T
The Welsh entertainer known as the “voice from the valleys” has evolved over the past 15 years, leaving behind his flashy, Vegas-style performances and provocative jokes that once had women throwing their underwear at him. Instead, he has transformed into a wise and soulful elder statesman, singing about maturity and the inevitability of death. He opens his performance with Bobby Cole’s honest and raw “I’m Growing Old,” to which someone in the audience responds with a lighthearted denial. Even when a woman throws her underwear during Bob Dylan’s melancholic “One More Cup of Coffee,” the singer remains unfazed and continues singing flawlessly as they sadly land in the orchestra pit.
At 83 years old, he exclaims, “I can’t believe it!” and is noticeably less agile, but his deep, resonant baritone is just as impressive as ever. He performs with a smile on his face and appears genuinely excited by the audience’s loud cheers and enthusiastic “whoa whoa whoa”s, indicating that he still loves performing and is savoring every moment on stage.
The selection of songs covers six decades of music. His popular songs from the 1960s and 90s have been completely transformed. “It’s Not Unusual” has been turned into a bossa nova tune with the addition of accordions and congas. “Sex Bomb” starts off as a slow blues number. He delivers a powerful and emotional rendition of “Green, Green Grass of Home” that gives the song a new and profound meaning. The hymn-like version sounds like a reflection at the end of a journey.
The songs from his latest album, Surrounded By Time, which reached number 1 in 2021, are prominently showcased. It is refreshing to see an established artist’s arena show include unexpected elements such as the psychedelic monologues “Lazarus Man” and “Talking Reality Television Blues.” The latter was performed with rapid-fire imagery from significant events throughout the decades, including JFK, Trump, and the moon landing.
The performance lasted nearly two hours and the crowd enthusiastically stood for songs like Delilah, You Can Leave Your Hat On, Kiss (a cover of Prince’s song), a lively One Hell of a Life, and a festive Run Rudolph Run. A fan shouts out: “You’re still amazing, Tom!” The Welsh singer responds with a mischievous smile and jokes: “I intend to keep it that way.”
Source: theguardian.com
