How many 71-year-old men have women throwing knickers at them?
Only one man I know can manage it – the sex bomb from the valleys, Tom Jones, who despite his advancing years, can still perform an amazingly energetic sell-out show.
I was among the 30,000 crowd at Newmarket race night where we were told it had taken seven years to book him for a reputed £60,000 fee – not bad for a night’s work!
I’m sure the thrusting Welsh septuagenarian doesn’t need to sing for his supper, but hey, if you have the choice of adoring fans waving their underwear at you – many nubile and young enough to be your granddaughter – or an allotment retirement, then there is really no choice.
Boyo certainly still has the most powerful voice, and his old favourites, Delilah, The Green, Green Grass of Home and It’s Not Unusual, sent us all into a frenzy – me included.
I was close enough to make eye contact with him and see the twinkle in his eyes, but not close enough to feel his breath as he belted out his hits.
However, his pelvic thrusts were disappointingly nowhere near as wild as his young days, and his trademark slashed open neck shirt with full hairy chest was replaced with a black poloneck jumper, even though it was a warm summer’s night; I hope he didn’t wear a vest underneath!
It was worth the seven year wait, but I just wish that Newmarket race nights hadn’t packed so many people in, it was very claustrophophic. I saw two people collapse, you could barely move. I heard a few say they would never go again because this made it such an unpleasant experience. I met up with friends there and we went off and did our own thing and it was impossible to meet up later due to the surging crowd. Still, I felt it was worth it for the fun of it. I really love the July Racecourse and the people watching; so many women in extraordinary outfits, as well as a car park full of limos, and the odd private jet too.
As Tom would say, What’s New Pussycat? ……
Sounds like a fantastic evening. I’d love to see Tom jones and am glad you had a good time, Ellee 🙂 It’s sad the organisers spoil it by packing so many in though. Perhaps they couldn’t get him for 2 nights?
Pip, who knows, I’m sure they could have sold enough tickets for 2 nights. You would have loved it 🙂
I agree it is a shame that they feel the need to pack so many customers in. Having been to two Newmarket Nights concerts one in 2009 and one in 2010 and had problems both times we’ve decided to not go again. It is a shame because they have some great artists there, it’s just the organisation that leaves a lot to be desired.
Glad you had a good time anyway, Tom is marvelous for a bloke of 71.
Your opening sentence had me laughing so hard! I was privileged to snap up a leftover front row ticket to see Tom at the MGM Grand in one of those showroom horse shoe style seats with four guys from Wales in their 20’s and 30’s. They loved my “accent” and said they had to see what all the commotion was that their mothers made as they were growing up. It was a 90 minute show and Tom’s voice remains amazing! I know he was a good friend of Elvis Presley and each admired the other’s talents. When CBS TV “60 Minutes” last profiled Tom, he was on the road 200 days a year. He is a Legend!