The nation’s pop girl group, BINI, released their new single “Cherry on Top” on the 11th of July, and the decadently sweet and addictive confidence-booster is sure to make its way into everyone’s On-Repeat playlists.

Following their hot summer track “Pantropiko,” BINI’s recent release provides a soothing atmosphere that is fit for the country’s turn to chilly, stormy weather. The production of the track is reminiscent of NewJeans’ Y2K jungle type of beats, with a mix of bubblegum pop betting BINI’s youthful glow.

All it takes is one listen to realize that their beat marches to the same drum of modern-day K-Pop. We have GG Ramirez, Skylar Mones, Shintaro Yasuda, and Boy Matthews to thank for that. Boasting a portfolio of collaborations with artists such as Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, and TWICE, these producers crafted an upbeat and catchy tune sure to worm its way into every BLOOM’s ears.

While being one of BINI’s fully English tracks, the single remains distinctly Filipino, especially through its music video that pays homage to several aspects of Philippine culture. From the sheer presence of the walis tingting to the bundle of metallic balloons Maloi strings along the sidewalks, the girl group ensures that nothing about their representation of the modern Filipina has changed.

It is precisely for these reasons that BINI has shifted the tides in the Philippine pop scene. Instead of blindly following the trends that popular East Asian pop groups have set for global recognition, BINI remains true to themselves and their kababayan. Earlier this year, their single Pantropiko exploded in popularity, trending on social media platforms and streaming sites, and earned over 100,000 streams on Spotify alone. Thus, this marked their potential to dominate the global airwaves with a truly Filipino sound.

Nevertheless, pop girl groups have always been a staple of Philippine pop culture. Many of us may reminisce about our childhoods dancing to “The Spageti Song” by the Sexbomb Girls as commissioned by our titos and titas, or listening to “Bulaklak” by Viva Hotbabes on the radio of school buses. These novelty hits have stuck to us as hallmarks of our classic Filipino upbringing.

With these in mind, how can a modern-day P-Pop girl group like BINI transform the genre completely?

BINI was formed right before the pandemic struck, seemingly cutting them off from the rest of the world. After a year of training, they made their debut on the 20th of October in 2020. With the rest of the country shut behind their doors in quarantine, the internet became BINI’s stage to shine on. First, Maloi went viral with her cover of the “Paligoy-ligoy X Hype Boy” dance, and Sheena soon followed with her hit dance cover of “Zoom”.

Following this, their audience began to grow, and their music accumulated more spotlight. With the momentum of their viral dance covers and other social media content, the focus then shifted to their music and talent. Virality became one of BINI’s main weapons, as their influence has crossed borders and has spread worldwide.

Touring across the globe and performing in nations like Singapore and Dubai, BINI has taken advantage of their international popularity to promote Filipino music and culture. Alongside fellow Filipino girl group G22, they displayed their talents and sheer stage presence in China for the hit reality show, Show It All. Additionally, they recently announced their North America tour to be taking place in several cities across Canada and in K-Con Los Angeles.

As BINI’s influence continues to grow more prominently worldwide, they provide a window for Original Pinoy Music to shine. While they started off longing for an islang pantropiko, it is now world domination that they are headed towards. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy their new release, Cherry on Top. BINI’s bloom may seem to have come out of nowhere, but it is no secret that they have been hard at work for a long time. With pride in our chests, we have the utmost privilege of being witnesses to their milestone after milestone. For now, easy does it as we watch them in their stride. After all, as they say, ang buhay ay ‘di karera.

Rome Saenz is your go-to pop culture aficionado with a knack for lifestyle and music journalism. When you’re looking for recommendations on the next series to binge-watch or album to indulge in, all roads lead to Rome.

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