TOM JONES — Bent Rej Photography

About the Song

In the realm of popular music, there are songs that capture the zeitgeist of a generation, becoming anthems that transcend time and cultural boundaries. Tom Jones’s “It’s Not Unusual” stands as one such iconic masterpiece, a soulful ballad that has captivated audiences for over five decades. Released in 1965, the song marked Jones’s meteoric rise to stardom, propelling him into the international spotlight and establishing him as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.

“It’s Not Unusual” is a testament to the power of a well-crafted song, seamlessly blending elements of pop, soul, and orchestral arrangements to create a sound that is both timeless and captivating. The song’s opening notes, a dramatic flourish of strings and horns, immediately set the stage for a journey into emotional depths, while Jones’s powerful vocals, imbued with raw emotion and vulnerability, carry the listener through a whirlwind of love, loss, and self-discovery.

The song’s lyrics, penned by the songwriting duo of Les Reed and Gordon Mills, delve into the complexities of human relationships, exploring themes of heartbreak, longing, and the resilience of the human spirit. Jones delivers each line with a palpable intensity, his voice soaring and plunging through the octaves as he conveys the protagonist’s emotional turmoil. The lyrics, though simple in their construction, resonate deeply, capturing the universal truths of love and loss that have touched countless individuals across generations.

“It’s Not Unusual”‘s impact extends far beyond its musical brilliance. The song has become synonymous with Tom Jones’s larger-than-life persona, his charismatic stage presence, and his powerful vocal delivery. The song’s accompanying music video, featuring Jones’s signature dance moves and expressive facial gestures, further cemented its place in popular culture, becoming an indelible part of Jones’s enduring legacy.

The song’s influence on popular music is undeniable. “It’s Not Unusual” has been covered by countless artists, from Elvis Presley and Nancy Sinatra to Michael Bublé and Paloma Faith, each interpretation adding their own unique flair to the song’s enduring melody. The song’s presence in film and television is equally noteworthy, appearing in soundtracks ranging from “The Full Monty” to “Ocean’s Eleven,” further solidifying its status as a cultural touchstone.

“It’s Not Unusual” remains a timeless classic, a song that continues to captivate audiences with its emotional depth, powerful vocals, and enduring message. It is a testament to the enduring power of music to transcend boundaries, speak to the human spirit, and leave an indelible mark on popular culture.Tom Jones before The Voice - an ex bandmate reveals tales of tunes, girls and Krays - Irish Mirror Online

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Lyrics: It’s Not Unusual

It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone
It’s not unusual to have fun with anyone
But when I see you hanging about with anyone
It’s not unusual to see me cry,
I wanna dieIt’s not unusual to go out at any time
But when I see you out and about it’s such a crime
If you should ever wanna be loved by anyone,
It’s not unusual it happens every day
No matter what you say
You’ll find it happens all the time
Love will never do what you want it to
Why can’t this crazy love be mine?It’s not unusual to be mad with anyone
It’s not unusual to be sad with anyone
But if I ever find
That you’ve changed at anytime
It’s not unusual to find that I’m in love with you

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THE CHAOS STOPS. THE NOISE FADES. AND IN THE FINAL SECONDS, TOBY KEITH STEPS BACK INTO THE LIGHT. For most of the video for “Think As You Drunk,” Riley Green leans into the kind of high-octane, rowdy trouble that country music fans have been raising hell to for decades. He’s losing boots, stumbling through bars, and ending up in handcuffs—with his corgi, Carl, watching the whole mess with a look of pure, sober judgment. It’s the kind of reckless, fun-loving anthem that keeps the honky-tonks loud on a Friday night. But then, just as the dust settles, the mood completely shifts. As the track winds down, the familiar, unmistakable roar of Toby Keith’s voice cuts through, playing “As Good As I Once Was.” The camera stops following the chaos and lingers on a framed photo of Toby, center stage, holding a red Solo cup high in the air—a classic pose for the man who turned that cup into a national symbol. In that quiet moment, the jokes fall away. Riley Green doesn’t need a tearful monologue or a scripted tribute; he lets the music and the image do the heavy lifting. It is a masterful, respectful tip of the hat from one generation of country stars to the man who laid the blueprint for the modern drinking anthem. The tribute is more than just a nod in a video; it’s a commitment. A portion of the proceeds from the song is headed to the Toby Keith Foundation, directly supporting children fighting cancer and their families. While Carl the corgi might win the “funniest moment” award, Toby Keith gets the final word—a hauntingly perfect reminder of the legacy he left behind.

SHE STEPPED UP TO THE MICROPHONE TO SING A LOVE SONG WITH A MAN WHO WAS ALREADY GONE. When Lorrie Morgan walked into the studio to record “‘Til a Tear Becomes a Rose,” she wasn’t just performing a track for a Greatest Hits album. She was stepping into a haunting, high-stakes duet with her late husband, Keith Whitley, who had passed away just a year earlier. The technology was simple, but the emotional weight was crushing. Keith’s voice was already on the tape, preserved from an old demo he’d recorded with his friend Ricky Skaggs. There was no studio collaboration, no sharing a smile between takes, and no husband to hold once the final note faded. Lorrie had to stand in the silence, put on her headphones, and wait for Keith’s voice to come through—then harmonize with a ghost. When the song was released in 1990, it didn’t just climb the charts; it hit a nerve that few country songs ever reach. It felt raw, immediate, and painfully real. That fall, when the industry gathered for the CMA Awards, the song took home the trophy for Vocal Event of the Year. The two names—Lorrie Morgan and Keith Whitley—were etched together on the award, a cruel reminder of a partnership that had been tragically severed in its prime. While Lorrie stood alone to accept the honor, the recording remained a permanent monument to what they had been. It wasn’t just a song about sorrow or a performance about heartbreak; it was a widow using her own voice to reach across the silence and sing one last time with the man she couldn’t hold again. It stands today as a testament to the fact that while death can end a marriage, it can’t always silence the music that two people built together.

A PERFECT FINALE: ALAN JACKSON HANGS UP HIS HAT AND WELCOMES HIS FIFTH GRANDCHILD.For a man who built a career on songs that capture the milestones of life—the memories, the heartbreaks, and the quiet joys—the timing of Alan Jackson’s latest chapter feels like something written into a country standard.On June 27, 2026, Alan Jackson took the stage at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium for his final, massive farewell concert, “Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale.” With over 50,000 fans in the stands and a roster of country’s biggest names joining him, the mood was one of celebration and reflection. During the show, Alan shared a sweet, prophetic moment with the crowd, pointing out his daughter Dani, who was heavily pregnant at the time. “We have three wonderful daughters and sons-in-law, and now we’ve got 4.75 grandchildren,” he joked. “One’s due any minute. She’s out there… I feel sad for her being here tonight, she’s about to go into labor with all this sound going on.” He wasn’t off by much. Twelve days after that final bow, the Jackson family grew once more. On July 9, 2026, Dani and her husband, Sam Carrington, welcomed Samuel Hudson Carrington—”Hudson”—the couple’s first child and Alan and Denise’s fifth grandchild. Alan shared the news on Instagram with a touching photo of himself and Denise cradling the newborn. It’s a milestone that brings a beautiful full-circle moment to the Jackson household. With all three of his daughters—Mattie, Ali, and Dani—having been pregnant at the same time, this “baby boom” has been the perfect way for Alan to transition from the spotlight of his touring career to the quiet, cherished life of a grandfather. For the man who spent decades singing “Remember When,” this is a new “remember when” in the making: one legendary farewell, one beautiful hello, and a retirement that couldn’t have been timed more perfectly.

PEOPLE SAW WHAT THE CANCER HAD TAKEN, BUT WHEN HE STEPPED TO THE MIC, HE SHOWED THEM THE ONE THING IT COULD NEVER REACH. By the end of 2023, the physical toll was impossible to miss. Stomach cancer had stripped away the frame of the man who once seemed to fill an entire arena just by walking out onto the stage. When Toby Keith stepped onto the boards at Dolby Live in Las Vegas, the audience wasn’t looking at the “Big Dog Daddy” of the 2000s; they were looking at a man who had been through the fires of hell. But then, he started to sing. The voice was different—weathered by pain, tempered by exhaustion, and rougher around the edges. But it wasn’t broken. It carried the same iron-clad authority that had defined his career for three decades. He didn’t try to hide his condition or mask the changes with stagecraft; he stood there, exposed and honest, and let the music do the work. When he performed “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” the atmosphere in the room shifted. It wasn’t just a song anymore; it was a manifesto. Every word felt like a deliberate strike against the inevitable, a defiant declaration from a man who wasn’t done yet. He wasn’t just singing about age; he was singing from the front lines of his own battle. Those shows were meant to be a comeback. Instead, history turned them into a final stand. In the end, cancer succeeded in weakening his body and cutting his time short, but it couldn’t touch the core of who he was. When he began to sing, the noise of his illness vanished, leaving behind only the one thing that had fueled his entire life: an unwavering refusal to back down.