On Sunday the 25th of May, Filipino phenomenon BINI took London for the only European and third stop of their BINIverse World Tour. The concert marked history for the eight girls; with the stacked-out and iconic Wembley Arena holding their first ever appearance in London. Thousands of “Blooms” (the name of BINI’s fans) of all ages populated the venue with pink fashions and the odd LED cowgirl hat, and with multicoloured flower-shaped lightsticks in hand, fans were readier than ever to welcome the girls to the city.
Bubblegum pop hit “Salamin, Salamin” opened their set, and their flowing earthy-toned outfits couldn’t mask the ever-bright vibes of this happy tune. The crowd was alight with glee; the mood had been set for the night. “No Fear” brought one of many confetti blows of the evening.
The girls also performed their recent hit “Blink Twice”, a sugary but relatable plea from the self conscious twenty-something, unsure if she’s got the right message: ‘If you like me, blink twice / Are you naughty or nice? / Maybe add a little spice / If you’re tryna roll the dice / Let me give you some advice / If you like me, blink twice’. Each hook was sweetened with its harmonious post-chorus, with the girls resigning that they’re simply just delulu.
In between songs the BINI members egged each other on to try out the local slang (e.g. ‘mad ting innit’), namedrop some cultural emblems such as Abbey Road and fish ‘n’ chips, and banter with the crowd as if it was just a casual 10,000-person sleepover. Their performances weren’t so easygoing however, as they dominated the stage with synced-up choreography and powerful live vocals with each song.
While the youngest member (also known as the “bunso”) Sheena brought the strongest moves, leader Jhoanna and Maloi were the vocal powerhouses of the night, bodying impressively high notes that got the crowd roaring. One thing was apparent; the jewel-encrusted mics were on.
Everyone knows a fabulous girl can’t be limited to just one look. Partway through the set the girls swapped khaki for cyberwear: gearing up in matching silver boots that complemented arguably the best song of the night. “Zero Pressure” is a euphoric synthpop banger from their latest EP, opened with Stacey’s fantastic line: ‘Heaven knows a force of nature / I come in like a hurricane’. The tune establishes that BINI aren’t in it for the fame, but they’ll give a performance all they’ve got every time: evidenced by their show here in London.
Just as the girls’ power reached unimaginable heights, it became time for the music to mellow out and flower petals to fall. The girls brought on chills with their voices as they presented ballads “Na Na Nandito Lang” and “Here With You”. The former was especially beautiful: emotions soared through a song that felt truly magic, and closed up their show in the most fitting way.
With emotions high, fans delighted, and vocal chords in need of a well deserved rest, it was time for BINI to utter bittersweet goodbyes to London. After spending the evening with BINI, you too will come to understand that the BINIverse is a state of mind. A modern girlboss nirvana. Sheena declared the girls’ warm welcome to all: ‘If you ever feel sad or homesick you can come to the BINIverse!’
BINI are on Instagram. You can buy tickets to the BINIverse World Tour here.