First Luv (song)

Last updated

"First Luv"
First Luv by Bini art cover.webp
Single by Bini
Language
  • Tagalog
  • English
ReleasedOctober 2, 2025 (2025-10-02)
Genre
Length2:56
Label Star
Songwriters
Producer Kajo
Bini singles chronology
"Shagidi"
(2025)
"First Luv"
(2025)

"First Luv" is a song by the Filipino girl group Bini. It was released on October 2, 2025 through Star Music. Written by Dwta, Kajo, Kiana Valenciano, Rosemarie Tan, Shan Pooviriyakul, and produced by Kajo, "First Luv" is a mid-tempo bubblegum pop and R&B track characterized by its bright, upbeat melody and romantic theme. The song marks Bini's first Tagalog lead single following a series of all-English tracks like "Blink Twice" and "Cherry on Top".

Contents

The music video features the Bini members as Cupid's trainees, shooting arrows toward different individuals and instilling different forms of love in them: self-love, romantic love, platonic love/friendship, and familial love. It was directed by Jason Max and stars Esnyr Ranollo and Klarisse De Guzman, among other actors. The video's visuals draw inspiration from rococo art.

Background and release

Bini released the special tour single "Shagidi", which draws inspiration from the Filipino children's game, Shagidi Shapopo, in June 2025. [1] The single reached number seventy-three on the UK Singles Downloads Chart [2] and number seventy-six on the UK Singles Sales Chart. [3] In the Philippines, it reached number ten on the monthly Billboard Philippines Top P-pop Songs chart. [4] On September 16, 2025, Coachella officially announced Bini as a part of their 2026 lineup, marking them as the first Filipino act to perform at the festival. [5]

Following the release of "Shagidi", Bini announced that their next single, "First Luv", would be released in October. The group teased the song with a series of concept photos featuring group and individual shots, where the members wore ruffled, corseted pink outfits. A short teaser clip depicted them as a part of a vintage painting in an art gallery. "First Luv" is Bini's first Tagalog single following a series of all-English tracks such as "Blink Twice" and "Cherry on Top". [6] They also previewed the music video through an Instagram clip featured the members arranged on a staircase in a stylized, dreamlike setting. [7] One of the teasers hinted at the lyrics "Araw-gabi naaalala..." (transl.From morning to night, I remember…) [8]

"First Luv" was released by Star Music on October 2, through digital download and streaming formats. [9]

Composition and lyrics

"First Luv" is a mid-tempo bubblegum pop and R&B track. [10] [11] [12] It is two minutes and fifty-six seconds long, [10] written by Dwta, Kajo, Kiana Valenciano, Rosemarie Tan, Shan and produced by Kajo. [13] It features an upbeat, "bubbly" melody suited for a romantic, heart-fluttering track, with lyrics in both English and Tagalog that include the line, "You could be my first love." [11]

The song's lyrics highlights the excitement of first love, with the lines such as, "First love, kinikilig 'pag magkasama." (transl.First love, I feel butterflies when we're together.) and "Araw-gabi naaalala" (transl.Day and night, I remember), capturing the sense of joy and excitement that come with the experience. [14] The song features a "glitter" (pattering percussion) sample in the instrumental. [10] In the first half of the bridge sung by Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, and Jhoanna, soft harmonies, rising synths, and dramatic piano can be heard. [12] [10] The second half incorporates a breakbeat instrumental as Mikha and Colet sing. &Asian 's Julienne Loreto observed that Gwen is the first member to sing in "First Luv" instead of Stacey, the member who usually opens Bini's tracks with her "husky" low notes. On the other hand, Stacey has vocal highlights in the song's bridge, displaying her falsetto and belting abilities. According to Loreto, this is a testament to the entire group's versatile talent. [10]

Reception

"First Luv" received favorable reviews from critics. Billboard Philippines included it in their list of OPM songs perfect for new beginnings and reflections in October, with writer Rome Saenz describing the track as "warm" and "catchy". [15] &Asian 's Julienne Loreto lamented that the song was too short, but praised it for being "addictive". [10] Jade Diones, Eliza Orlic, and Minnie Dao of Envi Media wrote that the song showcases Bini's "blend of delicate and powerful vocals", adding that the sweet lyrics would make listeners swoon. They added that the bridge "creat[es] a feeling like you're ascending into the clouds". [12] Bandwagon Asia's Hidzir Junaini called the song "nostalgic" and lauded its "emotional depth". [16]

Music video

The "First Luv" music video draws inspiration from rococo art. Ca' rezzonico, salone da ballo, quadrature di pietro visconti e affreschi di g.b. crosato (caduta di febo e 4 continenti), 1753, 02.jpg
The "First Luv" music video draws inspiration from rococo art.

The music video was directed by Jason Max. [10] It shows the Bini members shooting Cupid's arrows into various individuals. They shoot an arrow for self-love at Esnyr Ranollo; romantic love at Klarisse de Guzman and her real-life partner Trina Rey; friendship or platonic love at Star Magic actors Lance Lucido, Miguel Vergara, Marc Santiago, and Andrez Del Rosario; as well as familial love at a man who later reconciles with his wife and child. [10] [17] Aesthetically, the video evokes rococo art. The set was designed by Princess Anne Barretto, with cinematography by Renz Gonzales. [10] The video also features choreography by Reden Blanquera and Matthew Almodovar, adding to the "full sensory experience", according to Bandwagon Asia's Hidzir Junaini. [16]

Rappler's Alessandria Corral praised the video for its " kilig -worthy" queer romantic storyline between De Guzman and Rey. [14] Likewise, &Asian 's Julienne Loreto praised the sapphic representation in the video, noting that "this perhaps marks the first time that a mainstream [idol] group has unambiguously portrayed same-sex romance—particularly between two women—in an official single". [10] Envi Media's Jade Diones, Eliza Orlic, and Minnie Dao observed that beyond its visual appeal, the video is also a reminder for audiences to love freely. [12]

Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
PublisherYearListiclePlacementRef.
Billboard Philippines 202510 OPM Songs for Reflection and New BeginningsPlaced [15]

Credits

Credits are adapted by Apple Music. [18]

References

  1. "Bini debuts new tour single 'Shagidi' inspired by local children's game". Manila Standard . June 5, 2025. Archived from the original on June 6, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  2. "Official Singles Download Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  3. "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  4. "Billboard Philippines Top P-pop Songs Chart - Month of August 2025". Billboard Philippines. September 5, 2025. Archived from the original on September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025 via Facebook.
  5. Roque, Nika (September 16, 2025). "Bini to Perform at Coachella 2026". GMA Integrated News . Archived from the original on September 16, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  6. Evangelista, Jessica Ann (October 1, 2025). "Bini Drops Dreamy Concept Photos for Upcoming Single 'First Luv'". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  7. Roque, Nika (October 1, 2025). "Bini is a work of art in 'First Luv' music video teaser". GMA Integrated News . Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  8. Roque, Nika (September 18, 2025). "Bini Drops Bubbly Teaser for Upcoming Song 'First Luv'". GMA Integrated News . Archived from the original on September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  9. Saenz, Rome (September 16, 2025). "Bini Release New Tagalog Single "First Luv" – Listen". Billboard Philippines . Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Loreto, Julienne. "BINI's "First Luv" Music Video Serves Sapphic Representation". &Asian . Archived from the original on October 7, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Saenz, Rome (September 16, 2025). "Bini Announce New Single "First Luv"". Billboard Philippines . Archived from the original on September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Diones, Jade; Orlic, Eliza; Dao, Minnie (October 5, 2025). "Sunday Spin: New Releases From Bini, CxM, Pryvt, and Wonho". EnVi Media. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  13. Junaini, Hidzir (October 3, 2025). "Feel the Spark of 'First Luv' in Bini's Nostalgic Tagalog Track — Listen". Bandwagon Asia. Archived from the original on October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Corral, Alessandria (October 3, 2025). "Bini Drops New Filipino Single 'First Luv'". Rappler . Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  15. 1 2 Regis, Ralph (October 6, 2025). "10 Filipino Songs For Reflection and New Beginnings". Billboard Philippines . Archived from the original on October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  16. 1 2 Junaini, Hidzir. "Feel the spark of 'First Luv' in Bini's nostalgic Tagalog track — listen". Bandwagon Asia.
  17. Roque, Nika (October 3, 2025). "Bini Girls are Cupids in 'First Luv' MV; Esnyr and Klarisse De Guzman are Guest Stars". GMA Integrated News . Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  18. "First Luv – Song by Bini". Apple Music (PH). October 2, 2025. Archived from the original on October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.