Thunderball ranked as favourite Tom Jones song

30-May-2005 • Bond News

He may be best known for powerful hits like Delilah and Green Green Grass of Home, but Welsh music fans have voted Tom Jones' track Thunderball as their favourite all-time song by the star.

Western Mail readers voted for the track they like Jones the Voice to perform the most - reports icWales.

And, surprisingly, his chart-topping hits like Delilah and Green Green Grass of Home have been ousted in favour of the theme tune to the 1966 James Bond movie Thunderball.

A total of 40% of those who voted on the Western Mail's website said they favoured the 007 track.

The song for which Tom is probably best known - Delilah - pulled just 3% of the votes.

Green Green Grass of Home, which Tom says he will feel emotional about singing in Pontypridd tonight, is the favourite song of just 7% of those who voted.

Tom's 1987 hit, A Boy From Nowhere, which is a favourite of the Pontypridd singer, took second place in the poll, winning 23% of the votes, while chart-topper It's Not Unusual was third with 9%.

Although Tom has been introduced to a whole new generation in recent years thanks to his collaborations with younger stars for the Reload album, it seems that those songs cannot compete with the old tracks.

The catchy 2000 hit Sex Bomb with Mousse T, which reached No 3 in the charts, only gained 2% of the votes.

And Mama Told Me Not To Come, his No 4 hit with the Stereophonics, came last.

Thunderball was a hit for Tom in 1966, although it only reached No 35 in the charts.

With music by John Barry and lyrics by Don Black it was the theme of the Bond film of the same name.

Western Mail music critic Christopher Rees said he was surprised with the results.

"I thought Tom's Welsh fans would have voted Green Green Grass of Home or Delilah as their favourite," he said.

"Thunderball is a stirring song and it's always a bit of a favourite during a live concert because Tom gives such a powerful vocal performance.

"I would probably place it in the Top 10 of my favourite Tom Jones songs. but it would be at about No 7 rather than No 1."

Tom will be performing in front of around 25,000 fans tonight at Ynysangharad Park as he celebrates his 65th birthday in his home town.

As he prepared to travel to Wales, he admitted that he would be feeling emotional performing in the town for the first time in more than 40 years.

"Just thinking about it I feel emotional, but hopefully when I'm on stage and the people are there I'll be okay," he said.

"Singing Green, Green Grass will definitely be a highlight I think. I always feel emotional when I play in Cardiff but not so emotional as I will be doing a live show at Pontypridd for the first time since I left in 1964."

Some tickets still remain for tonight's concert. They will be available from Muni Arts Centre in Pontypridd from noon today.

Thanks to `JP` for the alert.