82-Year-Old Tom Jones Nabs Spotlight On ‘The Voice’ As Out Of The Blue He Belts Out ‘It’s Not Unusual’

Nov 08, 2020 by apost team

Tom Jones may have logged a few miles, but the old workhorse still has a few tricks left in him.

The 80-year-old performer proved it with an unforgettable appearance on The Voice UK in 2018, where he belted out a reprise of his most recognizable tune, It's Not Unusual.

Tom Jones, whose full name is Thomas Jones Woodward, was born on June 7, 1940, in South Wales. 

When he was still a young star in the making, his manager suggested shortening his name to capitalize on the popularity of the 1963 film, which starred Albert Finney in the title role.

Though Jones started singing from a very young age, his passion for music intensified following a bout with tuberculosis when he was 12. During his illness and recovery, he was unable to do much besides listen to music and draw. Taking his cue from American soul singers like Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, Jones rose to stardom with the 1965 release of It's Not Unusual.

He's since released an array of songs to steal our hearts, including classics like What's New Pussycat and Sex Bomb. 

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The Voice UK premiered in March 2012. A talent contest similar to Star Search and American Idol, the program enlists the aid of four judges to critique and evaluate the contestants and their performances. Since its inception, the show has crowned a series of winners who have gone on to sign recording contracts with Polydor Records.

Jones was supposed to be acting as a judge on the program, whose aim is to discover and showcase new talent. However, when a legendary singer appears on a show that revolves around singing, it's only natural to expect them to throw the fans a bone. In fact, one might even go so far as to say that it's not unusual at all.

And that's exactly what Jones said. Everyone who's ever been tagged by this particular earworm is familiar with the lyrics: "It's not unusual to be loved by anyone; it's not unusual to have fun with anyone."

 However, not everyone has had the pleasure of watching the original performer bring them forth with such gusto.

The song might be a bit long in the tooth, but neither Jones nor the audience allowed that to dampen their enthusiasm. Although coach Olly Murs prompted the brief concert by singing the first few words, the crowd quickly responded with a flurry of clapping and chanting. 

Eventually, the show's band kicked in with the unmistakable initial bars of It's Not Unusual. Jones, who had initially responded to the nudge with brief humility, was finally coaxed into adding his own voice to the mix.

The performance began with a mellow enough vibe but quickly rose to a crescendo as Jones got to his feet. The singer clapped along with the crowd and with the band, creating a wholesome and fun atmosphere.

Fans who remember the star's memorable 1968 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show would easily recognize the energy and joie de vivre that he brought to the song—qualities that the intervening decades have not erased.

To cap it all off, Jones finished the tune with a couple of dance moves that would put many younger performers to shame—a flourish that wasn't lost on the members of the crowd, who howled and whistled in appreciation.

The audience may have been thrilled with the exhibition, but co-host Jennifer Hudson was no less impressed. When the band got into the swing of things, she responded with a look that suggested she couldn't believe what she was witnessing. That shock melted into pure joy and awe by the time Jones got to his feet.

Just seconds later, as the song drew to a close, Murs rose and began bowing to Jones like a subject hailing his monarch. It was a moment of harmony to rival anything that the soundtrack had to offer.

Some performers grow weary of the bits that made them famous. Others can embrace them—and perhaps create a little something new while they're at it. During this appearance on The View UK, Tom Jones proved that he's a proud member of the latter camp.

Did you watch the clip of Tom Jones rolling out his signature hit on The View? If so, what did you think about the performance and our recap of it? Let us know!