"Cherry on Top" is a song by the Filipino girl group Bini. Star Music released the song on July 11, 2024, as the first pre-single for the second extended play Biniverse. Written by Boy Matthews and Gaby Ramirez, along with its producers, Shintaro Yasuda and Skylar Mones, "Cherry on Top" is a bubblegum pop track that embraces themes of individuality and self-expression. The lyrics highlight the distinct personality traits of an individual, emphasizing how these qualities make them compelling and unforgettable. It was created during a writer's camp in 2023, with Bini members Colet and Maloi participating in the songwriting process.
Most music critics praised the song for its playful energy and wide appeal. "Cherry on Top" entered Billboard Philippines' charts two weeks after its release, peaking at number six on the Philippines Hot 100 and number four on the Top Philippine Songs chart. The accompanying music video incorporates references to Filipino culture. The song also gained significant attention on Youtube Philippines, becoming the top trending music video and reaching two million views within 24 hours of its release. The group promoted the song with live performances and included it on the set list of their concert tour, Biniverse. The song has received multiple accolades, including the Music Video of the Year at the Myx Music Awards.
Background
Bini released their single "Pantropiko" (lit.'Tropical') on November 17, 2023, to promote their then-upcoming EP Talaarawan (lit.'Diary').[1] Regarded as a sleeper hit, the track gained viral traction the next year as a "summer anthem".[1] The subsequent commercial success of Talaarawan and its third single, "Salamin, Salamin" (lit.'Mirror, Mirror'), both released on March 8, 2024, contributed to the milestone of becoming the Filipino group with the most monthly listeners on Spotify.[2] "Pantropiko" and "Salamin, Salamin" both peaked at number one on Billboard'sPhilippines Songs chart on April 27 and June 8, 2024, respectively.[3][4]
Following the successful promotion of Talaarawan, Bini announced the release of the single "Cherry on Top" on June 10, 2024.[5][6]
"Cherry on Top" is two minutes and fifty-five seconds long.[7] It has been described as an "all-English" bubblegum pop song with layers of UK garage beat targeted towards Bini's global audience.[8][9] Featuring "playful and confident" lyrics, the song embraces themes of uniqueness, tackling the "unique personality of a person that one could never get enough [of]".[9][10][11] In a video teaser shared on Instagram prior to its release, the group was shown performing in their signature bubblegum pop style, with lyrics that describe them as sweet and spicy, embodying the phrase "Cherry on Top".[12]
The song was produced by Shintaro Yasuda and Skylar Mones and composed by Boy Matthews, Gaby Ramirez, Shintaro Yasuda, and Mones.[8] It was created in a collaboration during a writer's camp in 2023, with Bini members Colet and Maloi involved in the creative process.[13]
Promotion and release
Bini first teased "Cherry on Top" in early June 2024 through their social media platforms.[6] The promotion also included a photoshoot clip with the caption, "All eyes on us! Our upcoming single 'Cherry on Top' is serving soon!"[5] Another teaser was released on Instagram.[12] Bini released the official teaser for the "Cherry on Top" music video on July 1, 2024.[14]
Prior to the song's official release, Bini performed "Cherry on Top" for the first time during their first solo concert, Biniverse, which ran for three nights from June 28 to June 30 at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.[15][16] A snippet of the song was also previewed on the mobile rhythm game Superstar Philippines, allowing fans to play the first sixty seconds of "Cherry on Top" in-game starting July 1, 2024. Bini became the first international group after the K-pop group Exo to have a song previewed in the Superstar game series.[17][18]
"Cherry on Top" was released by Star Music on July 11, 2024, through digital download and streaming formats.[7][12] The official music video for the single premiered on the same day. It was revealed to be part of an upcoming future album.[10] Later that month, on July 27, Bini performed the song at KCON 2024 in Los Angeles, which marked the first act by a Filipino pop group at the event.[19]
The remix version of the song, featuring vocals from Agnez Mo, was released on October 3, 2024. The collaboration emerged after the group met Mo at both a studio in Los Angeles and Billboard Korea's K Power 100 launch event in Seoul.[20] The remix features a fully Tagalog version of Mikha's rap verse, in lieu of the original English lyrics.[11]
Shortly after the release of their official lightstick, the group unveiled official "Cherry on Top" shirt merchandise on October 27. The collection comprised a variety of T-shirts adorned with a cherry design, Bini's logotype, and images of the members from the "Cherry on Top" promotional photo shoots. The group also offered a special bundle, limited to the first 200 buyers only, which included an exclusive "Cherry on Top" sticker pack.[21]
At the start of the Biniverse World Tour 2025 on February 15, it was revealed that "Cherry on Top" and its remix were part of an upcoming EP titled "Biniverse", which was released on February 27 and includes the single "Blink Twice", which was released two days previously.[22][23]
Reception
Reviews
Writing for Billboard Philippines, Gabriel Saulog praised Bini for their "endless charm and flirtatious energy" and deemed the track a "certified bop", further describing it as "a sweet auditory sensation that will surely delight their rapidly growing fanbase of Blooms."[24] "Cherry on Top" was also listed on Teen Vogue's Best Songs of July 2024.[25]
Commercial performance
Following its release on July 11, it became the top trending music video on YouTube.[8] Less than 24 hours since its release, the music video garnered over two million views on the platform.[26] The song made a top-ten debut on Billboard Philippines charts two weeks after its release, placing eighth on the Philippines Hot 100 and fifth on Top Philippine Songs.[27][28] It peaked, respectively, at number six and number four on the same charts.[29][30]
In December, "Cherry on Top" was recognized as the second-highest trending music video of 2024 on YouTube Philippines.[31] Following this achievement, the girl group celebrated surpassing 50 million streams by inviting fans to watch the second part of their "Cherry on Top" music video shoot.[32]
Music video
The music video features the group in shades of pink and red outfits as they walk along a busy street. It transitions to a choreographed performance set against a pastel pink backdrop adorned with cherry illustrations and a graffiti wall displaying the song's title, with sign language is used during the chorus.[33][26]
The Pontefino Residences.
The American bureau of the Philippine Daily Inquirer praised the music video for its depictions of Filipino cultural references despite its being aimed at international audiences.[34] Several Filipino cultural references include pagmamano,[a]balikbayan boxes,[b] and Filipino snacks such as banana cue[c] and halo-halo.[d] The video also depicts a typical morning scene in the Philippines, featuring items such as walis tingting (hard broom) and pandesal[e] dipped in coffee.[34] The video was directed by Kerbs Balagtas and filmed at the PonteFino Residences in Batangas City.[35][36]
"Cherry on Top" has received multiple awards from different award-giving bodies. At the 2023 BreakTudo Awards in Brazil, the single won the award for the International Music Video category.[39] It was nominated for Music Video of the Year at the 2024 Myx Music Awards[40] and the 2024 P-pop Music Awards.[41] In 2025, it won the same category at the Platinum Stallion National Media Awards organized by Trinity University of Asia.[42]
Awards and nominations for "Cherry on Top"Awards and nominations received by Bini
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