Sir Tom In the News, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s our news page. This is the place for articles and, we pledge, we’ll try not to post the stupid stuff we all run across once in awhile.
Sir Tom In The News: One More Cardiff Date; How He Dresses & A Puzzle
Monday, May 11th, 2009Here’s the full story of why and how Tom dresses as he does that was picked up by the loathsome sites monstersandcritics (UK) and contactmusic (USA). They just unfailingly go for the cheap and sleazy and should never be quoted or believed without checking the source. And, once again, the story of why he chose to stay gray. Always fun to read that. If you missed the videos posted yesterday (two posts below) be sure to check ‘em out.
Here too is a New York Times crossword puzzle from today’s paper. The Times begins on Monday with really easy puzzles and progresses in difficulty to the Sunday puzzle. BTW, I realized this was in the paper because last night some people searched tji.com for the answer, as this was a question used in a puzzle on July 7, 2008. Puzzlemakers, by he way, often find a question that fits and then use it again. Click to download the New York Times crossword puzzle.
How I get dressed
How to wear tight leather pants, by singer Tom Jones, 68
Adam Mattera/The Observer, Sunday 10 May 2009
When I started out I’d wear a blousy, Edwardian-type shirt – a jacket was too restrictive – and tight pants. Everyone wore tight pants, but maybe not quite as tight as mine. I perspire a lot on stage, so the pants had to be black, otherwise the sweat would show. I liked to look smart on stage. But what I wore had to be practical too.
We didn’t have stylists then. You could get a shirt like mine in Carnaby Street, and the Cuban-heeled shoes were from Anello & Davide in Kensington; the Beatles wore them, too.
I remember being resident singer in a club called Beat City on Oxford Street in 1964, and the Rolling Stones were booked one night. I would always wear jeans to the venue and change when I got there. They arrived all suited up, then changed into jeans and T-shirts. And I see that with bands today. Some of them go out of their way to look scruffy. But they’re still aware of how they want to look.
I’d grown up watching black-and-white rock’n'roll movies and people like Elvis – he always wore his shirt collars up. I saw Jerry Lee Lewis in concert once and he came out in red pants and a plaid jacket, and then Gene Vincent, who would always wear black leather. Those guys had a great sense of style.
By the 70s I’d moved to Los Angeles, and by then it was all silk shirts, flared pants, platform shoes. I remember doing the cover photo for Rescue Me where I’m sat under these girls’ legs with tight jeans and my shirt open, showing off my chest and grinning. But it was all done with a sense of humour.
Once I was singing Kiss at a TV special in Cardiff and I came to the part where I do a squat, and these leather pants I was wearing split up the back. So I said: “This is for people who don’t believe I wear underwear” and bent over so you could see the red briefs I had on. I’ve stopped that move now. You can’t always count on the pants holding up.
If I’m going out around LA in the day, I’ll wear a tracksuit or something comfortable, but if I’m out in the evening I’ll dress for the occasion. I like to dress smart. Now I do have a stylist, Peter Hawker, so he’ll get suits for me – Oswald Boateng, William Hunt, Gucci – and I pick out what I want.
The first thing I had done when I started to make money was have my teeth capped ’cause they were in bad shape. Then I had my nose fixed because it was broken through all the fights I’d had. Then a lot later I had some fat taken out from under my chin – hence the goatee. I haven’t had my face pulled or anything. The guy I saw in LA said you’ve got to be careful. You want to look like you.
Every Christmas I take five weeks off and stop dyeing my hair. It used to come out as a dirty grey, but this year it was more white and it looked pretty good. So for my first engagement I tried it out and people were shouting: “You look great, Tom.” So I thought: “Thank God, now I don’t have to dye it any more.”
Photo of Tom at Terminal 5, NYC, Christopher Owyoung /Rex Features
Tom Jones Adds Extra Cardiff Date
Last updated: Monday, 11 May 2009, 09:00.Due to phenomenal demand, the legendary Tom Jones has announced an extra date at the Cardiff International Arena (CIA) on Saturday 10 October to his full UK tour, taking place in arenas across the nation.
Following on the heels of his universally praised current album, 24 Hours, Tom will be bringing his show to the UK with a repertoire spanning five decades.
Tickets for the added date and the rest of the tour are on sale now and are available. You can buy tickets for all the other shows here at the LiveNation UK website. This date isn’t on there yet, but it should be added soon.
May 11th, 2009 at 9:50 am
You look great TOM
))
May 11th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I think Tom needs to get a new stylist.He pretty much has worn what seems to be the same wrinkled suits he’s been wearing for at least the last 6 years I’ve been going to see him.I did see a purple pinned striped suit at a couple of shows, kind of worn and wrinkled. Anaheim he had a black jacket that looked new. His shirts, at least what I’ve seen are the same black button up with black shiny stones to pick up the light.
I have not been to a show where he has worn the white or red coats. Again, I think he runs a lean business and does not spend money where he really should.
Although I think he is great and the new material is good, most of the show is the same and I think in time everybody will have seen it. It’s getting a bit tired and personally after the excitement of seeing him go on stage he needs to inject some excitement into the show, like onthe DVD live from Cardiff.
I think he is just playing it a bit safe.
I know a lot of his audience are older die hard fans, that would love him if he sang the Denny’s menu, but I don’t think he will cultivate a younger base with this new nightclub-type act.
I think Tom Jones is the best there is, but I’m disappointed, he is a huge talent, famous all over the world and he has decided to become Tony Bennett. I think he needs to have at least a show that reflects big, kind of like Rod Stewart or Neil Diamond. He is playing it safe.
I know most will disagree, but I don’t think his voice is as strong and instead of using a little technical help he’s just leaving the difficult songs out and like the song I’ll Never Fall In Love Again he just cuts back on holding certain notes.
Next time you go see him pay attention and you will see what I mean. The grey hair, it just dates him. Look at the photos with the black hair, he looks younger and edging.
Now he kind of reminds me of, sorry, Santa Claus.
I think he has what it takes to be much better, I just don’t understand his choices like leaving fun songs off the US version of the new CD, not doing them live and appearing on all the top TV shows in the past months looking like he just got out of bed.
I’m not making fun, you all saw it. I hope he’s not getting tired. I’m getting tired, so I think I will take a break from seeing him until he sees himself and does something about it.
Remember, Tom himself has said if you don’t change or move forward you are going backward or standing still. Something like that. I’d like to see him in an arena with a big show where he belongs. Feel free to forward this to his people and TOM.
May 11th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Nick: First, as always, you are entitled to your opinion. Otherwise, I wouldn’t post your comment. However, I believe you are being harsh. In no particular order:
• Bennett has a great career going and he’s many years older than Tom. He’s got a great deal of class, does his thing and doesn’t try to be someone he’s not. With the gray hair, finally, and the new music, Tom is also being himself. (And, as one of the — just two — fans who called out to him in January that he “looks great, I really believe that.)
• The quote is “If you stop the clock you don’t move forward.” Tom is moving forward. He’s recording new music, not a lot of crappy standards like Stewart’s been doing for several years. That is boooooring.
•Is his voice weaker? It’s deeper, has more range and he cannot hit the high notes as he once did. But to enhance what is so terrific with technology doesn’t make it better, does it?
•I wouldn’t wonder if he was tired because his schedule — quite close to 300 days traveling, appearing in concert and/or on TV or radio this year — and he’s remarkable.
•There’s been lots of discussion on this site about his wardrobe. The black sequined shirts are, apparently, comfortable and he’s entitled to that. He looks fabulous in the white jacket and terrific in the black tux jacket. Lots of people love the red and don’t like the black velvet. But, he’s entitled to wear what he wants when he wants to. That is his right.
•As for his “older” fans, I don’t know how old you are and I am certainly no kid, but there are a few older songs in Tom’s show that I wish would disappear forever. I like new stuff. It is demeaning to lump everyone together and make assumptions about what they like.
Finally, I don’t forward comments to Tom or his “people.” If you wish to do so, go to tomjones.com, scroll down to the bottom of the homepage and you’ll find contact information that you can use to send your own message to them. The only way those people will see things posted on this site is if they read it on this site.
I really hope other people join this discussion.
May 12th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Wow…that post is brutal. I consider myself a very honest fan and here is what I think on some of these points:
-Wardrobe: I like the shirts a lot. The last few times that I saw Tom before he got those new shirts, when he was wearing a black tucked in shirt and black slacks with a belt, it didn’t look as good anymore. I think the untucked sparkle shirts are an improvement. I personally have not seen any “wrinkled suits.” I would really like to see the red or white jackets as I have not seen those live.
-Tony Bennett…please. Tony ain’t talking about getting him some! Mr. Jones is the Tomcat…still on the prowl baby.
-Material: This new show simply rocks, love all of the new stuff. The material on this new CD stands up to anything he has ever done and proves he is still at the top of his game. I was one of the lucky few that got to hear “Sugardaddy” live in Vegas last year before he ditched it…that is really too bad. I think Tom is too caught up in what the critics say, a few made fun of “Sugardaddy” and the song went bye bye. The only problem that I have with Tom’s show is that he doesn’t really change up the oldies. He has more than the six or seven older hits that he keeps repeating…where is I Who Have Nothing, Daughter of Darkness, Without Love, Love Me Tonight, etc. I personally think I Who Have Nothing is one of the best (if not the best) songs he ever recorded and it is neglected. That being said, the oldies he does perform are done well and he does not do throw away versions. I would be interested to know which oldies the moderator would get rid of forever. The only one that I could do without is Green, Green Grass…I would miss all of the rest of them very much (even though with a few exceptions they could be rotated out with other oldies). The fact is, even though we may get tired of certain ones, an artist should not ditch signature hits.
-Tom cannot fill US arenas…this isn’t 1973…he plays what he can fill.
-Talking about the quality of his voice shows how spoiled Tom’s fans are. His voice still sings rings around most everyone else regardless of their age. Who decided that he has lost a little? Is it because he has ditched certain songs or because you actually heard weaker singing on something?
-That brings me to the great hair color debate. At first, I was against the change. Then I saw him live in Anaheim and thought he looked great and it didn’t change how I felt about his show at all. In fact, one of the girls (29) that came with me who was dead set against the new look left with her mind changed totally. I thought it was no big deal and that it wasn’t a problem afterall. THEN, I started to see that this may just be Tom’s fans putting blinders on to what the outside world is really saying. They are saying he looks old, it is helping foster ideas like his mind is failing (which is baloney), that he should retire, etc. This age/retirement stuff has hit high gear in the months since he went gray, all of you know it. I think he could have easily kept dying the hair for a few more years. Again, the critics (and maybe his son?)made him overly concerned about his dye job (Tom has admitted as much). I sent a young couple to see Tom in Vegas recently. The young lady in the group said that while he could really sing, it was hard to watch “Fred Sanford” dancing to “Kiss”…ouch. I now believe the silver hair was a mistake. It has nothing to do with whether or not it looks good, but how Tom is now perceived – old.
The bottom line is that Tom is still the man. His new material is awesome and his live show still kicks butt. If Nick can’t see Tom’s current greatness when he goes to the show, he probably should take a break…Long live the Tomcat!
May 12th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Here we go—again! There’s nothing to “discuss”..it all boils down to the fact that Tom will wear what he pleases, whether WE like it or not. So just accept and be glad he can still sing.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:35 am
i tbh think that someone here is changing just their nicknames, really ive heard this stuff before… I cant understand wtf is so hard to accept the hair thing, santa claus,****sigh****…??!?!?!??!
Tom rocks!!!!
May 12th, 2009 at 6:07 am
I think a lot of what Nick says is true. I can’t get used to his gray hair, but I do think the suits are good even if they are a little ruffled. Yes, he cannot reach the high notes but lets face it, the way he has belted out the songs over the years it’s a wonder he can sing at all, and I’m so glad that he can still do so.
May 12th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Personally, I do love Tom’s new look. It was high time he stopped dying his hair. I had rather see him looking smart in his real age instead of considering him as an aging Romeo, a man who can’t face his age.
Tom’s youth is in his voice, in his fantastic natural energy, in his humor and in his love for life.
I think that for some of us, the hardest thing to accept is that Tom’s grey hair makes them realise that they are old too!!
May 12th, 2009 at 6:48 am
I love the white hair! I think it makes him look distinguished and very hot at the same time. His suits have always seemed very tailored to me. And I can’t think of anyone else who can sing like he does and still have a strong sex appeal at the age of 68. I haven’t paid attention to his career for twenty years, and all of a sudden I am in love with the man and his amazing voice!
May 12th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Sandy: That’s what this site if for — to discuss things. People have strong feelings and, whether or not those opinions matter to anyone, they do have the right to express them, right?
May 12th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Jeremy: No one was saying Tom Jones should be like Tony Bennett. But, at 80+ years, Bennett still has a career, still does things the way he wants to and, like him or not, he’s got to get a lot of credit for that. Seeing him in concert, as I did a few years ago at the Hollywood Bowl, is just a beautiful thing. And, since he never talked about —to paraphrase — “gittin’ him some” why would he start now. Different performer, different style but, in some ways, a very valid comparison.
As for retirement, if you look back, every time Tom comes out with new product or a reporter lacks a question, the issue comes up. It hasn’t become more frequent since Tom went gray. Tom is who he is — he’s gonna be 69, he has gray hair. Why try to hide it?
May 12th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I don’t like the gray hair. if you are going to be “distinguished,” you have to sing sedate songs, and I don’t think Tom is ready for that yet.
It’s ok for Anderson Cooper, but not for Tom.
May 12th, 2009 at 8:57 am
I was not putting down Tony Bennett, rather I was just pointing out to Nick that Tom was not just another white haired aging crooner, but still the stud.
May 12th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
All of the times I have seen Tom Jones (from the front row…mind you)..I have never seen this man wear a rumpled suit. I have never seen this man…no matter what he chose to wear in any given night….a rumpled anything!!! And then….when I met him at the end of the night when he is tired as hell and accompanied by his minder, Don Archell, have I ever seen two more classy men that you would ever want to see in your life. They were dressed perfectly, solid handshakes…..and trust me……..my dream of meeting Cary Grant….Cary would have liked these men.. I liked them too.
May 12th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I’m going to be 44 in October. Maybe I’m too young for this site. My intent was not to be harsh or criticle. I’m just pointing out what I think and alot of you are thinking but won’t admit.Alot of you are holding on way too tight to the illusion that is Tom Jones. Relax, Tom will continue to do what he thinks works. It’s ok to have a an opinion.All I know is somewhere along the way Tom took a turn in a direction I don’t understand, and it’s starting to show.Maybe he’s just frugal and does not like to spend his money. At least I sparked a disscussion. Great dicussions lead to change. Maybe if we put it out there and see the end result as fact, it will manefest and Tom will make some changes that will blow us all away and remind us why we became fans in the first place. P.S. Who cares what Anderson Coopers hair color is. Thank you ladies for posting my thoughts. A least this is a first rate site and you allow both sides.
May 13th, 2009 at 3:25 am
You’re not too young Nick! I am younger than you, 30. I am agree with you in part with what you’ve said. I think you are a great Tom’s fan as I am, but is even true that everything he does thrills the entire media world! It’s not a style question or the way he sing (about the high notes). He still remain a singer that sold 100.000.000 copies of his albums all over the world and his continuing to do it. I’ve seen his concert in past like most of the people in this forum, I like Tom’s character, and now more than ever….the only think I miss is his “dancing like hell”.
May 13th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I had to respond to this post. I am basically a new fan. I’ve rediscovered Tom, since being in the front row at Terminal 5. I’m going to his next 2 NY shows. I was very surprised to see the grey hair, and his changed appearance. But I was overwhelmed with his talent, his sexuality and his inner youth. I am overwhelmed with him. I’m a very young 53. I have thought that his going totally grey was a mistake. A fantastic colorist could have Tom have a more youthful salt and pepper look that would take many years off his age, without looking like the past “shoe polish” criticisms of his hair. His hair needs to be conditioned, as it gets drier and unruly as we age. He has the resources to do that. I don’t think he needs all the facial hair. The scar he uses it to hide can be lasered off. Could he dress a little better on stage, proabably yes. I agree that he should try some ideas from new stylists, that he feels comfortable with. I think he is probably caving in to pressure from someone to age gracefully, but what do I know. I know I get that pressure from certain people, but still buy clothes from the junior department sometimes, and have long blonde hair. He is still the same young “stud” he was. I also would love to see more dancing from him. I am sure, he has been detered from dancing from the negative comments in the reviews, but he is an amazing dancer, and should continue to dance for us, no matter how old he is. I don’t know if any of Tom’s people read this web site, but I’m sure comments on his other website get to his people because I did contact them about another way of getting his music out for people to hear, and they followed thru! The way Tom is now, DID get my attention, grey hair and all. So, no matter what, he’s got me hooked.
May 14th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Nick im 19 and ive been fan since i was 6 or 7, so i dont see your point.
The thing is that ppl seem to forget that our Tom is now almost 69, and if he cant do the high notes that he sang when he was 27, like High D’s High C’s and stuff, what even Elvis could not sing… Then some say that he “cant” sing anymore, but singing is not about High notes and stuff, there is lot more important things.. Voice IMHO at its best when 25-60 years old… Then it starts to get little “older” but most singers at age of Tom cant hit B flat like Tom can..
Nick, what he has to prove anymore???
I mean ofc there is always that i would like to see things like “kiss” or somth, but he has done lot to the music, and its shame that one place in this damn world cant get that into their brains, and its HOF…
Olli
May 14th, 2009 at 11:56 am
I think Tom looks better than ever and is voice is better than ever. I saw him twice this week in Vegas. He was fantastic on Sunday night and even better and more energetic on Monday. I am delighted that with his new CD comes a new audience of younger fans.
May 14th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Ok , this is going to be the my last post for a while I’m leaving town.My business is stage production.I’m leaving to go on the road with The Jonas Brothers.( So I think I might know a little about what I am talking about.)
You people are missing the point.
The next time you go see Tom be objective and really look at his show and him.
I get that you all love him, I get it.
But most of you are just making excuses for him.
All I’m saying is instead of working with what he has and enhancing it, he is just starting to give up.
Grey hair, leaving songs out where he can use a little enhancement and do them,wrinkled suits, very close to basic light show,not changing the songs he is doing, show after show, not even changing the order of the songs, same exact words in his banter, going on national television to promote his first album in the US in 15 years, looking tired, hair not done,weak make up, ( he looked great on dancing with the stars) wrinkled suit. He was on the Jimmy Kimmel Show,The tonight show, Rachel Ray sometimes days apart and did the same exact song and spoke the same words. How many times do we need to hear “The Road always leads back to Linda” or “All roads lead to the stage”? Come On. I think the new album is good, but not great. I think he put together this album around his vocal capabilities. The big produced songs that are fun and upbeat he left out of the US album. Feels Like Music and Back To The Party, why? In his concerts where is Stoned In Love?. And by the way if his people, management, PR had a plan they could have made a bigger deal out of Tom’s return and he could fill bigger venues. I personnally think House Of Blues and venues like that are below him and he should not play them.So here it is. Again I don’t get what Toms doing, but for me the excitement is about gone.You can only go so far with what you’ve done in the past. It’s what have you done lately. Regarding Tom, for me not a whole lot.I think he’s selling white rice and telling us it’s brown and most of you are buying it, because Tom Jones is selling it.
May 14th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I have to agree with Nick about a lot of what he has to say. It appears that Tom and his band have chosen a “uniform”–uniform apparel, uniform show, uniform banter, uniform guest appearances, same ol’, same ol’, every performance. And it appears that they are satisfied with that one thing and that is it! No change, same thing–easy way out–just show up, wear the same thing, be asked the same thing, answer with the same thing, sing the same thing–I bet they can’t WAIT to get gone! It looks like the same thing would drive them nuts! I think that I could answer every question put to Tom because I know the answer he is about to give, same thing. If when I see him in July and it is going to cost a few bucks, too–and what he wears and what he performs is the same, I give up–and just will continue to buy his cd’s and not bother with the rest. Seen repeat performances, repeat tv performances, on and on till that’s enough for me–just buy his cd’s. That way I won’t know what he is wearing. ha ha and I–can vary up the order of the music.
May 14th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Nick, im not making any excuses, but like i said in my post about the voice, if you read that?
“looking tired” well first that he does a lot concerts and for a 69 year old guy it is pretty much (not a excuse, cos its true, he still loves to do it so)
“hair not done” His hair on the USA TV shows was great imo, don’t know if you mean the color..
“Rachel Ray sometimes days apart and did the same exact song and spoke the same words”
No offense to Elvis fans, im too BUT, Im bored to Elvis questions always the same things, but always they ask about him, Nick you should ask why they always want to ask about Elvis, if im not wrong they discuss what they gonna ask and etc before tv show…
“Feels Like Music (i like that song btw) and Back To The Party”
Imo is record company decision not Toms, kinda thing like Reload or somth…
“Stoned In Love”
Well most of the fans didn’t like that song, so its not really a surprise…
Hey House Of Blues (inspiration of music for the soul) isn’t bad at all to play this kind of music, really and that’s true and he wants to be taken seriously.
May 14th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
They ask Tom questions about Elvis all the time because Elvis is the biggest star the world has ever known and the press/public is totally fascinated with him…in part because he never gave interviews. It isn’t just Tom, nearly every star that worked with Elvis or socialized with him gets the same thing.
May 14th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Back in the early 70′s, I started going to Tom Jones concerts. In the Chicago area he would spend one week, usually at the same theater. I went to many of those shows during the week (10 one time). Tom always gave a fantastic show. However, the songs were the same and in the same order: the jokes and song intros were the same: the clothes were the same except the suits or jackets were different colors each night; his moves were the same; the lighting was the same: the band was the same. The only thing different was his interaction with the ladies who went to the stage to get kisses, give gifts or give him a hanky (do they have those any more?) to wipe his brow (and other things): and, of course, throw panties. Basically, the same show every night – and WE LOVED IT! I couldn’t get enough of him then and through the years, I still can’t. If he stayed here in Florida, I would go to every concert, night after night after night. It would be a very long time before I got tired of seeing him (if ever). He’s just doing what has worked for all these years and he must be doing SOMETHING right. I know I’m from his generation and the younger fans disagree – that’s fine. I just wanted to give an older person’s perspective.
May 14th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I agree 100% with you Carole. I’m in the same state of mind.
We love Tom for everything he is and for the happiness he brins us, full stop !
Now the ones who are fed up with him should go and see somebody else. Who cares ? not me and surely not the majority of his fans.
May 15th, 2009 at 4:39 am
Jeremy yes, but the point is what im looking that they ask same questions always.. its a standard question line usually..
May 15th, 2009 at 5:45 am
I’m maybe a bit out of subject here but I wanted to take part; I truly hope that the case 24 hours is not yet at the point when it will be closed. It was triumphed as a comeback album and I think that with the right production there could still be a hit single made from it. I’ve seen rumours in the net that Tom would do a duet of Give A Little Love with a Spanish lady singer that would be released there as a single and that would maybe help the success of the album there. But so far I have to say that I’m disapointed if 24 hours won’t return to the charts. The promotion/production has been bad altough Tom has done his part of it well. Altough I found the same thing that he did repeat himself in almost every interview and didn’t seem exactly as interesting guy as he is. I remember when the cover of the album was revealed and there was a lot of talk that it can’t be the cover of the album, I thought so myself. It’s nice but that’s not enough, it does look like a cheap thing. And no matter what, the video of the song 24 hours was done with so low budget that I can’t believe it. Even Tom’s tour size was measured with the success of the album and what we are seeing now? Arenas with the upper tiers closed. So if the record company is still alive and kicking let’s start now and make In Style And Rhythm the number one summer hit and get Tom back to the top where he should be!
Problem solved =)
May 15th, 2009 at 11:29 am
It’s tough to please everyone. The songs that don’t change are favorites of his fans, who would feel cheated if they didn’t hear them. Delilah, Pussycat, Unusual, Green Green Grass, Never Fall In Love, Help Yourself, Kiss, and Leave Your Hat On. That’s 9 songs, and a considerable chunk of the set list locked. Most of the people here have seen Tom many times, and wouldn’t mind rotating some of those songs out to make room for the new stuff, but if you’ve never seen Tom’s show (like most of any given audience), you expect to hear those songs, and feel cheated if you don’t. If Tony Bennett did not sing “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” every show, people would be upset about it. Neil Diamond has to sing “Song Sung Blue”, “Sweet Caroline”, and “America”. It’s the price a performer pays (for the rest of their career) when they are lucky enough to have a hit.
Tom has had more hits than most. Also, the Vegas set is shorter than most, because the casino wants it that way. It leaves little time for trying new things.
As for playing the same song on every TV show, it’s marketing. If John Q Public hears a song over and over it sticks in his mind. He remembers the hook, and maybe part of the chorus, and that’s how you sell CD’s. If he hears a different song each time, he might like them, but chances are he won’t remember any of it, or buy it. There’s a reason record companies like the term “Heavy Rotation”.
It would be nice if Tom did a 180 minute show every night and never played the same set list twice. It would be cool if production decisions were made on a purely artistic basis, and it would be fun if marketing was ignored, because it can take the flavor out of anything. Unfortunately this is the real world. Casino’s want you out of the theater and onto the tables, record companies want you to hear the single over and over, and first time punters want to hear the songs they associate with the performer on stage.
May 15th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Wonder if the fan favorites could be made into a medley? That, would save some time for newer material–like more songs from the new CD, 24 HOURS. Maybe this suggestion might be an idea to make EVERYBODY happy, if there is such a thing.