Fan Fare, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where you’ll find TJ photos and stories that don’t fit into any other categories. It is, as its name says, just for fans — and, hopefully, for fun.
A Special Project & Video of “Sugar Daddy” & The New “Sex Bomb” Arrangement
Thursday, September 24th, 2009OOPS! Almost forgot! At 5:59 GMT, you may want to raise your glass to salute Arthur (Guinness, that is) as the celebrations begin in Dublin. Tom is joining a raft of celebrities there and around the world to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Guinness. If you happen to be lucky enough to get there, let us know and do have fun!
The nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2010 were announced today. Among them is Darlene Love, formerly of The Blossoms whom many of Tom’s fans know. Not among them was Sir Tom Jones. I don’t know if it would have worked, but I had happened upon a strategy to reach some of the nominating committee members.
I realized that just about every singer whose fans want to see him or her inducted sign petitions, “vote” on websites or send form letters or postcards. This is all done in good faith but, from what I’ve been told on very good authority (being a journalist helps in cases like this), it all makes what amounts to a lot of noise and — sadly — doesn’t seem to accomplish anything. I was hopeful that the strategy I found (that took about three years to figure out and implement) might succeed. It was to have been acted upon the end of June and, as you may know, there were some very major issues with the website at that time. Then July came and, with it, visitors, vacations and so on. Then it was too late for this year.
But, with the very generous help of Renn, SusannePDX and Tisha, everything is ready to go. So, come June (or, maybe, May) you’ll hear about it. Meanwhile, congratulations to Darlene Love and I am happy my older daughter is happy about Kiss. But ABBA? Oh, well, to each his or her own and I do know one person who actually cried when Mamma Mia! closed here. Well, as Mets fans have to say way too often, “Wait ’till next year!” And, please, if you choose to comment on the Hall of Fame, do not comment negatively about any of the nominees. They all have fans who feel about them the way his fans feel about Tom.
At any rate, there’s some video of Tom in Stockholm singing Sugar Daddy and Sex Bomb.
Sugar Daddy is the opening number and you’ll quickly realize the massive changes to the way Tom comes out on stage (yes, he uses his legs; I’m talking about the intro). You’ll also quickly become aware of the new arrangement for Sex Bomb. The video isn’t great — bootleg stuff from the audience — but you can hear it just fine.
You can watch the it in the TJI.com Video Library.
And, if you want to watch it, here’s video of Tom singing Green Green Grass of Home in Oslo Wednesday night. You’ve heard the song and the video is shot from way back in the auditorium. Nice but nothing new. And, here’s some strange stuff: There are a few videos from Scandinavia (of songs we might like to see) that were posted — sideways! Why would anyone do that?
September 24th, 2009 at 4:15 am
Next Year it will happen!
September 24th, 2009 at 7:10 am
‘Sugar Daddy’ sounds much better live! I thought it was just ok on the CD. I hope he does bring back ‘I’m alive’; I agree, it does personify Sir Tom very well. This band uses alot of eletrical embellishments, at least in this performance.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Yeah I agree on that Anna! Sugar Daddy is not the best choice for the entrance of this magnitude of a legend. I’m Alive is more powerful and I also miss the announcement. I think I could make up an explosive entrance for Tom to I’m Alive.
I don’t see any chance for them to change the intro tho… but who knows. Maybe they just tried it on the public and see how they react. I still hope they change it back to I’m Alive…
September 24th, 2009 at 11:51 am
I agree that I’m Alive is the perfect intro for Sir Tom BUT keep Sugar Daddy in too. Everyone think positive for 2011!
September 24th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I think this new arrangement for Sex Bomb is a for a new Remix Version to edit in the new record. It is explosive version and very actual. The new sound for the old songs like Kiss, Sexbomb or Sugar Daddy gives a reloaded Tom Jones to the new generation. I think that change the band has been a good idea.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I love the video from Sir Tom’s European tour, I was was at the Tom Jones opening concert at the MGM in Nevada, and as I became a huge fan of “the voice” the show itself was a lounge act. So good to see a great backdrop to an amazing performer..I agree the change in the band was a great idea and hopefully the US fans will get a chance to see them perform.
September 24th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I am in Southern California and I subscribe to Direct TV. Believe it or not I came home this afternoon and the Guinness concert is on their Channel 101. They often air concerts or pay cable events on their free channel T101. It actually made my Day when I came home and flipped on the TV and watched Tom singing. Cheers!!
September 24th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
I agree that I prefer I’m Alive for his opening number. Sure miss Tony giving his great introduction to Sir Tom Jones
Yes – let us all hope that next year might be Tom’s year to be inducted – he deserves it
September 24th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Caroline: I don’t wish to start an argument, but Tom’s is not — absolutely not! — a “lounge act.” The MGM Grand is a much more intimate setting than these big arenas and isn’t equipped for all the bells and whistles. I, personally, prefer just Tom, without the strobes, the giant backdrops that, somehow remind me of the Stonehenge scene in This Is Spinal Tap. An arena with thousands of people is great once in awhile, but small and intimate is good, too. But, never, ever can Tom be classified as a “lounge act.”
September 24th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I’ll keep this short…those arrangements are bad and the opening is not something that is exciting or spectacular. Those electronic gizmos just ruins the music and it is not Tom…sorry folks…just bad.
September 24th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I have seen countless shows in the mgm in Vegas and Sir TOM was NEVER a lounge act! …and I am sure he never will be – whatever arrangement we prefer or songs but this man and his US band are a class on its own and are truly amazing….I am sure Tom’s management choose talented musicians for the European tour and I am open for all news stuff, but Sir TOM had a certain connection with his Band and all had good times for sure
September 24th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Uhm what Lounge Act?
Really i don’t want to be rude but, first time i see a fan calling his show or him Lounge Act, thats lame.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I’ve seen lounge acts and TJ IS NO LOUNGE ACT.
September 26th, 2009 at 2:28 am
The worst thing about this opening song is that it’s under-rehearsed.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Re: the new ‘sound’: I’m not against change, as the same old show was getting… old and too dependable. But I don’t like the tehcno sound because to my ears, it doesn’t match or flatter tom’s voice OR the songs. I find it very flat and separate from Tom’s singing. And Sugar Daddy should be “fun”, and in the video, it looks flat and zzzzz . Not something to wake up the audience. Sorry; I call ‘em as I see ‘em . Yes, I do miss the former band and singers and their ‘sound’ –seemed to better accompany Tom than the new band ‘sound’. I do wonder what the show was like ‘live and in person. Would like a review of the energy level in the audience.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
nancyjo: I agree 100%. Sir Tom’s voice is just too fantastic to be covered up by the band ‘sound’ or the backup singers. Perhaps, the videos just didn’t do the concert justice. But we certainly appreciate the videos of the European Tour just the same.