By2

By2

By2 at the Taipei Samsung Running Festival in 2012
Background information
Origin Yio Chu Kang, Singapore
Genres
Years active 2008–present
Labels
Website Official Blog
Members Miko Bai (白緯芬)
Yumi Bai (白緯玲)

By2 is a Singaporean duo based in Taiwan. The duo is composed of twin sisters Miko Bai and Yumi Bai.

By2 gained attention at the start of their career with their first two studio albums (NC 16 and Twins), but it was not until 2010 when they released their third studio album, Grown Up, for which gained them significant popularity, with the album topping Taiwan's music chart, "G-Music" and several music charts in China. The album was responsible for 33 percent sales of albums in the Chinese market and 18 percent sales of albums in Taiwan during the week of 9 April to 15 April 2010.[1]

Name

Their duo band was named "BY2" after their surname Bai and that they are twin sisters.

Career

Pre-debut

From a young age, both sisters have been exposed to performing arts and have learned the violin, piano, ballet and many other styles of dancing. As they reached adolescence, their passion for performing grew and they picked up more performing skills. They joined the Chinese Folk Dance in their secondary school, Yio Chu Kang Secondary School, as part of their co-curricular activity. These sisters have been given different hairstyles for easy identification due to their uncanny resemblance. However, they claimed to be different in terms of personality. Miko, Bai Wei-Fen has been described as more introverted and quiet while her sister, Yumi, Bai Wei-Ling, has been described as a more extroverted and outgoing person. They moved to Taiwan in 2007 to further their career.[2]

At the age of 13, both of them joined the Ocean Butterflies' Music Forest's V Singer ("非常歌手") training course. The course aims to teach aspiring singers how to perform on stage and techniques in singing and dancing.[3] Their father died of cancer in 2007 when Miko and Yumi were 15 years old.[4] Their father had hoped that Miko and Yumi will not give up on their dreams under any circumstances, thus encouraging them to actively pursue their aspiration of becoming singers. They graduated from the course clinching a "Best Costume Design" award. Billy Koh of Ocean Butterflies Music noticed their talent and gave them a 10-year record deal.[5] They were sent to other countries such as Japan, China and Taiwan to gain exposure to different forms of dance styles, as well as to enhance vocal training and stage presence.[3]

Debut and breakthrough (2008–present)

By2 at Tainan South Park

By2 released their debut studio album, NC 16, on 25 July 2008. consisting of 11 songs in total, with composers under their label composing the songs for the album. On 10 April 2009, the duo released their second studio album, Twins, with a total of 11 songs. This is the first album featuring a track written by the duo, titled "Don't Go Away", which was used as the opening theme for the Taiwanese airing of the Korean television series East of Eden. The song was also released in an English version. By2 released their third studio album, Grown Up, on 9 April 2010. The album was a commercial success, topping several album charts in mainland China and taking first place on Taiwan's G Music Chart. During the week of 9 to 15 April, the album was responsible for 33 percent of sales in the Mandarin language album market. The duo also went into writing, publishing their first book "Love Always" in 2011 with an Asia-wide release.[6][7][8] The first edition was sold out in Taiwan within a week after the release date. The duo released their fourth studio album, 90' Now, on 19 October 2011. After completing these activities, the duo went on a musical hiatus that spanned for a year.

By2 released their first extended play, 2020 Love You Love You, on 3 August 2012. It had a total of 4 tracks including the 2 promotional tracks, "2020 Love You Love You" and "You Don't Know Me". "When Love Walked In" from the extended play was featured as the opening theme of Chinese-Taiwanese drama of the same name which stars Victoria Song, Calvin Chen and Zhou Mi.[4] In September 2012, the duo represented Singapore in the Chinese reality singing talent show, Asian Wave.[9] The duo released their fifth studio album, Paradise, on 18 September 2013. It peaked at number 6 on Taiwan's G-Music chart during the week of release from 14 to 20 September.[10] They held various meet and greet sessions around Taiwan and China and also performed on various Taiwanese variety shows to promote the album and its two promotional singles, "No Reason" and "No More Tears".[11]

By2 released their sixth studio album, Cat and Mouse, on 28 July 2015. The duo appeared on various TV shows in China to promote the album. The twins also made numerous stops all around China to perform songs from their album. On November 26, 2015, not too long after an album release, By2 released a new single for the Chinese-drama Miss Unlucky, on the Ocean Butterflies Music's official YouTube Channel, titled "Big Mouth". This single became the opening credits song for the drama.

Personal life

Yumi was in a relationship with Mario Ho in November 2014. However, they broke up later in February.

Members

Stage name English name Chinese name Date of birth[12]
Romanized Hanzi
Miko Peh Wei-fen Bai Wei-fen 白緯芬 23 March 1992 (Older sister)
Yumi Peh Wei-ling Bai Wei-ling 白緯玲 23 March 1992 (Younger sister)

Discography

Studio album
Extended plays

References

  1. ↑ "G榜第15周：By2青春无极限 《成人礼》空降冠军" (in Chinese). 腾讯网. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  2. ↑ Lee, Jocelyn (27 July 2009). http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_408558.html BY2 lonely in Taiwan, The Straits Times. Retrieved on 18 August 2009.
  3. 1 2 "Observers stunned by local Mandopop duo By2's unaffected bust size after body fat loss". Lollipop SG. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 "So close, so hot". AsiaOne. 30 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Chang May Choon (12 March 2008). "Pursuing our dreams was late dad's wish", AsiaOne. Retrieved on 18 August 2009.
  6. ↑ 一樣愛著你 By2的愛心日記
  7. ↑ "一樣愛著你 By2的愛心日記". Kinokuniya.
  8. ↑ "By2 reveal that they crave for love". XinMSN. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "《声动亚洲》亚洲赛厮杀 BY2被批表情单一" (in Chinese). 19 September 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "G-Music 風雲榜 (華語榜)" (in Chinese). G-Music. 20 September 2013.
  11. ↑ "BY2 flaunts hot bodies with ultra-sexy skirts at signing event". xinmsn. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "By2". JPop Asia.
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