10 P-Pop Music Videos From 2021 That Show How Far The Genre Has Come
Five years ago, groups like SB19, BINI, Alamat, BGYO, KAIA, and LITZ showcased what P-pop had to offer with their range of music videos.
In 2021, P-popP-PopShort for Pilipino pop, a movement of Filipino idol groups and solo acts who combine pop music, choreography, and polished production for local and international audiences. P-pop has grown quickly,Go to P-Pop Glossary was beginning to find its footing in the local music landscape.
Following SB19‘s breakthrough with their viral “Go Up” dance practice video in late 2019, more groups began introducing their own sounds and identities. SB19, BINI, Alamat, BGYO, KAIA, and LITZ were among those taking strides toward bringing P-popP-PopShort for Pilipino pop, a movement of Filipino idol groups and solo acts who combine pop music, choreography, and polished production for local and international audiences. P-pop has grown quickly,Go to P-Pop Glossary to a wider audience, working toward mainstream recognition and acceptance.
Today, P-popP-PopShort for Pilipino pop, a movement of Filipino idol groups and solo acts who combine pop music, choreography, and polished production for local and international audiences. P-pop has grown quickly,Go to P-Pop Glossary has become a more visible and celebrated force in the Philippine music industry, with its groups earning major industry accolades and their music reaching international audiences. But before these milestones, amid the skepticism surrounding the genre, the aforementioned acts were already making their case through pre-debut releases, debut tracks, and boundary-pushing visuals.
Five years later, Billboard Philippines looks back at their music videos as snapshots of an earlier chapter in P-popP-PopShort for Pilipino pop, a movement of Filipino idol groups and solo acts who combine pop music, choreography, and polished production for local and international audiences. P-pop has grown quickly,Go to P-Pop Glossary’s history — and just how far the genre and its artists have come.
“The Light” – BGYO
Released on January 29, 2021, “The Light” marked BGYO’s official entry into the scene, introducing the five-member group through an intense, performance-focused concept. Compared to the more polished, suave image the boys would later explore with “All These Ladies” and “Fresh” for instance, this music videoMusic VideoA short film that accompanies a song, combining performance, storytelling, and visual style to promote the music. Music videos shape an artist's image, can drive viral success and fan theories,Go to Music Video Glossary offers a glimpse of BGYO’s earlier, more hard-hitting concept.
“kbye” – Alamat
Alamat made a colorful and culturally rooted entrance with “kbye” on February 14, 2021. Even in their earliest music videoMusic VideoA short film that accompanies a song, combining performance, storytelling, and visual style to promote the music. Music videos shape an artist's image, can drive viral success and fan theories,Go to Music Video Glossary, the group stood out for incorporating Filipino cultural references by using regional textiles in their outfits and a jeepney as a centerpiece of their visualizer. The representation translates as well in the track with its kulintang and tinikling-inspired percussion.
“What?” – SB19
Released on March 9, 2021, “What?” became a defining release in SB19’s growing catalog, boldly declaring their Filipino identity through the track’s recurring watawat imagery. Directed by group member Justin, the post-apocalyptic music videoMusic VideoA short film that accompanies a song, combining performance, storytelling, and visual style to promote the music. Music videos shape an artist's image, can drive viral success and fan theories,Go to Music Video Glossary features the members in military-inspired uniforms, with the historic Murillo Velarde map making an appearance to show SB19’s willingness to tackle bigger themes.
“Born To Win” – BINI
Following their youthful pre-debut introduction through a remake of “Da Coconut Nut,” BINI officially debuted with “Born to Win” on June 11, 2021, presenting a fiercer side of the group. Partly filmed in the mountains of Rizal, the music videoMusic VideoA short film that accompanies a song, combining performance, storytelling, and visual style to promote the music. Music videos shape an artist's image, can drive viral success and fan theories,Go to Music Video Glossary opens with the girls descending from a glowing, cube-shaped vessel, symbolizing their arrival in the P-pop scene.
“kasmala” – Alamat
With “kasmala,” Alamat took the cultural storytelling introduced in “kbye” a step further, embracing a bolder visual identity rooted in Filipino heritage. Released on July 15, 2021, the music video incorporated traditional-inspired attire, local settings, and cultural references that reinforced the group’s commitment to representing the country’s diverse identities.
“The Baddest” – BGYO
Released on August 20, 2021, “The Baddest” marked a shift toward a more confident and smooth image for BGYO. Moving away from the intensity of their debut, the music video leaned into a sleeker, more mature aesthetic that is closer to the image they have now — one they’ve developed through exploring different sounds and concepts through the years.
“Golden Arrow” – BINI
BINI showed a fresher, more playful side with the sparkly, retro-inspired “Golden Arrow.” The music video shows the members breaking out into a dance party that puts their synchronized choreography front and center. Released on October 14, 2021, the early release perfectly captures the charm and personality that would become central to their identity as the Nation’s Girl Group.
“Bazinga” – SB19
Another timeless hit from SB19, the music video for “Bazinga” sees the members face their alter egos in an underground arena. Its arcade and video game-inspired visuals and action-packed sequences are further elevated with the elaborate costume design, like with the striking black-and-red martial arts ensemble we see the Kings of P-pop in.
“Natataranta” – LITZ
LITZ made their mark during the early P-pop scene with their rendition of James Reid‘s “Natataranta” released on November 11, 2021. Produced and directed by G-Force’s Teacher Georcelle, the visualizer kept things simple with a studio setting that placed the spotlight on the members. Though LITZ has since become inactive, among its original members was Ashtine Olviga, who later gained recognition for her work as an actress.
“KAYA” – KAIA
Before officially debuting, KAIA introduced themselves through the pre-debut single, “KAYA.” Released on December 10, 2021, the performance video used a dark studio setting and dramatic stage lighting to enhance the track’s dynamic choreography, particularly its dance break. Now, with a fiercer stage presence and sharper performance style, KAIA’s more recent performance video at Backyard Live shows their growth after five years in the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Notable 2021 releases include BGYO’s “The Light,” Alamat’s “kbye,” SB19’s “What?,” BINI’s “Born to Win,” and KAIA’s “KAYA,” among others.
BINI officially debuted with “Born to Win” on June 11, 2021, after a youthful pre-debut remake of “Da Coconut Nut.”
Alamat featured regional textiles, a jeepney, and kulintang- and tinikling-inspired percussion in “kbye,” then deepened that cultural approach in “kasmala.”
SB19 member Justin directed “What?,” released March 9, 2021, a post-apocalyptic video with military-inspired uniforms and the Murillo Velarde map.
BGYO moved from intense, performance-focused “The Light” (January 2021) to a sleeker, more mature look in “The Baddest” (August 2021).
