To say it’s been a big year for Filipino boy band SB19 would be an understatement. Early this year, the P-pop (Philippine Pop) group consisting of Josh, Pablo, Stell, Ken, and Justin made history as the first Filipino and Southeast Asian act to be nominated at the Billboard Music Awards under the Top Social Act category.
The group was nominated alongside other global superstars like Ariana Grande, BTS, and BLACKPINK. More recently, the group made headlines again for securing another nomination for Best Southeast Asia Act at the 2021 MTV EMAs (Europe Music Awards).
And SB19 debuted only three years ago.
As part of their third-anniversary celebration, SB19 premiered a music video for “Bazinga” off their 2021 EP Pagsibol. “Bazinga” was explicitly written as a response to ‘haters’ on social media, with the track appropriately channeling hip hop’s uncompromising, often combative spirit.
AD LOADING...
Hip hop has since become deeply embedded into P-pop’s (and K-pop) musical DNA as the genre continues to defy and transcend artistic boundaries. Moreover, both, as fans will attest, are rooted in authenticity.
As in the case of massively popular pop-oriented groups (or idols), each member is a multihyphenate in their own way. Taking on multiple roles like Lead Vocalist, Rapper or Dancer for example, is a natural part of the process.
The track highlights the versatility of each member by affording them respective parts in the song to stand out and deliver its ethos according to their interpretations. The visual for “Bazinga” shows high-octane shots, including leader Pablo, seen with lightning spewing out of his mouth during his solo, and rapper Josh in the middle of a cage match, seamlessly transitioning into a frame of the group performing altogether.
SB19’s Ken Marks Solo Debut As FELIP With ‘Palayo’
In the video, the members are transformed into characters in a combat arcade game set against a graffiti-streaked urban cityscape. The martial arts-inspired choreography is executed with precision and force—the group does not hold back any punches with their flow or lyricism. “Hate nyo’y gasolina (‘Your hate is gasoline’) / Yeah, I’m fire I linger / Dare you to turn up the heat / And I’ll burn y’all till I die,” says the group in the chorus. Through the track, the group subverts expectations on what it means to be pop stars today. In a genre that puts a premium on public-friendly musicality, the lyrics are filled with unbridled intensity. With hip hop and trap elements comprising the bulk of “Bazinga,” the group again proves that they never shy away from introducing and reinventing themselves artistically.
AD LOADING...
Watch the music video below:
The group is set to celebrate their third anniversary with their Our Zone 2021, an online concert, to be streamed live on November 27 and 28 at 5 PM. Tickets are available at sb19music.com and ktx.ph in the Philippines.
