Be.A

Be.A
Be.A with the manager of Busan Coffee Gallery in December 2013
Be.A with the manager of Busan Coffee Gallery in December 2013
Background information
Also known asK-Much (2014-2017)
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresK-pop
Years active2014 (2014)–2018
Labels
Past members
  • Hong-gyu
  • Yeong-kyun
  • Ato
  • Loki
  • BomB
  • Milly

Be.A (Korean: 비에이, shortened from Be. Artist or Be an Artist; formerly known as K-Much) was a South Korean boy band formed under Chrome Entertainment in 2014. They debuted on 7 January 2014 as K-Much with the release of their first mini album Beyond the Ocean. The group currently consists of three members: Hong-gyu, Yeong-kyun, and Ato.

The group's English name started as K-Much; their original Korean name was Gamulchi (가물치), which translates to "snakehead". The snakehead fish is a popular health food in Korea, and symbolizes longevity.[1][2] In August 2014, the Korean name of the group was changed to K-Much (케이머치) to match the group's English name, but it was changed again in February 2017 to Be.A.[3]

History

2013: Pre-debut

K-Much made their first public appearance on an episode of Crayon Pop TV on 8 September 2013.[4] G.Low previously lived in Pennsylvania, while Ato and BornUs had been with Chrome Entertainment since Crayon Pop's debut. Both Ato and BornUs had a cameo appearance in Crayon Pop's "Saturday Night" and story version of "Bar Bar Bar" music videos.[5][6] Prior to their debut, they promoted themselves in high schools throughout Korea and held street performances. K-Much featured in Crayon Pop's solo concert, 2nd POPCON in Tokyo, performing a remix of three songs. Crayon Pop's Ellin formally introduced K-Much to the public shortly before their debut.[7]

2014–2015: Beyond the Ocean, Loki's departure

On 7 January 2014, K-Much released their first mini album, Beyond the Ocean. The album consists of three tracks: "I'm Sorry", "What Should I Do" (나 어떡해), and the single, "Good to Go" (뭣 모르고, lit. "Don't Know Anything"). A story version music video of "Good to Go", featuring Crayon Pop's Ellin, was uploaded to YouTube on 6 January, a day before the album's release.[8] On the same day, K-Much performed on SBS MTV's The Show: All About K-Pop!, marking their first live stage performance. K-Much made their official debut stage on 8 January 2014, performing "Good to Go" on MBC Music's Show Champion.[9]

In late 2014, K-Much participated in the first Chrome Family project, a digital single album titled 2014 Chrome Family – A Very Special Christmas . The album was released on 3 December, as well as a music video for the single, "Love Christmas".[10] Loki was not in the music video, and Chrome Entertainment later confirmed he had left the company to pursue an acting career. Loki's departure was amicable, and K-Much continued as a four-member group.[11]

On 17 February 2015, K-Much pre-released the single "December 24" (12월 24일), ahead of their upcoming album.[12] The music video featured former Hello Venus member Yoo Ara.[13] A second song, "On the Hook" (어항 속 물고기, lit. "Fish in a Fishbowl"), was released on 6 March.[14] Another single, "Tie My Hands", was released on 26 November.

2017: Reformation as Be.A

In January 2017, funding site Makestar announced K-much would hold a 'Renewal Project' until the 21st of March.[15] In February, it was announced through Makestar that K-Much were looking to change their group name through a fan poll. They asked fans to choose one of the three candidates named : Be.A (Be Artist/Be.A/ Become an artist), Champ (Become the Idol Champion) and B.O.T (Boy on top).[16] On February 28, they announced their new name had changed to Be.A. They also announced they would be making a comeback in the first half of the year with a new member.[17] On March 2, it was announced that Boys24 contestant previously known as Park Woo-young joined the group with the stage name BomB.[18]

2018: Europe tour

In February 2018, Be.A announced a European tour. However, BomB was absent from the tour photos and was unfollowed by the official account. Even though Chrome has yet to release an official statement, it is safe to say BomB is no longer a member. Furthermore, Milly was unable to attend, and had a replacement fill in for him whose name was Taeyoung. On August 27 Milly posted on his Instagram that he will no longer be promoting as a member due to music differences and the direction the group is going in. Rather he plans on promoting as a soloist.[citation needed][needs update]

Members

Current

  • Yang Hong-gyu (양홍규)
  • Jung Yeong-kyun (정영균)
  • Ato (아토)

Former

  • Loki[11] (로키)
  • BomB (범브)
  • MiLLY (밀리)

Discography

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[19]
Beyond the Ocean
  • Released: 7 January 2014
  • Label: Chrome Entertainment, Sony Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. I’m Sorry
  2. Good to Go (뭣 모르고; Mwot Moreugo)
  3. What Should I Do? (나 어떡해; Na Eotteokhae)
  4. I’m Sorry (Inst.)
  5. Good to Go (Inst.)
  6. What Should I Do? (Inst.)
 23
Magical Realism
  • Released: 25 May 2017
  • Label: Chrome Entertainment, Sony Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. Magical
  2. Fantasy
  3. WhatDa (왜이래; Wae Irae)
  4. Magical (Inst.)
 45 –
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[21]
"Good to Go" 2014 151
  • KOR: 10,506+ (DL)[22]
 Beyond the Ocean
"What Should I Do" (Remix) — Non-album single
"December 24" 2015 —
"Fish in a Bowl" —
"Tie My Hands" —
"Magical" 2017 — Magical Realism
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Videography

Music videos

Year Title Notes
2014 Good To Go (Story Ver.) Featuring Crayon Pop's Ellin
2015 December 24 Featuring Yoo Ara
On the Hook
Tie My Hands
Tie My Hands (Dance Ver.)
2017 Magical

References

  1. ^ Lee Sun-min (24 October 2013). "Crayon Pop's agency to launch new boy group". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  2. ^ Park Seung-ju (23 October 2013). "크레용팝 뒤잇는 보이그룹 '가물치', 11월 데뷔". News1 (in Korean). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  3. ^ Kim Eun-ae (23 August 2014). "이제는 가물치 아닌 '케이머치'로 통한다". Asia Economy (in Korean). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  4. ^ Crayon Pop (8 September 2013). "[Crayon Pop] 크레용팝TV 시즌2-4화". YouTube (in Korean). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  5. ^ Crayon Pop (24 July 2012). "Crayon Pop (크레용팝) **New Ver.** Saturday Night (비공식 영상)". YouTube (in Korean). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  6. ^ Crayon Pop (13 June 2013). "[Crayon Pop] 크레용팝 빠빠빠(Bar Bar Bar) 뮤직비디오 - Story Ver. MV". YouTube (in Korean). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  7. ^ Crayon Pop (16 December 2013). "[Crayon Pop] 크레용팝 엘린 with 가물치(K-much) 인사". YouTube (in Korean). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  8. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (7 January 2014). "Male Crayon Pop, K-Much Debuts with 'Don't Know Anything'". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  9. ^ MBCkpop (9 January 2014). "K-Much – Good To Go, 가물치 - 뭣 모르고, Show Champion 20140108". YouTube (in Korean). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  10. ^ Jo Hye-jin (20 November 2014). 크레용팝-케이머치-단발머리-짠짠, 크리스마스 캐럴로 뭉친다 ‘러브 크리스마스’ 발매 [Crayon Pop–K-Much–Bob Girls–Zan Zan, to release Christmas Carol 'Love Christmas']. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  11. ^ a b Seo Hyeon-jin (9 December 2014). 로키, 그룹 케이머치 탈퇴…배우로 전향주소복사하기 [Loki Withdraws From Group K-Much…Transformation Into An Actor]. Sports Today. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  12. ^ Gwak Min-gu (11 February 2015). 케이머치, 컴백 앞두고 디지털 싱글 '12월 24일' 17일 선 공개 [K-Much to pre-release track “December 24″ ahead of comeback]. Economy Today (in Korean). Nate. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  13. ^ Choe Hyeon-jeong (16 February 2015). 케이머치, ‘12월 24일’M/V에서 前헬로비너스 유아라와 호흡 [YooAra, Ex-Hello Venus Makes a Surprise Appearance in K-Much MV 'December 24']. Sports DongA (in Korean). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  14. ^ Yu Byeong-cheol (5 March 2015). 케이머치, 두 번째 선공개곡 ‘어항 속 물고기’ 2차 티저 영상 공개 [K-Much releases second teaser for 'Fish in a Fishbowl']. Korea Economic Daily TV (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  15. ^ "K-MUCH Renewal Project".
  16. ^ "K-Much asks fans to choose their new group name".
  17. ^ "K-Much change their name to Be.A + to reveal a new member".
  18. ^ "Be.A (Formerly K-Much) reveal new member BomB from survival show 'BOYS24'".
  19. ^ "Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  20. ^ "2014년 02월 Album Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  21. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  22. ^ "Weekly Download Chart – January 5, 2014 to January 11, 2014". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.

External links