Bearforce 1

Bearforce 1 is a gay dance music band from the Netherlands, known mainly for a YouTube hit video, "Bearforce 1". Founded in 2006 and promoting their image as bears,[1] they released three singles accompanied by YouTube videos, and scored hits in the Netherlands before breaking up in 2009. The band reformed in 2014 with 3 new members, with only the lead singer, Robert Brown returning.

Bearforce 1
Bearforce 1 in 2015 during their campaign to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Bearforce 1 in 2015 during their campaign to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Background information
OriginNetherlands and Northern Ireland
GenresPop, Dance
Years active2006–Present
LabelsC+R Records
MembersRobert Brown (2006–present)
Paul Bloomer (2014-Present)
Brian McBride (2019-present)
Ambrose Donnelly (2019-present)
Yuri (2006–2009)
Ian Turnel (2006–2008)
Peter Johansson (2006–2008)
Konstantinos Zouganelis (2008–2009)
Peter Gerrist (2008–2009)
Eddi (2007–2008)
Ryan Wilkinson (2014–2018)
Simon Crawford (2014–2019)
Alan Gordon (2019-2022)

History

Bearforce 1 was founded by three Dutchmen (Ian Turnel, Peter Johansson, and Yuri) and an Irishman (Robert Brown),[2] led by actor and producer Roeland Fernhout.[3] Their eponymous single "Bearforce 1", a medley of popular dance songs including Sabrina Salerno's Boys and Dead or Alive's You Spin Me Round, accompanied by a video clip in which the four bears dance and lip-sync, was a YouTube phenomenon[2][4] and ended as #20 on LOGO TV's Ultimate Queer Videos Countdown.[5] Praise by Perez Hilton[2] led to a tour in the United States[2][3] and attention in the US media--The Washington Post wrote of the band, "Finally, there's a boy band for older, hairy gay men."[6]

They released a second single, "Christmas is here," in 2007, also accompanied by a popular YouTube video (shot in the snow in Austria, in which the four men danced in red boxers, tank tops, ski outfits, and Santa Claus suits),[7] The song entered the Single Top 100 at #7.[8] In December 2007 they played a series of concerts in Rotterdam Ahoy with Gerard Joling,[9] and in 2008 they played at the first same-sex marriage ceremony to take place at the Tilburg Pink Monday fair.[10] A third single, "Shake That Thing," was again praised by Perez Hilton.[11]

The same year, Johansson was replaced by Peter Gerrist. On Saturday 3 January 2009, Andrew Lloyd Webber and record company executive Colin Barlow dismissed an attempt by Bearforce 1 to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 on BBC1's Eurovision: Your Country Needs You as "hopeless". The band broke up in late 2009.[12] In 2014 Bearforce 1 reformed with three new members, Robert Brown being the only returning member.[13] The band's comeback single 'Action Man'[14] has been entered into the competition to be selected as Switzerland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.

In 2020 a new line up of Bearforce1 auditioned for Britain's Got Talent.[15]

Discography

Singles
  • 2007: "Bearforce 1"
  • 2007: "Christmas Is Here" (reached #28 in Dutch Singles Chart)
  • 2008: "Shake That Thing"
  • 2014: "Action Man"

References
  1. "Muzikale hoogte- en dieptepunten van 2007". Trouw. 6 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  2. "Bearforce 1 vindt reservebeer". De Pers. 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  3. "Bearforce 1 heeft grootse plannen voor 2008". RTL Nederland. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  4. "Bearforce 1: Una Banda de Gais 'Osos' triunfa con un video en Internet". Diario Cordoba. 7 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  5. The Click List: Ultimate Queer Videos: Videos | Logo Online
  6. "Five Click-Worthy Videos on the Web". The Washington Post. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  7. "Bearforce 1 is klaar voor een harige kerst". Spits. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  8. "Bearforce 1 scoort kersthit van het jaar". Nu.nl. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  9. "Bearforce1 met Gerard Joling in Ahoy". Trouw. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  10. "Allereerste homohuwelijk op de kermis". Blik op Nieuws. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  11. "Perez Hilton looft nieuwe clip Bearforce 1". NU.nl. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  12. James, Andrea. "Gone but not forgotten: Bearforce 1", Boingboing.net. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  13. "Bearforce1 announce Comeback". essentially pop. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  14. "Bearforce1 Comeback Single". YouTube. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  15. "Eurovision Entry For Switzerland". Archived from the original on 2014-11-07.
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