FIRST TIME hearing Tom Jones "Delilah" on The Ed Sullivan Show | Opera Singer Reacts

[@maggiereneemusic]

Who should I react to next: www.maggierenee.com/book-me/sponsor-a-reaction-live What should I sing next: www.maggierenee.com/book-me/sponsor-a-song-live And just for you: ‘Sing Better Instantly" my FREE Singing Course: skl.sh/3aHdSuy and for EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS AND PERKS: www.patreon.com/MaggieRenee

[@Eyes-of-Horus]

He did say in an interview that his voice teacher wanted him to sing opera and he told her he didn't want to sing opera.

[@davidneel8327]

How about Dame Shirley Bassey. Unless you have already reacted.

[@johnniearnold8476]

Doris Day and Andre Previn Jazz album for some class

[@garth1962]

Same here

[@pmculley4]

Not classically trained but he is from Wales where singing is practically compulsory! He can sing rock and roll, blues, ballads and more. Still going strong he was 83 this week! He is wonderful live.

[@keithygadget381]

There’s an old saying about the Welsh and singing. You get one Welshman, add a second, add a third and you’ve got a choir.

[@JudiDi]

I was thinking the same thing but more simply … He’s from Wales. They are born to sing!

[@pete_lind]

He was in school choir , so he has training before his TBC diagnosis at age 12 , that took few years to recover from . And i bet that school choir leader in late 1940s early 1950s was classically trained , who ever that teacher was .

[@BobSoltis1]

@@pete_lind Please cite the sources you have for claiming that Tom Jones sang in his school choir and received "training" while in that choir. Also, please detail the teacher's qualifications to teach classical singing. Or, are you just making a huge bunch of assumptions?

[@pete_lind]

@@BobSoltis1 It is in his bio , or do you claim Tom Jones lied and in 1950 , teachers had to have qualifications even to be hired , in Europe teachers still need to be qualified. To work as a school teacher in a state-maintained school in England or Wales , you must have a degree and achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) by completing a period of initial teacher training .

[@Miss_Beehaven]

Sir Tom was not classically trained, he started out singing in working men clubs etc. He is still touring today & still smashes it. Sir Tom could sing a telephone directory & sound fab x x

[@robbroome5933]

My grandfather was the chairman at one of those workingmens clubs and hired his band...he wasn't a fan....but I think Tom got over his rejection eventually! 😂

[@pete_lind]

He started singing in school choir before age 10 , at age 12 diagnosed with TBC and that took years to recover from .

[@beragis3]

@@pete_lind Wow the fact that he recovered from tuberculosis and can sing that powerfully is amazing.

[@ladylisaromance8129]

He's in his 80s still performing and his voice is still amazing. It’s honestly unreal how good he still sounds.

[@thepoliticalhousethatjackbuilt]

Tom Jones is Welsh, and in Wales the male voice choir (two tenor sections and one baritone and one bass section) is a corner stone of the Welsh cultural tradition. The harmonised singing of songs from musical theater, national airs and hymns are embedded in the Welsh cultural tradition of working men from the Coal mines, Quarries and Steel mills of South Wales and the young Tom was brought up in this tradition, being taught to sing in the Welsh tradition by his family and in the school choir.

[@micheledonahoe8092]

No one will Ever sing like Tom Jones. He was one of the Greatest singers of all time. This is one of my favorite songs.

[@frankk8018]

Tom Jones has a voice like no other. I am glad you found this. Cheers

[@rparret]

This was a great song and great showcase for Tom Jones’ voice and style.

[@janettesinclair6279]

I remember Tom Jones singing this song back in the day. He was often on popular TV shows. And he is still singing.

[@richarddancer-w8c]

Richards Dancer Too bad he can't move his hips like used to, otherwise he could add to the 1000s of groupies he slept with😈

[@robertsnare1411]

Note how far from his mouth he holds the mic, unlike modern singers that have it almost on their lips, that’s because his voice was so powerful he used to break them!

[@RRover5.0]

Tom was classically trained in the Welsh mining technique, as Elvis was trained in the driving a truck for an electric company technique. Those men were, are, the few natural talents in a lifetime of singers to come along like a comet passing us by and then gone. Tom is still with us and still sounds great.

[@mariosgreek9707]

Soooo true 👍

[@Sirala6]

THAT'S SO GREAT!!! A+ F'ing !!!

[@steelers6titles]

The two were good friends. When he was planning his return to live performing, Elvis studied Tom.

[@valerywillis6653]

Wales is a country famous for its wonderful singers. Famous too for its Male Voice Choirs..Treorchy for one!! Tom also has the gift of perfect pitch. The wonderful opera singer competition is held in the Welsh Capital every 2 years..Cardiff Singer of the World.

[@missinformed9550]

Tom Jones sang in a Welsh male voice choir before embarking on a singing career. Music is very important to the Welsh and most everyone grows up singing in school, often competing. I grew up in Wales and my next door neighbor trained opera singers. Music is everywhere in Wales. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@mitzifrancis9843]

He learned to perform in places where if you don't deliver the "audience" smashes pints of beer over your head

[@lisaerickson6533]

I'm left a quivering mass whenever I hear this powerhouse sing. It is almost beyond human.

[@denniseldridge2936]

Wow, this is amazing. Before even starting this video, I've got to say that this was one of the very first singles I was handed down from my much older half sister, when I was six or seven in 1971. I was and am still mainly a hard rock guy, but I did like playing this record back then lol

[@danhollifield]

Tom is also a hero-character in the movie "Mars Attacks." But he was on the radio when I was a child, and even back then everyone was impressed with his singing ability. If I may suggest, you'd probably also like the band Procol Harum, and delight in comparing their sound from the 1960 to their recent live concert in Denmark in 2006. I think you'd love the entire concert, but most especially the songs "Whiter Shade Of Pale" and "Conquistador." --Dan

[@johnpricejoseca1705]

Your resonance with this song is fun to see. Your comment on his opera-like voice is interesting. If this was sung in Italian, it could have been from one of those violent operas with family violence. Thanks!

[@gavinsmith9016]

One of my earliest music memories. Fabulous.

[@fifi23o5]

Delilah was my first favourite song! In was just a kid, some four years old, from some strange country, didn't actually speak any English then, but this was my favourite song. Ounts and uncle say I was singing it non stop.

[@otakubancho6655]

His previous job was as a coal miner in Wales,singing is what got him out of the mines,and the world is better for it!❤❤❤

[@Sometimes-even-lyrical]

I do need to set the record straight. Tom was never a coal miner. His dad worked in the mines, but not Tom. Tom couldn't go to work in the mines, because he had tuberculosis as a pre-teen. He had to stay in isolation in his home for two years until he recovered around the age of 12. The doctors had warned his parents that they must never let Tommy go to work in the mines like many boys in their hometown. They were concerned because of what Tom's lungs had gone through with the TB. Even if there weren't a lot of other work opportunities than mining, being that was the main industry in that part of Wales. Thankfully, it wasn't Tom's fate. Tom married very young (just 17) and then with a wife and new baby to look after, he worked hard to support his family, taking what work he could get. He worked several kinds of jobs, including bricklaying, other construction, cutting leather in a glove factory, and even selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door to help make their ends meet. Those were weekday jobs. But on evenings and weekends Tom sang in the local pubs and workingmen's clubs as a start in pursuing his real dream to sing and entertain professionally. Tom had always loved to sing, even as a child, and knew he had a gift from God. Contracting tuberculosis actually spared him from working in the mines. The second blessing that followed his two long years of his convalescence, was that his lungs not only recovered, but were restored with such incredible power! The story continued with a chance meeting with Gordon Mills hearing Tom sing in one of those pubs. Gordon became his manager and promoter, convinced him to go to London, wrote the song that became Tom's first hit... and Tom was on his way on the path to stardom.

[@jennyhenningham4100]

Not just an operatic style; the lyrics of song are, in effect, the plot for an opera.

[@beragis3]

Great reaction. Tom Jones was one of my mother's favorite singers when I grew up, and I if he was on TV she would watch it, I know she watched the TV show but I was only 3 years old when it ended so I don't recall it. My first recollection was probably around 5 or 6 in the early 70's. As a kid I wasn't too much into that style of music, Delilah was one song I do remember, thanks likely to the mariachi style. In fact when I first heard it drove my parents crazy singing "Why, why, why Delilah," over and over for months driving, although I definitely didn't know the meaning. Another song about the same time that I sang over and over Ito Eats from Blue Hawaii, which had a similar bouncy style.

[@sophiapangloss2149]

Tom Jones is one of the greatest British singers of the 20th century, and still going, combining those incredible vocal talents with all that sexiness and a gigantic sense of humour. He's a god.

[@gerrylopez5743]

You don’t have to be classically trained to trust what you hear and see. If it sounds great, it is. No one has to tell you. You’re dad wrote that song? Fantastic!!

[@steelers6titles]

Tom and Elvis were good buds. In planning his return to live performing, Elvis studied Tom, who was already established in Las Vegas.

[@larrygarrett724]

My Aunt Beverly was crazy about him. She was so happy to tell she went to his show in the front row and she added......that isn't a sock in his pants, either! We all cracked up. My mother was mortufied! LOL

[@michaelbrandt5416]

I was fortunate to have parents that tuned into music like this and basically embraced most genres. I love everything that Tom Jones recorded...well. almost, as I prefer the older stuff 1964 - 75 period. I would recommend "Without Love" as it is another tune where Tom hit those high notes.

[@carokay1811]

In an interview he said as a young man he trained with an opera singer so he's had at least some opera training

[@lusifer8]

This one goes in the 'way back machine'

[@thomasripley1548]

Love the Walein Welshman.....

[@peterbackhouse8650]

Wales is the spiritual home of the male voice choir.

[@br529]

Don't you just love when they stop the song ever few seconds. To tell you what just happened

[@dondecaire6534]

You need to listen to I'lI Never Fall In Love Again. Masterpiece.

[@wpollock1]

The Ed Sullivan Show was the mainstream variety show in America back then....there were three main channels back in that day (ABC, NBC, CBS). Even with cable today, what variety show is there out there that would have top music acts every week? MTV is not in play today.....so where on cable is this level of support for artists? You know the answer.

[@purgedome2386]

Hehe.. there was an 'operatic influence' at the time that was in musicals/movies and opera. He did influence a young Elvis at the time but no linking him to Tom Jones except that Elvis did influence Tom(and good friend). The singer goes by the name of Mario Lanza. A voice you might have heard already.. or not.. since he passed away in 1959. Died very young at the age of 39. He would be a very interesting figure for you to cover. You can say he started the 'opera' singer singing mainstream songs pretty much like what Pavarotti did (with his Friends albums) but through musicals(at first behind the scene as a voice). Pav and Domingo were fans of Lanza. Listen to a very young Tom(never fall in love) live 1967 version. :D

[@jeremiahrose4681]

Tom Jones could sing that's for sure.

[@susansundaram6737]

He still in his 80's can deliver a song.

[@Aethyrs]

he is welsh all can sing like that in the pubs

[@-Heavy-]

I would like to draw attention to the band Nevermore!It's a very underrated progressive Metal band with one of the best guitarists of the world (Jeff Loomis,who also did most of the lyrics and plays now with Arch Enemy since Nevermore split up) and an amazing singer (Warrel Dane who sadly died a few years ago)! Composition,lyrics,musicianship,storytelling...all outstandingly good. I'm sure you as a music lover would totaly enjoy it! I'm almost 50 now and a metalhead since I was 12,so I know what I'm talking about when it comes to metal! And Nevermore are one of the best bands I have ever heared! I would love to see you giving them a try, even if it's not the most known band out there!But their nickname 'the best band you've never heared from' comes not from nothing!Cause thats always what people say who listen to them the first time... 'This Godless Endeavor' or 'Sentient 6' would be great to react and analyze! Both masterpieces!

[@danp.2510]

Perhaps the greatest murder song ever sung.

[@EmyrRees-n6j]

Wales is known as the land of song.

[@BringItMAGA]

Tom Jones. Meow.

[@LordFlashheart.11]

Please take a moment for tgat backing band! Wow!! Tom's talent is all natural, not trained.

[@doughill2616]

We need more Ren Maggie

[@Sometimes-even-lyrical]

Noooo.

[@charlieismydarlin7199]

I prefer the Sensational Alex Harvey Band live version! Now that's entertainment 😀

[@hazelpickard6821]

Hes in his 80s now and his voice is still the same....shirley bassey is from wales also in her 80s and still has the same great voice

[@Liza_blackVelvet]

He's a Welsh boy. They all know how to sing. He was a miner before fame. Try ill never fall in love again. Or green green grass of home

[@crossloanstudio]

For balance you should move to the dark side and listen to Delilah by the Scottish band, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, it's much scarier!!!!

[@adamlancaster77]

Go on the welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 welsh are known for singing

[@meoldfartus]

The Righteous brothers singing You'll Never Walk Alone on the Ed Sullivan show

[@bandini22221]

I hate it when people read the lyrics ahead of time. It takes all the magic out.

[@paulmetro3004]

i never knew the song was about killing a woman

[@parkermills3328]

I'll Never Fall In Love........the live version is a stunner.

[@paulavasko4633]

YES! Review this song please! Remember the year, too! He sounds this fabulous live, without any of the equipment used today!

[@HilaryB.]

Yes, definitely!

[@axepagode33626]

This man caused problems in my parent's marriage back in the seventies. Mom would lose her mind when he appeared on television. Dad was not happy. It was hilarious. They would go back and forth. Dad would act up whenever Lola Falana appeared on a TV show. We only had three analog stations and it was before cable.

[@JoeandAngie]

Are you my brother??!! Same at my house, but mom was the eye-roller and dad would just scoff at Tom Jones's leather pants . If Lola Falana came on...everything stopped lol

[@axepagode33626]

@@JoeandAngie Possibly. How many other brothers do you have?

[@JoeandAngie]

@@axepagode33626 had 2...lost one at 16 in 74 and other (his twin) in 83. I shoulda been quiet ...I'll claim you.

[@stevevalkos6308]

my dad loved Lola too.....she had lots of admirers, probably still does - one of those timeless beauties

[@janagebhardt4560]

David here....sorry Jana.....Operatically trained?? No, no, not at all.......he's just Welsh.

[@janagebhardt4560]

Oh OH....I forgot.... Welsh baritone leader of the regimental singers in the movie "Zulu"....also Michael Caine's film debut. Welsh body guard of Hugh-the-Prime-Minister-Grant in "Love Actually" singing "Good King Wenceschaouies"

[@trixiebella]

I remember as a very little girl my grandmother and mother going on and on about Tom Jones. Now I can appreciate his talent! But boy they LOVED him LOL. Great job Maggie!

[@danwilliams5867]

the man had so many panties and bras thrown at him it was scary

[@richarddancer-w8c]

It's estimated that 250 a year also threw the panties' contents at him👹

[@deoncruywagen5191]

I remember hearing that studios were warned not to place microphones too close to him when he recorded, because he would blow microphones with the strength of his voice. 😵

[@johnnygthedj]

83 years old and still killing it

[@MikeHeavin]

You might want to check out his "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," also performed on the Ed Sullivan show.

[@Sometimes-even-lyrical]

That was not one of his Ed Sullivan appearances. Tom did "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" on The Dusty Springfield Show. It was in 1967, and he sang several times in that show's episode, a separate solo and a fun duet of "Baby, Baby, Baby" with Dusty. The set is exactly the same.

[@alfching2499]

@@Sometimes-even-lyrical You need to hear him do You’ll Never Walk Alone on one of he’s own This Is Tom Jones Shows

[@rwd76]

Many years ago I saw Tom and Pavarotti sing this live. Absolutely brilliant.

[@JoeandAngie]

Ck out Pavarotti and James Brown doing Man's World!

[@malcshone4409]

No training, just a God given voice. Still awesome now. Legend.

[@jonlight670]

Saw him 10 years ago and he was amazing! Classical trained - no he’s Welsh, it’s in their blood!

[@andrewaronofsky8184]

One of the best power ballad singers of all time. His range is amazing! Please listen to his 1967 version of Ill never fall in love again, and his version of I who have nothing which he sang on his TV show

[@paulavasko4633]

The same two songs that I was going to suggest! Please review both of these! You will not be disappointed!

[@jameskim3301]

It’s his fervor and intensity that carried him through out his career nothing to do operatic approach. In fact I heard while recording the Thunderball 007 theme song he fainted trying to hold the last high note. I was at his live concert long time ago and yes there were some panties thrown at him. You don’t get that on the opera stage.

[@Carbonnothingbutcarbon]

He's in his 80s now and I believe is still on tour and still sounding good. He had no formal training but he sings his ass off nonetheless.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

No, he had no classical voice training. However he did have classical training in finger snapping.

[@Sometimes-even-lyrical]

😅

[@paulineevans1126]

😂🤣

[@mikenolan8044]

Thanks! Brad and I cooperated on the whole 3 song Tom Jones set. Jones was married to his High School sweetheart for 59 years until her death in 2016. That is a good guy. 🌸

[@maggiereneemusic]

👍🤗🙏💗🎵

[@richarddancer-w8c]

and it's estimated he slept with 250 groupies a year ----HARD guy

[@Keksakallu]

Tom was once asked if he'd ever considered training as an opera singer and he replied that it was "too much bloody hard work". The question was asked during filming of a TV special in which he sang a duet with Bryn Terfel, the bass-baritone (and fellow Welshman).

[@yennydavila5056]

I love this song and the way Ton Jones sings this song. So much emotions, feeling the song. Not autotune, It's a real and great voice.

[@anitawright7169]

Tom Jones is an icon! He is singing and he is in his 80's. Love your reaction!💮

[@KathrynLiz1]

Tom Jones is a huge talent....and he still is in his old age..

[@hellmuthschreefel9392]

Probably the most powerful (non-classical) singing voice ever. Great range and control. My mom was a huge fan of his (along with Englebert Humperdinck), and I am reminded of her whenever I hear his songs. You should look up his version of "Green Green Grass of Home". The stage set is so 60s.

[@sophiapangloss2149]

I like to imagine the Green Green Grass of Home as a kind of partner-song to Delilah, it's Tom getting justice for what he did to Delilah... but of course, being Tom, he has to bring another girl into the picture... Green Green Grass still brings a tear...

[@Loki1815]

@Hellmuthschreefel : I moved both Tom Jones, Englebert Humperdinck and Mrs Mills, if anyone still remembers her. They all lived at St George's Hill, Weybridge and moved to the states. They all had glorious houses, Tom's had a Red Dragon (of Wales) on the bottom of his Pool. Pat Dorsey, Engleberts wife, was very nice to us and pointed out that "this fridge has food in it and this fridge has beers in it, please help yourselves", I had to point out that I didn't think that it was such a good idea that the blokes raided the drinks fridge! Englbert's house had a games room in the loft, think vaulted ceiling with 7' walls, with a full Snooker table, card tables, pool table and dart board. I heard that a Marble top that was prized by the Jones' got broken in the container in the move. The lads were gutted when we were told and couldn't work out how it happened, we were very good at what we did.

[@sophiapangloss2149]

@@Loki1815 Mrs Mills... I remember one of her LPs, it was called 'Look Mama, no hands!', and she was sat in front of her Joanna giving it jazzhands. I never heard it but I remember it from the back of (I think) a Val Doonican LP when the record companies included small adverts for their other artists. I think she might have played the theme tune for Pot Black, the BBC's black and white snooker show...

[@levvellene570]

Have you ever reacted to the Walker Brothers' The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore), or Make It Easy on Yourself? Very much in the vein of Tom Jones and others, like Gene Pitney. If you want to jump forwards into the 80's, maybe check out Marc Almond's Only the Moment, or his duet with Gene Pitney (Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart). Lots of good stuff there! Damn, I thought I hated the eighties' music... Maybe I'm grown-up by now. ;D

[@richardwest6358]

Very surprised that you didn't know of Tom Jones. He had an extremely popular residency in Las Vegas. He was a friend of Elvis and they sang together.

[@ericc8705]

My wife (named Delilah) grew up getting this played for her WAY too much ... and when this song faded into the past, the Plain White T's came along with THEIR song and she felt traumatized all over again.

[@plantlord3266]

tom jones kept his voice and looks by avoiding drink,drugs etc...neil Diamond is same for example...smooth voice as always

[@paulcowie7734]

Sir Tom is known as "The Voice" for a reason.

[@roseblair5273]

Man still has the pipes at 83. Should check out something more recent. He is incredible. Seen him a few times and was amazed at his powerful voice.

[@karenward267]

Tom is now 83 years old and walks into a room and owns it. As a little kid when he was like this, I never understood wby women would throw their undies at him. Listen to the Welsh Treochy Choir. The Welsh voice is beautiful as is Tom’s.

[@richarddancer-w8c]

I guess you didn't notice that bulge in his tight pants as he was grinding his hips on stage. The 250 groupies a year he slept with sure noticed

[@sandgroper1970]

According to Wikipedia he started singing at a young age at family gatherings in Wales, and obviously then went on to sing in his school choir , so he probably got some training, but the rest his hard work.

[@georgeseanor]

Check out sensational Alex Harvey’s version of this song

[@tahoemike5828]

He is a coach on the UK version of The Voice, and he still has that voice.

[@johnforsyth7987]

Thank you for reacting to this classic song by Sir Tom Jones. Tom Jones even had his own TV show here in the USA about this same time. If you wish to react to another great Tom Jones song. I would recommend "I will never fall in love again" or "It's not unusual."

[@LednacekZ]

Tom Jones, known for breaking the equipment with his voice even now, if the technician does not know the power of his voice.

[@nowhere982]

Another fantastic singer from Wales for you to check out is Dame Shirley Bassey..... She sang the opening songs on 3 James Bond films, Diamonds are forever, Goldfinger and Moonraker. Like Sir Tom Jones, just pure natural talent.

[@richarddancer-w8c]

Richard Dancer YESSSS!!!! a female Tom Jones❤❤❤

[@JoeR203]

Check out Steelheart's song "I'll Never Let You Go".

[@robbroome5933]

This is a rabbithole you really want to go down, he has power, range and can still throw down on stage at 83.

[@letsgomets002]

His voice is still strong at 80yrs old and he's still touring

[@sueparras6028]

You should have watched the video that he recorded a few weeks ago. Same song, and the same amazing voice.

[@cathmcfarlane-noble2087]

Haha even creepy lyrics couldn’t make Tom Jones creepy. He is just gorgeous.

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

Wales gave us two world class singers simultaneously - Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey. They are about the same age and both emerged in the 1960s.

[@Cashcrop54]

I have memories of watching this when it was on. Back then we never missed Ed especially if Tom was going to be on. Seems lie a lot of Welsh people have great voices either for singing or being a Preacher or speaker. Enjoyed reliving the memories.

[@richarddancer-w8c]

Richard Dancer I tuned in for Topo Gigio🐭🤗

[@Cashcrop54]

@@richarddancer-w8c always a favorite for me too. Seeing it today still amazes me sometimes. Saw one recently of Topo and all relatives from Italy singing a song. And, always, "Eddie....kiss me goodnight". Just fun all the time!

[@richarddancer-w8c]

@@Cashcrop54 Richard Dancer Those were the days, life was so much simpler. I miss the hell out of them

[@Cashcrop54]

@@richarddancer-w8c 100%

[@larrywakeman4371]

FAB review- TOm Jones NEVER was classically trained- he sang as a little toddler and boy in the choir in Wales-NEVER was trained! AMAZING and FAB review!!!! kimberly

[@gomor2]

Try Tom Jones "Sex Bomb".

[@pauloneill7212]

You should try I never fall in love again master piece in singing ❤

[@adancem]

TOM JONES THE BEST VOICE OF ALL TIMES, INCLUDING ON THE SINATRA´VOICE; HOWEVER TOM JONES IS NOT IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME, WHAT SHAME AMERICANS!!! HE HAS A DIVINE AND GALAXIES´VOICE!!!

[@firedoc5]

Tom Jones also did a bit of acting. He's in the hilarious movie "Mars Attacks". It's a parody but he plays himself so flawlessly. LOL See if you can find Groucho Marx singing "Lydia-The Tattooed Lady". It's got that same beat and tempo.

[@P-M-869]

snare drum? "I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN" "What's New Pussycat"

[@johnirwing2571]

Lots of mining villages in Wales with a strong tradition of male voice choirs. Should try “Thunderball” from the James Bond movie.