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."
Do Ya Think Im Sexy?
Tom Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sugar
Mmm, oh
She sits alone waiting for suggestions
He's so nervous avoiding all her questions
His lips are dry, her heart is gently pounding
Don't you just know exactly what they're thinking?
If you want my body and you think I'm sexy
Come on, sugar, let me know
If you really need me, just reach out and touch me
Come on, honey, tell me so
He's acting shy, looking for an answer
Come on, honey, let's spend the night together
Now, hold on a minute before we go much further
Give me a dime so I can phone my mother
They catch a cab to his high-rise apartment
At last he can tell her exactly what his heart meant
If you want my body and you think I'm sexy
Come on, sugar, let me know
If you really need me, just reach out and touch me
Come on, honey, tell me so
His heart's beating like a drum
'Cause at last he's got his girl home
Relax, baby; now we are alone
They wake at dawn 'cause all the birds are singing
Two total strangers, but that ain't what they're thinking
Outside it's cold, misty, and it's raining
They got each other, neither one's complaining
He says, "I'm sorry, but I'm out of milk and coffee
Never mind, sugar, we can watch the early movie"
If you want my body and you think I'm sexy
Come on, sugar, let me know
If you really need me, just reach out and touch me
Come on, honey, tell me so
Tell me so, baby
The lyrics of Tom Jones's hit song "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" are about a man and a woman who are attracted to each other but are unsure if the feeling is mutual. The woman is waiting for the man to make the first move, while the man is nervous and unsure of how to proceed. The chorus of the song is a direct address from the man to the woman, asking if she thinks he's sexy and if she wants to pursue a physical relationship.
Throughout the song, there is a playful tension between the two characters as they circle around each other, trying to gauge the other's interest. The man's nervousness is highlighted in the lyrics, with his "dry lips" and "gently pounding" heart. The woman is more reserved, waiting for the man to make the first move. However, in the end, they end up together, spending the night and waking up next to each other in the morning.
One interpretation of the song could be that it is an expression of the sexual liberation of the 1970s. The idea that someone can be both attractive and confident in their sexuality is a theme that runs through many songs and cultural products of the era. In "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy," the direct question asked by the man to the woman reflects a newfound openness in talking about sex and desire.
Line by Line Meaning
She sits alone waiting for suggestions
The woman is waiting for the man to take initiative and make some moves
He's so nervous avoiding all her questions
The man is nervous and trying to avoid answering any questions the woman may ask
His lips are dry, her heart is gently pounding
Both of them are feeling nervous and excited at the same time
Don't you just know exactly what they're thinking?
It's obvious that they are both interested in each other and thinking about the possibility of being together
If you want my body and you think I'm sexy
The man is making it clear that he is open to the idea of being physically intimate with the woman
Come on, sugar, let me know
He encourages her to be honest and tell him if she is also interested
If you really need me, just reach out and touch me
He suggests that she can take the initiative and make the first move if she really wants him
Come on, honey, tell me so
He continues to encourage her to be honest and open with him
He's acting shy, looking for an answer
The man is feeling shy and waiting for a response from the woman
Come on, honey, let's spend the night together
He suggests that they spend the night together and take things to the next level
Now, hold on a minute before we go much further
He wants to slow down and make sure they are both comfortable with the situation
Give me a dime so I can phone my mother
This line is probably meant to be humorous, but it suggests that the man is trying to delay things further
They catch a cab to his high-rise apartment
They leave together and go to the man's apartment
At last he can tell her exactly what his heart meant
The man is finally able to express his feelings to the woman
His heart's beating like a drum
The man is feeling very excited and nervous
'Cause at last he's got his girl home
He is happy that they are together and alone
Relax, baby; now we are alone
He tries to make her feel comfortable and relaxed now that they are alone together
They wake at dawn 'cause all the birds are singing
They spend the night together and wake up in the morning
Two total strangers, but that ain't what they're thinking
Although they barely know each other, they are attracted to each other and enjoying the moment
Outside it's cold, misty, and it's raining
The weather is not very nice outside
They got each other, neither one's complaining
Despite the bad weather, they are happy to have each other's company
He says, "I'm sorry, but I'm out of milk and coffee
The man apologizes for not having some necessary items for breakfast
Never mind, sugar, we can watch the early movie"
The woman doesn't mind and they plan to spend more time together
Tell me so, baby
He repeats his encouragement for her to be honest with him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Rod Stewart, Duane Hitchings, Carmine Appice Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnreynavarro1891
better than original,the one and only sir tom jones.and the one and only versatile singer sing any form of popular music
@andyrooney12
Right on! Tom Jones is 3000 years old & he's still rocking it!
@AlexHernandez-yf5nx
Love the synth and the guitar blended together
@Deader87
Considering that this remix-album was released in 2005 I think really shows more or less how much of a throwback to the 70s the 2000s decade really was, sort of like there tends to be a strong 80s throwback in our current-decade.
@filmtress
I promise you he gets funkier as he gets older. Love the voice.
@yigitcetin1094
He sings very good ! I'm 18 years old but I always listens Tom Jones songs :D
@dydy207
oooo helllll yessss what a sooonggg oooo my gooodd :X:X:
@erikodufour
Soooooooooooooo cool,Wao!!!
@isadawson7355
SuperClasic!!!
@FlyingTigersKMT
He is just classic.