First Luv


"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". The song received favorable reviews from critics, particularly for the members' vocal performances. In the week of October 18, 2025, the song entered Billboard Philippines' Hot 100 chart. It is reportedly the only P-pop track on the chart for the week.
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 LGBTQ stars Esnyr and Klarisse De Guzman, among other actors. The video's visuals draw inspiration from rococo art. It also garnered acclaim, especially for its visual appeal and sapphic romantic storyline between De Guzman and her real-life partner Trina Rey.

Background and release

Bini released the special tour single "Shagidi", which draws inspiration from the Filipino children's game, Shagidi Shapopo, in June 2025. The single reached number seventy-three on the UK Singles Downloads Chart and number seventy-six on the UK Singles Sales Chart. In the Philippines, it reached number ten on the monthly Billboard Philippines Top P-pop Songs chart. 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.
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". They also previewed the music video through an Instagram clip featured the members arranged on a staircase in a stylized, dreamlike setting. One of the teasers hinted at the lyrics "Araw-gabi naaalala..."
"First Luv" was released by Star Music on October 2, through digital download and streaming formats.

Composition and lyrics

"First Luv" is a mid-tempo bubblegum pop and R&B track. It is two minutes and fifty-six seconds long, written by Dwta, Kajo, Kiana Valenciano, Rosemarie Tan, Shan and produced by Kajo. 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."
The song's lyrics captures the excitement of first love, with the lines such as, "First love, kinikilig 'pag magkasama." and "Araw-gabi naaalala", capturing the sense of joy and excitement that come with the experience. The song features a "glitter" sample in the instrumental. In the first half of the bridge sung by Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, and Jhoanna, soft harmonies, rising synths, and dramatic piano can be heard. 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.

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 Ralph Regis describing the track as "warm" and "catchy". Andrea Dee of Pulp called the track "heart-fluttering" and said that it showcases the Bini members' "charming" vocals. In Pulp's separate track-by-track review of the album Flames, Reyza Ferranco wrote that "First Luv" is "as sweet and glowing as the feeling it captures". &Asian's Julienne Loreto lamented that the song was too short, but praised it for being "addictive". 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 a feeling like you're ascending into the clouds". Bandwagon Asia's Hidzir Junaini called the song "nostalgic" and lauded its "emotional depth".
In the week of October 18, 2025, the song entered Billboard Philippines' Hot 100 chart, debuting at number 73. It is reportedly the only P-pop song on the chart for the week.

Music video

The music video was directed by Jason Max. It shows the Bini members shooting Cupid's arrows into various individuals. They shoot an arrow for self-love at Esnyr; 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. Aesthetically, the video evokes rococo art. The set was designed by Princess Anne Barretto, with cinematography by Renz Gonzales. The Bini members wear pink outfits with ruffles and corsets in the video, as previously seen in the song's concept photos. Pulp's Andrea Dee described their appearance in the clip as "princess-like". The video also features choreography by Reden Blanquera and Matthew Almodovar, adding to the "full sensory experience", according to Bandwagon Asia's Hidzir Junaini.
Rappler's Alessandria Corral praised the video for its "kilig-worthy" queer romantic storyline between De Guzman and Rey. Likewise, &Asian's Julienne Loreto praised the sapphic representation in the video, noting that "this perhaps marks the first time that a mainstream group has unambiguously portrayed same-sex romance—particularly between two women—in an official single". 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.

Credits

Credits are adapted by Apple Music and Tidal.