The Story of Bini's Coachella Setlist

 Last Friday at Coachella,  the Filipino girl group BINI made their global debut on the Mojave stage, performing 10 songs for a setlist that was over 40 minutes that included a quick costume change, elaborate dance choreography, and a few breaks where they talked to the audience.

 

I'm a relatively new BINI fan, having only discovered them a few years ago. The group has been around since 2020, going viral on social media. As of now, Billboard's Women In Music is recognizing the group as a Global Force. Making their debut at Coachella is introducing them to so many new people.

 

The setlist BINI performed had an emphasis on showcasing their dancing skills for Coachella while also bringing tropical Filipino vibes. However, I also think that their setlist told a bigger story.

 

1. Shagidi: Shagidi is a dance-heavy track and a great way to get the party started. 
2. Zero Pressure: The lyrics of the song talk about rising above the chaos that comes with being famous. This song acts as BINI's introduction to the world, telling them the kind of girls they are. Many girls came from impoverished backgrounds and put a lot of work and effort to make sure they give their best performances possible. 
3. Out Of My Head: While this song is a love song, I feel like this song is also BINI's way of saying "This isn't a dream anymore."
4. Karera: This track slow things down, bringing a chiller vibe. The lyrics (when translated) say that life is not a race. Even though these girls work hard, they also know when to just relax and have fun.
5. Salamin, Salamin: Translated, the title of the song is "Mirror Mirror." While it has a vibe of a typical girl in longing, there are also parts of the song where the girls show agency. It's a song about discerning one's true feelings.
6. Blink Twice: Once again, this love song puts the girls in the driver's seat, establishing themselves as confident women. It's a fun and flirty song.
7. Cherry On Top: This is the song that made me discover BINI (one of them anyway) and I'm so glad that this song is on the setlist. Once again, this song is driven by confidence, knowing one's own value.
8. Blush: From here, BINI pivots into full on tropical Filipino/Southeast Asian vibes. It's kind of an unwritten rule that this is kind of the time for female singers to release a "Song of the Summer." BINI has summer songs in spades. "Blush" is their latest single from their latest EP "Signal." One particular thing about this song is that "Kalamin" is Bisaya for "Nice" or "Sweet." While most of BINI's songs are in Tagalog or English, there are also mentions of Visayas or Mindanao like in their song "Lagi." This is a nod to how the girls of BINI come from all over the Philippines. 
9. Bikini: I fully expect this song to be trending on TikTok once summer comes around and everyone's showing off their bathing suits. This song carries on the summer vibes while also being a song all about body positivity, as the song mentions curves, but not skipping meals! (Given that girls in the KPOP industry have to diet and the current "Ozempic thin" trend, this is a big deal!)
10. Pantropiko: This song acts as the finale for the set, bringing all the tropical vibes. It's also longer than the actual song, with a full-on dance break. The last three songs act as a great tropical/Filipino finale. 

Overall, I am so proud of BINI for such a huge debut, not just in America but in a music festival that's watched worldwide. 

If you're interested in BINI from their debut, check out my playlist on Tidal, which has their setlist plus some other songs from them that I love: https://tidal.com/playlist/b0a56e05-a361-437a-ae34-fb52d719040d