Here are my immediate first-listen vibe check for each:
ZEROBASEONE EMP â RUN (feat. Dynamic Duo) The Vibe: Heavy rap collab First Impression: I know of ZEROBASEONE but I wasnât aware of their hip-hop unit. I would have to say that they may just be one of the strongest hip-hop unit from 5th gen. And collaborating with the legendary Korean hip-hop duo, Dynamic Duo? Thatâs easily an approval from the hip-hop community, Iâm sure.
Ji Suyeon â Pile of Paper The Vibe: Soft pop acoustic ballad First Impression: I can see why she was the main vocalist of Weki Meki. She has a nice tone in her voice fit for soft pop acoustic ballads like this one. I can also see why she had starred in various musicals. In my honest opinion, you canât star in musicals if you donât have strong vocals.
Yoon Seobin â Slow Motion The Vibe: Sensual First Impression: Sexy, sensual vibe and I do like it. To me, itâs like in the same category is UN Village from Baekhyun. So, that kind of vibe. Iâm not familiar with him but I googled and saw that he is an actor who had starred in a few BL dramas that I have not watched and also a solo artist. This is the first song I heard of him and itâs good.
Another set of three major K-pop releases today. Also, very different so no comparison at all.
Here are my immediate first-listen vibe check for each:
RESCENE â With The Vibe: Atmospheric pop First Impression: Iâm not very familiar with RESCENE and this may be one of the first songs I listened of them and honestly, it was good. The MV gave me a fall kinda vibe. Iâm not sure what the white half-bear-half-reindeer is supposed to be but thatâs possibly why it gave me that pre-Christmas vibe with all that glitters.
DINO (SEVENTEEN) â AUTOMATIC The Vibe: Feel-good, groovy pop First Impression: If RESCENEâs gave me the fall vibe, DINOâs AUTOMATIC gave me the summer vibe. Iâm not a Carat so while Iâm familiar with SEVENTEEN, Iâm not privy to the details of the group so it actually surprises me that heâs the main dancer. From the MV, I could see that clearly and he sings really well he could pass off as the main vocalist. And to top it off, this is a self-written song. Wow!
Lee Hyuk â DONâT CRY The Vibe: Rock ballad powerhouse First Impression: This is a remake and itâs a very good remake of the classic rock ballad hit from The Cross. Now, Iâm going to be honest, Iâm not familiar until I heard the song. I did not know the title of the song but Iâve heard this song so many times and it seems that this is a karaoke favourite among Koreans. The MV is simple and purely showing off Lee Hyukâs vocals. That high note, woah!
Three very different K-pop releases dropped today. Honestly? I wonât be comparing one to the other â itâs like comparing apples to oranges to durians. Thatâs how different they are.
Here are my immediate first-listen vibe check for each:
TREASURE â Shock The Vibe: Rap-heavy, hip-hop First Impression: I expect no less from a YG Entertainment group â very strong rap. Is it just me, though, that a scene from the MV looked a bit like BANG BANG BANG by BIGBANG? Is that a nod to the legendary YG group or unintentionally done so? Not that it matters â just looks familiar to me and brought a bit of a smile from me.
TWS â Call My Name The Vibe: Refreshing, feel-good pop First Impression: Itâs refreshing and makes you feel good. I didnât have a look at the lyrics but looking at the MV, I feel like itâs meant to uplift the youths. Some parts seemed to me like itâs made for fans to screenshot to make aesthetic wallpaper or Pinterest for daily reminders and to give them some positive energy, which is cute and sweet, if I get the intention right.
xikers â DIENAMITE The Vibe: Very high rock energy First Impression: While Iâm a little bit familiar with TREASURE and TWS, Iâm not so familiar with xikersâ game so as someone who has a high preference to rock music, I do really like the vibe at first listen. Watching the MV, I feel like itâs timed so right with Halloween thatâs just passed. And I did see a cameo from a legendary frontman and vocalist of a Korean rock band called NoBrain, Lee Seong Woo. It fits with the whole vibe of the song.
What songs made this noona go âAju NICE!â this week!
Welcome to the third episode of Noona Sitiâs K-Radar đ Iâm formatting this similar to a Korean music show, where I will list the Hot Comebacks & Debuts đĨ, The Special Stage đ, The Top 3 Nominees đĸ and The Final Winner đThere may also be a Special Global Stage đ
Before we hit down to the songs that caught my K-radar, a disclaimer that this is totally based on my own taste of music. There may be new music out there, which are good but did not make it to my list. It does not mean that those are bad songs. Itâs not one I would listen to đââī¸
On to our third episode! (I know where did #2 go? I did post it on Substack but this week, I decided to post #3 here.)
Hot Comebacks & Debuts đĨ
GO WITH THE FLOW by Anandelight
Journey of Dreaming by Lee Jin Ah
Focus on Me by Shannon Bae
Twist by Jooyoung
ėė˛ë! by whtvs, Shane
The Top 3 Nominees đĸ
Afterlove by Ourealgoat
Milky Way by UNIS
Say Yes! by ONEUS
Noona Score Breakdown
Criteria
Afterlove Ourealgoat
Milky Way UNIS
Say Yes! ONEUS
Noona Digital Score
3,000 pts (I listened to all three nominees for the first time but this song is more my vibe)
2,500 pts
2,000 pts
Aju NICE! Factor
2,500 pts
2,000 pts
2,000 pts
Visual / MV Score
0 pts (No MV guys)
500 pts (Reminds me of G-friend)
1,000 pts
Vibe Score
1,000 pts
500 pts
1,000 pts
TOTAL SCORE
6,500 pts
5,500 pts
6,000 pts
The Final Winner đ
Afterlove by Ourealgoat: The song is really my kind of vibe and colour me surprised when I found out that heâs a rapper. Heâs a rapper? The song does not have a hip-hop vibe at all, guys! To me, itâs more rock so Iâm surprised when I found out. It gives me the kind of song you listen to while the rain was pitter-pattering on the window or when youâre walking in the rain while the world is going fast by you.
Originally published on my Substack newsletter, Noona’s K-Radar. Subscribe there to get weekly music recs straight to your inbox!
Welcome to the first episode of Noona Sitiâs K-Radar đ Iâm formatting this similar to a Korean music show, where I will list the Hot Comebacks & Debuts đĨ, The Special Stage đ, The Top 3 Nominees đĸ and The Final Winner đThere may also be a Special Global Stage đ
Before we hit down to the songs that caught my K-radar, a disclaimer that this is totally based on my own taste of music. There may be new music out there, which are good but did not make it to my list. It does not mean that those are bad songs. Itâs not one I would listen to đââī¸
On to our first episode!
Hot Comebacks & Debuts đĨ
If I Die Tomorrow by ASC2NT
Foot by O.O.O
If It Is You by Paul Blanco
Freewill by BUMKEY, BewhY
Stardust by KyoungSeo
SAUCINâ by NEXZ
Love Again by LEECHANGSUB
MONEYMONEYMONEY by CORTIS
Mexico by CHUNG HA
Slow It Down by Felix
anime by TABLO, BANG YEDAM
Sunburst by RIIZE
Skibidi by Girlsâ Generation-HRS
I Still Remember by Infinite
Home by YEONJUN
This & That by Stray Kids
The Special Stage đ
BiiG by BIGBANG: Trust G-Dragon to create a song thatâs different from their past releases. Iâm not sure how to describe this except imagine current K-pop songs you listen to and it got touched by the golden hands of G-Dragon. They released this on August 19 to mark their 20th anniversary so itâs a gift to their fans who have waited for them for so long. Of course, itâs just three of them without T.O.P and he who must not be named. Nonetheless, three of them can still carry BIGBANGâs name to the top as it reached No. 1 on Koreaâs Melon Top100 chart in a matter of an hour!
The Top 3 Nominees đĸ
Blingy by NCT 127
Bloody Paradise by ENHYPEN
SaWaDiKa by LISA
Noona Score Breakdown
Criteria
Blingy NCT 127
Bloody Paradise ENHYPEN
SaWaDiKa LISA
Noona Digital Score
2,500 pts (Iâm an NCTzen but I listened to this less than Bloody Paradise sobs)
5,000 pts (I listened to this on repeat for a whole day, Iâm not kidding!)
2,000 pts (Itâs so new I listened to this just twice but itâs already a song I vibed to)
Aju NICE! Factor
2,500 pts
2,500 pts
2,500 pts
Visual / MV Score
1,000 pts
500 pts
1,500 pts (The way she embraced her culture. I love it! And her dancers are Thai. Sheâs so good!)
Vibe Score
1,000 pts
1,000 pts
1,000 pts
TOTAL SCORE
7,000 pts
9,000 pts
7,000 pts
The Final Winner đ
Bloody Paradise by ENHYPEN: That Digital Score. Iâm actually concerned that in September, my top Spotify track will be this song instead of a song by TOMORROW X TOGETHER đą
Special Global Stage đ
Setsuna Hanabi by TOMORROW X TOGETHER: This song and Bloody Paradise has similar vibes. Thankfully for ENHYPEN, this is TXTâs Japanese release or elseâĻ this song would have been Noonaâs #1 choice. AnywaysâĻ the song aside, the MV is just chefâs kiss. And truly, as a corporate girlie, I felt Kaiâs role deep within me đ
Itâs a long weekend here in Singapore. I ended up watching one movie, finished Agent Kim Reactivated, and caught an episode of TXT Parenting Diary along with its behind-the-scenes clip. A very productive week indeed!
𤊠The Highlights
Once We Were Us: đĨ – Oh, what a bittersweet slice of life. Read my full review here.
Agent Kim Reactivated (Ep 8â10): ⥠– I had no idea it was only a 10-episode series, so I powered through the rest in a single day. Thatâs a real feat for me! Read my full review here.
TXT Parenting Diary (Ep 7 + Behind-the-Scenes): âī¸ – Soobin is going to have a whole queue of ladies lining up – and mothers practically offering their daughters in marriage – because, hello, absolute father material! How is this man so full of love?
đ The Midnight Mood
đ: Enjoying a classic local dessert my mom made: grass jelly with longans and attap seeds. Nothing fancy, and you can easily find it at hawker centers across Singapore, but it hits the spot every time.
đļ: âĸ I need to plug a new song from Tomorrow X Together called “Nice To Meet Ya” – itâs been on repeat!
đ Looking Ahead
Since itâs a long weekend, I might try to figure out how to watch A Bonafide Killer right after posting this. It looks so intriguing!
Mr. Kim is a widowed single dad working at a bank and doing his best to raise his teenage daughter. After she gets bullied at school by the daughter of a wealthy construction tycoon, Mr. Kim steps in to apologize on her behalf – leaving his daughter mortified. Hurt and embarrassed, she runs away on her birthday. When she fails to return home and stops answering his calls, Mr. Kim starts searching, only to uncover a terrifying reality: sheâs in grave danger, or worse.
What no one knows is that Mr. Kim was once a top North Korean secret agent who was captured during a failed undercover operation in the South. Forced to complete covert missions for South Korea, he eventually chose to leave his dark past behind the moment his daughter was born. But with his daughterâs life now on the line, he has to reactivate his dormant skills – with a little help from his fellow former agents.
đĒ The Hook
A badass father stopping at nothing to save his daughter, flanked by two equally lethal (and deliciously quirky) friends? Thatâs pure fatherly devotion right there. Sign me up!
Iâm usually the type of viewer who can predict every plot twist miles away, but this drama genuinely kept me guessing. Every time I thought, “Ah, that person is definitely the mole!”, the very next episode proved me wrong. Though to be fair, that one specific character was playing mind games with the audience the entire time, so I don’t blame myself for flipping back and forth!
As for the action sequences, I expected nothing less from So Ji-sub. Watching him on screen, youâd never guess heâs 48. Meanwhile, I’m sitting here at 42 making an embarrassing groan just getting up from my chair after sitting for too long! Yet here is a man pushing 50, jumping over high walls and executing flawless high kicks.
đ§Ē Character Chemistry
The three dads are easily one of the best trios in K-drama history. Sure, theyâre lethal uncles, but their comedic timing is top-tier. Their friendship is surprisingly heartwarming – they operate on an unspoken bond where no words, phone calls, or secret distress signals are even necessary. They just instinctively know when and where to show up for each other.
đļââĄī¸ Pacing Check
I was genuinely surprised to learn this was only a 10-episode series. I hadn’t checked the total episode count before diving in, and suddenly I found myself at the finale earlier today! Wrapping up the entire narrative arc neatly in 10 episodes felt crisp and refreshing. Did I wish it were longer? Not at all. It hit the sweet spot without unnecessary filler.
đ¤ Final Sleepy Rating
⥠– I actually paused my binge midway because I assumed it was 12 episodes and wanted to stretch it out. Turns out my self-pacing wasn’t even needed, but finishing 3 episodes in a single sitting speaks for itself!
đ§ Status
Completed
âī¸ Notable mention
Idol Spotting: The moment the daughter’s crush appeared on screen, I immediately thought, “There is no way this guy isn’t an idol.” A quick Google search confirmed it – heâs Chael from the boy group LUN8!
Soundtrack Pick: Shoutout to the OST track “Go! Go!” by ALPHA DRIVE ONE. One of the members actually starred in one of my favorite BL dramas, Secret Relationships!
Eun-ho met Jeong-won by chance while on his way to visit his father in his hometown. After losing touch following the trip, Eun-ho searched for her, and a close friendship grew between them. Though Eun-ho held feelings for Jeong-won, he didn’t act on them until the day she discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her. Afraid that dating might ruin their friendship if things went wrong, Jeong-won hesitated – until Eun-ho promised that would never happen. But as the years passed, life brought its own strain. Following a pivotal incident, Jeong-won left. Years later, their paths crossed once more.
đ The Highlights
For me, this movie is a true slice-of-life. Someone enters your life right when you need them most, but as time moves on, a person who was once your entire world can become someone you no longer know – or need. Instead of desperately holding on, you learn to let go. That is what this film captures so well. It isn’t tragic; itâs just the bittersweet reality of life.
Another detail I loved was the visual color palette, which mirrored the video game Eun-ho developed: During Ianâs quest to find Kelly, his world is stark black and white, but the moment he finds her, it bursts into full color. At first, I was confused because films typically use monochrome for the past and color for the present. Flipping that convention felt refreshingly deliberate – a very good choice.
đĒĢ Low Points
If you are looking for pure comfort to unwind after a brutal week at work, school, or just life in general, this isn’t it. It isn’t outright doom and gloom, but it certainly isn’t lighthearted either. While it didn’t bring me to tears, it left me sitting with a quiet, heavy heart.
đ¤ Final Sleepy Rating
đĨ Bittersweet. The haunting “what-ifs” and the reluctance to release something so familiar feel painfully real.
đ¯ââī¸ Best Watched With
Your messiest hair, comfiest PJs, favorite comfort snack, and a plushie nearby – because you might just need a hug by the end.
Well, this feels like a restart of sort. There are reasons why I’ve not been writing my weekly wrap-ups, which you can find in my Siti Wide Awake blog. Head down there if you want to know what was up with me (or is up with me). Anyways, I decided to start watching Agent Kim Reactivated because that show starts to come up on my feed rather randomly. My friend did recommend the show because I enjoyed Teach You A Lesson. Similar but not really – the characters have a different purpose. This show has a group of bad-ass ahjussis. And earlier today, I watched The Devil Wears Prada 2 because I saw that is No. 1 in Disney+ right now. I’m also re-watching earlier episodes of TXT Parenting Diary (no, I have not finished the show yet) and just started this evening, Murder Club: Liar’s Table.
𤊠The Highlights
Agent Kim Reactivated (Ep 1-7): ⥠– Loving it so far. I love me some bad-ass ahjussis, say the person with probably the same age group as the characters đ
The Devil Wears Prada 2: â – Nostalgic. Review here.
TXT Parenting Diary (Ep 1-6): âī¸ – Comfort show and the start of me being a MOA. They came at the right time for me (both the show and TXT). Soobin looks ready to be a parent đĨ°
Murder Club: Liar’s Table (Ep 1): đ¤- Interesting show. It’s not a new concept, I feel. I know I’ve seen it somewhere before. The reason I decided to watch was Beomgyu from TXT. But his episode(s) aren’t out yet. I’m interested to see his episode because in TXT’s contents, he’s usually the chaotic one (or the bringer of chaos).
đ The Midnight Mood
đ: When I was watching The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Murder Club, I was eating lunch and then dinner. And munching on an Asian snack called rempeyek. Google that. I’m saying Asian because I do not want to offend any country. According to Google though, it’s Indonesian-Javanese cracker. Makes sense. I’m Javanese (new info). I’m Singaporean but Javanese ancestry. Anyways, it’s crunchy. Usually made with peanuts and dried anchovies.
đļ: If you head into Siti Wide Awake blog, there would be very obvious answer to this question but I shall select just one song from the group and that song is Chasing The Feeling.
đ Looking Ahead
I don’t know… I’m not making any promises anymore đ
The fashion queen is back 20 years later and… things changed a lot. Andy was an award-winning journalist with The Vanguard but was unfortunately retrenched along with her other colleagues from the newsroom at an awards gala, no less. Miranda, in the meanwhile, was under fire due to an article that was released about a brand when she was due to be promoted by the boss, Irv. Andy’s brave remarks during her speech after getting retrenched via a text message got the attention of Irv, who then hired her to be the features editor, without Miranda’s consent nor knowledge. Andy had to, once again, proved her worth.
đ The Highlights
The first movie was released when I graduated and first stepped into the corporate world and it’s back now that I’m much older and experienced, just like Andy. I feel like I grew up along with her and the other characters. It’s amazing that the movie was able to portray that. And those who watched the first one 20 years ago and watching it now, we will feel nostalgic. Other than that, and the fashion, of course, the music is so good. And having Lady Gaga guest-starring and performing on a fashion show, it’s so fitting. The movie also portrays realism with what’s happening in the working world right now. I’d have thought that what I’m experiencing would be restricted within my non-fashion, non-glamourous corporate world. But I guess, even the fashion world is feeling the pinch. And it makes absolute sense. 20 years ago, I was still purchasing and reading magazines – Her World, Cleo, Harper’s Bazaar. But now? I’m not sure if these magazines still exist. We consume things online – TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube. So, magazines like Her World and Harper’s Bazaar have to also pivot digitally to still be relevant. And I’m sure, due to that, some jobs are lost.
đĒĢ Low Points
The only thing that I would point out and this will be a bit of a stretch (because I almost have nothing negative to say about the movie) was the lack of Asian stars. Why I said this? We are talking 2026 here, not 2006. This is an era where BTS and Blackpink are global stars and leading the fashion world. It would be hard to not find K-pop stars being part of a fashion show. You can just name anyone – G-Dragon, the literal muse for Chanel, Lisa, Jennie, Jungkook, Mark Lee, Jeno, Felix, Soobin, Yeonjun, etc. These are the ones I can name at the top of my mind. You can just imagine how many of them. And it’s not just K-pop, even Chinese stars like Xiao Zhan, who’s the global ambassador for Tod’s. The lack of Asian stars in this movie is very obvious for someone like me.
đ¤ Final Sleepy Rating
â It’s a perfect movie to watch in your pajamas at home while drinking Milo on Disney+ and feeling nostalgic.
đ¯ââī¸ Best Watched With
A good cup of Milo or chocolate drink of your choice and popcorns or nachos or whatever chips you have at home in bed and being all comfy.
