ABU DHABI// Tom Jones returned to Abu Dhabi Thursday night for another crowd-pleasing performance.
Dressed in a dapper grey suit, the 73-year-old and his 10-piece band played a number of hits including It’s Not Unusual, the cinematic Delilah and, of course, What’s New Pussy Cat.
The show touched on different aspects of his five-decade career – from the romantic serenades of the Sixties and the modern pop of the nineties to the rootsy offerings of his recent material.
The night began on a solid note with a rollicking take of Mama Told Me Not To Come, before the singer launched into an uplifting take of Odetta’s Hit or Miss.
“I have always been fascinated by him,” said Abu Dhabi resident Megan Cremer.
“For someone with that voice, that can still rock on after all these years, is a great to see. To see a legend like him come here is too good an opportunity to miss.”
A similar sentiment was shared by HR consultants Karen Williams and Laura Blight, who travelled from Dubai.
“This is my second time seeing him,” said Ms Williams.
“The first time was a few years ago and I remember seeing him having a lot of fun the whole time on stage. It was a really good show.”
Ms Blight said Thursday night’s gig was a great way to usher in the weekend.
“He is obviously getting on a bit,” she said. “But he is a good performer and to still do that after all this time is a great thing.”
The appreciation between fans and the star was mutual.
“Are you having a good time?” Jones asked the adoring crowd.
“I am glad,” he answered in reply to their cheers. “This is what I do.”
sasaeed@thenational.ae
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
THE%20SPECS
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Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
if you go
More on animal trafficking
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals