Tom Jones International

In an interview with writer Jon Bream in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Welsh pop tart Duffy discusses Sir Tom. At the age of 24 has she already learned to stir the publicity pot? We think so. What do you think?

If you haven’t heard Duffy, you can check her out at her official site.

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At the end of his story, Bream writes:

“She’d rather talk about someone a little closer to home — Welsh icon Sir Tom Jones.

“‘What does he mean to me? He means sex,” she said. “It was very liberating. That was a Welshman doing that in the days when people were quite well-behaved, for lack of a better word. He was kind of cool, you know, he was kind of a bit punk. The guy is still going. He’s still probably got the sex drive of a 21-year-old. He’s a great bloke.

“I”ve never, ever met him. But I’ve got a feeling that introduction is going to happen.’”

Let’s all agree from the start that Tom Jones shows are (probably) the favorite of everyone who regularly visits this site. But, let’s just say, you’re asked to name your favorite concerts by performers other than Sir Tom. That’s our question for July:

Other than Tom Jones, whose are the best concerts you’ve seen in person?

We’ll get you started with our answers:

Ursula cites (aside from Tom and in no particular order): The Rolling Stones, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, BB King, James Brown, The Rascals, The Beatles, Prince, Garth Brooks, Chris Isaaks, Lou Rawls, Coco Taylor and Earl Turner.

Ellen’s favorites are (aside from Tom and in no particular order): Elvis, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ruth Brown, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Suffocation (early Streisand and early Suffocation), Prince, Jimmy Buffett, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, The Oak Ridge Boys, Fats Domino and early Jerry Lee Lewis.

Tom’s birthday is, as all fans surely know, next Saturday, June 7. And we hope he’ll be toasted with lots of his favorite beverage, Dom Perignon.

Having said that, our June Question of the Month is: What is your birthday wish for Sir Tom?

And please check back on June 7 to see how we hope you will join us in paying tribute to Sir Tom by helping some children in need.

As most of us know, Tom’s three-song encore is now Resurrection Shuffle, I Like the Way and Kiss.

Our question is: If he were to change his encore, what should he change? All of the songs? Only one or two? Or do you think the encore should stay as is? And if he should change his music, what should he sing instead?

So, please give us three songs — only three songs! — and, if you wish, an explanation of your choices. Of course, you can leave in any of the songs Tom sings now. The songs you name do not have to be songs Tom has sung before.

If you are a regular visitor to this site, it’s a good guess that Tom Jones is your favorite male singer; maybe your favorite of either gender. But this month we’d like to know:

Who is your favorite female singer?

In advertising, a “tag line” is a slogan or a catchphrase identified with a product of individual. For example, AmEx says, “Don’t leave home without it.” Las Vegas has “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” The Yellow Pages advise us to “Let your fingers do the walking” and the the dairy industry asks simply, “Got milk?”

Last week, working with some of our clients — a group of entertainers — we were asked to come up with a tag line for their new ads. Of all the choices proposed*, the line we liked best was:

“The one-night stand you’ll remember forever.”

It is short, memorable (and easy to remember) and totally unsuitable for our group, but we of course thought of one entertainer for whom it is perfect.

So, our question of the month is:

If you had to write a tag line — a slogan — for Sir Tom, what would it be?

*Thanks to Jeanette, via Patricia.

Because this is the official month of romance — what with Valentine’s Day and all — we’d like to know:

What is the one (1) single, love song you’d like to hear Tom sing?

It can be one he’s recorded and/or performed, or one he hasn’t. Doesn’t matter. Just tell us one, please.

And, if you believe your one song requires an explanation of why you chose it, please let us know that, too.

We know choosing just one song is difficult, but it’s a fun challenge. So, please, let’s try to keep it to one song — one response — per person.

We know y’all have been busy so, if you’ve not had a chance to visit TJI.com in the last several days, please take a moment to scroll down and see if you’ve missed any posts. Then, please answer our January 2008 Question of the Month. Have a great year!

We have a staff of crack researchers and would like to put their skills at your disposal. Toward that end, the question is:

Is there some information about Tom’s career or professional life you’d like to know and haven’t been able to find out?

Perhaps it’s a special date or an album track or…..well…whatever it is, let us know and we’ll try to answer your question.

(And be sure to check the post below for more video from Romania on New Year’s Eve.)

Happy December everyone! We wish you a grand holiday season and are planning to have your calendars in your hands by Christmas. (November seemed to have gotten away from us and, for the first time, we didn’t post a question. But, here we are on time this month.)

In keeping with the spirit of the season, our question is: What would you give Tom as a gift?

Please! Please! Try to be original and dispense with the usual and obvious thoughts many fans have. We believe that those thoughts are best kept private. Thanks!

We have mixed feelings about this question, but the past few months have prompted it.

From the time Tom was in Atlantic City in August through Tom’s appearance in Stockton on September 28, there’s been a great deal of dissension, hurt and anger caused by fans’ interaction with other fans. We suppose one should try to be understanding and approach fans with the knowledge that “fan” is short for “fanatic.” If you’re reading (or have written) this, it’s good to remember that there’s probably a good reason the word is used for admirers of a singer, actor or sports team.

Anyway the nastiness, lies and back-stabbing between fans can get to be too much. That fans are jealous of one another is not news. But the fact that you can get thrown off a message board for saying something nice about the wrong person, or mentioning the wrong website, is outrageous. It’s outrageous that another site moderator would send the nasty email we were sent when we announced our calendars. This has happened for years and you see it everywhere. It’s all just a big bowlful of wrong.

We’re not being sanctimonious about this. So many of us have been embroiled in this kind of thing and, in honesty, sometimes it’s deserved. But most often it’s not deserved. Such nastiness can be painful and drain one’s energy from things in life that are really important. It can ruin a trip to see Tom or the online experience of talking to fans.

Of course — on the bright side — some of the things that happen between fans or that fans do in the context of their idol are funny.

Naturally, we want to believe the friends we make through being Tom Jones fans are true friends. Sadly we may discover they are not and will step all over another person, lie and then swear to it, just to gain what they believe is an advantage or to get closer to Tom.

So, our question of the month: Without naming names, tell us your most outrageous fan experience — either something personal that happened to you or something you observed or heard about; funny or not.

Keeping in mind another question we posted in the last few months, we want to visit the subject again. And, soon, there will be a follow-up to this.