Friends episodes that are okay for kids to watch

FRIENDS is my all time favourite TV show, and even now, 25 years later, I still often watch at least one ep a day.

My kids were suddenly keen to join in, and then I realised, uh oh, not many of the FRIENDS eps are kid friendly. Thus began a year long project to rate every episode!

Although most episodes of the TV show Friends have some sexual reference, these are the eps that, in my view, are suitable for children to see. PS at the time of writing my kids are 8, 9, and 10 years old.

Seven Songs - 26th June

Beyonce - Break My Soul

The universally adored ‘Yonce is back this year with an album to be titled Renaissance, and this lead single is pleasingly mainstream, after the contrary awkwardness of the Lemonade era.

One Republic - I Ain’t Worried

I must admit when this song first appeared online I thought it a rather limp entrant to the world of TOP GUN SONGS, but after watching the terrific movie, and seeing how this track soundtracks the fun beach scene, I now give it 4 sculpted pecs out of 5.

Charlie Puth - Left and Right

The bright and bubbly songwriter delivers another engaging pop jaunt ode to lost love, this time with Jung Kook from BTS - he’s the one with black hair and jewelry who looks flashingly feminine. Am quite certain that helps you identify him.

Shye - Mirror

The Singapore singer was recently on billboards in Times Square as part of the Spotify Equal Campaign. I believe she handles all her production herself and this is a winning dose of dreamscape pop. It’s like the hobbits of the Shire just took a drag of pipe-weed and they’re watching Gandalf’s fireworks move at half speed.

Meghan Trainor - Bad For Me

She’s back with some predictable country tinged pop balladry accompanied by a guy called Teddy Swims. The video is worth the watch just to hear a honey soaked vocal come out of a man who looks like Conor McGregor in his Fat Elvis years.

dhruv - Blur

This London based singer actually spent most of his childhood in Singapore and attended UWC. He had a massive viral hit with a song titled ‘double take’ and this is a more upbeat follow up single.

Gentle Bones and lullaboy - If you leave me alone

An enjoyable release from 2 Singapore songwriters collaborating and calling themselves Bones & The Boy. The song unfortunately suffers an easy forgettableness partly because the two voices sound too similar. It’s like recording Gentle Bones once, and then later that day.

Seven Songs - 18th June

Marshmello & Khalid - Numb

Khalid brings his tranquilized vocal style to some pulsing beats by DJ Marshmello, and with a whistle through the chorus this is an undeniable head-bouncer.

Black Eyed Peas & Shakira & David Guetta - Don’t You Worry

I struggled to enjoy this song. I think Shakira could do with a bit of extra revenue right now as she is facing a tax fraud case and Will.i.am has always been an outstanding creative mind, although I feel their heyday was 2007/8/9, and now they are like a forgetful grandma, trying to recreate her famous pumpkin pie, but with a recipe has long been lost somewhere in the kitchen.

Drake - Falling Back

Drake has a new album called “Honestly, Nevermind” and it’s led off by this single. The video is fun, and even features a throwback to the Adam Sandler Wedding Singer movie. Drake is back to his winning formula - he doesn’t have to bother about creating an engaging hook or melody, his natural charisma will carry anything through to the gold medal.

Topic ft. A7S - Kernkraft 400 (A better day)

The DJ Topic has fully embraced the easiest way to make a hit in 2022 - sample a 90s dance track and bring in your vocal buddy A7S. It’s like buying a McDonalds franchise - you’d have to be a total idiot for it to fail. You’ll recognize the hook from a 1999 song by Zombie Nation.

New Hope Club - Girl who does both

This one will put a smile on even the gloomiest crypto investor. It’s three quirky guys from England who bring cheerful acoustic guitars, and sweet harmonies to a blossoming English countryside. Pour me a cider.

Joji - Glimpse of us

Joji is a half Japanese dude, born in Osaka, who now lives in New York, presumably as a hipster barista-cum-emo muso. This moving song feels like the emotional core of a modern Broadway musical. Prepare to cry.

Shazza - Be Kind

Shazza is a 20 yr old Singaporean hijabi artist and this is her second single. She recently preformed at an event celebrating Ms Marvel, and as a bright new hope in the Singapore music scene, it was nice synergy with the young female Muslim superhero.

Seven Songs - 11th June

Avril Lavigne - Breakaway

Did you know this Kelly Clarkson standard was actually written by Avril Lavigne? Deemed out of sync with the rest of the songs on the ‘Let Go’ album, Avril passed the song along like an adorable puppy you’re gonna regret giving up. For the 20th anniversary of the ‘Let Go’ album, Avril has updated the songs and released this special version to remind fans it was meant to have more of a punchy vibe.

Calum Scott - Heaven

In a bid to boost his Asian fanbase, Brit Calum Scott has FOUR different collaborations with pop stars from 4 Asian countries for his latest single. It’s like he has been invited to an Asian household and to please the host he’s brought a curry rice dish, made with pad thai noodles, served in a soupy bowl of pho. This is the version for Indonesia, with the singer Lyodra.

Salem Ilese - Crypto Boy

She is a 22 yr old, quirky American singer-songwriter who always serves up something interesting. This song is for everyone who has had that friend or that boyfriend who is wildly obsessed with trading crypto and carried their laptop with them at all times mumbling something about NFTs.

BTS - Yet to Come

Fresh from advising the US President on policy, the colour coordinated boyband have released an album titled ‘Proof’. It has 48 tracks, so not exactly an album, more of a photo dump from that annoying Instagram friend you have who gave birth 6 days ago. It’s an anthology of all the old songs of note, and all the new songs of note, and this is the ‘new single’.

Nicky Youre - Sunroof

This song is trending on TikTok and is usually used to soundtrack fun, positive moments. The bright and breezy tune does remind me of sticking my head out of the sunroof, unless you live in a scorching hot climate like we do in Singapore, in which case it’s absurd to have a ROOF TO LET IN MORE OF THE BLAZING SUN.

Gavin Haley - Mine

He’s an LA based singer right at the start of his career. This is a fun sounding ode to missing and not missing an ex.

Rei Brown - Thinking Bout You

Rei Brown is a Japanese artist currently based in New York and this is a dreamy chill-pop track that is quietly addictive. Like when you realize you’ve spent the past 3 minutes daydreaming and staring at a campfire.

Eternals Review: Brits cannot be superheroes!

Eternals is by no means a terrible film. There are plenty of good aspects. Director Chloe Zhao has been able to make a story spanning the universe and millions of years, yet make it feel intimate and firmly locked between the ten cast members. The diversity is deliberate but well balanced. Kumail Nanjiani is pretty great as the comic relief. But I can’t help feel an overwhelming disappointment with the movie, based on what some will call self-destructive xenophobia on my part, because I’m here to declare, BRITS CANNOT BE SUPERHEROES!

I’ve spent plenty of time growing up as a Brit, and I’ve spent some time living amongst the Americans, and let’s face it, ONLY THE YANKS CAN PULL OFF THE SUPERHERO LANDING.

Americans have an elevated self-belief, and a wonderful overabundance of confidence, and for this reason, they can say things like “Avengers…assemble” and get away with it. The British, on the other hand are specialist at dry humour, sarcasm, wit and cricket. No amount of gamma radiation can remove the bumbling Hugh Grant awkwardness that would ruin any Englishman’s attempt at “I am Ironman….I think, you know I’m not completely sure, I mean the suit fits but it’s not really my cup of tea is it”.

Eternals is led by Gemma Chan and Richard Madden., and in addition, his Game of the Thrones brother Kit Harrington is in for the ride. While I can completely believe in these fellas lifting a sword at the Battle of Anywhateverstershire, placing them in a Marvel universe feels like Daniel Radcliffe starting a career in WWE. And Gemma Chan is just absolutely bereft of charisma. She looks like a goddess sure, but when she ordered that Amazon Prime package of cinematic chemistry, there was a serious mix up at the warehouse. Angelina Jolie, on her worst day, hungover after an alimony fight with Brad, could have slapped on some eyeliner, and given us more range in a paragraph of dialogue, than Gemma did in 2 and a half hours. And that’s cos she from ‘Murica!

The only Brits who can be superheroes do so with convincing accents. Tom Holland – Spiderman; Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange; Christian Bale – Batman. Only Paul Bettany gets a pass in this area, and come on, posh Vision is hardly the figurehead idol that kids cheer about and stick posters up on their wall for.

I wish it was different but we just have to face the cold truth, only Americans believe in themselves enough to wear their underpants on the outside and set off to save the world.

Straits Times article, Dec 7th

Here is my latest article in the Straits Times, Singapore’s main newspaper. My debut crime thriller novel is available now Worldwide!

“This dream comes true tomorrow, when he launches his new novel, The Short Life Of Raven Monroe.

Set in the United States, the crime thriller revolves around Annabelle Collins, whose six-year-old daughter dies in a school shooting. The killer is atypically a female - 16-year-old Raven Monroe.

Collins pleads for the answer to "why did you do it?" until, finally, the horrific motive is revealed.”

Maddy stands up for Shan

This morning the Breakfast Crew interviewed me on KISS92.

You can listen to the 9 minute interview here.
It is Day 1 of my crime fiction novel being in stores and available worldwide on Amazon. The Short Life of Raven Monroe is now on the shelves at Kinokuniya which is the premiere bookstore in Singapore. If you are looking for a new crime thriller before Christmas buy here on my website!

New author alert!

The Straits Times newspaper in Singapore will be putting up an article soon about my first foray into being a fiction writer!

Is anybody buying and reading novels these days? Watching Netflix dominates so many of our lives, and how can we fight against that - the content is just so high quality and numerous these days. But nonetheless, I am making a stab at the publishing industry. I’m an old soul and it’s been a lifelong aspiration to see my novel on a bookshelf.

If you are a reader of crime thrillers, I hope this book will be right up your murderous alley. The Short Life of Raven Monroe is set in modern day Missouri, and begins with the awful events of a September morning school shooting. The subsequent life of a grieving mother is a harrowing revelation, and a startling new perspective on America and the gun culture in that country.

Mailman!

Just a few days before the official release date of my debut novel, here are the first set of pre-orders being shipped off!

You can get your copy in the mail today, just pre-order on this website. This is for readers of crime fiction. My debut novel is called The Short Life of Raven Monroe. It is published by an American company called Atmosphere Press.

So far the majority of the pre-orders have just been my friends and family, and it is my biggest curiosity to see if any of the book-loving public will be hitting the Add To Cart button!

Author Reinvention!

Here’s a nice article on my life as dad to 2 rascal boys!

For the past few years I wrote on parenting issues, and even published a humorous DAD book, but it’s time to transition to the life of a serious fiction writer!

My debut novel is available in just a few days - it’s a crime thriller titled ‘The Short Life of Raven Monroe’. It’s in bizarre juxtaposition to my articles on being a caring, loving father, because this crime novel begins with every parent’s most horrific fear - a school shooting.

You can buy it right now at this page, or at your local AMAZON website.

DEBUT FICTION NOVEL!

I am beyond stoked to announce that I have completed my first work of fiction, The Short Life of Raven Monroe. It is a crime thriller, set in Missouri, and the novel is available for pre-order right now! Launch date for the paperback book and e-book is December 8th 2020.

Kiss 92 DJ

Somewhere towards the end of 2017 I became a radio DJ for KISS92fm!

I am hosting the DriveHome which is every weekday 4-8pm.

Singapore emcee

Since becoming a radio DJ with Singapore's KISS 92 there have been numerous on stage hosting gigs such as this one for McDonald's alongside my DJ colleague Carol.

I also bring a friend in for a weekly interview on celebrity gossip, Yvette King, the host of TV show E!News Asia.

SassyMama article

Here's a nice photo from the article I did with SassyMama - https://www.sassymamasg.com/cool-dad-hangouts-radio-dj-author-shan-wee-interview/

We talked about where dads in Singapore can take their kids for a fun day out, and about my book 99 Rules For New Dads. It's an easy to read advice book for any new dads or mums out there. You can find it on Amazon too.

Here is a photo that didn't make the polished publication but which more accurately portrays the life of a dad with two sons!

Kid Tee Shirts

Here I am with Ciaran, 5, and Ruan, 3. Thanks to the wife for these awesome dad and kid t-shirts. The boys inspired everything that I put into my parenting book "99 Rules For New Dads". Hopefully you will laugh and learn a couple of tricks if you are a mum or a dad with young children.

Parenting column

As well as having my book in stores in Singapore - 99 Rules For New Dads - I have started contributing an occasional column to the weekend edition of the Straits Times. Look out for it, if you are a young parent living in Singapore!

(the link for this article is here - http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/my-second-child-has-no-friends-and-that-is-okay )

Singapore parenting book

My first book is in stores now! "99 Rules For New Dads" is a funny parenting guide book for any mums and dads out there with young kids. My two boys are 3 and 5 now, and this is a collection of all the cheats and tactics I have picked up over the years.

The book is published in Singapore and can be found in all the bookstores like Kinokuniya, Times, Popular, and MPH. You can also find it on Amazon.com

(honest admission: thanks to Rosalyn Lee aka Rozz who kindly "redistributed" my book when she was in this store......)

Kids Hate Santa!

If you have a baby or young children at home you might not find much time to read, but if you DO find time for one book, make it this one!

99 Rules For New Dads is a funny and insightful advice book aimed at new mums and dads. Here is one example of random things I have learned since I became a dad for the first time in 2012....

Young Parents article

99 Rules For New Dads is a humorous parenting advice book published in Singapore. You can also search for it on Amazon.com

The book is designed for all mums and dads who are expecting or dealing with young kids and the chaos that brings!

Don't call your wife fat!

If you are a dad-to-be and you need advice on raising kids I've got the perfect book for you! 99 Rules For New Dads contains all the helpful and humorous tips I wish someone had told ME when we were starting our family. Here's an example of one of the golden rules...