Review: Tom Jones brings the spirit to Abu Dhabi

From teenagers to 60-somethings, a wild crowd gathered at du Forum at Yas Island to welcome Tom Jones on Thursday in his second visit to the capital in the past two years.

With a full band behind him, the 73-year-old ran across the stage in a pinstriped grey suit asking the audience if they were ready to “have some fun”. He then sang his heart out for a full hour and a half.

Although he started with songs from his new album, Spirit in the Room, Jones quickly moved to his well-loved oldies including It’s Not Unusual, Green, Green Grass of Home and I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, as the audience sang along word-for-word with their voices sometimes louder than the music.

As he picked up the momentum, he checked with he audience: “Are we still having fun?”, to which the audiences responded, sending their “yeahs” through the roof.

“That was a good one, that was real,” he replied.

He smiled as he sang, accompanied by two very talented back-up singers, a saxophone player and an electric guitarist and sailed through hit after hit.

Then, after the first hour, he left. The crowd immediately began chanted, “We want more!” Always loyal to his fans, Jones returned after a few minutes and rewarded them with an additional half an hour performance.

“He sounds exactly the way he did as I listened to him growing up on tape,” said 64-year-old Maha K, who was at the concert with her daughter.

Despite being outstanding to watch on stage, some fans were disappointed he did not sing She’s a Lady and that the concert was all-standing. Last year, Jones’ concert at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) was seated.