BINIchella came home. Surprise covers. New choreography. A first listen to an unreleased song from an upcoming DreamWorks film.
Filipino P-pop sensation BINI delivered all that and more as they kicked off their highly anticipated Signals World Tour with a sold-out two-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines, on June 20 and 21.
The Nation’s Girl Group treated Blooms (their fans) to a mix of fan favourites, newer releases, and several songs making their live debut.
Tracks such as “Sugar Rush” and “Step Back” drew some of the loudest reactions of the night, while the crowd sang along to “Honey Honey” and “Tic Tac Toe” when BINI joined the audience on the floor.
Surprises steal the spotlight
But beyond the discography their fans already know and love, it was the surprises that defined the Manila kickoff.
While BINI did not bring out guest singers, they shared the spotlight with world-renowned hip-hop dance crew A-Team, who performed “Be Hu U R.”
The show also featured unexpected covers, from a heartfelt theatre-like rendition of Sarah Geronimo’s “Duyan” by Aiah, Colet, Jhoanna, and Sheena to a playful performance of Donnalyn Bartolome’s “Kakaibabe” by Mikha, Gwen, Maloi, and Stacey that caught fans completely off-guard.
The spotlight also briefly shifted to the BINI Besties, the group’s official dancers, who performed their own introduction song and choreography.
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BINIchella comes home
Perhaps the night’s biggest bombshell, however, was “BINIchella.”
Earlier this year, BINI became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian act to perform at Coachella, introducing songs such as “Cherry on Top,” “Karera,” and “Salamin, Salamin” to the world.
In Manila, the octet brought that history-making performance for their home fans to see live, complete with their Coachella outfits and several songs from the festival set.
For many Blooms, it was the closest thing to experiencing the desert festival without flying to California.
Sneak peek at a ‘Parallel World’
As the show wound down to a close, BINI treated the Blooms in attendance with an exclusive first listen of their upcoming single “A Parallel World,” along with a taste of its signature dance.
The track is part of the soundtrack for DreamWorks’ upcoming animated film, Forgotten Island, a project inspired by Filipino culture and mythology.
The girls join SB19, Ruby Ibarra, Carl Angelo, H.E.R., Katseye’s Sophia Laforteza, and Lea Salonga on the soundtrack.
The film itself features a star-studded cast that includes H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Jenny Slate, Ronny Chieng, and Dave Franco.
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Ending on a high note before the signal gets stronger
No BINI show would be complete without “Blush,” “Bikini,” and the group’s megahit summer anthem “Pantropiko,” which turned the arena into one giant singalong.
Their Signals World Tour now takes that momentum to Cebu and beyond Philippine shores, with stops scheduled in Singapore, Dubai, London, and several cities in the United States.
If the Manila kickoff was any indication, BINI’s biggest stage may still be ahead of them.
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Jheruleene Anne Ramos