TJ Questions, What's New, Pussycat?
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TJI February Question of the Month: “Which Song For ‘A Boy From Nowhere?’”
Monday, February 1st, 2010
If you’ve read this site at all, you’ll know your moderator is partial to some of the songs from Matador. Of course, as dramatic and well-sung as it is, one cannot expect a song like Dance of Death — even though it showcases Tom’s dramatic and interpretative abilities perfectly — to be in Tom’s set list. It’s just not right for that. But, one song is exquisitely suited to any Tom Jones set list.
I am aware that lots of people love this song yet I was surprised at how many people just in Las Vegas this run, expressed a wish to have it included. Also, you may recall how many were disappointed when it was dropped from his set list in Europe. A countless number of fans want it back, so the TJI Question of the Month for February is:
If A Boy From Nowhere were to be included in Tom’s show and, to do that, one song from today’s set list had to be dropped, which song do you think should be dropped?
The setlist now, in order, is: Sugar Daddy, Give A Little Love, Thunderball, In Style and Rhythm, If He Should Ever Leave You, Delilah, Mama Told Me Not To Come, Hard to Handle, Too Many Lovers, I’ll Never Fall In Love Again, Green Green Grass of Home, Save the Last Dance for Me, What’s New Pussycat, She’s A Lady, You Can Leave Your Hat On, If I Only Knew, Sex Bomb, It’s Not Unusual and the encore: Kiss and Take Me Back to the Party.
You know the rules: please name one song only. If you’d like to share your reason, please do so. And, please, even if you think someone would cut your favorite song, remember everyone is entitled to an opinion.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:28 am
Starting by the fact that I don’t like “A boy from nowhere” song, I couldn’t drop any other song from the set list. But if I have to do it…Too many lovers is my choice.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:57 am
I would drop Sugar Daddy.I find it stupid and A boy from nowhere has great words and only Tom can sing it as it should be sung
February 1st, 2010 at 2:10 am
I thought I’d be the only one to say I dont like “A boy from nowhere”and the song I’d drop would be “Sugar Daddy”.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:46 am
I,d drop what’s new pussycat, that song is annoying but i understand it was a big hit for Tom.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:08 am
I really like “A Boy from Nowhere”…I heard Tom sing it in concert many years ago, and it was beautiful! As for which song to drop, it would be a tough choice between “What’s New Pussycat” (which I personally think is one of the most ridiculous songs ever written!) and “Sugar Daddy.”
February 1st, 2010 at 4:30 am
Oops…sorry, Ellen! Just read your post a little more closely, and noticed that the rules stated we can only name one song to be dropped. In that case, I vote for “What’s New Pussycat.”
February 1st, 2010 at 4:37 am
Love “A Boy from Nowhere”!! Would be a wonderful addition. Drop “Kiss”.
February 1st, 2010 at 6:37 am
Mama Told Me Not To Come, why?
Well you cant really take any slow songs away from the setlist.. And i saw Boy From Nowhere live which was one of the best moments of the show..
February 1st, 2010 at 6:57 am
“Too Many Lovers”.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:03 am
too many lovers
February 1st, 2010 at 9:16 am
I’d drop Thunderball, I’ve never liked that song even if Tom still sings it amazingly well.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:17 am
I agree drop Too Many Lovers..Please bring back Help Yourself. It was always such a catchy song.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:36 am
As ‘A Boy From Nowhere’ is a ballad it should be a ballad thats dropped to maintain the balance of the set. However I like all the other ballads so I’d drop ‘Too Many Lovers’ because to be honest I can’t even remember it. I see some people want to drop ‘What’s New…’and I understand why but I do think that Tom should sing as many of his own hits as possible so one of ‘the others’ has to go.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:39 am
Save The Last Dance For Me is my pick
February 1st, 2010 at 9:50 am
To my chagrin, Tom will never remove “What’s New Pussy Cat.”
It that case, I vote he remove “IN STYLE AND RHYTHM.”
February 1st, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I love a Boy from Nowhere but my favorite from The Matador was Born To Be Me I heard Tom sing both in 1987 in Nashville and the following year in Cleveland.My pick for a song to drop is Too Many Lovers as well,curious no one mentioned is he singing Never in the concert this is one of my top 2 from 24 HOURS
February 1st, 2010 at 1:00 pm
My choice would be Sugar Daddy – not one of my favorites.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Yes, he is singing Never.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I am partial to Sugar Daddy but I confess that is so in part because I am a fan of Bono — and not just his music — and he talked to me about the song..
The song I’d dump is She’s A Lady. Inflicted on the public by Paul Anka, who just four years later perpetrated (She’s) Having My Baby on an unsuspecting public. The latter won him the “Keep Her In Her Place” Award from the National Organization for Women (NOW). She’s A Lady depicts a relationship in which a woman “knows her place” and in which “she’s never in the way.” It is an idealized 1950s depiction of a woman that was woefully out-of-date when it was written and recorded. Worse, it’s offensive to anyone with the slightest feminist sensibilities. I know it’ll always be in Tom’s set list but, really, I wish it would go away. Pussycat is silly, but it’s fun. Thunderball makes absolutely no sense but it sounds great. But She’s A Lady? If all those women in his audience “knew their places” in the way the song applauds, they probably wouldn’t be in the audience at a Tom Jones show. They be home cooking, cleaning and taking care of hubby.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:43 pm
If I Only Knew
February 1st, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I am with Ellen, She’s a Lady, I have only ever heard a Boy from Nowhere, where can we hear other songs from Matador.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:14 pm
I could do without ‘Sex Bomb’. Yes, I also would like to here ‘Help Yourself’ again
February 1st, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I would suggest taking out “Thunderball” I really like everything else. I agree with some posters about “She’s a lady” but it does have a catchy tune and it was a hit for him.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:40 pm
I would take out Too Many Lovers.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:03 pm
I guess I’ll be in the minority with this pick . . . but, I don’t like Take Me Back to the Party. I had never heard it before I watched some videos from his recent tour. Then I saw him close his Vegas shows with it twice. It just doesn’t do anything for me. Did Tom record this song, or whose song is it?
February 1st, 2010 at 4:40 pm
My pick is “Too Many lovers”. I would just like to add that I respectfully disagree with the Moderator’s comments about “She’s A Lady”. It’s fine to not like the song. For myself, I like it very much, and it was Tom’s biggest hit single in the U.S. But, what I would like to point out, is that I think you are taking the words a little too literally. If one is to analyze the words to “Puppet Man”, with lyrics such as “Baby, baby, I’m your sweet pet”, it’s not exactly flattering to men; or, “Delilah” about a man killing his girlfriend with a knife because she’s been unfaithful; and of course, “Sexbomb”. Now, maybe you have a good point, but again, in my humble opinion, I just think you’re taking the literal words a bit too far. If it was like one of those rap songs that degrade women, use the “B” word, preach violence, etc. I would totally agree with you. BTW, let’s not also forget that Paul Anka also wrote some great songs, such as, “My Way” and “Papa”. Anyway, I hope you don’t take offense, as I don’t mean to offend.
February 1st, 2010 at 6:48 pm
I love the song, A Boy From Nowhere. I, surprisingling to some, would opt to exclude Green Green Grass of Home from his setlist. I’ve never liked that song.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:49 pm
I would take out “Mamma Told Me Not To Come.”
February 1st, 2010 at 8:15 pm
I would take out “You Can Leave Your Hat On”. I don’t think it shows off his voice and for me it’s become boring.
February 1st, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Stewart: Perhaps I should have tried to explain more clearly. I don’t have an issue with Delilah because it’s telling a story….a gruesome story, but it a story nonetheless. She’s A Lady expresses a philosophy that I find objectionable. And, I do like some of Paul Anka’s music — Diana, Put Your Head On My Shoulder, Puppy Love — all perfect expressions of teen love. My Way, too, is fine, but it was a translation of a French song. And, I don’t mind Too Many Lovers, but you are certainly entitled to dislike it. I’m not offended in the least but I was hoping at the outset we could all agree to disagree.
February 1st, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Love A Boy From Nowhere. Take out Too Many Lovers
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:51 am
I would also take out Thunderball. I have seen Tom perform in Luxembourg in October ’09 and for me Thunderball is the only song I wouldn’t really miss from the set list. (If I ever get lucky enough to see another show)
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:03 pm
My choice to be taken out would be “too many lovers” don’t like it very much after seeing the show. If I hadn’t seen the show I would say “Thunderball” I hate that song but Tom sang it amazing in Vegas I <3 it
can't just pick one lol
I would Love to hear "Boy From Nowhere" and I'm cheating on this and adding "I who have Nothing" as well
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:21 pm
I would take out “Too Many Lovers”. It would be such a treat to hear him sing “Boy From Nowhere” live.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:49 pm
My choice would be Thunderball. I have never seen Tom do it live, but I did see the clip of him perform the song for the Sean Connery tribute show. Maybe Tom was having an off night, but it just seemed to me as if he struggled at parts. I imagine that it is a difficult song to sing, but I think it is boring and not worth straining Tom’s voice to do it night after night.
February 4th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Audrey: You’re right. That AFI Connery tribute was an off-night. It is very well sung now. He should have gotten a do-over that evening.
February 5th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Please drop Mama told Me Not to Come. Tom is past the age to be worried about what his Mama said. The lyrics just aren’t right for him. I love my Matador CD and a Boy From Nowhere is one of my favorite.
February 7th, 2010 at 6:54 am
I haven’t heard him do “Too Many Lovers”. Ellen, could you please post a clip of it? THANKS!!! I would drop “Save the Last Dance for Me” ..young people think of this as a Michael Buble song even though it is probably older than he is.