BINI wearing Jabawokeez inspired masks as a clapback, will it help? Are blooms getting toxic?
I got to know BINI because of songs like “Salamin” and “Karera”. They caught my attention because their songs became a summer hit, a stress reliever, and their outfits and look were fresh. I thought it was great to have a girl group like them. But lately, it seems like BINI and their management have changed their branding or style. The group achieved great success with their new hit single “Cherry on Top”, and the visuals of the music video are on par with Blackpink and other international girl groups. It quickly reached 9.9 million views, but this week, more attention seems to be on the way they responded to bashers. The number of vloggers, publicists, and commentators attacking BINI like Tio Moreno, Christian Gaza, Jobert Sucaldito has increased, and I’ve seen many posts asking who BINI is and if they’re famous.
The Blooms, of course, are left to defend themselves.
I suppose the Blooms are spirited and will fight to the end.
If you’re in your teens or early twenties, you might think it’s just banter or a happy trip and enjoy the witty exchanges. However, when considering the entire Philippine market, the Jabawokeez move unfortunately won’t sit well with people in their 30s and 60s, a significant demographic that you don’t want to alienate. But it’s a good market study — to see if the Jabawokeez clapback will solidify BINI’s fame or lead to a decrease in popularity.
In the Philippines, once you declare that you’re brave, be prepared to fight all enemies at once. So the Jabawokeez statement is saying, “We can handle all of you. We will fight everyone in this industry — from traditional media, publicists, vloggers, to non-supporters.” So the Blooms will really have their hands full with this one. I’m asking myself right now if this will help. Is announcing to everyone that BINI is willing to fight everyone and confront everyone…
One can only hope that there are enough Blooms to ensure that BINI can maintain their momentum. One of the criticisms against them now is that they suddenly changed their music style. “Cherry on Top” is good, but it reminds some of the song “Ice Cream” by Blackpink, and its visuals didn’t gain much traction on TikTok for a dance tune, which is crucial for tapping into the international market. Right now, what non-fans perceive is that the members of BINI are being arrogant, even though they haven’t reached the peak of success yet. Instead of the branding as happy, bubbly, stress relievers, they are slowly becoming “palaban”, not backing down, with a clapback kind of energy that is appreciated by some fans and works for younger people. However, it tends to alienate other potential fans because not everyone watches their video funny edits. So it boils down to what BINI’s goal is. The Jabawokeez masks are currently perceived by outsiders as a sign that they are affected by criticisms and are lashing out due to their newfound fame.
It reminds me of when Britney Spears shaved her head out of anger towards the paparazzi when she broke down. So if you’re not watching the BINI edits and you don’t know them, what you might perceive is that they’re angry at the media, bashers, and fans who are denying them privacy — which goes against the refreshing tropical beats and image that the general public embraces. So for younger generations, the concept of clapback sells and they might like it. However, BINI will definitely struggle to be understood by other market segments. But according to the Blooms, BINI is breaking boundaries.
For me, if their fans support them until the end, then I guess they will survive this. For me, it’s more important for them to come up with new songs that will capture the hearts of the people, including the international scene. Because in this industry, you are only as good as your last hit song.