hrmm, seems like BeForU has disappeared for a bit.  Hopefully Riyu is working on that new album of hers!

its been a bit slow around here.. just wanted to liven things up a lil.

Hopefully, or they going to have a concert.

I wants a Riyu album!
Although I'm gonnna have no money....
Zektbach, Kanako and Riyu.
But I think Riyu is top priority, then Kanako, then Zektbach.

Beforu rocks...
its sad...i just began listening to their music this year...this was a very good band so i did some research on Beforu...when i heard they broke up, i was crushed....aww...i wish they'd come back together someday....

love Beforu forever!!!

i know that in the Covergirls that Yoma, Aya, and Alice do solos...but do they still spend time together and w/other ex members?

At least Aya and Alice spend time together playing DrumMania or having dinner. Sayaka was with Riyu backstage at her solo live summer 2007. I guess it happens from time to time, but I'm sure mostof it is work related.

I hope their not gone... again.

As much as I defended them, I feel horrible saying this. I feel after the release of the Shangri-La album, the label switch along with adding Megumi, Ayano, and Hiromi was a bad move. Don't get me wrong, I like them, but there's just some problems with the whole situation. I've pretty much figured out that the "they were the ones that understood BeForU the most" excuse is bull. They were added because the producers hoped that it would make BeForU popular with fans of idols, which in turn meant better sales. That is incorrect!! Had BeForU gone back to Konami, it would have helped their situation. If that were the case, the 3 new members could have still been there, but with better music. Let's face it, the album was the worst of all. Another solution would have been to have just hired girls that REALLY understand BeForU. I'm sure there are fans of BeForU that really like the music, are attractive, and have good singing abilities. What can they do to save BeForU? Get rid of the new girls, hire better girls, and send them back to Konami. Why not Avex? Because Avex is not where BeForU originated. If the group returns to Konami, that means new songs for various Bemani games, which equals more exposure to players, which means record sales. If that's not possible, then there's another, less popular alternative; disband BeForU and open auditions for 3 new groups. "Why three new groups?" you may ask, well just as Shiyuna was replaced with 3 new members, so shall BeForU be replaced with 3 new groups. That's all for my rant.

Yeah, my theory is that BeForU is in hiding, because Naoki got sad about them ditching him for Avex....
The girls are probably hiding in Sayaka's basement, because we all know that's probably the best hiding spot, since Sayaka has been so darn good at hiding this past while.

Hey Dom, although I don't agree with everything you said, I'm really glad that you've come forth with an honest opinion in a place where conversations have been hard to come by lately.

First of all, I have to point out that when the new girls were added, they were still with avex for a short period of time.  It was the label change that happened afterward.  Also, I think we should consider the possibility that avex may have dropped them rather than assume it was a voluntary switch.

The thing I don't quite get is what exactly you meant by girls who "really understand BeForU."  I for one have never heard anything said whatsoever about an excuse that the new girls "were the ones that understood BeForU the most."  From what I'm getting out of what you're trying to say, I don't think anyone would disagree with you there either.  Of course they were added in an attempt to help sales and popularity, which is what companies do.

I do disagree with what you said concerning avex vs. Konami though.  First of all, I have a feeling that simply trotting back into Konami may not really be that simple.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but ever since avex owned the rights to the name (I think?), it seems like Konami would have to pay up for their songs to even stay in the games.  I mean I don't think it's just up to the girls and managers to decide if they can simply just go back to Konami.  As for being more successful with Konami rather than avex, I wholeheartedly disagree with that too.  Even though I love their Bemani stuff perhaps 10x more than anything they churned out with avex and later, success is shown in the charts.  Rx3, Strike Party, etc. all charted probably thanks to mass marketing and such, while nothing before that is ever heard about outside the underground Bemani communities.  Don't get me wrong though.  I'd rather they go back to Konami too.

I also don't think getting rid of the new girls for "better" girls is really necessary.  Keeping the girls' singing abilities out of it, my opinion is they either keep them and give it another shot (imo, their abilities showed promise even though I wasn't too thrilled with the Shangri-La album either), or to just let them disband and let the name BeForU die peacefully.  To this day, I still stand by the fact that this new group may as well be a new group altogether.

And Kyle, I don't think they ditched Naoki for avex, haha.  I'm sure it was his decision that ultimately made them go in that direction (unless you're just trying to be funny ).

Just my two cents  (oh dear god what have i done?)

Haha don't worry nilboy, i don't think anyone cares that much anymore for things to get wilded up like they used to before

I agree with Jon on this one, they should try to give the group another shot as it is or just let BeForU die, which i think it's kind of happening already.

Oh, that last statement I made was actually referring to something else.  If you've been lurking bemanistyle within the past year, you'll know what I'm talking about.

I've been on bemanistyle and I don't get it. :< Then again, I don't read much outside of FB and the DDR board.

I don't think avex can own the name BeForU -- otherwise, wouldn't the group in its current form have to pay them royalties? That seems unlikely to me, but then again I dunno.

I also wonder if avex owns their back catalog of songs, like I think has been discussed before. On BeForU's avex page, it only lists the stuff that they produced WITH avex... if they owned everything, wouldn't they put all of their old albums up for sale? Or would they own rights to the songs, but not whole albums...? I know they used Love Shine and Melody Life as B-sides, but is it possible they paid Konami royalties for those? I probably shouldn't suggest things if I don't really know what I'm talking about. But basically, I don't see how avex could own their name if they were going to continue making albums outside of avex, which they already have of course.

To be honest, I don't have much of a clue of how this works either, but I couldn't really think of any other reason why BeForU songs have been disappearing in recent games (unless it's just a coincidence if Konami is just doing that for some whole other unrelated reason).

Oh yeah, and to get what I was talking about, I'm referring to a particular user.

I miss the old BeforU, but their recent solo stuff has been really good IMO, so as long as the members exist solo, I'll be happy.