BINIverse New York City
BINI. If you have not heard of them, then i do not know why you clicked this blogpost. For a quick introduction, they are a 8-member girl group of the P-Pop genre. P-Pop, or Philippine Pop/Pinoy Pop, is a genre under the OPM - Original Pinoy Music - umbrella where it is the Philippine version of Pop music. It is in the same vein to a more globally known J-Pop (Japanese Pop) and K-Pop (Korean Pop). As for the 8-members, I will let them introduce themselves.
If you want them to rap their introduction, watch here: Who is who in BINI?
Late BLOOMer? No Problem!
My first time I listened to BINI was when I am looking for the full version of “Da Coconut Nut” by Ryan Cayabyab, as I have watched alot of choir ensembles singing it Acapella. On all the searches, BINI’s rendition of “Da Coconut Nut” Music Video was always in the top 5, along with the Sing-along Karaoke. Then the next time I listened to them was when the song that finally gave them a break they have been waiting, “PANTROPIKO”. I heard the song for the first time when UNIS made a cover and that made me intrigue to check out as it is in my mother tongue. Checked out the “PANTROPIKO” Performance Video, and immediately had to screenshot and ask my college friend, who mentioned them briefly a month before, what is this member’s name? Friend did not know the member’s name but I figured it out in a span of 24 hours. From then on that member has been my “Closet” Bias. After putting my foot on the “Rabbit Hole” that is BINI, I have consumed all their music, music videos, interviews, and BINI cores.
“BINI cores” are YouTube fan made videos that help you introduce the members with their personalities and quirks, that would make you fall in love with all 8. Watching those “BINI Cores” made me regret not knowing them when they were starting with their livestreams in “KUMU”. Watching the members interact with the early BLOOMs made me jealous.
BLOOMS? “BLOOMS” is the name for BINI’s fandom. Interesting name. And what do you call a person that got into BINI late? “Late BLOOMers”. Ok that is not really an official name but I think it has a good ring to it. Better late than never.
I mentioned my jealousy and regret of not following the 8-members when they were up-and-coming, but the world was kind to me when there was an ASAP California show last year (2024) and BINI was performing as part of an act in the said show. Not only that, they have a meet and greet for ticket holders and it was a raffle basis. Guess what? the BINI gods, BLOOMS Gods, blessed me and the college friend I mentioned earlier, to have our ticket pick for the meet and greet.
Meet and Greet with BINI
The last week of July to early August - pretty much 10 days - I had planned to go to LA to watch concerts from FLOW, a Japanese rock band that their music were used in some of the iconic “Naruto”/”Naruto Shippuuden” opening songs, and the lovely soloist from South Korea, IU. In that 10 day span that I was going to be, the ASAP California show and the meet-and-greet was going to happen. Also, in between was K-Con, a convention for K-Pop, where I have no intention of going until they announcecd BINI performing in a pre-show and was going to be involved in a panel. This actually made it a early for me to see them close up and perform. Look at the luck the world gave me. Late BLOOMer, No Problem!
Check out performances from BINI in K-Con and ASAP California:
ASAP Natin 'To California: BINI performs "Salamin, Salamin" + Intro + Surprise.
Into the BINIverse!
Alright let’s go to the concert itself. I didn’t get the VIP ticket so I didn’t get into a soundcheck or a meet-and-greet. just got the tier below ticket of the VIP. So, arrived to the venue, which was on The Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the entry was smooth and easy. Once I get inside, you see the BINI posters posted in a screen and a line for the merch. Since I have 45 minutes to spare, I lined up and hopefully still have the BINI Tour Shirt merch in my size. While waiting in line, there was a mother and daughter in front of me and see that little girl excited on watching BINI. That same girl noticed my Unofficial BINI shirt from Futura Haus and was shyly pointing at it for her mom to see. If I had an extra, I would have given her a shirt.
Luckily, I secured the BINI Tour Shirt merch and some other stuff. To see my purchases follow my IG: Instagram
As 8pm approach, everyone was finding their sit and getting their BINI lightstick, which I intentionally forgot, ready for the first U.S. Solo concert of BINI. This was also my first time watching BINI perform their old songs, Pre-”PANTROPIKO” era.
Merch line
BLOOMS getting ready!
Now enjoy some clips I got during the concert. It’s not much as I would make a video for YouTube later. Then again, I didn’t record much during the concert as I was just enjoying the vibes of my first solo BINI concert. The concert feel like it went by quick. it didn’t feel like a 2-hour concer.
“KARERA” My favorite BINI song!
“PANTROPIKO”
Question: What is the concert etiquette of standing up and enjoying the vibe?
So, I am asking this question because of what happen next to me during the concert. Let me paint you the scenario. There was a group of young ladies, either friends or family with I presume an older adult women with them, who were excited even before the concert started. They have that vibe that would dance when their song starts playing. And to dance, you got to leave your seat to fully enjoy the songs vibe. And BINI’s song has its choreography. Now, I’m not saying you gotta do their complicated choreo, but people stands up to feel the music and even the performers tells the audience to get up off their feet. I am seated next to two friends that came a bit late and then a group of 4-5 next to them. The two friends i’m next to gave the same vibes as the ladies in front of me, I feel that party energy with them. At the beginning of the concert, everyone on the venue stood up and matched the 8 ladies of BINI’s energy and dance and sang along with them. As more songs were performed, most of the BLOOMS sat down and vibe with BINI while sitting down.
Then comes “KARERA”.
“KARERA” , at this moment, is my favorite BINI song of all time. And having to listen and watch it live, I would have vibe with it. I do not really like to dance in public and probably do much of a hum to a song, I am OK with just enjoying it sitting down. And of course, the ladies in front of me fully vibed with the song as I heard them said this was their jam (in Tagalog). So, there goes the ladies stood up for the first half of the song, and I don’t even mind. I was just vibing sitting down just as the two friends I am seated next too. It looks like they don’t mind the ladies in front enjoying the song and just vibe with the song. Then as the last half of the song comes, the guy that was next to the two friends actually tapped the shoulders of the young ladies and asked to sit down. I was just vibing so I do not know if that person rudely asked them to sit down as I saw one of the ladies sat down and see her energy disappear after. and this go on to the next songs until the BINI girls told the BLOOMS to stand up and dance with them during their last song “PANTROPIKO”. whereas, the person that asked them to Sit down actually left and did not comeback during the last two song of BINI.
So, if you guys were in that position, would you have asked the Young Ladies to sit down? They were not standing up the whole time. They stood up at the moment their favorite song came on.
For me I felt bad for the young ladies as their energy was not the same when that situation happened. Me and the two friends did not mind, but that person that told them to sit down did not even finish the whole concert.
Vibe check of those young ladies where great. Hopefully, they still enjoy the whole concert.
“HUWAG MUNA TAYONG UMUWI”. Those were the two friends next to me. I was just listening to the song. So, I think one of the two friends ask for an apology possibly from earlier.
OVERALL: BINIVerse New York City is off the books. and onto Los Angeles and the homecourt of San Francisco. IT WAS A VIBE!
BINIverse World Tour 2025 ad in Time Square
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