Be Strong (album)

Last updated

Be Strong
Be Strong (The 2 Bears album - cover art).jpg
Studio album by
Released30 January 2012
Recorded2010–2011
Genre Electronic
Label Mercury
The 2 Bears chronology
Be Strong
(2012)
The Night Is Young
(2014)
Singles from Be Strong
  1. "Bear Hug"
    Released: 29 May 2011
  2. "Work"
    Released: 1 January 2012
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 8.0 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats Per Minute 78% [2]
Clash 8/10 [3]
Consequence of Sound C- [4]
DIY 7/10 [5]
Drowned in Sound 8/10 [6]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
NME 7/10 [8]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Pitchfork 7.3/10 [10]
State Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]

Be Strong is the debut studio album by London-based musical duo the 2 Bears. It was released on 30 January 2012 in the United Kingdom. The album includes the singles "Bear Hug" and "Work". The album peaked at number 35 on the UK Albums Chart.

Contents

Singles

Track listing

Be Strong track listing
No.TitleLength
1."The Birds & the Bees"4:21
2."Be Strong"4:42
3."Bear Hug"4:05
4."Work"4:12
5."Warm & Easy"3:02
6."Take a Look Around"5:16
7."Ghosts & Zombies"4:04
8."Time in Mind"3:07
9."Increase Your Faith"4:20
10."Heart of the Congos"5:04
11."Get Together"3:53
12."Church"6:01
13."Shakedown"10:55

Chart performance

Chart performance for Be Strong
Chart (2012)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [12] 83
Australian Dance Albums (ARIA) [12] 14
UK Albums Chart [13] 35

Release history

Release history for Be Strong
CountryRelease dateFormat(s)Label
United Kingdom30 January 2012 [14] Digital downloadSouthern Fried

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Springsteen discography</span>

American rock musician Bruce Springsteen has released 21 studio albums, 23 live albums, 77 singles, and 66 music videos. Widely referred to as "The Boss" by the media, Springsteen has sold over 150 million records worldwide, listing him among the best-selling music artists in history. Billboard ranked him as the 24th Greatest Artist of all time. According to Recording Industry Association of America, he has sold 65.5 million albums in the United States, making him the 7th best-selling male soloist of all time. Born in the U.S.A. remains the best-selling album of his career, selling more than 30 million copies around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radiohead discography</span>

The English rock band Radiohead have released nine studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums, one remix album, nine video albums, seven EPs, 32 singles, and 48 music videos. Their debut album, Pablo Honey, released in February 1993, reached number 22 in the UK, receiving platinum certifications in the UK and US. Their debut single, "Creep", remains their most successful, entering the top 10 in several countries. Their second album, The Bends, released in March 1995, reached number four in the UK and is certified triple platinum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britney Spears discography</span>

American singer Britney Spears has released nine studio albums, eight compilation albums, nine box sets, three extended plays (EPs), 50 singles, 11 promotional singles, two charity singles, and has made three guest appearances. In 1997, Spears signed a recording contract with American record label Jive Records in order to launch her career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coldplay discography</span>

British rock band Coldplay have released 9 studio albums, 6 live albums, 12 compilation albums, 18 extended plays, 41 singles, 13 promotional singles, and 5 charity singles. According to Parlophone, they have sold over 100 million albums worldwide as of May 2021, making them the most successful group of the 21st century and one of the best-selling artists of all time. Luminate revealed that, in terms of pure sales, they have tallied 18.2 million albums and 33.6 million song downloads in the United States alone as of February 2015. Moreover, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) attributed the rise in British music exports to their success multiple times, adding that it boosted the balance of payments of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unfaithful (song)</span> 2006 song by Rihanna

"Unfaithful" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her second studio album A Girl like Me (2006). It was written by Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith with the song's producers Stargate. The song was released by Def Jam Recordings on May 1, 2006, as the second single from the album. "Unfaithful" is a pop, dancehall and R&B ballad and was inspired by the music of American rock band Evanescence. Originally titled "Murderer", the single speaks about a woman who regrets cheating on her partner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foo Fighters discography</span>

The discography of Foo Fighters, an American rock band formed in 1995 by Dave Grohl, consists of eleven studio albums, ten extended plays (EPs), six video albums, and 57 singles. The current Foo Fighters line-up consists of Grohl, Rami Jaffee (keyboard), Nate Mendel (bass), Chris Shiflett (guitar), Pat Smear (guitar) and Josh Freese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Timberlake discography</span>

The discography of American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake consists of six studio albums, two compilation albums, three extended plays, and 51 singles. Timberlake started his music career in 1995, as a member of boy band NSYNC. Following the group's hiatus in 2002, he released his solo debut studio album, Justified, in November that same year. The album was a commercial success and peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart and additionally topped the charts in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Justified earned multiple multi-platinum certifications, including a triple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and a sextuple platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It produced four singles: "Like I Love You", "Cry Me a River", "Rock Your Body" and "Señorita"; all performed well commercially, with two of them becoming top 5 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and top two hits on the UK Singles Chart. "Rock Your Body" also reached number one in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panic! at the Disco discography</span>

Panic! at the Disco was an American rock band that originated in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their 2005 debut album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, reached number 13 on the US Billboard 200, and has sold more than 2.2 million copies since its September 2005 release, spearheaded by the quintuple platinum top-10 hit single, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies". The band's second album, Pretty. Odd., was released on March 21, 2008, entering the US chart at, and peaking at, number 2. Their third effort, Vices & Virtues, was released on March 18, 2011, and peaked at number 7 in the US. Their fourth album, 2013's Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, entered and peaked at number 2 on the US chart, and contained the platinum-certified lead single "Miss Jackson". The band's fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor, was released in January 2016 and became their first number-one album in the US. Their sixth album, Pray for the Wicked, was released on June 22, 2018, and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. Their seventh and final album, Viva Las Vengeance, released in August 2022 and debuted and peaked at number 13 in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katy Perry discography</span>

American singer Katy Perry has released six studio albums, seven extended plays (EP), 39 singles, and 11 promotional singles. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Perry has sold 109.5 million digital singles and 17 million albums in the United States. She is also the sixth best-selling digital singles artist in the United States. Throughout her career, Perry has sold 48 million album units and 135 million singles worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Billboard listed her as the fourth top female artist of the 2010s decade and the 61st greatest artist of all time. Perry has scored nine number one songs on Billboard Hot 100 and three number one albums on Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me the Horizon discography</span>

British rock band Bring Me the Horizon have released six studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one remix album, two extended plays (EPs), one demo album, 35 singles, two video albums, 38 music videos, two other releases and three other appearances. Formed in Sheffield in 2004 by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarists Lee Malia and Curtis Ward, bassist Matt Kean and drummer Matt Nicholls, the band released their debut EP This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For on Thirty Days of Nights Records in 2005, which reached number 41 on the UK Budget Albums Chart. After signing with British independent record label Visible Noise, the group released their debut full-length studio album Count Your Blessings in 2006, which reached the top 100 of the UK Albums Chart and the top 10 of the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. The 2008 follow-up Suicide Season reached the UK top 50 and charted in the US for the first time when it reached number 107 on the Billboard 200. In November 2009, an expanded version of the album titled Suicide Season Cut Up! was released, featuring remixes and videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broken Bells</span> American rock band

Broken Bells is an American indie rock band composed of artist-producer Brian Burton and James Mercer, the lead vocalist and guitarist for the indie rock band The Shins. Broken Bells compose and create as a duo, but are joined by Dan Elkan and Jon Sortland when performing live. The previous live band included Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band sidemen Nate Walcott and Nik Freitas, and Jonathan Hischke and Dan Elkan, both ex-members of Hella. Following their 2010 self-titled debut album, the duo released an EP, Meyrin Fields, in 2011 and their second studio album, After the Disco, in 2014. In 2022 they released a third studio album titled "Into the Blue".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missy Higgins discography</span>

The discography of Australian singer-songwriter and musician Missy Higgins consists of five studio albums, two extended plays, thirty five singles and one download-only live album. In 2001, Higgins won the national Unearthed radio competition for unsigned artists with her song "All for Believing" and shortly after signed a recording contract with Eleven. The following year she signed an international contract with Warner Bros. She released a self-titled EP in November 2003. Her debut album, The Sound of White, was released 6 September 2004. It reached No. 1 on the Australian albums chart and was certified nine times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). It contained the singles "Scar", "Ten Days", "The Special Two" and "The Sound of White".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florence and the Machine discography</span>

English indie rock band Florence and the Machine have released five studio albums, three live albums, four compilation albums, six extended plays, 25 singles, four promotional singles and 29 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boy & Bear</span> Australian indie folk band

Boy & Bear are an Australian indie folk band formed in 2009, consisting of David Hosking, Killian Gavin, Tim Hart, Jonathan Hart, and David Symes (bass). The band has released two EPs and five studio albums. The first two albums, Moonfire and Harlequin Dream, reached the top ten of the Australian albums chart. Their third album, Limit of Love, was released on 9 October 2015, in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada, and on 30 October in the UK and Europe. On 27 September 2019, after a four-year break, they released their long-awaited fourth studio album, Suck on Light. After yet another break between 2020 and 2022 due to the COVID pandemic, the band finally released their self-titled fifth studio album on 26 May 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie Minogue singles discography</span>

The singles discography of Australian singer Kylie Minogue consists of ninety-six singles and twenty-four promotional recordings. Referred as the “Princess of Pop” by various media outlets, she has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. In Australia, she has a total of ten number-one singles, twenty-three top-ten hits and forty-seven top-forty entries. In the United Kingdom, with seven number-one singles, eleven singles that peaked at number two, thirty-five top-ten hits and fifty-two top-forty entries, she is the twelfth-best-selling singles artist and the third-best-selling female artist of all time to date, selling over 10.1 million singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie xx</span> British record producer, DJ and composer (born 1988)

James Thomas Smith, known professionally as Jamie xx, is an English musician, DJ, multi instrumentalist, record producer, and remixer. He is known for both his solo work and as the drummer and keybordist of the English indie pop band the xx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 2 Bears</span> British musical duo

The 2 Bears are a British musical duo formed in 2009 composed of Joe Goddard and Raf Rundell. The duo produces original material amalgamating various styles including 2-step, house and soul and also host a radio show on Ministry of Sound Radio entitled Follow the Bears. Critics offer various descriptions of The 2 Bears' sound including "pop-hip-house" "liquid-bmore-house-step" and "rave-garage". The duo have produced remixes for several established artists including Santigold, Metronomy, Toddla T and the View.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Direction discography</span>

English-Irish boy band One Direction have released five studio albums, ten extended plays, seventeen singles, two video albums, and seventeen music videos. They signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records after being formed and finishing third in the seventh series of British television singing competition The X Factor in 2010. They subsequently signed in North America with Columbia Records. One Direction: This Is Us, a 3D documentary concert film was released on 29 August 2013 in the United Kingdom and 30 August 2013 in the United States. The film captures the band on the road during the Take Me Home Tour and documents their origins and rise to fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lana Del Rey discography</span>

American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has released nine studio albums, three extended plays, 38 singles, 18 promotional singles, and one box set. She also has one leaked demo album, which was not released officially. According to Universal Music Group (UMG), Del Rey has sold over 41 million albums worldwide and has garnered over 58 billion streams worldwide. In the United States, Del Rey has sold over 48 million certified singles according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Billboard ranked her as the 37th Top Rock Artist of the 2010s. Del Rey has also sold 7.1 million singles units, and 4 million albums in United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5 Seconds of Summer discography</span>

Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer have released five studio albums, three live albums, seven extended plays, 26 singles, four promotional singles, and 31 music videos. All four of their studio albums debuted at number one in Australia and all have debuted at number one, within the top three, and within top 10 on a multitude of charts in many other countries. According to Billboard, since 2014, 5 Seconds of Summer have sold more than ten million albums, sold over two million concert tickets worldwide, and the band's songs streams surpass seven billion, making them one of Australia's most successful musical exports in history.

References

  1. "Be Strong | The 2 Bears". Metacritic .
  2. Burg, Erik (31 January 2012). "Album Review: The 2 Bears – Be Strong". Beats per Minute . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. Oliver, Matt (23 January 2012). "The 2 Bears – Be Strong". Clash . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. Hardy, Tony (31 January 2012). "The 2 Bears – Be Strong". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  5. Young, Martyn (30 January 2012). "The 2 Bears – Be Strong". DIY . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  6. Leedham, Robert (25 January 2012). "Album Review: The 2 Bears – Be Strong". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  7. Petridis, Alexis (19 January 2012). "The 2 Bears: Be Strong – review". The Guardian . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  8. Martin, Dan (27 January 2012). "The 2 Bears – 'Be Strong'". NME . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  9. Empire, Kitty (29 January 2012). "The 2 Bears: Be Strong – review". The Observer . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  10. Colly, Joe (30 January 2012). "The 2 Bears: Be Strong". Pitchfork . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  11. Manning, Kara (25 January 2012). "The 2 Bears – Be Strong". State . Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  12. 1 2 "ARIA Report: Issue 1147" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  13. "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company .
  14. Davies, Ruth. "Album Reviews: The 2 Bears - Be Strong". MusicOMH . Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2024.