He rose to fame in the mid-1960s, with an exuberant live act which included wearing tight breeches and billowing shirts, in an Edwardian style popular amongst his peers at the time. He was known for his overt sexuality, before this was as common as it became in subsequent years.
In 1963 he became the frontman for Tommy Scott and the Senators, a local beat group. Clad all in black leather, Tom soon gained a reputation in the South Wales area. The Senators were still all unheard of in London.
In 1964 they laid down a few tracks with maverick Telstar producer Joe Meek, and took them to various labels in an attempt to get a record deal. The plan was to release a single, Lonely Joe / I Was A Fool, but the ever-flighty Meek refused to release the tapes. The group returned to South Wales and continued to play gigs at dance halls and working mens clubs. One night, at the Top Hat in Cwmtillery, Tom was spotted by Gordon Mills, a London-based manager originally from South Wales. Mills became Tom's manager, and took the young singer to London. He also renamed him Tom Jones. The Senators became the Playboys, and later still the Squires.
Jones was awarded the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for 1965. It's Not Unusual, after the song having first been offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded what was intended to be a demo for Shaw, but when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones' delivery that she declined the song and recommended that Jones release it himself. The record was the second Decca single Jones released, reaching number one in the UK charts in 1965. It was also the first hit for Jones in the US, peaking at #10 in May of that year. The single was released in the US on the Parrot label and also reached #3 on Billboard's easy listening chart. Jones used this song as the theme for his late 1960s-early 1970s musical variety series This Is Tom Jones. It has since become Jones' signature song.
In 1965 Tom sang the theme tune to the James Bond film Thunderball.
Jones' recording career slumped on the pop charts during the 1970s and 80s, although he placed 16 singles on the Billboard Country Music charts between 1976 and 1985, the biggest of which was "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" (# 1 Country, # 15 pop) in 1977, and his touring continued successfully. When his son Mark became his manager in 1987, his musical style was taken in a different direction. His recording career was revived with his first major hit single in over a decade, "A Boy From Nowhere", taken from the musical Matador. In 1988 he collaborated with The Art of Noise to record Prince's popular song "Kiss". Following this, he started to record in collaboration with a younger generation of musicians
His Reload album, released in 2000, became the biggest hit of his career. An album of cover versions recorded as duets with contemporary artists, using their record producers, and utilising their recording methods, it reached number one in the United Kingdom, and sold over 4 million copies worldwide.[1] In 2002, he released the album Mr. Jones, which was produced by Wyclef Jean and included the singles "Tom Jones International" and "Black Betty". In 2003, he was honored with a BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004, his "Sex Bomb" single became a major club hit.
On New Year's Eve 2000 President Bill Clinton invited Tom to perform at the Millennium Celebrations in Washington. Throughout 2000, Tom garnered several honours for his work, including a Brit Award for Best Male. In 2001 Tom toured throughout the Middle East and Europe. In subsequent years Tom recorded albums in collaboration with such artists as Wyclef Jean and Jools Holland.
In celebration of his 65th birthday, on 28 May 2005 Tom returned to his homeland to perform a spectacular concert in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd. This was Tom's first performance in Ponty since 1964.
For his contribution to the recording industry, Tom Jones has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6608 Hollywood Blvd.
In 2005 the album Together In Concert, was recorded live with John Farnham and his band.
He has collaborated with Chicane for "Stoned in Love", a dance track that was released 24 April 2006. It entered at number eight in the UK charts the following Sunday.
In 2007, he signed to New York-based independent label S-Curve, owned by music executive Steve Greenberg.
The singer was awarded an OBE in 1999 and a Knight Bachelor in the 2006 New Years Honours list for his services to music and was subsequently knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, London on 29 March 2006.[7]
On 1 July 2007, Jones was one of the invited artists who performed at Wembley Stadium at the Concert for Diana, joined on stage by guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith and British soul singer Joss Stone. He sang the British National Anthem before Ricky Hatton's fight against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas on 8 December 2007. On 19 April 2008 he sang the Welsh National Anthem at the Calzaghe-Hopkins fight in Las Vegas.
Although his manager and public relations staff have attempted to change his sex-bomb image and neutralize the knicker-throwing fans, to the delight of his audiences Jones has never felt the need to tone down his behavior in the shows. Tom Jones has remained highly respected by other singers and continues to attract audiences of all ages. As of 2008, Jones continues to tour and record. A major portion of the year he regularly performs his show at the MGM Grand hotel, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, USA. His show at the MGM is performed in a cabaret-style theater. Other venues on his yearly schedule include numerous shows at Atlantic City, NJ and appearances in the USA, United Kingdom and Canada. In February 2007, Jones made a long-awaited South American tour.
On 17 September 2008, Jones announced the release of his retro-tinged album "24 Hours" on S-Curve Records, his first for 15 years in the US; notably, this is the first record in which he's had a direct song-writing input. It was produced largely by drum'n'bass stalwarts Future Cut.
"It's all very well just singing songs," says Jones, "but for this record I really wanted to get properly personal. I've been getting reflective recently, looking over my journey through life, and I wanted to get that down on song. This time I wanted to make something that was all about me, my stories, my life. In other words, you listen to this album and you get the real me."
As time goes by
Tom Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by
And when two lovers woo
They still say I love you
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by
Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny
It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by
It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
Hah...as time goes by
The lyrics to Tom Jones's song As Time Goes By are a poignant and timeless reminder that certain things in life remain steadfast and true, even as the years go by. The first verse refers to the timeless nature of young love, suggesting that despite the changing world, the fundamentals of attraction and affection still hold true. A kiss still has powerful meaning, and a sigh is still a way of expressing emotion. These gestures may seem old-fashioned in the modern world, but they still resonate with us today, reminding us of the enduring nature of human connection.
In the second verse, the lyrics suggest that love remains constant even as we grow older. Two lovers still say "I love you", even after years together, providing a sense of comfort and stability in a world that is ever-changing. The third verse speaks to the enduring nature of love songs and the idea that love is an emotion that transcends time. The final verse suggests that love is both a fight and a celebration, and that the world will always welcome lovers, even as time marches on.
Overall, Tom Jones's song As Time Goes By is a poignant and moving reminder that love is a constant force in a world that is full of change and uncertainty. The lyrics are beautifully written and the song itself is a testament to the enduring nature of love.
Line by Line Meaning
You must remember this
It is important to remember the following
A kiss is still a kiss
Despite changes in society, a kiss remains a symbol of affection
A sigh is just a sigh
A sigh is a universal expression of a feeling, whether it's longing, sadness, or contentment
The fundamental things apply
The basic principles of love and relationships haven't changed over time
As time goes by
Even as time passes and society changes, these fundamental things still apply
And when two lovers woo
When two people are in love and courting each other
They still say I love you
Expressing love for one another is a timeless act
On that you can rely
This is something you can count on happening
No matter what the future brings
Regardless of what happens in the future
Moonlight and love songs
Romantic music and settings are never out of style
Never out of date
Timeless, always relevant
Hearts full of passion, jealousy and hate
Love is a complex emotion that includes positive and negative feelings
Woman needs man
Women have a natural desire for companionship with men
And man must have his mate
Men also have a natural desire for companionship
That no one can deny
It is a fact that cannot be ignored
It's still the same old story
The story of love and relationships remains unchanged
A fight for love and glory
The pursuit of love is often challenging and requires effort
A case of do or die
It's a matter of survival, making it work or facing failure
The world will always welcome lovers
Love is always appreciated and celebrated
Hah...as time goes by
A lighthearted acknowledgement that despite it all, time continues to move forward
Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Herman Hupfeld
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind