Bi-2

Bi-2 (Russian: Би-2 Bi-dva) is a Russian alternative rock band, formed in the 80's in Bobruisk, 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.

BI-2
Shura (left) and Leva (right) in Moscow, 2018
Background information
OriginBabruysk/Minsk, Belarus
Genres
Years active1988–1991, 1998–present
Associated actsAgatha Christie, Splean, Oxxxymiron, John Grant
WebsiteOfficial site
MembersLyova Bi-2 (Egor Bortnik)
Shura Bi-2 (Alexandr Uman)
Andrey Zvonkov
Maxim Andrusschenko
Boris Lifshitz
Yanik Nikolenko

History

Pre-history

The band was formed in 1985 in Minsk, Belarus by two teenagers, Aleksandr "Shura" Uman and Egor "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. In 1994 Shura formed a romantic and professional relationship with pianist and artist Victoria Bilogan and in 1997 they recorded their first album "Bespolaya i Grustnaya Lubov". During this time, Lyova and Shura continued to compose music together, exchanging their records and tabs via Internet and phone. Before forming Chiron, Shura collaborated with Dee Ellus, his first English lyricist, in 1993 and 1994. Shura, together with Dino Molinaro and Michael Aliani, former members 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.

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 the Russian financial crisis of 1998, which affected the record business. In 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 Balabanov. Several score songs, included in the 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, Chaif, Nochniye Snaiperi, Zemfira, and others. Videos for Bi-2 songs often appear on MTV Russia. In 2005 the double CD "Nechetny Voin" was released, which consists completely of duets and collaborations.

Discography

Unreleased albums
  • Traitors Of Motherland (Изменники Родины; 1988–1991)

Studio albums
  • Unisex and Sad Love (Бесполая и Грустная Любовь; 1998)
  • BI-2 (Би-2; 2000)
  • Meow Kiss Me (Мяу Кисс Ми; 2001)
  • Cars Of Foreign Make (Иномарки; 2004)
  • Moloko (Молоко; 2006) (lit.: Milk)
  • Amusement Park (Луна-парк; 2009)
  • What Men Talk About (О Чём Говорят Мужчины; the soundtrack to the film of the same name, 2010)
  • Spirit (2011)
  • #16plus (#16плюс; 2014)
  • Event Horizon (Горизонт событий; 2017)
  • Heat (Пекло; 2020)

Re-released albums
  • BI-2 (+2 tracks; 2000)
  • Unisex and Sad Love (+ Bonus CD; 2004)
  • Milk (+2 tracks; 2007)

Singles
  • Silver (Серебро; 2000)
  • Wolves (Волки; 2001)
  • My Love (Моя Любовь; 2001)
  • Sand (Песок; 2003)
  • Slow Star feat. Diana Arbenina (Медленная Звезда; 2005)
  • Muse (Муза; 2008)
  • Bowie (Digital Single) (2009)
  • Christmas (Digital Single) (2009)
  • Optimist (Оптимист, 2011) (Digital Single)
  • Non-Air-Raid Alarm (Безвоздушная тревога; 2011)
  • Island (Остров; 2011)
  • #Hipster (#Хипстер; 2014)
  • Dark Skies (Темные небеса; 2014)
  • Taken To The Army (Забрали в армию; 2014)
  • Grass Near The House (Трава у дома; 2015)
  • Likes / Alice (Лайки / Алиса; 2016)
  • Bird On The Windowsill (Птица на подоконнике; 2016)
  • Pilot (Лётчик; 2017)
  • Whiskey feat. John Grant (Виски; 2017)

EPs
  • Kite (Бумажный Змей; 2010)

Compilations
  • Fellini Tour (live album recorded with Splean and Thomas; 2001)
  • Bi-2. Collection (2CD; 2005)
  • Bi-2 feat. Symphony Orchestra of Ministry of Internal Affairs Of Russia (Би-2 И Симфонический Оркестр МВД России; 2010)

Remixes
  • drum[a] (2002)

Internet-releases
  • Bi-2. Live (2000)
  • Unplugged@16tons (2003)
  • Part Of Pipes (Партия Дудок; 2004)
  • Rock Festival In Mogilev 1989 (Могилёвский Рок-Съезд 1989; 2005)
  • Seventh Day (Седьмой День; 2006) (Soundtrack)
  • Rare Album (Раритетный; 2006)
  • Without Words I (Без Слов I; 2008)
  • Without Words II (Без Слов II, 2008)
  • Fools of Fortune (Превратности Судьбы; 2009) (Soundtrack)
  • One Song By One Tour (C Гастролей По Песне; 2010) (Bootleg)
  • Unplugged@16tons (Re-Released) (2010)
  • And Ship Is Sailing (И Корабль Плывёт; 2010)
  • Without Words III (Без Слов III, 2012)
  • Spirit (Without Words… IV) (Spirit (Без слов… IV), 2013)
  • Bi-2 feat. Prague Metropolitan Symphonic orchestra (Without Words V) (Би-2 и Prague Metropolitan Symphonic orchestra (Без слов V); 2013)

Chiron's releases
  • Eve (2000)
  • Bleed (2004)

Other projects' releases
  • Odd Warrior (Нечётный Воин; 2005)
  • Odd Warrior 2 (Нечётный Воин-2; 2007)
  • Odd Warrior 2,5 (Нечётный Воин-2,5; 2011)
  • Odd Warrior 3 (Нечётный Воин-3; 2013)
  • Odd Warrior. The Best (Нечётный Воин. Лучшее; 2015)
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