French cover of "Never Gonna Give You Up", originally sung by Rick Astley.

During year 2000, they went on a promotional tour in France, Germany, England, Switzerland, Belgium and Yugoslavia. In 2001, they left for Asia for a tour of several months and brought out the album Excuse My French, which was a big success there.

Post-Breakup

After disbanding, Filip Nikolic had a role in the film Simon Sez with Dennis Rodman and appeared in the French version of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2006. Nikolic later had a television career as a comedian. From 2002 to 2007 he had a recurring role as Yann Boldec in the French series Navarro and, from 2007 to 2009, in the spin-off series Brigade Navarro. Filip was reportedly preparing a solo album when he died of a heart attack on 16 September 2009. He was 35 years old.

Discography

Albums

Year Album Charts Certifications
FRA
[1] 		BEL
[2]
1997 Partir un jour 2 3
Remix Collector 14 —
1998 2 Be 3 4 6
  • BEA: Gold[5]
  • SNEP: 2× Gold[4]
1999 Bercy 98 38 —
2001 L'Essential — —
Excuse My French — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Charts Certifications
FRA
[6] 		BEL
[7]
1996 "Partir un jour" 2 4
1997 "Toujours là pour toi" 4 12
"Donne" 8 19
"La salsa" 7 11
"2 Be 3 (Pour être libre)" 15 17
1998 "Don't Say Goodbye" 14 22
"Regarde-moi" 27 —
2000 "Excuse My French" 71 —
"Even If" — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Videos

Year Video Certifications
1997 En Coulisses – Vol. 1
En Coulisses – Vol. 2
  • SNEP: 3× Platinum[10]
1998 Live au Zénith
  • SNEP: 3× Platinum[10]

References

  1. ^ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – 2 Be 3" (in French). Institut français d'opinion publique. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Recherche normale: Album 2 Be 3" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Goud en Platina – Albums 1997" (in Dutch). Belgian Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "SNEP – Les Certifications – Albums" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Goud en Platina – Albums 1998" (in Dutch). Belgian Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Recherche normale: 2 Be 3" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Recherche normale: Chanson 2 Be 3" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Ultratop 50 Singles Wallonie 1997" (in French). Belgian Entertainment Association. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e "SNEP – Les Certifications – Singles" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b c "SNEP – Les Certifications – Vidéos" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.