J FACTOR...

Ok, Ok, I know it's sad, but I've decided this year to follow the British version of American Idol - XFACTOR but on my own... without a big TV company, without music producers and without a major label behind the project. Tada... The Jake Hook One Man Band Show!

Each week I'm going to upload a brand new song and a video of me performing the track live - and then you can be the judges: Simon, Cheryl, Louis, Dannii (if anyone really wants to be Sharon, go right ahead)

But basically I'm doing this to show that music doesn't have to be forced into you every Saturday night - highly manufactured and staged...

It's a little bit of fun and interactive, so you guys can be involved. The best bit is... it won't cost you £1.50 to text in and say that you liked or hated my performance!

This week is the Michael Jackson week and you can hear the live recording via my Myspace at: www.myspace.com/jakehook

fighting fit...

Summer's here and it's come almost unannounced. Bastard British Summer! Which means I haven't had a chance to work on my disco tits (pecs!) So in order for me to not look like a pasty, flabby flan on the beach this August / September I'm gonna be blasting the flab! Anyone wanna join me?

I wish summer gave us a little heads up!


Also I'm planning to go to Jay Brannan's gig in August at Bush Hall- which I'm quite excited about £8.00 for a ticket! Bargain - if you haven't heard about Jay visit his myspace: www.myspace.com/jaybrannan

Anyone else wanna join me?


Have you downloaded my free BEST OF album yet?

Ok, let me explain the whole "Best Of" thing. Clearly I've not had any number 1 hits or sold millions of records worldwide - but every so often some of my songs get love from you guys. Songs like Fireflies, Creeping Over Me and Silent Whispers - and as a present from me to you - to say thank you - I decided to give away 13 tracks from the various recordings I've done over the last 4 years - from Record On The Blag - to The Butterfly Observations.

I want you to download it and share it! Piracy is not my enemy - nobody knowing me is! - So please feel free to share these songs around!
and don't forget to comment them! Let other's know what you think!
www.reverbnation.com/jakehook
or search Jake Hook in iTunes

Finally:
My fish are giving me much respect after I installed a castle in the tank. They seem much happier with a hint of regal living!

One of the stupider ideas for global warming...

Ah global warming... When did England ever feel this warm!

Ok, ok, I know it's a major buzz word right now and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon - but you know what - good. It's about time we got up in arms about something positive - instead waging stupid wars on each other.

This is our earth, our home and if we don't do something about it - pretty soon we won't have a place to wage these wars on each other!

However - I was reading the paper that some places in the states (USA) employers and states are considering bringing in a 4 day work week - in order to reduce petrol consumption....
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2937323620080529

On first read it seems like a really good idea... It will cut congestion during the working week by a fifth and one thinks about all the petrol that will be saved by that and all the gasses that won't be passed into our environment...

Until - on my way back from the market (i was walking - so i can get all uppity about this!) I thought if i worked a 4 day week - what would I do on my days off.

Go and see the family?
Take a long weekend road trip?

and what of the other actvities that still need to be done, whether you're working or not like...

taking the kids to school
Doing the food shopping
Going to the gym?

I mean - do they really expect Americans not to use their cars on their days off?

Come off it!

Surely they'd be using them more - to go places, to see family, to take that road trip down Route 66! - to enjoy their new found weekday freedom! I would!

So I call NEXT on this idea - although 4 day working weeks in theory seems like it's going to cut petrol and diesel consumption I'd put money that actually it won't...


Ooo I love a good rant...

Something that makes me cringe a little...

Ok, please don't judge me for what your about to see- but in 2003 I was writing a record called "RECORD ON THE BLAG" and I got to do a music video promo for it... and here it is, in all it's glory!

oh dear... and I'm dancing too!

bugs me...

So today I've checked the CDs I have for sale via Amazon... and yep they're all there, Live Sessions, SXY and Elusive You...

But something weird has happened - my company LoneBoy isn't the only people to be selling the records - other business are selling my stuff... Normally this would be a great thing, except I know we haven't sold any wholesale - i.e. sold any to a store to sell. Which means that they're either selling promo copies (around 200 copies where sent out as promos - for SXY) or they've made pirates (why would anyone do that to a Jake Hook CD!)

It's hard enough to be a musician nower days without other people making money off your back - and they haven't paid for the goods they are selling!

and get this one of the companies is selling it for £24.00 LOL - hello i sell it for less than a fiver!

Anyway, moan over it's just crazy

So excited

Ok, got some gigs coming up and am I'm dead excited!
The fantastic David Sneddon has agreed to do some gigs with me, just like our little tour last year with Chris Townsend - however this year we'll be joined by the equally talent Mr. Dave Gibson...

Can't wait to get out and show you guy some of the new material I've been writing - it's been a while!

In other news - today I'm aching from the two lot of Yoga I did yesterday...
I have pains in muscles I didn't know existed!

New gigs... and shitting myself...

Ok - not really shitting myself -

but seriously got some gigs coming up and these ones are in London, but don't worry I am coming your way (if you're in England... haven't quite got the pennies to fly to the US yet!) There's a whole host of dates coming up for June, July and August!

But this will be first gig of 2008, so I'm excited about getting behind the keys again and trying to sing a Take That cover! Which one will it be this year?

and a heads up, I've got a photoshoot booked in two weeks time, so hopefully will have some spanking new lovely piccys for you to have a butchers at!

right I'm off for, don't forget I'm gonna be singing, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow on YOUTUBE! :)

Lentils and me-

I really don't we get on...


Which is sad, because i'm a veggie and lentils I'm told should be my mainstay!


More chickpeas anyone?

Letter to Wal-Mart / Tescos / Costcos / Sainsbury and the rest of them

Dear Mr/Mrs WAL-MART / TESCO ... etc


I couldn't help but notice what a big roof your store(s) have / has. Which got me to thinking about how you could put that roof to good use.

I have 2 words for you... SOLAR PANELS! yes - you could have 1000s of £s/$s per year on your lecky bills and save the planet as well!

You could leave your refrigerators on without fear of killing the planet and the carbon footprint that they create!

I'm very concerned at the levels of carbon that your business may be pumping into the air and what with the plastic bags that you give to each and every customer - perhaps this is something you could consider?

For the one time cost of installation - just think about the positive effect you'll have on the world!!! Amen to that!


All my love

Jake

Just a thought...

I got to thinking today about Supermarkets, Grocery store and power usage... As you do - (ok i'm a saddo with nothing else to think of)

But I was thinking that they all have massive roofs right? Whats from stopping a supermarket installing masses of solar panels - to conserve the power. If you think about how many panels your average market could put on the roof - they'd be able to supply their own needs and those around them - plus they'd be saving the world and being the good guys- instead of evil, money grabbing bastards!

For the one time cost of installation they could end up saving a load of money and save the planet in one swoop!

Does anyone know the address for Wal Mart or Tescos!

:)

Ok - please don't think I'm a complete saddo... I am really cool - no really - my Mum tells me everyday...

YOUchoose

Ok, just a little game -

Help me choose which song I record next onto video... I've created a poll with some options...:)

We Are Naked...

I wanted to start performing for you guys... On Video... Oooo Er ! Okay not like that - firstly I wanna win support not making you all barf at the sight of me doing a Paris Hilton - LOL oh dear.. Hang on I wanted this to be a serious blog - right start again



We Are Naked -

This is a song from my album The Butterfly Observations which is going to be out really soon (i promise) it's about that place when you've nothing left - you've been emotionally stripped bare. The other people has taken everything, but there's a positive at the end - when i sing - I've flown, home. implying that it's done and I'm over that part and I want to move on.

So the song is an important one for me, it's about closing the chapter and the opening of another.

I'm going to be doing more videos as the weeks go by - gonna try and do a little online concert at some stage... Please let me know what you think...

Wishing you all success and happiness...

Lyrics:

We are naked
We are raw
We are bleeding and
You want more?
You take sufferance and you cut out holes
You leave it empty - when you are full

and I cannot give
as I have flown
and I cannot give
and I have flown

Kept my solace company
Kept my bleeding under skin
had my wings clipped
been in caged
Been a victim
pinned to your page

and I cannot give
as I have flown
and I cannot give
and I have flown